Crop Report - 22nd January 2022

Welcome back to those of you who took an extended break - we all most definitely needed it! and it seems many more of our florist community around the world also decided that the time for a recharge was January and not to wait until summer.

Firstly I would like to say a heartfelt Thank you to all of you in the Evolve community; especially those 'founder' members who have been with me since the start who have been a constant support and have kept me going through the many up's and down's of the Evolve journey so far, you know who you are and some of us are still yet to meet face to face. Your encouraging tolerance of my madness is much appreciated :)

For me; January is all about the 3 R's - Reflect, Review and Recharge - giving ourselves space in our lives to be able to 'see' the present and where we are going.

If you haven't already made some notes in the back of the diary or you have a 'peaks' reminder book I urge you to jot a few pointers down - we try to blot out the tough times and it will soon be forgotten. 5 minutes before the end of this week could save a considerable amount of time and money for next Christmas's preparations when it all kicks off again! There were lots of things in the Evolve

REVIEW box, especially as the Studio and new office has changed how and where we work; we have moved, stored, tidied, discovered, labelled, uncovered, counted and it will continue! Continuous Improvement is a mindset - we call it progress over perfection! Avoid Extinction - Just Dodo it!

REFLECT on what would make life, business and the planet better. I have decided not to allow any additional products or packaging into the house or business than is necessary and have made some changes to 'the purchasing rules'. I am sure everyone could be a bit more mindful about life if we allowed ourselves time to reflect.

RECHARGE is all about getting plenty of fresh veg and VitD for me and a new haircut and catching up with the overdue dentist appointment, kitties to the vets and more time with the children.

***** January 2022 marks the FIRST BIRTHDAY of the British Flowers Direct Website!*****

So what a year it was! Here are a few of the Evolve Highlights of 2021! 

• Thomas from Slap & Tickle Marketing started working with Team Evolve - now we have two Facebook groups and two instagram accounts as well as continous improving both the trade and retail websites - and a website birthday party?!
• The back office system was integrated with the trade webshop and I'm getting excited about data analysis now as that's what flower geeks do...
• The dried flowers range was extended and added to the shop as we moved away from 'The List!' We also added Nutscene and Chrysal products and more sundries are added every week!
• We created the branded Tulip box specifically to fit our Norfolk and Lincolnshire Tulips as its such a volume crop...more about the increasing numbers of British stems we have moved later!
• Recycling procedures and a local industrial recycling partner were integrated at the yard to further reduce our impact on the planet
• May 2021 we exceeded the total turnover for 2020 - GULP!!
• May 2021 Evolve Florist Studio was accredited as A Good Florist Guide Member, super chuffed to be a part of this fabulous community of like-minded super florists!
• Trialled direct delivery via specialist couriers to the customers - Fedex was discontinued & DPD and DX set up to deliver via depots.
• Installed a new gate, signage at the yard and on the lane - so all these new couriers could find us!!
• Completed a 'trolley trial' to test delivering flowers on water and potted plants; and later in year Poinsettia were added - successfully ironed out the kinks! Two more local couriers involved in this ongoing!
• Added new grower of Cornish foliages, there is range of 6 different Cornish foliages from two growers.
• Supplied 3 outlet stores - two farm shops and Budgens.
• Launched Imported product section to webshop which is expanding weekly with quality, ethically accredited seasonal products which allows British Flower focused florists to add to their range without having to add another wholesaler.
• OCT 2021 BFA Conference Helen opened with talk about British grown flowers
• NOV 2021 Mr Fix-it got the roof on and fitted out The Studio which opened for the welcome return of leisure Workshops

• DEC 2021 Fudged up Flowers arrived with a local handmade artisan fudge producer.
  

   

TULIPS

• Getting underway. The season is currently running two weeks later than programme which is due to a poor G-stage of the bulb cultivation. On top of that demand is high as some other crops are also slow so there are gaps to fill!

  The full range of Tulip colours is now settling down and some of the main season varieties which will continue all season are coming through like:

• Purple Laptop

• Yellow Strong Gold

• Reds will be Kung Fu 

• Ben Van Zanten

• Rainbow and pastel will continue all season. PRE - MIXED bunches will be added to the shop this week. and will be available for Wednesday delivery, maybe Tuesday.

Daffodils

• Demand for indoor daffodils is high and the number of growers decreases every year, these tend to be cultivated by smaller growers that are being impacted by fuel prices for heating the glasshouse.

   

• Outdoor Cornish Daffodils starting to come through

Narcissi

• 5 varieties of Isles of Scilly Narcissi arriving for next week:

• Erlicheer

• Hugh Town

• Sol D’Or

• Island Pride

Wobbly Willow