Blooming through B2B success | Hayley Scott Blooms

By Growth & Skills Hub - 28th June 2019

Our final interview in our ‘Celebrating Success’ series for Cornwall Business Week, is with Hayley Scott, owner and founder of Hayley Scott Blooms.

Since starting her floristry business six months ago, she has rapidly grown her customer base and is becoming a go-to name for high-end, beautiful blooms in the local area. 

Photo: Jade Berry Photography

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what motivated you to start your business? 

Before I trained as a florist, my background was PR and Marketing. It taught me skills that I've carried over to blooms, especially with how I present my brand and update my social media channels. As a marketer, you wear different hats as your role is often creatively varied, I've always loved flowers and design (my degree is BA Hons Fashion Design from Falmouth University),  so it was a natural fit once I qualified as a florist to use my marketing knowledge and start a business.

Can you talk us through these past few months and share any tips or lessons learnt that you think have helped you?

I've learnt so much already in just my first six months of business. Looking back, a few things I've found valuable are:

I had my vision for blooms brainstormed on paper and stuck on my wall for months before I implemented it. It's almost like wishing your dream into existence, having it down on something physical you can come back to each day really helps you focus.

Also, having a clear idea of your USP and sticking to it. For me, I wanted to hone and do one or two areas of floristry to the highest standard before I took on other areas and possibly run the risk of dropping the ball. This focus has been a b2b proposition of gifting and arrangement flowers, I'm proud to be the go-to florist for six leading hotels in my area.

I only buy in the highest quality materials and stems, all of the 'little details' with my brand are personalised, from stickers to message cards. They cost more but they are integral to positioning my brand as a luxury florist.

Do you have any role models who have been successful that you take inspiration from?

From a floristry perspective, I look up to Jen from Twigs&Green, she studied the same qualification as me at Duchy College, so to see her success as a wedding florist coming from the same educational background as me, has been inspiring.

From a small business perspective, I admire Elise and Paul Harwood from The Fish House Fistral, they are my current employers (I waitress part-time alongside running my own business) and they have both worked incredibly hard to be the best in their field.

My favourite quote from Elise is:

"We don't have VIP tables. There is no such thing in my eyes. All of our customers receive the best from us in quality and hospitality."

I come back to that quote when I get nervous for a high-profile order - there is no such thing as a VIP order, just continue to do your best!

Aside from the normal metrics of success (profit, growth etc.) do you have your own personal measures of success?

I think, how you can spend your time determines your success. If I need to put in long hours in these early years of blooms to later be able to enjoy Friday afternoons at the beach or long weekends with family & friends, then I'll do what I need to do to set myself up for that long-term goal.

What is great about running a business in Cornwall?

It's my home. There is a really lovely community spirit down here. Your peers want to see you do well and will support you to help get you there. Friends, colleagues, neighbours and then some, have all ordered flowers from me in some capacity and many will then pass your name and number on to someone else they know. I feel very grateful.

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Having a clear idea of your USP and sticking to it. For me, I wanted to hone and do one or two areas of floristry to the highest standard before I took on other areas and possibly run the risk of dropping the ball. This focus has been a b2b proposition of gifting and arrangement flowers, I'm proud to be the go-to florist for six leading hotels in my area. 

- Hayley Scott, founder Hayley Scott Blooms
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