WAUKESHA — With less than a week to go until the Republican National Convention, the grounds are set, hotels are booked and flowers are blooming red.
Waukesha Floral and Greenhouse, Waukesha’s oldest florist, has been busy filling last-minute flower orders for the Republican National Convention.
“We’re doing patriotic themed flowers — red, white and blue — and with the convention next week, we’re especially using a lot of red,” explained Dennis Gerke, the store’s floral director.
TMJ4
They are among the companies listed on the RNC Vendor Portal, a one-stop site for visitors to search for local businesses.
TMJ4 spoke with the company back in January about what to expect from the convention, and on Tuesday, TMJ4’s Kaylee Staal visited them again to see how things are going ahead of the big week.
“I got a call from a corporate client who wanted a big red sign for the Republican National Convention,” Gehrke said, filling the order on his day off.
TMJ4
But the noise of the Republican National Convention could mean less business from other businesses in the area.
“Milwaukee has big events and everyday events every weekend in the summer, but this weekend there aren’t as many,” Gehrke explained.
Other Waukesha-area businesses listed on the RNC vendor portal said they haven’t received as much business as they initially hoped.
The owner of Bespoke Balloons and Event Services said he received several calls from delegates requesting thousands of items, but the orders ultimately became too large for local businesses to handle before the convention began.
About 50,000 people are expected to gather in Milwaukee and the surrounding area, but many businesses say they won’t know for sure until the convention starts.
Check it out: Waukesha flower business is in full bloom ahead of the Republican National Convention.
RNC Business: Thrive or Die? Local businesses prepare a week in advance
“We didn’t know what to expect, but we are plants, we are flowers, and we have the opportunity to serve people,” Gehrke said with a smile.
Check out TMJ4’s complete coverage of the Republican National Convention here.
Talk to us:
Hello! At TMJ4 News, we’re committed to listening to our readers and addressing the issues that really matter to them. Have a story idea or tip, or just want to discuss this article? Contact us using the form below. For other ways to get in touch, visit tmj4.com/tips.
It’s time to watch on your own time: Search “TMJ4” on your device for 24-hour streaming of local news and weather.
You can download it on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
