You can read the full article here.
]]>The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today announced America’s 70 top small businesses. These 70 exceptional businesses have emerged as the vanguards of innovation and community engagement, setting the stage for the announcement of the Chamber’s annual "America's Top Small Business Awards” winner on Oct. 19.
"Small businesses are the trusted backbone of America’s entire business ecosystem,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark. “Small businesses represent the values and attributes of America’s free enterprise system. They are the drivers of economic growth and embody the innovation, entrepreneurship, and determination that makes America strong. We see that in all of this year’s America’s Top Small Business Awards participants. All 15,000 inspiring small business applicants are a testament to the courage, creativity, and unwavering commitment required to create jobs, strengthen communities and keep America running.”
]]>SHEFFIELD – David Christopher’s Inc. in Sheffield is the 2023 Alabama Retailer of the Year Customers’ Choice Award winner. The Alabama Retail Association presented David and Jennifer Smith with their award today at their retail store at 411 S. Montgomery Ave. David Smith, the company’s namesake, also owns and operates a wholesale/import business, showroom and warehouse in Sheffield, and David Christopher’s has a permanent showroom at AmericasMart in Atlanta.
This book is great for anyone who wants to be a light in their world. It's encouraging stories and personal accounts aim to help people feel less alone in their struggles to live out Christ in daily life. It seems timely the book is set to release during another devastating blow to their business, the novel COVID-19, but David and Jennifer expect God to continue to be faithful to them as they remain faithful to Him.
It is set to release in May 2020, and you can pre-order your copy here. Each copy will be signed with love.
]]>1 While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [along the border] between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance; 13 and they raised their voices and called out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were [miraculously] healed and made clean. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying and praising and honoring God with a loud voice; 16 and he lay face downward at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. He was a [a]Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten [of you] cleansed? Where are the [other] nine?
I don’t want to be the other nine. In an effort to make sure that the One who sits on the Throne receives the glory and the honor for a very significant time in our lives when we were totally inadequate, I have been searching for a way to memorialize our flood survival.
While searching the story of the Israelites passing over the Jordan river keeps running through my head.
5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross over again to the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, 6 so that this may be a sign among you; when your children ask later, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall become a memorial for Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:5-7)
I am wondering if I have set up any stones in my life to memorialize the miraculous events I have witnessed God perform. Will my children come to me with questions about memorials, because of my example, so that I can tell them of the greatness of The Lord?
When we stop telling our stories our family’s faith can end with us. If He is still fighting for us why are we not expressing that to others?
If you helped our efforts with the flood during the months of February through April in any way or just were a witness to how bad it was and how good God was, we are inviting you to bring us a stone. Bring us a rock, pebble, boulder whatever you can . We want to make sure we can point to something and tell of the Goodness of God. We did not make it on our own. We made it through the biggest catastrophe of our business lifespan with blessings of God and the help of His people. We are creating a plan for the rocks to build something. It will take a while to build but we will unveil it in the spring.
Please join us this Thanksgiving in being thankful that He never leaves us or forsakes us.
He is with us through the fires and the floods.
We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving as we reflect back over the past year. We're thankful for the Lord's grace and mercy in our lives. We're thankful for our two boys who are healthy and happy. Most days, we are thankful for each other {giggle}. We're thankful our store is still open. We are thankful for employees who love coming to work and who take pride in their work. And we are thankful for our customers who help make our day with their smiles, kind words, and support.
There is always something to be grateful for--even in the hardest of times.
"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"
]]>
This morning, David is mowing the grass, and I am procrastinating on prepping and packing for our upcoming market trip. Both boys are supposed be cleaning their rooms, and some show about the deep blue sea filled with all of its mysterious and weird creatures plays in the background. Our youngest son is obsessed with ocean life, and he dreams of a career in the Navy and/or Marine Biology. Although, he seems to feel a sense of loyalty to our family business and sometimes says he's going to run it one day.
David and I have been taking some time to reflect on the past four months still grateful for all of the people who showed up to help us during a time of need. I am just now getting the rest of the thank you cards filled out, stamped, and mailed.
Running a small business isn't easy. In fact, it's the hardest job I have ever had, but add a flood on top of the daily grind and it can be suffocating. Did you know 90% of businesses don't survive disasters of this magnitude? We are still living within the walls of the disaster while life goes on around us. We're also living within the walls of God's protection and grace. It's not as bad as losing a person, granted, but some of the emotions have been the same. I remember losing my Dad and having good days and bad days. Suffering through this has been filled with similar highs and lows.
Some days I am excited about the future and celebrate God's goodness. Other days, I look at our building and finances and think, "How in the world?" But every day, I give it to the Lord. It's all His. I remind myself that my natural eyes can't see the big picture.
Thankfully, David's identity and my identity aren't wrapped up in our businesses. It is not what defines who we are or how we live our lives. We are simply a family attempting to steward our gifts wisely, making a living, and being a light in our world to all of those we encounter. Our ultimate goal is not to be millionaires or popular. Our goal is to be an encouragement to our employees and our customers. Our marketplace is our ministry.
I awoke this morning feeling heavy hearted. The feeling wasn't just about our own situation but sharing a deeper level of empathy for all of those who suffer. I reflected on the couple we met in Memphis last week who have had to close their store. I cried right along with the lady who told me how much she was going to miss her customers, her friends.
But I also woke up grateful for FREEDOM! And not just freedom experienced in the red, white and blue colors represented in beloved America's flag, but the ultimate freedom we have when we walk with Jesus. Freedom from depression, anxiety, addiction, and unhealthy life patterns. A freedom only He can offer.
Later today, we will join most of America and celebrate Independence Day with our friends and family in Tennessee. We will eat, we will play, we will shoot fireworks, and we will remember freedom isn't free. But we will also remember those of you whose hearts may be a little heavy as you walk through whatever season you are in. You are not alone. We're rooting for you.
I pray hope fills your heart, and you are lead by faith and not by sight. I pray you find joy amongst your circumstances, and you are able to trust God on the mountaintop and while in the valley. His plan is always better than ours.
Happy Independence Day!
]]>When our store flooded in February, we were in disbelief. It was terribly sad to see so much of our hard work a disastrous mess. We lost so much including valuable information which helps us to run more effectively.
We had to immediately come up with a game plan, which included opening a store in Florence, so we could begin to make sales as soon as possible. Our main concern was keeping our employees employed. We didn't want anyone, including ourselves, to lose a job.
Our local community, including our church, showed up and showed out as they helped us to clean, organize, tear out, and rebuilt. Countless hours were spent helping us get things in operational order as soon as possible.
Volunteers arrived from all over bringing food, hugs, water, and good cheer. The outpouring was such a blessing to us. People inspired us daily with encouragement to keep going.
The faithfulness of the Lord has been evident throughout the process from day one. He has guided our steps and helped us to make decisions we weren't capable of making without His guidance.
We currently have two stores open: the temporary location in Sheffield--which could become permanent, and our Sheffield, flagship store.
June 15, 2019, the Sheffield store will close for renovations while Florence remains open. Many things need to happen to prepare our store for the holiday season.
When the Sheffield store reopens, it will be all decked out for Christmas complete with a 450 square feet Gingerbread House. It is going be awesome.
]]>
You'll love it, and we will love helping you!
]]>
Ricky had been working at a local grocery store when his wife, Kathy, began working part-time, assisting with day to day operations, for a couple at Wholesale Floral Mart. The wholesale company sold silk flowers and supplies to retail florists. The owner had a van and a sales route. He called upon florists inside and outside of the Shoals area.
Over the course of a year's time, the couple owning the wholesale floral business decided they were ready to sell the business. The grocery store chain for which Ricky worked closed, and he found himself in need of a job. He took on the owner's route and loved meeting the customers and making the sale.
Ricky and Kathy decided to purchase Wholesale Floral Mart in 1975, and it was renamed Smith Wholesale Floral, Inc.
Ricky and Kathy owned and operated their wholesale business from multiple locations in the Shoals until moving to the current location on Montgomery Ave in Sheffield, Alabama. Ricky grew his routes to include places like Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and the Carolinas.
Fast forward to 1983 when David Christopher Smith was born to his parents, Ricky and Kathy, and to his big sister, Amy. He grew up going to floral shows, markets, and on truck routes with his parents. As a teenager, he worked in the warehouse unloading trucks, stacking boxes, assisting customers, and he tried his hand at driving his Dad's sales route.
He also began to experiment with floral design. His artistic abilities became evident with the passing of time. He could create amazing floral pieces offering unique designs. He entered and won numerous nation wide floral competitions.
As the wholesale floral industry began to experience a shift during the recession, David decided it was time to offer their products to the Atlanta Market in order to reach a broader customer base. The company started off in the temporary spaces.
While in Atlanta, importers began to take note of his design abilities giving him opportunities to design and develop products. He has made numerous trips to China manufacturers creating the David Christopher's Collection as we know it. Smith Wholesale Floral became David Christopher's Collection.
And in 2007, David had an idea, "Let's open a retail store." David wanted to be able to offer artificial floral designs and high quality home decor. The store was opened in Florence, Alabama.
David began to take on more and more responsibilities at the wholesale store, and he began to shift the focus from wholesaler to importer. He was designing a vast majority of the products and importing them. He was needed at the retail store and the wholesale store, and it became a challenge to be available at both stores.
The wholesale store, located in Sheffield, had room to accommodate a retail store, so the decision to move the retail store to Sheffield was the best decision for the future of the store. With both stores being under the same roof, David could focus on managing both locations at one time.
David Christopher's, the retail store, has been located in Sheffield, Alabama since 2012. It has been a wonderful location and a destination store. Customers drive in from the surrounding areas, and many make the trip from Tennessee and Mississippi.
After much prayer, Jennifer, David's wife, left her job at the University of North Alabama in 2016 in order to assist David with human resources, marketing and day to day operations of the store. Not all families are able to work together, but it has worked for us.
David Christopher's Collection, the import company, now has a permanent showroom at AmericasMart in Atlanta, Georgia. Retailers from all over the world attend market and place orders. While shopping in the retail store, look for green and white tags that say "DC's Collection." A majority of the items carrying this tag were designed by David.
As David Christopher's celebrates THIRTEEN years in business, we reflect on how it all started years ago. It's been a roller coaster ride filled with ups and downs. However, we are thankful for the opportunity to represent Christ in the marketplace to one another, to our employees and to our customers. We are thankful for opened and closed doors. We are thankful for the people who have supported us and cheered us on from day one. We strive to provide excellent customer service, quality products and affordable prices.