Teaneck—In 2004, Mark Kirschenbaum left a 25-year career in international banking to purchase a fledgling wholesale and retail floral business and renamed it Roses by Mark. While there have been bumps along the road, he has built up the business with an eye for freshness and quality. He arranges for pre-Shabbos and Yom Tov home and store delivery of fresh cut roses as well as colorful tulips, irises or other seasonal flowers.

Kirschenbaum, who grew up in Chicago, moved to Bergen County in 1979. He’s a member of the Teaneck Jewish Center, and davens at Bris Avrohom and Anshei Lubavitch in Fair Lawn. “I am lucky to have found this business before the recession,” said Kirschenbaum, indicating that the job he held in banking was downsized as a result of the growth of the Internet. “The business model changed and the job market evaporated,” he explained.

Purchasing an existing business, Kirschenbaum very quickly had to find his own clients and work on his own to enliven the business, as well as form his own client relationships, just like in banking. What has he learned? Like any business, “word of mouth is the best advertising. If you’re happy, please tell your friends,” he said.

It is certainly a challenge to run a business so dependent on weekly sales. Kirschenbaum shared that shortly after he took over the business, a store that purchased a large percentage of his weekly bouquets canceled their order with him. “It’s very scary because I have to sell to survive. But it makes me so grateful for every bouquet that I sell. I am grateful for every single client,” he said.

Roses by Mark does weekly home delivery on Friday morning in Bergen, Essex, Passaic or Union Counties, as well as Monsey and Rockland County. New clients can call Kirschenbaum to make arrangements. Customers often arrange a standing order of a dozen roses, a fresh floral bouquet, gerberas, astra merias or develop a rotating schedule. “Whatever you would like is available by special order,” Kirschenbaum said.

Kirschenbaum’s flowers are also available for purchase at Teaneck’s Glatt Express and Food Showcase in Fair Lawn. Erev Shabbos flowers are available Thursday night and Friday morning at Congregation Beth Abraham in Bergenfield or on Friday morning at Yeshivas Bais Mordechai in Teaneck. Learn more at http://rosesbymark.com/. Contact him for fresh, special Pesach arrangements at 201-328-4477.

By Elizabeth Kratz