Positive attitude at Fleurtique as they prepare for online trade
‘ This time round we are more prepared,’ said Hilary Salmon, who is proprietor of Fleurtique on Florence Road along with Sally King.
While closing their shop-front, they will continue to operate online and answer the phone.
‘We will certainly be doing local service and deliveries,’ said Hilary.
‘Last time we had to stop because Holland had come to a complete lockdown,’ she said.
‘We couldn’t get flowers for the first couple of weeks and it took a while to get the supply back.’ They were then in a good state from there. ‘People did need us,’ said Hilary.
‘If someone was abroad and couldn’t get back for a funeral, they would send flowers, or if a wedding was cancelled.’ She said that it was also a nice way to contact a loved one in a nursing home.
‘We became a bit of a lifeline,’ said Hilary. She said that the website is totally set up and operating.
‘We are very lucky in that regard. You do miss out on Christmas sales, end of autumn sales, and plant sales. Those are things not on our website,’ she said. ‘We will push them more on Facebook.’
hilary said that they have a more positive take on things this time and aren’t as fearful.
‘Last time we fearfully stopped,’ she said, ‘Now we’re thinking of ways to keep going.’
She said that in Holland, too, they have found ways to keep going so there shouldn’t be a chain break this time.
‘It hasn’t been as out of the blue,’ said Hilary. ‘We have had notice and we’re all set to go.’
She said that the opportunity of grants having been available to develop online business had been invaluable for many businesses.
‘We didn’t need it as our website was already set up,’ she said, adding that the Enterprise Board had been extremely supportive of local businesses.
They had provided access to online courses, grant streams and other supports.
‘It all helped and hopefully everyone will do well and keep going.
‘I’m sure we’ll be back with a bang on December 1.’