When Cindy Cancilla opened Flowers by Cindy in 2011, it was a hobby, a way to give back to the community.
Flowers are her world, and arranging them into colorful, eye-catching bouquets started was something she did for fun in high school. Cancilla grew up in Shinglehouse, a borough in Potter County that borders New York state. Her town’s population was a little over 1,000, and her graduating class was less than 50.
During her junior year at Oswayo Valley High School, she arranged a bouquet of wildflowers and entered them in the local county fair. To her surprise, she won a ribbon. A year later, she earned a second ribbon.
Cindy Cancilla talks about touching the the two loves in her life, teaching and starting a successful business, Flowers by Cindy in Glen Rock.
“I just love flowers. I was always out in the country, picking flowers and arranging them in the house for my parents and such,” Cancilla said.
After her placement at the county fair, a local florist offered to take Cancilla under her wing.
She learned how to make professional floral arrangements and fulfill hundreds of delivery orders during major holidays. Pretty soon, she got the hang of it.
“While I was teaching, I always worked at flower shops on the side,” she said. She started making custom arrangements out of her home while working as a special education teacher at Dallastown Area School District.
As she reached her teaching retirement, Cancilla hoped to do something for the community, whether it was through volunteer work or a business of her own.
Flowers wait for customers at Flowers by Cindy in Glen Rock January 13, 2025.
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‘It was my second love’
She started Flowers by Cindy in 2011 in a small storefront in downtown Glen Rock, on the corner by the rail trail.
When she outgrew that space, her brother found a vacant space in a strip mall on Manchester Street, where the shop currently stands. When the business started out, her brother ran the shop throughout the day, and after her teaching job Cancilla would bring in the flowers from the wholesaler and make all the arrangements.
The next day, he would make the deliveries. Eventually her mother, who was in her 80s at the time, joined the team. “It was totally from scratch, it was just a dream of mine, and we’ve had a really good time putting it together.”
All Christmas items are 75 percent off and fall items are 80 percent off as Cindy Cancilla readies to transfer the business over in mid-year at Flowers by Cindy in Glen Rock January 13, 2025.
Her clients range from the 40 local churches she serves with weekly and holiday arrangements, local businesses and community members shopping for prom, homecoming, Valentine’s Day and Cancilla’s personal favorite – Mother’s Day arrangements.
“I’ve never looked back,” she said. “It (Flowers by Cindy) was my second love. I enjoyed teaching tremendously, but to get to do the two favorite things in your life, it’s been very fulfilling.”
The shop currently offers vases for sale, holiday décor, a variety of fresh flowers and same-day pick-up floral arrangements, including roses and a variety of daisies, including the gerbera, featured in the store’s logo.
Cindy Cancilla’s favorite flower is the Gerber Daisy.
Her staff of seven also make holiday wreath arrangements, and centerpieces among more décor which is currently for sale at 80% off.
“It’s rewarding in so many ways because it’s a community business.” As often as she can, Cancilla tries to partner with local businesses, which currently include Peter’s Produce, an Amish family-owned farm in Brogue, Anne Stein’s candy and Cabin Creek Nursery.
Her goal was and always has been to serve her community by providing floral arrangements for celebrations, holidays, sympathy, grief and loss.
Now, as she looks back on nearly 15 successful years in business, Cancilla announced her plans to retire this spring, to spend time with her family and care for her elderly parents.
Her goal is to pass on the shop, a true labor of love, to another flower enthusiast, who plans to run the shop with the same amount of love and passion, that she has.
Cancilla announced her retirement early so that she could spend time creating arrangements for upcoming holidays and celebrations including Valentine’s Day, Easter and prom season.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Beloved Glen Rock florist Cindy Cancilla will retire this spring