Florist who is grateful for beautiful blooms

LORNA DUNLOP opened the Henley Flower School from her florist shop in Hart Street in November 2022. She ran a flower shop in her native Edinburgh for 10 years before deciding to move south. She is a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen and the British Floristry Association. Lorna, who is in her mid-fifties, has a grown-up son, Finlay, and her hobbies include listening to music, attending festivals and Taoist tai chi.

Describe your business

The Henley Flower School is an extension of the Henley Florist in Hart Street, Henley. Within our premises we offer in-person workshops and classes that teaches people about floristry, including flower-arranging, design principles and the insider tips on getting the most out of your flowers.

How many people does it employ?

We have three tutors on board, all of whom have run their own floristry businesses in the past.

What did you do before you started this business?

I taught for many years in Edinburgh for the Adult Education Programme for the City of Edinburgh Council from beginners to advanced floristry. I also provided workshops for various charities. including St Columba’s Hospice and the Living Memory Association.

What was your objective?

To share my passion with others. It is no accident that the tagline for my business is “Flowers are Nature’s Art” and I wish to show others how they can create something unique, even using as few as three flowers.

What influenced you?

Flowers have been part of my personal history all my life, from picking muscari in my Grandma’s garden as a toddler, to helping me overcome living with chronic pain. There is not a day goes by when I am not grateful to be surrounded by beautiful blooms.

What would you do differently if you were starting again?

I would try to find somewhere completely accessible. I am aware that we can only accommodate wheelchair users during the summer as the flower school is accessed up a flight of stairs.

How is your business doing?

The school is growing year on year, from workshops to support local parent-teacher associations to working with clients in Phyllis Court for corporate events. We especially like when groups come for team building or to celebrate a “hen weekend”.

Do you compare on a regular basis?

We compare on a monthly basis.

How do you market your business?

The best marketing is by word of mouth and personal recommendation. We use social media and tell other independent businesses what we have coming up.

What is the best thing about running your own business?

I can be as creative as I want to be and not worry about the end result. If something doesn’t look quite right or go to plan I can always start again.

What is the most challenging aspect?

It has been challenging to get the right team on board who are reliable and have the skills required.

Where is your business headed?

We hope to offer more classes geared towards those wishing to do their own wedding flowers and bespoke one-to-one tuition.

Are you using generative AI to shape your business?

We are not using AI to shape our business, flowers require a lot of hands-on experience and care.

Do you have a five-year plan?

The five-year plan includes extending the current five-year lease on our premises and we have many opportunities within Henley to continue our successful growth.

How do you have a work-life balance?

The work-life balance can get a bit overloaded at peak times, such as Valentine’s Day and Mothering Sunday so we tend not to offer classes around these times of year.

Do you set goals at the start of the financial year?

We do set goals for our business but the unexpected can happen. The flower market is affected by the cost of utilities and transport and seasonal changes.

What’s the most valuable thing you have learned?

Never be afraid of asking for help. Thankfully, in Henley, there is a number of small independent businesses and we all have each others’ backs.

What advice would you offer to anyone starting a business?

Follow your dreams. Find something you are passionate about and then it does not feel like work.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made?

Not having details of an emergency contact for a student who became very seriously ill in a class and was taken away by ambulance. That was a class run by the City of Edinburgh Council and so I had nothing other than the students’ names.

How organised are you?

Needing to order flowers in advance and the various sundries incorporated into the classes does need organisation and forward planning. It’s always good to have a plan B up your sleeve.

How are you planning for retirement?

I have recently downsized from a three-bedroom house to a one-bedroom flat so a lot of life laundry has already been undertaken.

What’s the secret of your success?

Patience and to explain things in a way that everyone can understand. Not everyone may have the eye for colour but if the technique and theory is explained then the outcome will be fine.

What three qualities are important to have a profitable business?

To be adaptable to change, to be resilient and to be approachable. Giving positive feedback in teaching someone something new is all about building confidence.

How do you dress for work?

We wear comfortable clothes and aprons, no open-toed shoes are allowed as there may be breakages of glass or sharp scissors may be dropped.

What can’t you be without every day?

Background music and copious cups of tea.

Lunch at your desk or going out?

Usually a snack beside my laptop.

Do you continue to study?

I continue to network with other florists and tutors to exchange ideas on such things as incorporating as much sustainability as possible.

What do you read?

The Henley Standard and whatever is on the Women’s Institute Book Club list for that month.

What change would you most like to see in 2026?

For consumers to support the high street and independent retailers more, rather than relying on such services as Amazon.

Interview by Will Hamilton,
intermediary and global

marketing consultant, Hamilton Associates