A Nailsworth-based business is positively blooming.
Don’t Buy Her Flowers is a family run online gift box company based out of a Nailsworth warehouse. They provide thoughtful bespoke gift boxes for all occasions. They stock over 250 British products and now they’re joining forces with more local businesses to provide products for customers to choose from, including Stroud Brewery, Rave Coffee and Tracklements chutneys, as well as working with Stroud-based Wheatley printers.
Raised in Stroud, Steph Douglas is the founder of Don’t Buy Her Flowers, alongside her team which includes friends and family. Steph’s brother Chas is Head of Operations and two of her best friends who she met at Archway School are also core members of the team.
“We are committed to supporting local businesses because we feel that it will help us all to survive, so we are teaming up with more local suppliers to include their goods in our gift boxes. Mother’s Day is a busy time for us so it feels great to be adding more West Country suppliers to our boxes.”
Don’t Buy Her Flowers is also proud to be working with local producers to create a West Country food and drink hamper for Christmas 2023 with some well known local brands included. Steph says that she thinks the hampers will be popular with local businesses either gifting their employees or clients they work with.
“People work from home more and we have noticed companies coming to us for gifts for their staff. There is a need for employers to find ways of communicating thoughtfully with team members and show they have them in mind, especially with people in the office less. They also seem to love to support local businesses and that in turn means Don’t Buy Her Flowers is supporting local which feels really good. Everything we do here at Don’t Buy Her Flowers is based on thoughtfulness. Our boxes are bespoke and come with a handwritten note for that extra human touch. ”
The team is gearing up for Mother’s Day. “It’s a peak of the year for us and you can order right up until the day before for delivery of your gift on Mothers Day, perfect for people whose Mums live away from them or they can’t see them on that day.” Also as Steph says: “I hate to say it but the stats don’t lie – it’s usually the men who leave present buying until the last minute! Our boxes offer them something special for their mums which can all be done online.”
Don’t Buy Her Flowers is also pivoting. “We have learnt so much when it comes to providing our customers with a service. Our business is based on thoughtfulness and everything arriving beautifully packaged and on time. We know this is not always the case at fulfilment houses around the UK. We realised that the fulfilment side of our business was unique and potentially a service we could offer other businesses. Now we use our expertise and warehouse space to offer online businesses a full fulfilment service helping them to concentrate on growing their business whilst ensuring customers can trust them”
Don’t Buy Her Flowers love the team they’ve built as well as working with other small businesses, and plan to continue to support as many local producers as they can.
