History

In their quest to discover the ultimate home and garden centre, Ken and Christine Martin have traveled to various locations throughout North America. Recently, their search has brought them much closer to home...their own backyard! Situated behind their home on Seacliff Drive in the Town of Kingsville sits Cindy's Home and Garden. The newly erected 4000 square foot gift shop is backed by numerous greenhouses loaded with an array of plants, flowers, and concrete statuary. Ken Martin, owner of Cindy's believes his unique gift shop will satisfy many visitors. "This is a one-of-a-kind gift shop with a variety of top quality merchandise," says Martin. "We want to make it an experience for all the customers who visit."

Since starting his business fifteen years ago, Martin has endured some hardship, primarily the death of his first wife Cindy, for whom the business is named. Martin says Cindy played a major role in the success of the company. "She was the driving force of the business," admits Martin, pointing out the progression of their company from one greenhouse in 1989 to five greenhouses, sales in the United States, and a small gift store in 1997. Cindy passed away with cancer later that same year. Today, Ken Martin is happily married to Christine, his wife of three years who is also the designer and purchaser for the company. Martin explains that Christine has contributed an enormous amount of time and energy into the development of Cindy's Home and Garden. "This company would not be where it is at today if it weren't for Christine," says Martin. "She is the backbone of this company." Martin adds that Christine's research into customer buying trends as well as her personal tastes in merchandise have contributed to the continued development and success of the business. While traveling together throughout North America, Ken and Christine were able to gather and create ideas they would later implement into the design of the new gift shop.

After more than five years of utilizing greenhouse space to operate the original gift shop, the 4000 square foot facility and new parking lot opened in March 2004. Martin says that there was simply not enough space in the old shop and that on occasion, temperatures inside were unbearable for customers and product alike. "There were times when the candles inside the shop were melting," recalls Martin. The new facility is designed to be spacious and comfortable for customers. The interior design includes broader aisles, air conditioning, and electrical power in the floor to specifically accent product displays. Moreover, a gas fireplace was installed in the "cozy room," an area designed to mimic a comfortable family room atmosphere with wall prints on display. Throughout the store is a wide variety of unique merchandise including giftware, home decor, garden accents, nautical decor, and top quality rattan furniture. The majority of flowers and merchandise are imported. The flowers are imported directly from flower farms in countries such as Columbia, Ecuador, Indonesia, and the United States.

Ken Martin feels that the success of Cindy's Home and Garden is attributed to customer service, product quality and value for the dollar. With a staff of 17 employees, customer service is the top priority and is followed closely by product quality. "I stand behind my products one hundred per cent," notes Martin who also exports flowers bedding plants and potting plants wholesale to Cindy's Floral Distributing in Detroit, Michigan. Martin's second company is a wholesale floral company that deals directly with Florists and Garden Centres in the Detroit area. Opening in 1999, Cindy's Floral Distributing is a 4000 square foot warehouse located on Russell Street across from the Eastern Market.

Value for the dollar is a concept that Martin believes will gratify different types of consumers. "There is good quality and then there is better quality," says Martin. "We cater to just about everyone. There are products ranging in price from $3.00 to $300.00. This is ideal for a clientele base that is largely residential." To keep track of what customers are currently seeking, Ken Martin relies on his wife Christine. "Christine has read almost every arts and crafts book around. She is up all hours of the night researching and working to improve this business."

Martin adds that since the opening of his new gift shop, the response from the public has been great. One thing that he has noticed is that customers are extending their stay inside the gift store. To make room for the new facility and parking lot, three greenhouses were relocated and positioned at the rear of it. Martin is happy that the entire business is still situated behind the home he and Christine live in. "Being able to live here and manage the business is great. I can literally keep an eye on what's going on," he says.

As for the future, Martin says the company will focus on the development of the gift store and the public demand for products. "Christine and I use common sense when it comes to purchasing and displaying products. People's tastes change all the time so we must change with them," stresses Martin. Additionally, there may be future expansion for Cindy's Floral Distributing in Detroit. Due to limited storage and cooler space, the company may seek to relocate to a much larger warehouse.

Ken Martin's company has come a long way since consisting of a single greenhouse operation back in 1989. With the latest addition to Cindy's Home and Garden, Martin is emphatic about his company's future and the impact he is hoping to have on outside visitors and local residents.

"Just give the store a chance and you will see for yourself that there is not another place around like this one," says Martin.