Designer Flowers provided the "New" Wembley stadium their "first" ever flowers for their "first" FA event, England under 21's match/lunch. We had a large event team on site to provide approx. 80 table floral displays!

We have also been nominated and shortlisted for the most "Creative Floral event and design" for 2006, by RSVP magazine, for the Queen Mary 2 charity Ball!

We have also been granted up to £100.00 funding by the GLE for re location for our new premises which will incorporate a new table linen hire service and new flower school.

Designer Flowers voted best stand at Confex 2005 and best stand runner up in 2006

In the news - Saying it with Flowers, Shirley's designs on the future

Summer 2005 - Park Royal Magazine

Sweet Smell of Success

Shirley Poyntz has certainly sowed the seeds for a successful business. Since setting up her florist business 15 years ago, she has seen it bloom into a highly profitable venture.

Download this article in PDF format by clicking here

Today Designers Flowers, which is based in Cumberland Business Park, Park Royal, employs up to 26 people and is now looking to move next year into new premises on the estate to keep pace with continuing expansion.

"Like most businesses, two of the main keys to our success are having a good product and providing good service," she said. "We always get a quote out within 24 hours of an inquiry and we often turn round orders at just 48 or even 24 hours' notice. This can be pretty stressful, but the fact we can respond so quickly is a fact that is appreciated by clients."The third reason for our success is design: it's absolutely vital in such a competitive, price-led industry as this one to be able to find new ways of making yourself different."

Shirley, who served an apprenticeship in floristry before working in contract floristry, decided to launch her own company after being inspired by the striking variety of flowers she encountered while working in Bermuda for 14 months. At first she was based in Shepherds Bush, but moved to Park Royal in 1996 when more space was needed. The business has a strong family flavour, with her husband, Gerard, and brother, David, playing key roles.

All its business comes from hotels, the corporate sector and weddings, and until the terrorists attacks of September 11, hotels used to account for 90 per cent of its turnover.

But the resulting slump in tourism means hotels now represent 40 per cent of its turnover, while the corporate side has surged to 50 per cent. However, the firm's biggest customer remains a hotel, the Dorchester, and it continues to have a studio a short distance away in Park Lane at the London Hilton. Designer Flower displays can be frequently found adorning corporate functions at some of London's best known addresses, such as Madame Tussauds and the Natural History Museum, not to mention Earl's Court, where it once provided 1 ,150 floral displays for a dinner, and Olympia.

Following an impressive performance in the build-up to last Christmas, the start to 2005 produced an unexpected slump in orders. But, amazingly, in May the firm had its best ever month, and the June sales figures confirmed that the recovery was complete.

Shirley admits that initially she did not want to relocate to Park Royal - it was her husband's idea - but she has grown to recognise its benefits, not least its good connections to central London, where most of its clients are based, and she is keen to stay on the estate when the firm moves.

She has also appreciated the award of a £10,000 business development grant from PRP a few years ago, which enabled it to put in a mezzanine floor, and the help the Partnership is now providing it in helping find new premises.