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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Rance Searle is a Vernal businessman. In 1976 he and his wife visited Switzerland and marveled how every building, house, business and municipal building were covered with window boxes and railing planters that were full of gorgeous flowers. The effect amazed and fascinated Rance. The next year the couple went to Victoria in British Columbia and again saw the incredible display of moss baskets full of cascading blossoms.
Rance just had to bring the concept to his Rodeway Inn motel business in Vernal. His early efforts were met with frustration and hard work. He built some frames, strung chicken wire to hold the moss in place and planted 7,000 flowers, about a third of the nursery's entire crop. The results were staggering -- a wall of flowers nearly 18 feet wide. No one had ever seen anything like it and the motel became a tourist attraction.
The moss baskets worked but the wire had sharp edges, the baskets had to be planted carefully and needed to be watered frequently. In 1993 Rance met Vernal businessman Marty Hanson, who, realizing the potential of the idea, teamed up with Rance to develop the ideal container and plan for maximum growth, display and maintenance.
They developed inexpensive and easy-to-use plastic flower planters. A patent was issued, a manufacturer was found and Rance and Marty were in business. Bloom Master containers were shown at a few national trade shows and soon they were being used at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, the French Quarter in New Orleans and Disneyland. The City of Vernal put Bloom Masters on the light poles on Main Street and more are being added.
Bloom Master sold more than 27,000 containers the first six months of 2002 and the sales have continued to climb. I can attest that they really work. I have four of them gracing my yard and they are spectacular.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
