Stella Gunter: Student-Athlete and Entrepreneur
Bluefield University junior and Bluefield, Virginia, native, Stella Gunter, is the owner of Narrow Gate Greenhouses and Floral, who has turned her passion for floral creation into a successful business.
In December of 2022, at only 19 years old and not long after graduating from Graham High School, Gunter opened the doors to her shop, offering diverse arrangements for weddings, school functions, and other formal events.
“I love Graham High School, but I was definitely not prepared straight out of high school,” said Gunter. “I had to learn everything on my own as far as opening a business.”
Gunter said she gets a lot of surprised reactions from people who hear about her journey.
“People tell me all the time, ‘that had to have been so hard,'” Gunter said, “but I tell everyone, I feel like it’s as difficult no matter what age you’re doing it at. I just chose to do it a little younger.”
When she’s not filling flower orders, Gunter is a student-athlete for the women’s golf and cheer teams at Bluefield University. As a business management major, she has been able to apply business skills to her courses. In addition to her business, Gunter said that the classes at BU have helped her “grow her identity in Christ,” which is directly how she runs her floral shop. She spoke about balancing the schedule of being a young entrepreneur and full-time student.
“Especially in my hometown, it’s great to know everyone, and where I came right out of high school when I started my business, it was a lot at first,” Gunter said. “Playing golf full time at Southwest Community College was an amazing experience. I graduated from there in the spring of 2024, and now I’m playing golf and cheering for Bluefield.”
In hopes to give back to the community she grew up in, Gunter also provides all the landscaping for Town Hall and the historic Sander’s House in Bluefield, Virginia. Bluefield town clerk Lori Stacy spoke about the creative value that young business owners, like Gunter, bring to the area.
“Young entrepreneurs are so inspirational,” Stacy said. “They give the whole business environment so much energy and they come up with the best ideas. So even if you feel like your business is maybe a little stale, it’s almost like they have these fantastic ways of keeping your business relevant.”
Gunter also spoke about her favorite part of being a member of the BU community.
“No matter where I am on campus or who they are, people will help you to the best of their ability,” she said. “Working with the community and being able to provide a service that makes people happy is a really important part of why I do this.”
Located at 427 Virginia Avenue in downtown Bluefield, Virginia, Gunter’s flower shop, Narrow Gate Greenhouses and Floral, is the perfect place to support small businesses and a fellow Ram.
