Business has been blooming at Poppy’s Nedlands location for 97 years; it was originally a house, with namesake owner Poppy selling flowers from the front room.
1. How did you get involved with Poppy’s?
I started working here when I was 19 and at university. I was here for five or six years, then I went to the UK for a couple of years; I did flowers for a bit over there, and then got a job in my degree at a travel magazine. I came back and started working at Poppy’s again while I was looking for a job. The old owners asked if I was interested in buying off them, so I took the plunge and did. That was 14 years ago.
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READ NOW2. How have things changed over the years?
We do a lot more weddings than we used to, and the supply of flowers is quite different. We’re getting a lot more things in from overseas. You used to only get peonies in season in November, but now we can get them throughout the year. It’s still not a constant flow, but it makes things easier for brides; we’re also getting a lot more orchids.
3. How have you overcome challenges in your business?
You have to work through them and try and get a positive outcome. I’ve got a good team, most of my team have been here for at least five years. We’re always talking through everything and moving with the times.
4. How do you think businesses in Nedlands work together?
We’ve got a lot of corporate clients here we’ve worked with for a long time, and we have a pretty friendly street environment. We’ve also got the new hospital opening up the road and the other hospitals around, so we’re always doing deliveries there.
5. What’s your local coffee shop?
We go to Boubar.
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