The tiny bell on the door rings as customers enter The Painted Lady to alert owner Christine Kosirog of a new arrival.
The walls are a pale pink, there is the gurgling sound of water flowing for ambient noise and it smells of fresh morning
mist, soil and flowers.  There are little bud vases lined up along one wall of various colors and shapes and Buddha’s
are sitting, stretching, laughing and making mayhem scattered here and there.  She is pushing up tulip bulbs right now,
they are just peeking their heads out of the mossy topsoil.  It is an intimate space tucked around the corner from
Wheatfield’s and Weavers on 9th and that is exactly the way Kosirog likes it.  She has patterned her quaint floral
retreat after a flower shop on Newbury Street in Boston where she attended school.  It has a European feel with
pre-wrapped hand-tied bouquets propped in large tin buckets for the cash and carry crowd, or if you are feeling a
bit more creative the flowers are laid out in such a manner that you can pick one or two or create a colossal arrangement
with all your arms can embrace.   It is definitely user friendly, no need to ask for assistance so someone can get
in the cooler and collect the goods you seek.  Kosirog prides her store on filling a gap where grocery stores and
big box mega marts lack, she states, “The difference at The Painted Lady is in the quality and variety of flowers
available, and in the layout of the shop.  I never carry carnations or the traditional baby’s breath, and only rarely
have roses (if I do, they will be something really spectacular).  I am not a flower snob-a beautiful flower is a
beautiful flower regardless of what it is called.  I just feel as if that market is saturated and I offer items like
Ranunculas, orchids, Casa Blanca lilies, parrot tulips, pussy willow, flowering branches and items you just will not
find at Target.”

Kosirog is a native of Kansas City, 28 years old with two children, Lily who is 4 and Elliott who is almost 2, her
husband Matt ultimately brought her back to the area and to Lawrence where he was a member of the band the Get Up
Kids and now plays with The New Amsterdams.  She worked in a flower shop in Boston and has taken a class in arranging
flora but she doesn’t want to necessarily guide her customer’s choices, she says, “I want people to follow their own
senses and have fun with it, you don’t need a degree and I don’t want people to be intimidated by arranging flowers.”

The Painted Lady is a highly personal endeavor for Kosirog as the name itself implies, she explains, “The name has many,
many meanings for me.  I collect tattoos, so, The Painted Lady is me…but, it also has ties to nature-types of flowers,
butterflies, and moths are called “Painted Lady.”  But ultimately, I chose the name because like the old, beautiful
houses coined “Painted Ladies”, I am taking something old and putting a new spin on it.”

Kosirog goes to the flower markets often and hand selects what The Painted Lady will stock that week, much of that
decision making is based on listening to what her customer’s desire.  This is not just a little bouquet business
however they also cater to larger parties, she is gearing up for wedding season and her calendar is quickly becoming
booked, they do other big events and holiday décor as well.  The Painted Lady offers city-wide delivery and when the
weather permits they are implementing bicycle delivery for a reduced fee to downtown patrons and neighborhoods nearby.
Kosirog has some other unique privileges she provides to customers, she elaborates, “We offer frequent buyer cards-
buy 12 bouquets at $10 and receive the 13th free.  We are also implementing a Flower Subscription program, where
customers (residential and corporate) can get flowers and seasonal plants on a regular basis.”

The future for The Painted Lady is creating a truly interactive website where patrons can easily order flowers.
Kosirog is working with local flower farmers to provide some of the heady selections this summer and is taking the
growth of the business with an even keel, she states, “My mantra has been to grow slow and steady, not only for the
sake of my business, but for the sake of my family.  I am going to focus on my retail front now, and see where my
customers want me to go.”

Customers should find that there is always plenty of room to beautify your life with flowers and that the unique,
small-business and authentic feel of downtown Lawrence is only improved when the exceptional, creative and romantic
is brought to our city streets.

• 15 W. 9th Street Lawrence Kansas 66044
• 785-856-7202
• fax 785-856-7203
• www.paintedladyflowers.com