Say it with Flowers, Together Credit Union Celebrates Long-Time Business Member

In the early 1920’s, St. Louis was building new and better amenities, developing train services, and advancing its shipping port system to foster economic growth and development. For Louise Russell, a newly widowed woman with four children to feed, this new economic environment also encouraged commerce.

“After my grandfather passed away, my grandmother made and sold paper flowers to support the family,” said Patricia Russell, managing director. “My father, Francis, and his older brother would sell them on the streets of Saint Louis.”

Paper flowers were enormously popular in the 1920’s. (Fun fact, Dennison Manufacturing Co. produced 134 solid and 28 printed patterns of crepe paper. By the late 1920’s, Dennison also sold booklets with step-by-step instructions for 68 different flowers.)  With her entrepreneurial spirit, Louise used her skills in the domestic arts to build a thriving small business.

 In 1925, Russell Florist opened its first retail store, creating a path of financial security for generations to come.

“During the store’s early years, fresh flowers were not available year-round, and we continued making and selling paper flowers until we built our own greenhouses,” Russell added.

The greenhouses opened in the 1930s; however, government rationing of heating oil and gasoline for World War II reduced flower and plant production. Just like many families and businesses from the era, the Russell’s struggled. However, they were not deterred and switched from greenhouse plants to fresh flower shipments. Russell Florist is now owned and managed by Francis Russell’s eight children. 

“Our floral arrangements are hand-crafted by florists trained in the principles and elements of design. Our family motto is ‘Say It with Flowers’ because we help people express their sentiments for any occasion, whether it is a Birthday, Anniversary, Get Well, Romance, Birth, Sympathy or ‘Just Because.’”

With Mother’s Day rapidly approaching, Russell Florist is receiving shipments from specialty growers from all over the world. In addition, with in-person weddings and receptions resuming, Russell Florist is committed to providing couples with the freshest flowers and excellent service for their big day. For more information, please visit: https://russellfloriststlouis.net/

Russell Florist, one of Together Credit Union’s oldest business accounts, enjoys the service of being a credit union member, including the local connection, convenient access. Russell Florist also enjoys the credit union’s member-owned mission, which gives the company a shareholder voice and vote, and profit returns in the form of reduced fees, higher savings rates, and lower loan rates.

About the Credit Union: As a member-owned, community-focused, not-for-profit financial institution, the Credit Union offers a comprehensive list of banking products and financial services at 27 branches nationwide and through 24/7 Member resources and amenities. In addition, Members can access their accounts and perform transactions at more than 5,600 shared branch locations and self-service shared branch express terminals, as well as more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs, through the CO-OP Shared Branch Network in all 50 states. 

With more than $1.82 billion in total assets and 132,000 members nationwide, Together Credit Union is named a 2019 Best Credit Union in Missouri by Forbes Magazine and ranked as a “Top 150,” credit union in the U.S. The credit union was also chosen as a 2019 Corporate Philanthropy honoree by both the Credit Union National Association and the St. Louis Business Journal.