Twenty years ago, Pam Sawyer and her husband Tim Sawyer opened Country Cottage as a garden center and gift shop. Times have changed in so many ways for the Sawyers and their distinctive bright yellow shop on Rappahannock Drive that’s literally full of deliciousness.
In the ensuing years, big box stores set up shop and Pam Sawyer revamped her business to compete. She figured she needed to offer a service, so she started offering flowers.
Now Country Cottage offers custom flower arrangements for weddings, funerals and special occasions. Or just because flowers are beautiful and a great gift.
She also offers custom silk flower arrangements. Among the more interesting designs she’s made is a Ninja Turtle–Donatello–and a shotgun.
Then in 2007 she started offering homemade fudge for one reason: “What goes better with flowers than chocolate?” Pam Sawyer said.
A year later she started selling Hershey’s hand dipped ice cream. It was actually one of the first ideas Pam Sawyer had for her business, she said. You can get ice cream in cones, shakes, sundaes, splits, in a cup… however you like it basically.
Things got even sweeter in 2010 when Country Cottage started selling gourmet chocolates. Not just any chocolate either.
“It’s a very high-quality chocolate,” Pam Sawyer said.
Pam Sawyer said she has one main goal in mind in serving her customers.
“Making people smile,” she said. “Making their day. Whether you’re giving them flowers or giving them chocolate.”
Perhaps Pam Sawyer’s favorite part of the business is seeing families come in together.
“You get a connection with your customers,” she said.
Find Country Cottage on Facebook and Instagram.
