Business & Tech

New Florist Brings A Touch of Vermont to Cranston

Kerrie Ducharme opened the shop on Cranston Street recently after living in Vermont for 25 years.

Where can you go to get seasonal decorations, custom gift baskets, table arrangements, garden ideas or flowers for a wedding? And pure Vermont maple syrup?

None other than A Touch of Vermont on Cranston Street — right near Itri Square.

You might not think the heart of Cranston is where you'll find the frugal sensibilities of rural Vermont living, but behind the door at Kerrie Ducharme's shop at 1738 Cranston St., you'll find it — along with a cornucopia of flowers, chocolates, candles, candies, plants and more.

Ducharme is a Rhode Islander by birth, growing up in Coventry, but she moved to Vermont and lived there for 25 years.

There, she ran a similar shop and quickly built a stable business catering to her customers who often needed weddings and holiday decorations done on a tight budget.

"It's difficult to live up there," Durcharme said. "It's cold, the winters are long, and the cost of living is much more expensive. People just don't have a lot of money to spend on their weddings, so I got really good at doing a lot with less."

In fact, Ducharme is an expert at repurposing the old and turning into new. Got a holiday wreath that's worse for wear? She can fix it up and make it better than new for next Christmas. Need someone to take what you already have and rearrange it? Durcharme can. 

"I'm not against working with something you have, like an old wreath or garland — I'll update it," she said. "I've been doing a ton of that: repurposing something someone already has and it can be amazing. I can make it look brand new for half the price."

She can also maintain your annual beds, or set planters up outside your business. Or if you need a florist for a special event but have a limited budget, Ducharme said she'll sit down and work something out with you and the end result might surprise you.

"You don't have to spend a ton of money to have something beautiful," Ducharme said. 

Maybe you want to put together a few gift baskets but can't find the right one. Durcharme will work with you to assemble something unique, whether you have everything you want to put in the baskets, or nothing at all. 

Weddings, funerals, parties, whatever the event, Ducharme said she'll work with her clients to get the right look without breaking the bank. In Vermont, she's worked with countless people who wanted — and deserved — a beautiful backdrop for their special memories but didn't have huge budgets. 

"In Vermont, you learn to pull together resources to make things look the way people want," she said. "I've gotten pretty good at it and so far, it has worked in my favor."

Ducharme had planned to move back to Rhode Island for years, and she finally did about four years ago. Until recently, she was helping to run a restaurant for someone when the Cranston Street location became available. 

It was the right spot and the diminutive building reminded her of the common sight of a small, standalone shop you often find on the side of the road in Vermont, where the strip mall isn't as common.

Inside, gleaming old-growth hardwood floors and displays she built from salvaged items found on the side of the road carry a bevy of items for perusal. Along with arranged flowers, decorations and seasonal items, you'll find things typically at home on the side of the road in Vermont: maple syrup, homemade fudge, jellies, marinades and salad dressings and more.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. most days. You can call Kerrie at 401-942-0647 at the shop, or check out the store's Facebook page.


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