Page 55 of The House at Hope Corner
‘I wasn’t just thinking weddings, no. It’s big business, but the model I’m offering would work equally well for other family occasions, parties, funerals, even corporate functions.’
Kate lifted the coffee pot and, satisfied by its weight, began to refill the cups. ‘I think we need another, don’t you? Go on, I’m listening.’
Flora was just beginning to get into her stride. ‘Using wedding flowers as an example for a moment, the normal arrangement would be for the bride and groom to engage the services of a florist to provide bouquets, buttonholes, floral decorations for the church, reception venue, the cars, et cetera. In order to do that the florist would have to order in whatever was required from a wholesaler – a wholesaler who sells onto the florist for a profit – and then in turn that florist sells on her services to the bride and groom, also for a profit. Two lots of mark-up and a hefty price tag for the happy couple.’ She looked up to check that Kate was still with her.
‘I think I’m following…’
‘With flowers from Hope Corner Farm, though, the hotel would be buying the flowers on behalf of their customer, who would still get the same bespoke service from the florist. But you’d be cutting out the middle man and buying the flowers direct from the grower herself, at a substantial saving. How much of that you choose to pass on to your clients is of course entirely up to you.’
There was silence as Kate weighed up what she’d just heard. ‘And we’d have to guarantee to buy from you, would we?’
‘No, not at all. Anyone who books a wedding package with you would still be free to make their own arrangements for their flowers, but I’d like to think that the cheaper cost of our service would be a great incentive for many. And you might find that as you’ll be making a profit from it too you’ll be happy to promote the service…’ She looked up and caught Kate’s eye.
‘We might…’ she replied, amused.
‘And we really would offer a bespoke service. Brides could choose whatever they wanted, in fact…’ Flora was thinking on her feet now. ‘We’re only just down the road from you here, and I’d envisage the farm being open to visitors. People could even come and see the flowers growing before making their choice.’
Kate was staring into space and, apart from one brief nod, she remained that way for long enough that Flora was beginning to get very nervous. And then with one quick shake of her head, which sent her ponytail flying, she looked directly at Flora, her eyes twinkling.
‘Why has no one thought of doing this before?’ she asked. ‘I think it’s a brilliant idea!’
Flora only just managed to keep from squealing out loud. She allowed her hope to surge, but just for a moment; it was good news but nothing had been agreed as yet. There was, however, one final incentive she had up her sleeve. She returned Kate’s smile.
‘I also noticed that in your reception and lounge areas alone you have six large floral arrangements. If we were to become your suppliers I would be able to provide whatever flowers you need at a substantially cheaper price than you’re paying now.’
‘And you know that for a fact, do you?’ Kate’s eyes were twinkling.
Flora held her look. ‘I would guarantee it,’ she said without hesitation. The smile had dropped from her face as she willed her words to be successful.
Kate might be Caroline’s cousin, an admirer of Flora’s taste in clothes, and a welcoming, very approachable person, but she was also a businesswoman and it was this part of her that Flora was talking to now.
There was a slow nod of the head and an appraising glance.
‘You’re absolutely determined about this, aren’t you?’
‘I am. Not only because I’m passionate about flowers and on a personal level can’t think of doing anything nicer, but also because…’ She broke off, wondering just how honest she needed to be. ‘It’s the right thing for us to be doing. Fraser’s heart attack has given us all cause to think about the future.’ She wasn’t sure she could physically say anything else.
Kate was quiet, sipping her coffee reflectively while Flora tried to keep her knee from jiggling and a confident smile on her face. Whatever was going through Kate’s head, she would hear about it soon enough.
‘I can imagine that last statement is merely the tip of the iceberg,’ she said, after a moment, giving Flora a sympathetic smile. ‘I’ve met Fraser a few times, and Hannah of course. I liked them, they’re good people, and farming isn’t an easy life. If your ideas are a step towards making a better life for you all then I really think I should try to help.’
She gave Flora a searching look, the corners of her mouth crinkling as she broke into a smile. ‘Of course, it helps enormously that I think this could be an amazing opportunity for the hotel as well. I really like your ideas, Flora, I like them a lot. So tell me where you are with everything?’
Flora couldn’t believe how well the meeting had gone so far, but there was nothing she could do now but be honest. To make out that her venture had gone any further than the tentative planning stage would be suicide. And then she thought of the greenhouse full of seedlings back at the farm and she smiled to herself. Had she unwittingly known back then that she was literally sowing the seeds of their future?
‘I have pages and pages of notes, Kate, and not much else at the moment, but – and it’s a big but – by the summer we could have a field full of flowers.’ She pulled a face. ‘Correction, wewillhave a field full of flowers, but I’d be much happier growing them knowing that I had at least one place to sell them to. As this is our first season, though, the only things we won’t have are some of the early bulb-grown flowers and biennials, but there are ways around these things.’
Kate nodded. ‘Right. Well, from my point of view I need to have a chat with the General Manager, and then, with what I hope is that formality out of the way, I think you and I need to meet again to discuss things in greater detail. There will be much I’ll need to look at from the hotel’s point of view as well, but perhaps, as this would be a new venture for both of us, we should work on it together?’
‘Oh my God, thank you!’ gushed Flora; she just couldn’t help herself, and it took all her self-control not to throw her arms around Kate as well.
Kate matched her smile, but held up a hand. ‘But only on the condition that you tell me where you bought your dress from.’
‘Deal!’
‘I think it is,’ agreed Kate, and the two of them grinned at one another.
Flora scrabbled at her feet for her bag. Her head was whirling with not only excitement, but the list of things she needed to do.
