Previous Business Spotlights

Williamson's Furniture - Nov. 2024
​Delta Community Action Foundation - Oct. 2024
​The White Feather - Sept. 2024
Pro Ag Services - Aug. 2024
Mercy Clinic Primary Care & General Surgery - June 2024
Backroad Spirits - May 2024
​York Janitorial Supplies & Equipment - April 2024
Royal Theatre - Feb. 2024
Wooster Funeral Home - Jan. 2024
Pauls Valley Tag Office - Dec. 2023
Valley Blossom - Nov. 2023
Sooner Home Furnishings - Oct. 2023
TH Rogers Lumber Co. - Sept. 2023
Tio's Restaurant - Aug. 2023
Lakeview Lavender Farm - July 2023

Valley Market
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Introduction

There’s a lot going on at Valley Market -- and to sum it up in one word, it’s “growth” -- in more ways than one.
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Located at 505 S. Walnut St., the business is at once a nursery, a recycling center, a garden center, a gift shop … and a training ground. Its hybrid mix of merchandise and service make Valley Market a natural fit for the Business Spotlight recognition from the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce. 

Continued

Growing as it has since launched in 2006, Valley Market offers flowers and plants to gardeners, sure, but the real growth happens in the lives of individuals who work there.

Valley Market is operated by Garvin County Community Living Center, Inc. as a community placement option for adult individuals – called “clients” -- with intellectual or developmental disabilities.  The clients are employed and help maintain the outdoor market and the store inside. A job coach teaches skills also relatable to other aspects of independent living in both group and one-on-one settings.

One of its newest clients is Mary Shaw. Mary has been able to learn how to fully open and close the store and use the Square transaction system for inventory, sales and daily reconciliation.  Brian Skidgel is another client employee. Brian has worked hard to learn the inventory and the prices of all the plants, pumpkins, and Christmas trees.  He is very professional in his interaction with customers that come to shop and is always challenging himself to learn more every day.

David Berrie, the store manager, and his crew are always helpful with planting and watering advice, gift ideas and landscaping suggestions. In the gift shop this time of year, you can find jams, jellies, candies, local honey, pet items, men's beard care items, soaps, lotions,  home decor/trinkets, and lots of stocking stuffers or last minute gifts. Outside they also have a fresh delivery of live Christmas trees!

Cathy Cash, the agency CEO, is still the main buyer of all things plant related. Cathy selects all plants that are grown or sold from spring into fall.  This includes many types of pumpkins, mums, vegetables, and Christmas trees. 

Besides being a great place to shop, Valley Market also hosts fun events throughout the year. These include the Easter Extravaganza, the Dog Dayz of Summer event, Fall Fest, Trunk or Treat and various Christmas events.

It all started small. GCCLC purchased the plot of land without any plans for it, but knew it was a good location for us to continue to develop its programs.  Since it had a large functional greenhouse on the east side of town, they decided to see if they could grow some of their own items to sell.  That fall, they grew several hundred mums and sold them from that location.  By the next spring, they had a temporary shelter and began growing and purchasing plants to sell.  It has grown and changed with every season, always making improvements.
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“We would like to express our deepest appreciation to our many valued customers that have made the Valley Market what it is today,” David says. “We are fortunate to have many long-term customers that have been with us since the beginning.  It is the customer base that allows us to continue to grow and expand.”