| For over 30 years
Dorothy Biddle
(my grandmother, below left)
was the best known flower arranger in America. She authored a score of
books and edited
several national magazines. She lectured and taught in 47 states and
beyond, to over 100 garden clubs each year. In 1936, she told her son
(my father,
below right),
Rod Johnson, that it was impossible to find the needed 'mechanics' in
the communities where she lectured. She helped him buy some flower
holders, clay, tape, wire, etc. that he could offer to her
students...and so started Dorothy Biddle Service.
By the mid-1960's, Dorothy
Biddle (Mrs. Walter Adams Johnson) was fully retired. But DBS continued
to grow as each generation had the same need for good tools and
supplies. We were also supplying garden centers, gift shops and florists
with our products. About that time, I began working at DBS after school
and summers, and then after years of college and a 'real job', I
returned to DBS in 1973 as office manager.
In 1981, DBS moved here to the Pocono
Mountains, to a larger and more efficient building. My husband Chuck and
three children, Matthew, Michael and Elizabeth have all helped out when
needed over the years.
Back in July 1986 my dad officially retired, and as the current owner of
DBS I hope to continue supplying the world's flower arrangers with the
equipment they need. I know my grandmother would be proud of her
family--manufacturing, importing, and distributing all of the arranging
needs to shops in all 50 states and beyond.
|
|
Lynne Dodson,
owner |
|
Lynne spends a good portion of her
time traveling to trade shows across the country, making our
products available 'in person' to retailers. When she's back in
the office, Lynne answers your calls, handles the accounts
payable & inventory, packs up orders on occasion, and 'molds'
the hairpin flower holders. She can often be found in her office
scouring stacks (upon stacks!) of trade publications in search
of innovative products to add in the next edition of DBS
Highlights. The catalog itself (as those of you who produce one
know all too well!) requires much thought and effort, and Lynne
always makes ours turn out perfectly. Lynne enjoys adventuring,
and has visited nearly every state in the union. She's been on
hiking trips in the national parks of Utah, traveled to Belize
(which looks amazing from the photos she took!) and jaunted to
Grenada with a long layover in Puerto Rico...in February of 2004
she traveled to Dominica with her husband and hopes to head
either to the Virgin Islands or Tobago on her next journey. |
|
|
Amy Keane, office
manager/accounts receivable |
|
Amy answers your calls when Lynne
is out of the office, processes your orders, creates your
invoices and handles your accounts. She also packs your orders,
helps mold, and sets pins (for the hairpin flower holders) when
necessary. Amy is the resident technophile, creating and
maintaining both DBS websites as well as being the office
'computer person'. Hobbies include gardening, computers, graphic
design, dolling, the Sims and watching the Yankees play ball. |
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