Whether it’s to acknowledge life’s most joyful occasions or those of sadness and loss, nothing expresses feelings and emotions like giving and receiving the thoughtful gift of beautiful flowers and floral arrangements. Usually considered a symbol of love and caring, flowers can also convey other emotions – from happiness, appreciation and affection to sympathy, gratitude or even an apology. Flowers help to communicate feelings in a way that few objects can.
Vogt’s Flowers & Gifts takes great pride in having “delivered feelings” for more than a century. Both FTD and Teleflora rank Vogt’s as a top florist out of more than 35,000 businesses and this spring, My City readers voted them “Greater Flint’s Favorite Florist” in the 2024 City’s Choice Awards, a distinction they have earned in previous years.
Anton Vogt established Vogt’s Flowers as a family business in the Flint community in 1919. Its main location remains in the original building near Downtown Flint.
Vogt’s has a rich history. Anton Vogt established Vogt’s Flowers as a family business in the Flint community in 1919. Its main location remains in the original building near Downtown Flint, providing them with easy access to all of Genesee County. The Krueger family became involved with the business in the mid-1950s when Dave Krueger became manager of Vogt’s. At that time, it was Dave and two other employees. His son, Kreg Krueger, joined the family business in 1987 after earning degrees in horticulture and business from Michigan State University. When Dave retired in 1996, Kreg and his wife, Cindy, purchased the business and have been the operators ever since.
“Growing up, I did not plan to enter the family business,” Krueger recalled. “Being brought up in a small family business, I was always expected to work – I did not like it. In high school, I bussed tables and bagged groceries; those were great jobs and helped build a foundation for understanding the work environment. After high school, I had no concrete plans, so I joined the Marines as a reservist. There, I grew up a little and realized I had an awesome career opportunity. I decided to go to MSU to pursue a degree in horticulture.”
Kreg and Cindy work together; she runs the office. “We will be married 38 years this December,” he said. “I’m the luckiest guy ever. We have two children – Kal lives in Bozeman, MT with his wife Taylor and our first grandchild born in August, Maeve. Our daughter Alyssa lives in Seattle, WA with her husband, Nick. There is extreme joy in watching your children grow and be happy.”
Kreg and Cindy Krueger purchased Vogt’s in 1996 and have worked together ever since.
Krueger notes the strength of the team that works at Vogt’s Flowers. “I am just a part of the team,” he stated. “When the time comes for me to step back, I have no doubt they will carry on.”
Vogt’s has four stores: Flint, Flushing, Grand Blanc and Davison. “My wife and I own all four and after some post-pandemic restructuring, we employ around 40 people.” Each store has a manager and basically operates as a stand-alone business.
“My family has carried on the Vogt tradition for over 75 years and we could not be more grateful for the continued support of Greater Flint.”
Kreg Krueger
As with most florists, the busiest times of the year at Vogt’s are Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day week, with December being the busiest month.
“We are in the business of expressing feelings,” stated Krueger. “Flowers can be one of, if not the most beautiful way for a person to express themselves. I will quote the message of an ad printed in the Flint Journal in 1929, placed by Anton Vogt, our founder – I have the original framed in my office and see it every day. It reads, ‘It can be merely said, or beautifully said … with flowers. Flowers must be knowingly arranged, otherwise they remain merely a collection of flowers, beautiful but unrelated. Upon the next occasion when you decide to say it with flowers, let us translate your message into the sweet language of flowers. A bouquet that breathes the sentiment you wish to convey … significantly, artistically, simply.’ I think that sentiment is as accurate now as it was in 1929.”
Vogt’s Design Manager Suzette Barbee has been with the company for over 30 years.
Krueger said a topic that is never promoted is how Vogt’s handles the flowers they sell.
“We take great pride in the post-harvest processing of our flowers – we buy direct from the farms and importers. Every week, we have a semi-truck leave Florida with approximately 100 cases of fresh flowers and greens. We also have a very close relationship with our local wholesaler to handle any last-minute or specialty requests. You cannot buy fresher or better-handled flowers anywhere.”
The team at Vogt’s has enjoyed meeting the many people who have stopped in for the “Daily Rose Giveaway” they started this summer.
This summer, Vogt’s started a very successful promotion – a daily rose giveaway. “The response has been fantastic!” Krueger exclaims. “The number of new people we have had the opportunity to meet is just amazing. We change the name on the marquee daily and when your name comes up (also posted on facebook), stop in and we give you a rose. We get calls almost every day asking what the catch is; there isn’t one. We love having people stop in, whether it’s a current customer or a new face.”
Krueger said life is busy, and people surely cannot always plan for the good times or the sad times. “I don’t know of anyone who carries an inventory as extensive or as fresh as ours. We work hard to make sure we are ready when your occasion arrives to send flowers. I believe a good flower-buying community is developed through years of service, quality and trust. Mr. Vogt started developing this community and my family has carried on the tradition for over 75 years. We could not be more grateful for the continued support of Greater Flint.”
