March/April 2014 • 24
A
lot has changed in the foral business in the last 95 years,
but since 1919 the Nance name has been synonymous with
fowers in Southern Indiana.
The family foral business began when George Nance
Sr. bought greenhouses in Clarksville. At that time forists generally
grew the fowers they sold, and fowers were mainly used as expres-
sions of sympathy. The arrangements were considered status sym-
bols and often evoked competition between neighbors.
Unfortunately, fowers were a luxury product, and the greenhous-
es were lost in 1929, as the Great Depression took its toll.
After the end of World War II, George Nance Jr. followed in his
father's footsteps and opened a retail foral shop at 10th and Market
Streets in New Albany. By this time, the foral business had changed
and forists generally did not grow their own fowers.
His focus was on selling gifts and fowers for special occasions,
and not just sympathy arrangements. George Jr. was very passionate
about foral design and quite talented in making beautiful arrange-
ments. In 1963, Nance Floral Shoppe, Inc. moved to its current loca-
tion at Seventh and Spring Streets in New Albany.
Nance Floral Shoppe has always been a family afair. Genera-
tions of Nance kids have
grown up working in
the business. George
Sr.'s sister, Ruth Han-
cock, now 98-years-old,
was a fxture from the
beginning. She grew up
as a child playing in her
father's greenhouses
and has worked her
whole life as a forist,
continuing to help out
during busy times until
very recently.
The shop is currently
operated by George Jr.'s
son, Steve Nance, and
daughter, Carol Powers,
as well as Steve's son,
Brian Nance. Steve's
wife, Sandy, is also in-
volved as a buyer for the
shop.
They all wear mul-
// Florals in the family
MarchApril 2014.indd 24 2/23/14 8:40 PM