Oct 26, 2008

Store owner getting ready for ChristmasBy Paul W. SullivanMontgomeryAdvertiser.com

Pat Duke works about 50 hours a week at her floral and gift store in Eastbrook in what would best be described as a la bor powered by love.

Duke, 66, admits that while she enjoys turning a profit, her job isn’t about the money. It’s about the relationships she builds that keep her coming back to the store on the east side of Eastbrook Shopping Center.

“Love and friendships,” said Duke, are the results of her work that she enjoys most. And those entering the door of Spe cial Treasures will feel the love. “We are going to treat customers so nice that they will not want to go anywhere else.”

The mother of two sons and grandmother operates the store along with four employees. They all are now busy preparing for Christmas. Customers al ready are bringing in Christmas decorations for Duke and her staff to alter for this year’s festivities.

Arrangement designer Bren da Rylant and Duke agreed that the store is known for its quality service that has forged strong ties with customers.

The store started in a small rented room on Mulberry Street in the early 1990s. After a move to an Atlanta Highway location in 1994, Duke added floral serv ices, which turned out to be a wise business decision, she said.

This July, Special Treasures moved a short distance from the Atlanta Highway location to 420 Coliseum Blvd.

Duke likes her new home and said the change has in creased sales. More orders are coming in from businesses and hospitals, she said, and she also regularly handles floral duties for weddings and funerals.

Although she has moved her store, the Clio native remains steadfast in her opposition to working with a computer at her business. Her husband, Clifford, made a living in the computer field and Duke said she wants no part of computers anymore.

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