About Us

Calico Florist & Tux Rental is a family-owned business in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, established in 1984 by the Freeman family. Our mission has always been to create stunning floral arrangements and offer exceptional service.

A little backstory: Sylvia Freeman, the oldest of six siblings, began her journey in the beauty industry after earning her beautician’s license in 1964. At just 18 years old, she started her business, with Linda Robinson (wife of W.E. Robinson) as her first client. To this day, Linda remains a loyal customer and a cherished friend.

In 1977, Sylvia enlisted her father, J.C. Freeman, to build her a beauty shop. By 1978, CALICO was born, a name she chose to reflect the many styles and colors she would offer in hairdressing.

In January 1984, Sylvia’s brother, Rick Freeman, convinced J.C. that he could design and run a floral business in Soddy-Daisy. This idea perfectly complemented the CALICO name, as Rick’s talents were equally varied and colorful—just like the flowers he would soon be creating. 

In May 1984, CALICO FLORIST AND TUX RENTAL officially opened.

While Sylvia was making women look and feel beautiful in her beauty shop, she couldn’t help but be drawn to the florist showroom, discovering a new passion and hidden talents of her own. Meanwhile, Rick’s floral designs grew more and more extraordinary. He later became President of the Chattanooga Professional Florist Association and was the co-owner and head designer.

Sadly, in November 2014, Rick passed away. We take comfort knowing that he’s now creating beautiful arrangements in heaven.

In 2014, Sylvia’s sister, Melissa Freeman-Hill, joined the business full-time. Together, Sylvia and Melissa bring unmatched talent and creativity to every design, carrying on Rick’s legacy of love and care for our customers.

In 2019, another sister, Janice Freeman, retired from Erlanger Medical and joined the team full-time. Janice had been a part-time member of the Calico family for years, working evenings and weekends. Now, she is our dedicated delivery person, singer, sign-changer, and general helper.

In March 2025, the next generation joined the team: Garrett Hill, a talented designer who is continuing the Freeman tradition of excellence.

For those of you who’ve been serenaded by Janice during your delivery—whether it was a "Happy Birthday" "Happy Anniversary" or "Valentine's Day"—you know how special those moments can be. And if you’ve read our signs outside the shop, you’ll recognize those same thoughtful messages.

Calico Florist began in the living room of a mobile home and grew into our beautiful 1,800 sq. ft. showroom, located at 9123 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN, just off Highway 27.

Stop by to meet the Family—though be warned, on busy holidays and special occasions, the entire Freeman crew might show up to help! You just never know who you’ll run into.

We are proud to dedicate our business to God, and we’re grateful for the blessings He has brought into our lives. Our customers are incredibly important to us, and we strive to make each arrangement "worth more than words." Let us show you just how special you are to us!

We promise to serve you to the best of our ability and make your arrangement "worth more than words".  

Our tuxedos are available if pre-odered 2 weeks in advance. Simply call to make a reservation for your measurements and your choice of tuxedos.