Liz had been on my hit list for months and months, but almost because I see her so often (sometimes multiple times a week), I kept overlooking her name on my list... Until I didn't, and one day I rang up, and as always said 'hi, it's Michelle, podcast lady'... But this time, rather than ordering some flowers, I asked her if I could pod her.
And of course she said yes, how could she say no, he he!
The chat was fab, and we giggled a lot, not least from her staff heckling her in the background, one of which is her son, Merren, who Liz is hoping will take on the business soon (Liz is looking to retire and travel, although given she does her passion-hobby for a business, it's quite clear that she won't fully retire at all - she simply wants some time to go off and travel, and then come back and do what she does).
The noise you can hear in the background is the hustle and bustle of the shop and the back room activity, including some chatter from one of the staff doing a wedding consultation in the shop (we were just behind in the back room)... At one point the staff member came in and asked Liz for a photo of a particular display style they'd done before (to show the bride to be), and Liz's response was simply to, 'just make it up and show them'.
Because really personal customer service is everything to a job like this, and to Liz's really personal approach, which is lovely.
It was sad to hear (at the start) that Liz feels florists are given a bad rep... That they are seen almost as low-level market traders - not that there is anything wrong with market traders! Her point being that it is a hugely creative role, and certainly running a retail premises alongside needs additional business skills.
There's no doubt that we ALL LOVE FLOWERS. Giving and receiving them as human beings is utterly joyful, and that will never change. Certainly every bouquet of 'Pollen' flowers I give to my podcasts guests goes down brilliantly. The women are always really shocked and grateful, which is lovely, but as I always say to them, I am the one that is grateful to them, for them giving up their time, and for graciously telling their stories.
Which brings me on to what I gave/gifted Liz, given flowers would have been slightly odd (either because I would have needed to get them from elsewhere - god forbid - or because she may have needed to make them?!), so I gave cake... A selection of lovely cakes from a local cake shop, and they went down a treat!
Enjoy.
Chops x
Pollen's social handles are: @pollen_floristry and their website is: https://www.pollenfloristry.co.uk
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