blooming lockdown

I promised myself early on that as a business we wouldn’t dwell on the pandemic for fear it might consume us.

For all it’s intensity and complications some good had to be born from those days.

The closure of our Brighton Station pop-up after 16 years was not without sadness but, like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, it has allowed us the time and reflection that we needed to realise our dream of opening a flower school.

For several years go.botanica had offered a paid internship to fledgling florists, immersive learning on the job, no mucking about! Broom in one hand and a bouquet in the other. We have always found that training our own staff was the answer to perfecting continuity within our brand.

Additionally I like to think we have contributed to our industry….thanks to that training there are several hugely talented and successful young women who have gone on to build their own brilliant flower businesses.#proudmom

Commercial floristry is not for the faint hearted ,trading seven days a week is not for everyone. Increasingly florists are electing to work as freelancers or solely engage in wedding work where overheads are significantly lower, wastage, profit and man hours can be easily contained.

Sure, as commercial florists we bear all the trappings of overheads and responsibilities to our employees however… we also benefit emotionally and financially from the day-to-day needs and engagement of our community. I wouldn’t, couldn’t swap shop life for the alternative.

Every go.bo day is like a sitcom! You don’t need to hang around one of our shops for long before you hear the peels of laughter. If working alone during lockdown taught me one thing it was that I missed my go.bo girls. I missed my customers. I missed people!

Flowers have always been a huge part of who I am and I think most florists would say the same: it’s not a choice, it’s our oxygen. Over covid, as our immediate world shrank, even the most cynical remembered the importance and impact of flowers.

When other avenues closed hand over fist, knowing that we could send our bestie a little doorstep delivery to keep them going through a tough week or our Mum a virtual flowery hug on her Birthday became invaluable. The sense of utter helplessness and brutality of not being able to hug someone special let alone attend the funeral of a loved one or honour and celebrate their life was somehow softened by interpreting our feelings in flowers.

We have so much gratitude for the love we received during lockdown, the customers who took their daily exercise past the shop with its inhospitably barred doorway just to raise a hand and a cheery ‘Hello’. So many kind encouraging words and an overwhelming sense of worth. Thank you ❤

Early into the lockdown we were inundated with customers asking if they could set up direct debits for regular flower deliveries. When you drearily scrape aside your tea and toast to make way for your laptop often the brightest thing in the room is the jug of tulips on the table.

Thanks to this incredible loyalty our go.bo club house subscription service was born… it made perfect sense! We could still offer a wonderfully bespoke service and continue to be connected to our customers.

How does our bespoke subscription differ to others ? Well, once you have determined how much and how often you would like your flowers, one of our florists gives you a call to discuss preferences, dislikes, colourways and even what vases you use. We keep a record of what seasonal flowers you have to ensure variety.

It’s proved to be a hugely popular gift too…what better way to persistently remind your Mum that you are her favourite child than a monthly subscription of beautiful seasonal flowers? There’s no catch… you are in control and you can stop and start whenever you like! And we don’t spam your inbox either although club members will be invited to various flowery events through the year.

Once Boris waved the chequered flag for the most patient customers of all… wedding fever hit! Through all the setbacks, the disappointments, false-starts, emails (so many bloody emails), seasonal changes and heartache watching (often) several wedding dates slip quietly past, it has been so gratifying to finally flower up these glorious occasions made all the sweeter for the wait.

2021 Brides and Grooms we will never forget you! In fact I’m kind of missing you already!

With wedding season getting going again now, we can at last turn our attention to our new baby. Our intention is to bring an element of our actual working day to the flower school. Whilst some of our classes will be purely recreational, washed down with a glass of fizz, others will be wholly immersive: a go.botanica employee for a day! I promise you one thing: you’ll soon know if it’s your calling!