When Harrow born Laura Evison was three, her mother took her to her first flower demonstration at Benfleet Flower Club and was taken every month thereafter. It was during one of those evenings that Laura turned to her mother and said, ‘I want to do that when I’m older.’
She was true to her word, and, after a move to Wales, started as a YTS at Regent House of Flowers, Wrexham, which she took over in 2006, becoming its third owner since its establishment in 1947.
‘I love floristry but it’s not a normal job, and florists are not normal people! We’re a tough bunch, a lot of hard work goes into what we do. Our skills make us what we are and with that knowledge and experience we can serve our customers who are the single most important thing to me. Customer service is paramount, they keep us going.’
There have been some more unusual events to keep Laura and her team going too. Since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took ownership of Wrexham FC, they have been keen to promote local businesses which resulted in Laura and her shop starring in an advert for Reynold’s Aviation Gin brand, although, disappointingly, she didn’t get to meet him in person.
You might think that this would be the highlight of Laura’s career, but no, for Laura, it was being invited to do the last demonstration at the flower club where it all started, before, sadly, it closed its doors for the final time.
‘It was my mum’s 80th birthday and I made the demonstration all about her, told her life in flowers. My mum sat on the front row, where I had sat on her lap as a little girl. It was a very special evening for us both.’
