A new store on the high street for gardeners. That is the vision of owner Stacey Gibson who now has the first weeks trading from her outlet in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire up and running.

YPHA Member Stacey told GTN Xtra: “For many years I have had this concept in my head to combine my skills in design, my knowledge of plants and the experience I have built up in sourcing, supply and merchandising into a retail outlet which is accessible to all. 

"My love of plants and the enjoyment and benefit they bring came from my mother who inherited that from her Mother, my Nan and the difficult times of lockdown brought it into focus. Starting with some on-line trading, I knew I wanted to get the shop up and trading and despite the years of thinking about it, it has really all happened quite quickly. Since I got the ball rolling it has quickly turned into an avalanche.  

"I was very lucky, just before Christmas, I found a local estate agent, who had a local landlord, both of whom believed in my concept. The Herefordshire Council high street focused Revive to Thrive grant supplements the Back Business loan I have secured from HSBC to help towards the costs of establishing the shop.

"The Marches Growth Hub Herefordshire has provided around 30 hours training in business skills and access to a business mentor for one- to-one sessions, so I have had support in sanity checking my plans as well as their skills in marketing. My landlord has been great, converting the redundant solicitor’s office into the modern, niche retail outlet I was after has all taken place and I managed to get open for trade just in time for the bank holiday weekend.” 

Read more in in the next issue of Garden Trade News magazine.