Bees Flowers

The shop on Main Street dates back to 1918 and was once a saddlers’, its shop front has remained the same since then. Fiona was keen to maintain the original period look of the shop window, which adds to its character but time had taken its toll. Florists’ shops by their nature are damp and there is little scope to heat the shop space because the flowers and plants need to be kept cool. The Kimberley Means Business grant of £5000 meant that she could have the front window restored and a new swing sign installed.

Work was undertaken by local businesses to replace the deteriorating wood frame and install new, bespoke windows to retain the original look. As one of only two original shop fronts on Main Street, the restored shop front marks out Bees Flowers and the new sign helps to identify the shop to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Fiona said, ‘Kimberley has a lot to offer and the community is close knit. We want to provide a personal, local service to our customers. We are all about building relationships and are now seeing customers from several generations. We started providing flowers to mums and dads and now we are dealing with their children and grandchildren.

The grant has allowed us to restore the shop front, it really lifts the business and, I think, Main Street itself. Having a smart front is much more appealing to passing trade. For the town itself, having well-presented shop fronts will draw people in as they feel they are in a prospering area.’

Kimberley Means Business is UK Government funded and is administered by Broxtowe Borough Council in partnership with Kimberley Town Council.