With just a week to go 'til the big day it's all hands on deck here, but in between fulfilling orders and making wreaths there has been a moment to reflect on what has been a big year for Catkin & Pussywillow; a year of exciting growth and change, of hard work, challenge and reward.
It started with the launch of the new website and journal in January, allowing customers the ease of ordering online, and us the ability to document and share the wide range of things we get up to beyond the day to day of the shop. It's been such a positive thing for us, and its success in turn focused our attention back on the shop and spurred steps forward in the 'real' world too.
Come the summer, we opened the Four Marks store, a massive and very exciting move that we'd been working towards for some time. I couldn't have begun to imagine how rewarding it would be to put our mark on another store, and welcome customers old and new.
September saw us launch our funeral tributes online, making us one of just a few artisan florists offering this service nationwide (something we're super proud of!). While the closing months of the year have seen a makeover of the Winchester store and the formation of a new team that fully supports the essence of the brand; attention to the smallest details, a commitment to the very best quality, and above all else, simply stunning arrangements.
Of course, all of this change hasn't come without its challenges and a great deal of hard work, but it's been wonderful to see a strong, inspirational and talented team pull together over the past few hectic festive weeks, and I'm excited to finish 2018 with an inner smile, ready to embrace 2019 and fulfil more of my ambitions for the brand. The man who taught me, Jens Jakobsen, said flowers are a never ending story and every page I turn gives that statement new meaning and renewed ambition to write the next chapter.
Through all of this, I am hugely grateful for, and always touched by, the support of our customers. People mention little things like 'I was your first customer,' or 'I bought a mirror from you,' or 'do you remember those beautiful flowers you did for my late husband?' - and I do remember, each and every one of you, because Catkin & Pussywillow wouldn't be here without your support, or taken the shape that it has. Thank you so much, and here's wishing you a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for 2019!
Ellie x