The Only British Flowers Florist Shop on the UK High Street? | Electric Daisy Flower Farm

#52 - Flower Farmer Fiona Haser Bizony from the Electric Daisy Flower Farm shares her small business journey. Having originally worked as a ceramicist, then as an Artistic Director at an Arts Centre, she now runs her flower growing business in Somerset and a flower shop in London. From an early age, Fiona was keen to take charge of her own destiny. As a teenager, she managed to sort out a work experience placement at a local art college, instead of working in a bank. After A Levels, she did a degree in Three Dimensional Design at Brighton and majored in Ceramics. In the 1990s, she moved to London and in her studio, created ceramic garden pots. On spending time in Spain, she met her German husband-to-be, a painter. They moved to Germany, started a family and got married. Back then, they were already eco-conscious and interested in sustainability. Missing England, she moved back with her children before deciding to travel around the world for a year. On returning to the UK,  she set up a gallery and artist studios. Then aged 40, she started working as an Artistic Director at an arts centre. Gardening leave then followed and she felt that she should do something calming. Having always been interested in growing, she decided to do an RHS Horticulture Course. Then she began researching flower growing and also went on several flower growing and floristry courses. She decided to set up a flower farm, initially starting by renting a walled garden from a local farmer. Three years later, she found her current patch. She began creating floral designs for weddings and events. And was also asked to be an RHS Floral Artist in Residence. With her arts background, she realised that she needed to do something to stand out in the floristry world. And she made calendars featuring flower crowns she'd created every month. A couple of years ago, she was approached to open a shop in Highgate, London. It opened in February 2020. Then the pandemic took hold. Fiona talks about the impact of COVID-19 on her business. She shares her 2022 plans including holding workshops, documenting the flower farm on video and creating another calendar, before sharing her three tips. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Fiona is about British flowers, flower growing and sustainability. I'm sure you'll find the interview hugely inspiring!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode52Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version