Rural Missouri - September 2019 - 9

working. "I just started investing as much time into learning about ﬂowers and I need," Cassie says.
A few weeks later the Missouri State University student was hired. "I loved
business as I could," the Springﬁeldian says.
She took a Master Gardeners Class with MU Extension and enrolled in online the idea of just seeing all the different options and being able to pick what colbusiness classes. Cassie wasn't set on a speciﬁc type of truck,
ors or ﬂowers you want," Haiden says.
Cassie says sometimes customers are drawn to the ﬂowers because of
but knew she wanted the ﬂowers to be displayed prominently.
Initially she wanted a frame to go in the bed of the truck but
the sentimental feelings they evoke. For some it brings back memories
was running into logistical issues.
of the peonies their grandma used to have or the cutting garden their
"Then I realized there were these VW trucks that had the sides
mom had in the backyard.
that dropped down all the way around the truck," she says. "That
"Bringing a little piece of nature inside really does make a difference
in a room," Cassie says. "We have people who will buy a big bouquet
would give me exactly what I was looking for. Plus, it seems like
Springfield
everyone has a VW story, so it was a good ﬁt."
at the beginning of the season and as some ﬂowers last longer than
Cassie found her 1970 VW online from a seller in Kentucky and
others, they'll replace them and the bouquet evolves."
bought it sight unseen. She toned down the lime green paint job,
With no permanent physical location, customers rely on Ozark
Mtn's social media channels to ﬁnd where Stella's parked. While
named her and opened for business more than two years ago. In
they have a mostly regular schedule of local coffee shops, brewerMarch, Cassie was able to put in her notice and work her last shift
as a nurse.
ies and markets they visit every week, special events and holidays change the
While Stella - which won the work category in Rural Missouri's 2018 "I Love schedule.
My Truck" contest - gets plenty of attention from fellow VW drivers, the ﬂowers
"Really we go where the people are," Cassie says. "We only park with locally
are what brings most people in.
owned businesses. It's a symbiotic relationship. We'll share online that we're
Ozark Mtn Flower Truck features 21 buckets in its 9-foot bed. On a typical paired with them and they'll do the same."
day, Cassie and her staff will include approximately 18 different types of ﬂowKeeping the truck as local as possible is important. Cassie sources as much
ers for sale. Each ﬂower has a different price which starts at $1 and tops out of her ﬂowers locally as she can and recently started her own garden in Springat $6 for dinnerplate dahlias. "I like the idea that if someone had $5 in their ﬁeld. "The goal is to have 90 percent of the ﬂowers be locally grown," she says.
pocket they could grab a nice, single ﬂower and not be pigeon-holed into buying "I don't think a lot of people realize that a lot of the cut ﬂowers we see in stores
something prearranged."
come from South America or Holland."
The spontaneous, casual approach allows customers to have as much, or as
Having an approachable concept to share fresh ﬂowers for occasions both
little, control over the ﬁnal product. Customers who know what they want are happy and sad has given Stella a faithful following around Springﬁeld.
invited to reach into the buckets and make the perfect arrangement. If buyers
"We never have a bad customer," says Haiden. "Everyone is always happy to
are a little more apprehensive, Cassie and her team may ask questions about come to the truck. I really like that. It always cheers up someone's day. Even if
favorite colors or types of ﬂowers to create a bouquet.
they're buying ﬂowers for a sad occasion, it helps them be happy."
"And sometimes we get people who come to the truck and say, 'I've got $20,
can you make me something pretty?' " she says.
For more information on Ozark Mtn Flower Truck call 417-880-1691, visit
That customer creativity turned into a job for Haiden Keener. "Right when I www.ozarkmtnﬂowertruck.com or email ozarkmtnﬂowertruck@gmail.com. To
decided I needed help, I was telling someone about this sweet girl who comes by see where the ﬂower truck is parking search Ozark Mtn Flower Truck on Facethe truck and makes the prettiest bouquets and how that's the kind of person book and Instagram.
Above: Cassie Hartman preps Stella, her 1970 Volkswagon VW Single Cab ﬂower truck, for sales from her businesses' home base in western Springﬁeld. Below left: Cassie started selling
ﬂowers off of Stella in 2017. Below right: Cassie inspects the grounds at Millsap Farm just north of Springﬁeld where we she sources some of the ﬂowers she sells across the Ozarks.
photo courtesy Merced Photography

http://www.ozarkmtnflowertruck.com

Rural Missouri - September 2019

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