EVOLUTION

It’s been nearly two months since my last blog, so much for regular blogs to keep people interested.  I have resigned myself to the fact I’m not a lover of routine or a great one for discipline so writing something every day was never going to happen and quite frankly I’m not sure I could find something interesting to say every day!  So apart from a lack of discipline what’s stopping me or more to the point what the heck has been going on for the last two months!?  Well I went back to work in my lovely shop but in a whole new way. The government allowed florists to take orders over the phone or through the website but must be behind closed doors so that’s what we have been doing.  Who are we? Julie, Trevor, and me. 

Carol is beavering away at home on my book-keeping, Sam will be back when Saturday's fully resume but still maintains the post of artistic inspiration and of course Mr D, always there for moral support, deliveries during busy times and pasties when required.   A merry little band of Bluebells working in a different way in this next stage of evolution.  Trevor and Mr Chunks (chocolate lab) are Logistics (deliveries), Julie – Customer Service (taking the all important orders), and me, well I’m back being a florist, and I love it!  Before lockdown I spent most of my time at my desk sorting paperwork, doing accounts, planning, social media or doing deliveries and not enough floristry! 

I have to say it was getting me down and I had lost a little love for what was my dream.  Since being back it’s been fantastic – I order and work with beautiful flowers and I totally love creating every single bouquet and design and every single one is different and unique – I just couldn’t design off a sheet. Every bouquet and every funeral tribute that goes out I have total control over, every piece of wrapping I decide on.  I send them out every day with Trevor with the strict understanding to look after my babies – because they really are.  Julie’s priority is to take the orders and bring in the sales and what a great job she is doing, it has been so busy, this side needed focus and Julie does this.

She is also keeping her hand in with the floristry, especially when the Feel Good Friday’s need to go out (more about that in a bit). Having Trevor doing all the deliveries for us, instead of me doing it, is an absolute life saver and he delivers everyone with a smile and chat and of course safely, and this he takes extremely seriously.

During these 6 weeks it has been busy, so many people wanting to send flowers to people they couldn’t see, send flowers to say Thank you for doing my shopping etc.  The phone didn’t stop ringing and our website has come up trumps – easy to use for our customers 24hours. We started the Feel Good Friday bunches, a £15 bunch of flowers, delivered for free on a Friday.  Oh my goodness I would say we have sent out over 150 of these and Trevor has said that when he delivers them it’s a joy – they are just not expected and so people are so surprised and thrilled to receive them – these have definitely brought so many smiles to people during this tough time.

Last Monday we finally opened our doors to our lovely customers again. We were a little nervous and we can see so are a lot of people. We have had to change the way we operate between ourselves, with the way we interact with our customers.  It’s starting to get busier in terms of people coming into the shop, tempted by our new range of fabulous plants and gifts. New display tables, new signs.

During this time we also hit a fantastic milestone of reaching over 3000 followers on Facebook! Amazing to image so many people keeping watch and supporting us. 

We have evolved.  I have no doubt that over the coming months we will evolve again depending what happens.  We don’t know whether it will get busier or just die down again when people go back to work.  Whatever, we will keep finding different ways to move forward and continue to bring happiness to people through flowers.

I personally have to say I am so thankful and genuinely grateful that people have come to us during this time – you have kept us going – thank you for choosing local, thank you for choosing us xxx