Auckland florists are back in business after the weeks of level 4 lockdown that saw them lose countless bookings and stock go to waste, and they are still calling on Aucklanders to support them by sending flowers to their mums, friends, and colleagues.
Floral studio Isadia opened nearly a year ago after the level 4 lockdown of 2020 when independent florists Isabel Johnston and Lydia Reusser decided to join forces - and their names.
"We were not prepared for level 4, it definitely came as a surprise," Reusser tells. Masked up over Zoom, she and Johnston are back in their shop getting orders out to customers.
"We had quite a few events on we weren't able to do. We had to completely shut down, we had two canceled weddings and six postponements. "It had a carry-on effect for us and our clients, it was challenging because the supply chain was disrupted by the lockdown."
The pair say the support for their business has been overwhelming since the levels moved down. "We've had a really amazing response, we've had so many orders and lovely messages from people wanting to support us." Flower lovers are a special community, Johnston says - "without it, we wouldn't exist anymore".
But while Reusser and Johnston were able to take home or give away most of their stock, their suppliers were not so lucky. Images of floral stock gone to waste have appeared all over the internet as flower farmers pleaded with the Government to let them operate. "It's massive for the flower farmers, it's the only primary industry that wasn't allowed to trade during level 4," Johnston says.
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