It has been an idea in the pipeline for three years, and for one florist, her ambition is to become a reality. Florist Alli Clover has wanted to open her own flower shop near Ely, having gained experience working in and around Cambridge in the floristry industry.
“I’ve always wanted to have my own flower shop and have had my eye on it for three years,” she said. “I felt now was the right time to open and I’m really excited.”
Alli, formerly a regional manager for a fashion firm, said the premises on Fore Hill in Ely has “sat empty for years” and was due to open earlier this year. However, because of the Covid-19 lockdown, she was unable to open her Wild Clover Flower Company shop. “As I was furloughed for around five-and-a-half months, it gave me time to reflect on what I wanted in my future, and it’s this,” said Alli.
“It’s an old-fashioned, little shop offering a full service, catering for all occasions.”
Having dealt with “about 600 people reporting into me” in her last job, Alli feels more daunted by the prospect of running her own business.
The move comes after Alli operated as a florist from her own home workshop, and has quickly built up customer support.
“I won’t be working to anyone else’s guidelines; I’m creating all the products myself,” she said. “I think the aim is to build that client base and have a great reputation.”
She wants to take on a rather unexpected approach with her service, offering products she believes are hard to find in surrounding areas. “People have talked about the style I offer, as I’m in favor of unexpected things you might not get from other flower chains,” Alli said.
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