A SCOTTISH start-up is blossoming into a major business thanks to a six-figure deal with Europe’s leading online flower delivery company.
POTR came to prominence three years ago when it launched the world’s first self-watering origami plant pot.
After selling more than 15,000 products, the firm has unveiled a new letterbox vase, which has been launched exclusively with flower delivery retailer Bloom & Wild in time for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
Research and development for this new product was funded by the firm’s recent Scottish EDGE win of £100,000. The company also won the Scottish EDGE Net Zero Award for its sustainable practices. The funds raised will allow the company to expand its team, add to its range of products and enter new markets.
Company directors Andrew Flynn, a former Dyson engineer, and marketing expert Eilidh Cunningham, first approached Bloom & Wild in August 2021 and have spent 18 months working on designs, engineering and production for the reusable folding vase, going through more than 200 versions before reaching the final product.
Flynn 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 the incredible team at 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 vase, for which a patent is pending, is made from recycled polypropylene and high grade silicone. It is designed to be shipped flat, then pops open out of the box to fit a full bouquet of flowers, in a litre of water.
Bloom & Wild senior product designer Hayley Glover said: “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.”
Evelyn McDonald, CEO 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.”
In what will be a busy year for the couple, Eilidh and Andrew are set to get married in May, all while expanding their team and undergoing major research and development into new products.
Due to huge interest for POTR’s products, the business experienced its busiest ever Christmas after being inundated with orders, but now the firm feels ready to meet further demand.
Cunningham 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. 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 US 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, springing into its full form directly out of the box to ensure flowers have a home which keeps them fresh.
You can order the letterbox vase at Bloom & Wild.
To learn more about POTR Pots – and to explore their growing range of eco-friendly, self-watering flat pack plant pots – visit their website: www.potrpots.com.
