Business is blooming for a Scottish startup after securing a six-figure deal with online flower delivery company, Bloom & Wild.
Couple Andrew Flynn, a former Dyson engineer, and marketing expert Eilidh Cunningham launched their Glasgow business POTR with the world’s first self-watering flat-pack 'origami' plant pot three years ago.
Eilidh said: “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but this feels like the start of a new phase and having access to so many new customers could be a game-changer."
After selling more than 15,000 products, the company has unveiled a new letterbox vase which has been launched exclusively with Bloom & Wild and is set to be delivered to thousands of customers over Valentine’s and Mother’s Day.
READ MORE: Scottish EDGE invests £1.5 million into 40 early stage businesses
Research and development for this new product was funded by the firm’s recent Scottish EDGE win. POTR was awarded £100k, despite having initially asked for £50k, while the company also won the Scottish EDGE Net Zero Award for its sustainable practices. And now, this new deal with Bloom & Wild is set to turbocharge POTR’s growth.
The funds raised will allow the company to expand its team, add to its range of products and enter new markets.
Andrew and Eilidh, who are set to get married in May, first contacted Bloom & Wild in August 2021 and have since spent 18 months working on concept designs, engineering and production for the reusable folding vase, with over 200 versions designed and engineered before reaching the final product.
Andrew said: “Like all of our projects, this just started with simple, paper, origami prototypes. This forces us to use as little material as possible, to make sure the product is as sustainable as it is beautiful and practical.
“We worked together to create countless iterations of the product. We are incredibly proud of the result and delighted to be partnering with Bloom & Wild.
“Often when people send flowers to friends, loved ones or colleagues, they might not know whether that person has the right-sized and shaped vase.
“Our flat-packed design ensures the recipient has a perfectly suited vase on arrival with their flowers - all with the convenience of a letterbox delivery."
The patent-pending vase, which features a soft rim to help cushion flower stems from damage, pops open out of the box for incredibly simple assembly and is designed to fit a full bouquet of flowers, while holding a litre of water.
Bloom & Wild Senior Product Designer, Hayley Glover, commented: “Our brand new letterbox vase has been on the Bloom & Wild wishlist for some time. We’re delighted to have developed it in partnership with the expert team at POTR. The result is a highly innovative product that provides a practical and playful solution to sending a complete letterbox bouquet gift. We’ve already had some great customer feedback.”
Speaking about POTR’s success and its products’ sustainable design and engineering, Evelyn McDonald, Chief Executive of Scottish EDGE said: “POTR Pots was a worthy winner of the Zero Waste Scotland supported Circular Economy EDGE award.
“Against tough competition, Andrew and Eilidh impressed the judging panel not just with their unique product design and well thought out route to market, but also with the business’ strong circular values.
“We are proud to be contributing to the Scottish Government’s mission to tackle the climate emergency through our support of sustainable businesses like POTR, and we look forward to watching the company, and its impact, grow in the months and years ahead”.
Eilidh and Andrew are currently expanding their team and undergoing major research and development into new products.
Eilidh said: “Being rubber-stamped by Bloom & Wild gives us a huge seal of approval that there is demand for our approach to sustainable design. This has given us the confidence to open doors on a global scale. We are now targeting the USA and Japan - the home of POTR’s origami inspiration - where we’re currently speaking to potential retail partners about our range of self-watering pots and believe there is a real appetite for our products.”
The vase, which is made from recycled polypropylene and high grade silicone, is designed to be shipped flat-packed, springing into its full form directly out of the box to ensure flowers have a home which keeps them fresh.
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