Have any idea on how to get business into my shop? (Port Angeles: real estate, weddings)

[rain.city]

I own a store and had to move it to my home. I'm a florist that used to be downtown Port Angeles. The newspapers and the radio cost too much for advertising. I've been driving around the local roads taping my business card with my new address on the mail boxes. I'm sure I got a few hits on my website, but no one has come in yet.
I don't have anything against Wal-Mart in this economy, but when you have one in Sequim and one in Port Angeles, it's the pits! Downtown is suffering because the tourists are down because of the high gas prices and the passport fear. It's a shame because there are some wonderful shops downtown with unique gifts. I say support your downtowns. Sequim shops are having the same trouble.
I do better over the internet with my stone sense and toads than I do with customers walking in. The Port Angeles people don't shop downtown because they say there's no parking. That parking lot behind me was always half empty. But if they can't park in front of the store, they don't want to go in. And that's what gets me, they will walk 2 blocks in the parking lot to get to Wal-Mart's door.
I was talking to a shop owner that he had been in his building for 5 yrs. He said a guy came in who asked him where his stuffed animal head was. The guy wouldn't leave and was upset. Well, it used to be a taxidermy 5 yrs. before....why did it take the guy that long to get it back? He said another guy lived down the block from him and said he didn't know he was there! He'd been there for 5 yrs.. Port Angeles people have tunnel vision and how the heck do you get around that? They don't read the newspaper ads, they don't read advertising boards, they don't listen to the radio, or watch channel three anymore since they took the local news off. Sequim & Port Angeles people drive all the way to Silverdale Mall to shop which is crazy because they have the same stuff here as they do there. It might be a little higher than the mall, but not by much.
So the question stands, how do I get these people to drive halfway between Sequim and Port Angeles when gas is high, and if they don't read signs or ads? I belong to the Chamber of Commerce and that doesn't seem to help. People who do find me, love my store.
A customer of the Kidney Center sees my flowers every month and called me up yesterday and said she just loved my flowers. Well that did my heart good because I was feeling kind of blue. She ordered four arrangements for the doctor and his staff taking care of her loved one. I love texture and color, probably because I have a B. of F.A. Now how do I get more customers like her? Ever so often I give flowers to people who help me out passing out my cards like the jewelry store or the banks that I have plant maintenance accounts at and people ask about them. Word of mouth is good, but I need more business to keep me going. Let me know if you have any suggestions?

[mthomson]

Sponsor lots of events. If you can afford to give up some free flowers, offer to decorate weddings, grad parties, bring flowers to local businesses, team up with real estate agents (offer them 50% off if they use you to make a flower arrangement as a thank you gift for clients).
My whole business is built around marketing cost free. Easier for me since I don't have to give up flowers, but I think the more you show people what you have and what you can do the better. With your chamber membership, go to their meetings, or better yet pop into their offices with a small arrangement "Just to brighten their day."

[poogie777]

Hi there, rain.city! I was wondering after reading your post, why you haven't promoted your website on your profile? You said you have a website? This day and age of the internet, it is really the best way to promote your business. People are shopping and searching, not in the local papers or bulletins or phone books anymore. They are using the internet more and more. I can't really help you without knowing the URL of your website, but a good start would be using it in your profile will help you as well.
If you are selling hard goods, too, besides just flowers, and want to attract not only local buyers, but world-wide buyers for your goods, go into same niche forums. It will help in driving traffic to your website as well! Promote your website! Take your URL with you where ever you go socially on the internet!
Hope this helps!