Lauren Otis, Staff Writer
On Wednesday afternoon it was dark, gray, cold and wet in Princeton, unless you happened to be paying a visit to Viburnum, a new flower and decoration store on Nassau Street.
Stepping into the brightly lit store, a visitor is immediately surrounded by a heady mix of sweet pollen smells, saturated floral colors, and rich vegetation, with a warm verbal counterpoint provided by the lilting Irish accents by co-owners Ashling O’Brien and David Jackson.
”It’s a flower shop with a twist,” said Mr. Jackson of the store.
His interior design background and Ms. O’Brien’s experience as a florist enables them to cater to a broad spectrum of needs, from a walk-in customer who simply wants some flowers to large scale weddings, corporate and other events, both say.
”The feedback has been great,” Ms. O’Brien said. “People are instantly drawn in by the smell and the flowers, especially with the weather so cold, it is just very inviting,” she said.
”We are open a week and I cannot tell you how many people have come in,” describing how Princeton needed a shop like theirs, Ms. O’Brien said.
”We’re both Irish, and my mom is in the business and my dad is a huge rose man. It’s always been in the family, it’s a huge passion,” said Ms. O’Brien of her interest in flowers.
Because of their joint talents “we feel we have a good understanding of what a customer wants and every customer is different,” said Ms. O’Brien.
Because of the European-influenced designs they create at Viburnum — the name comes from a genus of flowering shrubs — Princeton seemed to be a great place to start their business, Ms. O’Brien said.
”Princeton has a huge European influence. The people come from so many backgrounds,” she said.
Ms. O’Brien is originally from Dublin and Mr. Jackson from Cork. They both met over a decade ago in Ireland — “Ireland’s a small place,” Ms. O’Brien said — and have been good friends ever since. She said she had always thought about opening a shop of her own but the prospect seemed too daunting on her own, so when Mr. Jackson proposed they jointly open a flower/design store she thought the idea of going into business with a partner was a great one.
”It has always been my dream. It worked out very well having a partner,” she said.
After speaking to Ms. O’Brien about the idea of a store in the fall, Mr. Jackson said he looked at several spaces in Princeton before coming across the vacant storefront which formerly housed White Lotus Futon.
”We just said this space is perfect,” Mr. Jackson said.
He said the sizeable, airy space and the large front windows were what drew him and Ms. O’Brien to it.
”We had to do a lot of decorating,” said Ms. O’Brien, including putting up wallpaper, repainting the ceiling, and encasing the pillars in the space in fabric. The store currently has two other full-time employees in addition to its owners, and a team of five freelancers that Ms. O’Brien and Mr. Jackson can call on if needed.
Once they get the store established, Ms. O’Brien and Mr. Jackson, who both live in the Bridgewater area, said they plan to relocate nearer to Princeton.
”I definitely hope to move within walking distance” of the store, said Ms. O’Brien, who said she has already happened upon a Bernese mountain dog companion in Princeton for the two she owns.
They are excited about getting involved with the Princeton community, both say. Mr. Jackson said Viburnum has already set up a partnership with Merrick’s, the long-established women’s clothing store around the corner on Moore Street, for a bridal show that will run Feb. 6 to 8.
”We are gearing up for Valentine’s Day, it’s very scary, our first Valentine’s Day, in a recession,” she said. “We’ve gotten such a good response so I feel better,” she said.
The poor economy is a factor, but Mr. Jackson and Ms. O’Brien said they weren’t deterred in starting their dream store because of it. With a creative and broad selection and the right pricing, they should be fine, Ms. O’Brien said.
”People always need flowers,” she said.
Vibernum is located at 202 Nassau St. in Princeton. Until the end of February customers get 10 percent off on anything in the store. For more information call (609) 683-8800 or go to www.viburnumdesigns.com.

