An Edinburgh florist with a skill for creating unique and colourful displays for her customers has spoken of how she had to battle adversity to get her business back up and running following the 'death of the High Street' in Corstorphine.
Nicola Boyd, from Parkhead, has been in the industry for over two decades and says that she feels very privileged when someone chooses her business to create designs. But it was not all plain sailing for the entrepreneur who was forced to lay off staff and close her shop after issues relating to roadworks and a fall in passing trade hampered her business in 2018.
But the 42-year-old, who has created a variety of impressive floral displays for her clients, from Stone Island badges, to Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian emblems and even a large Volkswagen camper van for a funeral, is now busier than ever after restarting her business over the Covid period.
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Nikki became a carer for three years for a close family member after the closure of her business but decided to restart her floristry career in order to bring some money in during the pandemic. She says that the amount of customers and clients coming to her for her services has also led to her reopening a florist shop at Jock's Lodge.
She said: "I opened my first store around 2012 and had a great team with me in Corstorphine. But unfortunately the High Street just died a death with the amount of roadworks taking place and a fall in passing trade really took its toll.
"It was devastating when we had to close in 2018 and I had to lay off staff. I then cared for a close family member for three years before revisiting floristry at the start of the pandemic to bring in some extra funds.
"Since then business has been booming and we have been able to reopen a store at Jock's Lodge. I was even able to convince my senior florist Jennifer, who I have worked with for eight years, to come back from a job she had elsewhere."
She says that she is thankful to other florists for giving her the experience and opportunity to build her own career and that often her job offers her a therapeutic escape from the trials and tribulations of life.
She said: “I've been a florist for over 20 years now and I feel completely privileged when someone chooses me to be their floral designer. I am always humbled to be trusted with my customers' visions, which is a key driving force for me not only to live up to their expectations but to exceed them.
“I love my job. I am very passionate about flowers and how they can help improve people’s mood.
“To see the smile on customers' faces when I create flowers is priceless and I couldn't think of a better career to have. It has also provided an outlet to escape the everyday realities and been a therapeutic haven for me.
“I had always wanted to be a florist from a young age. Once I got a feel for working with flowers there was no going back.
“I trained in floristry through shop experience and was taught many things from other great florists, who I will be forever grateful for. I have taken a lot from their teachings and have added my own touch to give my customers a bespoke service that meets their needs.”
Nikki specialises in funeral tributes but is also skilled in all aspects of floristry. She has created football badges, Elvis tributes and even peculiar displays like a Dragon Soop can and a police box tardis.
In images supplied by Nikki, her attention to detail and personalised touch can be seen in the items that she creates. There is no design that the florist is unable to turn her hand to as showcased with the more traditional bouquets seen in the images.
The local business owner is also committed to offering opportunities to others in her community by hiring trainees and a senior florist from nearby her store.
She added: “I am able to provide services that cover all aspects of floristry but we specialise in funeral tributes.
“I have a fantastic team with a senior florist Jennifer who has worked with me for eight years. We also hired two trainee florists from the local Corstorphine community when our store was situated in the past.
“Anyone looking to find us can do so by visiting our website here, or our Instagram and Facebook. Our store is located at 9 Wolseley Place EH8 7AD if anyone would like to pop in and have a chat about what we can offer.”
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