E-Business Is Blooming For Cornish Flower Supplier

DEVON, ENGLAND, October 22, 2011 (Press-News.org) Cornish -based St Mellion Flowers is enjoying an increase in sales to both trade and to the general public after simplifying its checkout system as part of a major overhaul of its website.

What makes the company's operation so special is its innovative climate controlled 7500 sq ft storage unit. Up to 100 different varieties of flowers imported each week from Holland are kept using a computer system that both mimics natural daylight and constantly monitors temperature.

Based on a model used by leading Dutch flower producers, it is unique in design and concept and the only one of its kind operating in this country in the way it serves both the trade and is open to the general public.

Such has been the success of the new website, other floristry businesses both in the UK and Holland are now monitoring its operational capabilities, which has helped to further raise the profile of St Mellion Flowers within the industry.

Since relocating to Saltash from St Mellion in 2007, the business now employs a staff of seven, with four refrigerated delivery lorries and supplies to a variety of clients, including hotels and restaurants.

It also operates a showroom open to the public every day and employs a specialist in-house florist to help organise and advise on floral arrangements for a variety of occasions.

Philip Dark, who runs the business with his wife Joanne and is one of the region's leading floristry experts, said the hi-spec website had transformed the ordering process and given the business a major boost.

"Our existing site had a very complicated ordering process which meant our online orders were few and far between," said Phillip.

"We streamlined the ordering process from ten pages to just two, which has had a significant effect on orders as it is now much more user friendly."

At the heart of the new e-commerce website - designed and developed by Plymouth-based Real Fusion Creative - is a content management system that allows company staff to easily update text, pricing, product images and stock inventory.

All sales, which are processed by HSBC e-payments, are automatically imported into Sage software and stock levels are adjusted accordingly.

The search engine optimised website now features more than 5000 products in an interactive gallery with the addition of a fresh flower database. It has enabled St Mellion Flowers to increase its national, as well as local and regional sales capability.

As well as its extensive range of cut flowers, the company also supplies a whole host of sundries such as vases, baskets, pots, glassware ad ornaments which complement its wide selection of blooms.

For more information on this news release, please contact Anthony Abbott at text comms on (01752) 510796 or (07799) 888512. Email anthony@txtcomms.co.uk