Florist shop run by mother and daughter on Hayling Island continues to bloom

A MUM and daughter say they are delighted to be featured as one of the UK's best small businesses.
Liza Bailey and her daughter Helen at their shop Seaside Florist in Rails Lane, Hayling Island have been named among the 100 small businesses in the UK to be celebrated by Small Business Saturday Picture: Malcolm Wells (160819-2556)Liza Bailey and her daughter Helen at their shop Seaside Florist in Rails Lane, Hayling Island have been named among the 100 small businesses in the UK to be celebrated by Small Business Saturday Picture: Malcolm Wells (160819-2556)
Liza Bailey and her daughter Helen at their shop Seaside Florist in Rails Lane, Hayling Island have been named among the 100 small businesses in the UK to be celebrated by Small Business Saturday Picture: Malcolm Wells (160819-2556)

Helen Bailey and her mum Liza run Seaside Florist in Rails Lane, Hayling Island.

They have been listed in Small Business Saturday UK’s Small Biz 100 for 2016, a grassroots, not-for-profit campaign, which focuses on small businesses across the country.

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They are among the select number of companies to be featured each day for the 100 days leading up to Small Business Saturday itself, which is held on December 3.

Seaside Florist opened in November 2010, when Helen was 18 years old.

The company offers gift bouquets, wedding flowers, sympathy flowers and flowers by post as well as monthly flower workshops in Hayling Island and Horndean.

Helen, from Hayling Island, said the key to their success was a focus on customer service.

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The 24-year-old said: ‘It is about being friendly. There’s so many places where you go and they are not, especially with massive businesses where the staff just do not care.

‘Being a small business, every person matters. We have a lot of people who come in just for a chat, but they might buy something one day. Being nice goes a long way.’

Helen said it was great to work alongside her mum Liza, 52.

‘We get on so well, we never argue. We are like the same person and even finish each other’s sentences,’ she said.

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And it’s not all mum and daughter power – dad Peter, a 54-year-old boat mechanic, and brother Peter, 24, who are both RNLI volunteers, are often called to pitch in at the florist with big orders.

Helen said they took part in Small Business Saturday last year, and offered discounts, before applying to be featured this year.

She said: ‘Small Business Saturday is an amazing idea and really helps to highlight what wonderful small businesses we all have right on our doorstep. With ever-increasing competition from big companies, we all need to work together to keep the high street alive.

‘And I think the support and encouragement given to small businesses will benefit our communities, economy and local employment.’

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It is the fourth year of the campaign, which last year saw £623m spent with small businesses across the UK on the day itself, an increase of £119m or 24 per cent on the previous year.

The campaign is free to participate in and any small businesses can get involved. In addition to the day, the campaign also gives help and advice alongside opportunities to connect with other small businesses.

Campaign director Michelle Ovens said: ‘The British public has a great affection for small businesses and we see that grow year on year. Small Business Saturday is an exceptional example of collaboration and co-operation with small businesses teaming up in communities around the UK.

‘The goal is to have a lasting impact on small businesses by changing mind-sets, so that people make it their mission to support small businesses all year round.’

For more go to smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com.

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