BUSINESS is blooming for a florist who launched her business from a home-based workshop three years ago

Tricia Penny has now expanded by opening a new shop in Stourport-on-Severn and taking on her first permanent employee. A specialist florist and venue dresser, Mrs Penny set up Peppermint in 2011 from her home on the outskirts of Kidderminster with a £10,000 investment, but with business booming, she has now opened a shop in Stourport’s Minister Road and added 27-year-old assistant Hayley Wood to her team.

The 51-year-old businesswoman previously worked as a primary school teacher for 20 years but was frequently asked by friends and family to put her talent for flower arranging to good use for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. Mrs Penny was a regional finalist in the best wedding florist category of the 2014 Wedding Industry Awards and found herself in such high demand she decided to give up teaching to launch the business from her workshop in Blakedown.

She explained: "I’ve always adored flowers and that passion has grown ever since my mother took me to arranging classes at the age of nine. I loved teaching but I realised three years ago that I had to follow my dream so I took a risk and entered the business world full-time. It’s has been hard work but I have loved every minute working with flowers and have never looked back as the business has gone from strength to strength over the past three years. Opening the new shop is an exciting step forward and it allows us the opportunity to really showcase what we can do for a variety of events and celebrations. I am already feeling at home and the feedback in the shop’s first few weeks has been exceptional.

"It’s also fantastic to have Hayley on board as my first permanent employee. She has a great eye for detail, is superb with customers and will play a big role in moving the business forward.”

The business offers a bespoke floral design service from single buttonholes to complete wedding decoration, gala balls, corporate events, funerals and full venue dressing service.