Couple's Decision To Open Florist Reaps Rewards

Wed, 17 Oct 2007

Eleanor and Jeremy Howard, owners of Chloris Flowers in Norwich, have been recognised with the Gold Award of Excellence for the second time in a row – proving that their decision to quit well-paid office jobs at Norwich Union in order to start their own florist business was the right choice.

The award, presented by the Flower Council of Holland, means that the couple’s business is the only florist in East Anglia to have achieved this level and also makes them one of only six in the UK to have achieved a gold two years running .

Mrs Howard said: "We were over the moon when we won because it was a lot of hard work ."

"We stepped it up a gear this year but we really didn't think we stood a chance. It's absolutely fantastic. I can't put it into words how it feels," he added.

The couple stated the business in 2005 after leaving their jobs at Norwich Union due to Mrs Howard's passion for working with flowers which led to night classes in floristry .

This year’s nomination by the Flower Council of Holland was in recognition of the company’s modern website, customer loyalty scheme and its Christmas Day bouquet-delivery scheme .

Mrs Howard added: "I think things like the award keep you up to spec and keeps you fresh and motivated and I think it's really good for the business ."

"It makes you do things you might not do if you didn't really have to."

Chloris Flowers will be hoping to go all the way at this year’s event, after narrowly missing out on the top award last year, and scoop the £5,000 prize as well as the prestigious title of ‘Flower Shop of the Year 2007’.

The winner will be announced in January 2008 at the International Spring Florist Event held at the Birmingham ICC.
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