It’s all coming up roses for couple’s sweet flower shop
Everything is coming up roses for a husband and wife team who launched a new business in Sunderland during the pandemic.
Fred and Jenn Dawson decided to launch Flowers by Jennifer and Pop’s Candy in Blandford Street, after Jenn was made redundant during the pandemic.
Selling more than 240 varieties of traditional sweets and an array of artfully-arranged bouquets, the couple first mulled over the idea of opening the store last year, but it wasn’t until Jenn lost her job at the end in March that they decided to grasp the nettle.
Fred said: “I owned my own florist up until the last recession in 2007 and taught floristry at Sunderland College, while Jenn worked in
the industry for more than 20 years until March.
“I n i t i a l l y, we’d d e c id e d to delay launching the business due to the pandemic, but faced with the prospect of having no fixed income and the uncertainty of not knowing how long the crisis would last, we decided to just go for it and we haven’t looked back.”
The couple have received advice from the North East B u s i n e s s a n d I n n o vat i o n Centre (BIC) and were able to tap into funding and business support to help get the business off the ground.
Fred added: “The support we’ve received from the team at the BIC has been excellent.”
Opening the store amidst a global pandemic may have been a gamble but, having already welcomed hundreds of customers through their doors and are already discussing plans to expand, once trading conditions improve.
Jenn added: “The feedback and support we’ve had from our customers so far has been overwhelming.
"We’re only utilising half our floor space, but have discussed opening up the back of the store next year and expanding our offering to sell gifts.
"Hopefully we can become a one-stop-shop for people looking for gifts.
“While it has been challenging during the pandemic, we are looking forward to the future and hopefully bringing a little bit of cheer to people during what is such a difficult time for people.”
Janice Marsh, business adviser and trainer at the North East BIC, said: “It’s been great working with Jenn and Fred and we’re delighted to have helped them get the business off the ground.”