After one year of owning and operating Avant-Garde, Danielle Dennis is making some changes.

On Sept. 8, she'll open at a new location, 550 W. Washington St., Suite E.

Until then, she's doing a lot of hard work to finish the new space and move her fixtures - keeping the shop open as well.

"It's fun being able to design your own space, to have the freedom to make it what you want," Dennis said.

Access and parking are big factors in the move. Both are limited at the store's current location in Carlsborg. With easier access and "tons of parking," Dennis said, "I'm hoping my walk-in traffic is going to increase."

With bigger showroom space, Dennis plans to add some gift lines and art cards to the plants and floral arrangements she now designs and sells. She enjoys providing flowers for weddings and special events.

Shop hours at the new location will be extended to include full days on Saturdays.

Another big change will be adding a part-time employee. Until now, Dennis' family has helped her in the shop and with deliveries. She calls the business a "family project" but realizes that with this expansion, she will need more help.

"This was the only thing that piqued my interest in high school," she said. She job-shadowed at the Garden Florist with Carol Wagner, who teaches floral design at Sequim High School.

She first came to Avant-Garde looking for a job, and the former owner Kindryn Domning told her the shop was for sale.

Now that she's 22, most of Dennis' friends still are in college or trying to get their bearings in life, while she is overseeing a major business expansion.



Reach Sandra Frykholm at sfrykholm@

sequimgazette.com