A Wiltshire florist with a decade of experience has been “overwhelmed” by local support since opening a new town centre store.
Kathryn Cooper opened The Blossom Tree flower and gift store on Maryport Street, in Devizes town centre, on February 6 this year.
The 34-year-old first started the business 10 years ago when she opened a premises in Market Lavington, which closed in October 2021 due to the pandemic.
Ms Cooper worked through the lockdowns selling flowers online from her home and has now teamed up with her friend Steena to open a second store in Devizes.
She said: “It’s an established business, we’re both qualified and get on really well… this was just the right place at the right time, it was perfect.
“The location is really good and that was a key thing to spur me on because we’ve got a lovely shop window that’s been redecorated inside and out, hopefully people will like it.
“This is perfect to meet and engage with your customers and for them to interact with the business.
“It’s definitely a more personal service and it’s just more fun to work in a shop where people can come in and choose from all the different options.”
The business has enjoyed a successful first few weeks in business and Ms Cooper told this paper she has been encouraged by the interest from the local community.
She added: “It’s been quite overwhelming, to be honest, I thought it would be busy because it’s a new shop and we painted it pink which is fun.
“But there’s been so much interest in people coming in… it’s been perfect because there’s been so much local support.”
Ms Cooper added that opening the florist’s would allow her to sell a greater range of products than she was able to at home, including items like dry flowers.
The newly revamped premises was partially funded by a grant from Wiltshire Council’s Vibrant Wiltshire programme to help fill vacant units.
Despite opening the shop, The Blossom Tree will continue to take online orders through its website.
“It’s been a long run and there’s been lots of changes to make sense of the business through Covid”, added Ms Cooper.
“Now we’re back to normality it makes sense to open a premises and welcome people back through the door.
“I’m proud of it but you have to give everything to the business, and it’s been a lot of support locally because without that you don’t have a business.”
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