Thanks a bunch! Bonnie Blooms florists are rescued from closure

Published: 2 September, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

A FAMILY-RUN florist days away from closing its doors after 30 years’ trading in Bloomsbury has been saved by an “ethical” supermarket.

The 11th-hour rescue came after the New Journal reported last month how Bonnie Blooms on Southampton Row in  Bloomsbury was facing closure due to the expansion of the Park Inn hotel next door.

Owners Tommy and Annette Sacker feared they would be forced to leave the area and their loyal base of customers as they could not afford the sky-high rents paid by chain stores.

But after seeing the New Journal’s appeal, The People’s Supermarket, a not-for-profit co-operative company, has offered Bonnie Blooms a new home in their Lamb’s Conduit Street store. Mr and Mrs Sacker now plan to re-launch their business as The People’s Florist on Monday. Mrs Sacker, 64, said: “The response to the article was amazing, we couldn’t believe it. 

“We had people coming in asking how they could help. One lady even offered to stage a protest with placards for us. But that wasn’t necessary, we’re delighted.”

Mr Sacker, 67, added: “We lived around the corner in Great Ormond Street for 27 years so it’s like coming home.”

The People’s Supermarket, which opened in June, sources food locally and subsidises prices for members. Anyone can shop there, but members – who pay a £25 yearly fee – are entitled to a 10 per cent discount. They must volunteer to work a minimum of four hours a month in the shop and are invited to attend meetings and vote on aspects of its policy. 

To fit in with the ethos, Mr and Mrs Sacker have agreed to stop selling any flowers that need to be imported by air. 

They have also offered to train volunteers to become florists to help the unemployed back into work.

Kate Bull, who co-founded the People’s Supermarket with TV chef and restaurateur Arthur Potts Dawson, said: “This is just a natural way for our business to develop in the community. 

“It is not something I thought we would be doing, but it gives us an opportunity to be more commercially successful while supporting a local business.”