When peeps ask me what my favourite flower is, I say “I love all flowers!” A: Because, in the main, I do and, B: I deal with clients who sell everything, so couldn’t possibly diss someone’s product. However, there are things I don’t like as much… for example I’m not a great lover of balloons or cuddly toys and tropicals don’t rank in my top 10 simply because they don’t work in my home. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have them in my shop if I went back into retailing.

What I thought wouldn’t really matter… it would be what my customer liked or wanted that counted because if someone wants to buy them who am I to say they are wrong!  On the same lines, how many of you have said, when you’ve seen a design idea or product, “I couldn’t sell that in my shop”.  Excuse me … how can you ever say what you can and can’t shift unless you try it?

Which is why every week – or at least every two weeks – there should be something new in your shop... even if it’s something you’ve managed to convince yourself wouldn’t shift or that you personally loathe (like Happy roses which I will admit are one of my personal faves!). Unlike big stores who have to order in the thousands, independent retailers can duck and dive with a bunch here, a bunch there and always look as if they’ve got something unique/different/radical/funky etc. Stick with the same old, same old and not only do you look boring but you potentially alienate customers as well.