ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
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Stroud-based gift company Don’t Buy Her Flowers celebrates eight years in business this year.
With founder Steph Douglas and her brother Chas Earley as Operations Director, the pair have built a team at the warehouse in Nailsworth – where their dad used to be the vicar at St George’s.
Steph and Chas grew up in Stroud, along with their four siblings and parents Helen and Steve Earley. After starting the business from her home in Richmond in 2014, where Steph lives with her husband and three children, she was looking for premises for the growing gift business. Two years in from launching the business, it had outgrown Steph’s family home and she mentioned to her brother that she wasn’t sure what to do next. Chas joked that he could run the business from Stroud, and Steph took him seriously.
Steph said: “I knew that I could completely trust Chas with Don’t Buy Her Flowers, to find local premises and also to build a team – he’s really good at finding brilliant people. Our team are really committed and really rose to the challenge of the last few years as we grew, especially during the Pandemic.
“Operationally, we couldn’t outsource our gift boxes. Each one is packed to order – our customers choose from over 250 British products to create a bespoke gift box – that is beautifully gift-wrapped and includes a handwritten tag message. The personal service that is critical to what we do is not something fulfilment houses excel at – in fact we’ve recently started doing fulfilment for other small businesses. The Pandemic was bizarrely a huge opportunity for us – we were very lucky to not only be able to stay open but customers were looking for exactly what we offered – thoughtful gifts and human connection when you can’t be with someone in person.”
As for what’s next, Chas and Steph are realistic about the uncertainty that comes with the cost of living crisis. Chas said: “We know that customers might be stretched so expect the coming months to be challenging. However, our customers send gifts for reasons that will still be important to them, when they’ll still want to send TLC in the post, whether that’s for birthdays or get well or bereavement. We’ve recently hired Nadine Stroud – yes, her real name – to head up our Corporate Sales, because that has become a real opportunity, with companies wanting to send better, more thoughtful gifts for employees and clients. And we intend to grow our fulfilment arm and support other small businesses looking to make that next step in their growth. So plenty to be getting on with!”
Don’t Buy Her Flowers are always on the look out for local suppliers, working with When in Rome, Stroud Brewery, Wheatley printers, Woodchester Valley Wines and Rave Coffee, plus a host of West Country SMEs.
Steph added: “Do have a look at dontbuyherflowers.com. We now do gifts for men, kids and teens, as well as women, and because you can handpick what goes into your gift box, you can make it just right for the recipient. If you’re a local business looking for gifts for your team or clients, we’d love to help you put something really special together for them.”
www.dontbuyherflowers.com. Email info@dontbuyheflowers.com or call 01453 297373.
If you would like to promote your business with Stroud Times online and across our social media platforms please contact: ash@stroudtimes.com
