After 31 years of making people smile, Taupō florist Sally Coxhead got her own surprise this week. Sally and her business Bloomin’ Flowers have been through a few challenges over the past three decades, including an arson attack on her shop 18 years ago that saw her move the whole business to her home. There was also no immunity for those in the florist business when Covid-19 struck in 2020.
But she does it for the love and on Monday this week, that love was returned when she was named as Taupō's Good Sort of the Month, much to Sally’s surprise. “Our family are big givers. My brother does Make-A-Wish and I thought this was for him today because he gives so much to the community as well.
We all do.” But it’s not just about flowers for Sally - she genuinely cares about the people in her community. In fact, she cares so much she supplies the flowers each month for the Good Sort award.
“When we go to a house to deliver it is not just ‘here is some flowers’. It could be an elderly person who’s had a stroke, so we take them in and make her a cup of tea. Not to intrude but it is that this woman needs help.
If a family needs food, we will give food parcels, or if we know someone who has had a family member pass away we will take food as well and give our support for them.” The award is sponsored by Harcourts Taupō and business owner Mary-Louise Johns said for someone to be successful in business for 31 years, they must have more than flowers behind them. “.