'We want to be outstanding' says owner of The Florist, Loughton

Simply called The Florist, Loughton, the new shop opened in Church Hill two weeks ago selling flowers, gifts and floral arrangements.

The shop has been opened by owner Eddie Tolley, who ran his own flower stall in London Bridge for several years.

Mr Tolley said he was inspired to set up the new shop after his wife died, and he searched to find a town in need of a florist.

He said: “I lost my wife and I wanted to get back in business, and I looked at all the places where they do not have a florist.

“I saw there was a shop dying for rent and that was it, I made my mind up to get it and that is what I did.”

Eddie Tolley opened The Florist, Loughton, after running his own London Bridge flower stall

The Florist sells reeds, bedding plants and gifts as well as flowers, and Mr Tolley is hoping to cover all bases by offering decoration for events including funerals, bar mitzvahs and weddings.

He said: “When it comes to funerals we do want to make everything perfect for the person.

“We do not want people to think it looks rubbish, we want them to think it is lovely - we want to be outstanding.”

Eddie Tolley opened the shop after his wife passed away

Since opening two weeks ago, Mr Tolley says customers have reacted positively to the new shop, with people impressed by the outdoor displays and the amount of room inside.

He said: “We have had a fantastic response since Wednesday morning, it has been unbelievable.

“It has not just been because of Mothers’ Day, about seven in every ten people who have been in said ‘Thank God there is a florists in Loughton again.’”

A “chocolate and champagne” grand opening is being held in The Florist tomorrow evening (March 25).