The Wolverhampton shop, run by twin sisters the Richards, the business has been going for 10 years now, with the help of grandad, and mom and dad on the delivery side of things. Over the years they have won many awards and today was a day to celebrate.
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00:00 How you doing guys? Richard's Floris, Brad Moore and a bit of a special day for yourselves, just fill us in.
00:08 We've been open ten years, so yeah, quite quick.
00:13 And I'm not seeing double, your twins are.
00:16 Yeah, twins are identical to each other, although you can tell the difference, we're a bit older.
00:21 So it's you two girls that run it together?
00:24 Yeah, yeah, and then we have people help us do it for these reasons.
00:28 Well actually that's where the dog's making his voice now, and he's at the back.
00:32 He's the one that's mouth's off all the time.
00:34 Hi Mrs Yacht!
00:36 So we've got with you, go on, who've we got with you ladies?
00:39 So we've got my dad, my mum, my grandad and Jessie's little girl, Pippa.
00:44 Cool, next generation.
00:46 Yeah, she's going to take over one day.
00:49 Although she don't know yet.
00:52 So grandad with his amazing bow tie, you used to do the deliveries didn't you?
00:58 That's right, yeah.
00:59 Cool, and then mum and dad, same with you really, you helped out.
01:02 Yeah, yeah, we still help out.
01:04 Used to keep you busy.
01:05 Used to keep you off the streets.
01:07 That's right.
01:08 Stopped all causing mischief.
01:10 Yeah, yeah.
01:11 So ten years in business, I mean, you know, you must have seen a few things come and go, you know, it's been tough times hasn't it?
01:18 You were saying during Covid it's been very tricky.
01:21 Yeah, at times, yeah, through multiple road closures, Covid, stuff like that.
01:27 Actually a simple road closure can knock you can't it, big time.
01:30 But you've ridden any storms and you're here to do ten years.
01:34 You're not going anywhere, hopefully another ten more.
01:36 Hopefully not, no.
01:38 I'm a little wrinkly.
01:40 So what is it, if people don't know the shop, is it a bit of everything you do?
01:45 Have you got a speciality? Just fill us in a little bit.
01:47 So we do all sorts really, we're like multi-award winning florists that we can kind of turn our hand to most things if not everything.
01:55 Yeah.
01:56 So we've done all sorts of design work, we do like gift work, funeral work, weddings, events, anything really flower related.
02:05 And plants as well.
02:07 So have you kind of managed to establish that kind of loyal customer base, do you get people coming back like regular?
02:12 Yeah, we get people coming back all sorts of, all the time really, some are yearly, some weekly.
02:19 You can get that with a florist can't you, you can build that kind of relationship, you know, where a family will say, oh well we use so and so florist, you know, which is quite nice.
02:27 I've been to Chelsea several times.
02:30 Yeah?
02:31 Yeah.
02:32 Oh wow, okay.
02:33 You know, Chelsea awards.
02:35 Chelsea flower shop.
02:37 So you said multi-award winning, so what are some of the awards you've picked up then over the years?
02:41 We've got three Chelsea gold medals.
02:43 Yeah?
02:44 We nearly got, well I think it was you that nearly got best in show didn't you?
02:49 Yeah, it was.
02:50 Wow.
02:51 Half a point off.
02:52 And then we've competed regionally, nationally at UK skills and world skills.
02:58 Yeah.
02:59 I represented the UK for floristry in 2011.
03:03 Wow.
03:04 For world skills and won a medallion of excellence.
03:06 Yeah.
03:07 And yeah, we've done various other competitions between us.
03:11 Yeah.
03:12 So when you enter somewhere like Chelsea, what is that, is it a particular display that you do, like a bouquet or, you know what I mean?
03:18 No, so you get given a brief about, I think it's about six weeks, it might be a bit less than that.
03:24 Yeah.
03:25 For the actual show.
03:26 Yeah.
03:27 You have to go through heaps to get there originally or, you know, whatever.
03:30 But then you get a set amount of time with a brief, you have to, you know, follow certain rules and regulations and stuff like that.
03:39 And then make whatever it is that they do.
03:42 So I've had to make a chandelier and then when we both competed, we both had to make a wreath.
03:48 So we do put them in the window every now and again.
03:51 Oh, wow, okay.
03:52 Usually around kind of make time when Chelsea's going on and stuff.
03:57 So you might see them.
03:58 Yeah, keep your eyes peeled.
03:59 You must be very proud then, Mum and Dad, of what your girls have, I mean, frankly, I've got twin boys, there are only 11,
04:06 but to have twins that don't just fight all day is an achievement, isn't it?
04:10 So for two girls, two twins to be in business together and successful, must be very proud really.
04:16 Absolutely, absolutely.
04:17 It's been a long journey, you know, we had a lot of mess in the house.
04:23 [Laughs]
04:25 When they were training and competing, there was a lot of mess.
04:31 Still tight mess to the rest of it.
04:33 Absolutely.
04:34 One of the Chelsea pieces, it was quite big and it was hanging off my light socket.
04:40 Was that one?
04:41 Yeah, yeah, it was.
04:43 Yeah, that was a bit of a hairy mark.
04:45 I thought the ceiling was actually going to come in at one point.
04:48 But no, they've done really well.
04:51 Yeah, cool.
04:52 And they will continue to do well.
04:54 Without a doubt.
04:55 We're really proud.
04:56 Really proud, great stuff.
04:57 Absolutely, absolutely.
04:58 Well, thank you ladies for letting us share this day with you at Expressing Style.
05:02 Thank you.
05:03 Thank you very much and thanks to all the customers as well.
05:06 Whee!
05:07 And the family as well.
05:08 Without all that, we couldn't do anything.
05:10 Absolutely.
05:11 Yeah, cool.