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BUSINESS in Phelps County
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NebraskaEDGE NxLeveL Certification Training
Instructors interested in hosting an EDGE course in 2010-11, now is the time to register and get certified!
The next EDGE Instructor Cer...
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Are You Developing a Food Product?
The Food Processing Center is offering a one-day seminar for all individuals interested in exploring the idea of starting a food manufacturing busi...
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Do You Need to Establish the Value of a Business?
The Nebraska Business Development Center provides comprehensive and limited business valuations reports for small businesses with values from ...
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Business in Phelps County
Just the place to do business
Phelps County is just the place to do business. Our centralized location, productive workforce, low utility costs, and exceptional quality of life make this an ideal place to be. Whether you are contemplating Phelps County as a new location, expanding an existing business, or planning to start up a new one, we want to help. We understand that business is the engine that drives our economy, and we have the resources to help you research, find a location, and begin operations.
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The Phelps County Development Corporation and the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce are professional organizations eager to further your business interest in Phelps County. In addition, there are a host of Phelps County resources available for your use. The most frequently asked question is "where do I get started?" Your situation determines the answer.
Businesses Considering Phelps County
Businesses located outside Phelps County but considering a relocation or expansion will want to determine the feasibility of doing business in Phelps County. Find out about transportation, labor availability and training, demographics, resources and more right here. Determining Business Feasibility
The Phelps County Development Corporation (PCDC) offers incentives to businesses that can demonstrate a significant level of economic impact. Research incentives and check your eligibility here.
Business Start-Ups
If you are considering the possibility of establishing a new business in Phelps County you should check out our start up resources. You may be going solo, but you don't have to go it alone. Start Up Resources
Phelps County Businesses
If your business is currently operating in Phelps County, you want to stay current. Check out the Business Start Up & Business Feasibility Main Pages for regional resources. Bookmark this page and return frequently to check the business news and find out about the latest seminars, business announcements, workforce training, networking opportunities, and more.
A way with flowers
John Rupe is ready to pass on everything he’s learned about the floral business
John Rupe has a way with flowers — his stunning floral arrangements are known and admired throughout the region.
“People say I have a gift,” he says.
Since he moved to Holdrege as a youth of only 20, he has worked among the blossoms at Holdrege Floral. John went to work for Holdrege Floral in 1959, then, ten years later, when the owners retired, he bought the business in partnership with his friend Dennis Ackerson. When Ackerson’s health failed in 1981, Rupe bought him out and became the sole owner.
Born on a farm south of Eustis, Rupe worked in the local grocery store during high school, but most of what he knows about the retail floral business – which is considerable – he learned on the job at Holdrege Floral.
“I had a pretty good idea of how retail operations went because I’d worked in the grocery store,” Rupe said. “But this was different because there are two distinct parts to it, the greenhouse and the retail store. I certainly had to learn the financial end of what it takes to operate a greenhouse.”
Rupe learned the business by borrowing books from the library, talking to people, and trial and error. That’s also the way he learned the art of flower arranging.
“When the owners got too busy during the holidays, they would tell me ‘Just go to work,’ and that’s how I got started. Hands-on is the best teacher,” he said.
One thing that’s clear is that John Rupe loves Holdrege Floral, and now that he’s thinking about retiring, he’d like to find someone who would bring the same passion to the enterprise — but he wants them to be prepared.
“It’s a very labor-intensive business, but very satisfying,” John said. “You have to be ready to deal with people at the very highs and lows of their emotions. There has to be a lot of compassion coming right from your heart.”
Rupe said that the way to succeed at the business is to operate from a dedication to serving people’s needs. “I’d like to pass the business along to someone who had a love for people; somebody who was energetic and full of ideas. They’ll need to have a work ethic, because it’s not a 9 to 5 situation.”
For now, Rupe doesn’t have a specific plan of succession for Holdrege Floral, but he’d like to talk to people who might be interested. He’d be open to training someone, or even staying on in a limited way, and while he’d like to find a buyer, he doesn’t have a deadline in mind.
If you have a way with flowers — and people — Holdrege Floral could be just the right opportunity for you.