With Good Florist Guide becoming increasingly popular, there is an exciting new appointment within the team. Karen Lindsay, already a GFG Advisory Panel member is taking on role of Business Development Director, to help the business grow and look after the ever-increasing members.
Karen, who runs her own hugely successful multi award winning business in Kilmarnock, is a past winner of the BFA Retail Florist of the Year, has a team of seven who have worked like demons throughout the pandemic to ensure the business has gone from strength to strength during uncertain times and is now a regular designer for Oasis Floral Products. A florist for over 25 years and a member of GFG since 2016 she accepted the invitation to get more involved without a moment’s hesitation!
Why? Because she believes in the project. “I was gobsmacked Caroline asked me if I could help but said yes straight away. I passionately believe in GFG. Not because it generates orders but because it’s a community that has helped me grow and develop in the last 5 years and given me a network of friends from around the country. And because they are all so different yet share the common goal of aiming for excellence and helping each other it’s not only given me many new ideas but helped me get through the pandemic as well by simply being there.
Karen continued: “Being part of GFG has given me a huge confidence boost in my own ability, confidence and passion that I just can’t wait to share. I can’t wait to get stuck in and introduce new ideas that will make it, and the membership even stronger. And I have a Hons Degree in Media, which I am sure will help within the role as it has been very beneficial in my own business”
Above: Karen's fabulous double fronted shop in Kilmarnock
Commenting on the move Caroline Marshall-Foster, founder of GFG said: “The interest in Good Florist Guide has never been higher as more and more florists ask to join. Thing is the magazine side is also taking off again and I needed help if I was going to make sure everything worked as it should.
I toyed with the idea of recruiting externally but GFG is as much about the essence of the project as it is about the procedures. I realised I needed someone by my side to co-ordinate the membership side who didn’t just understand what being a florist was about but what being a GFG’er was about too. Not just an eye-catching sticker on the door but part of a movement that helps, supports, and encourages each other. Karen has been an amazing ambassador for the brand as part of the Advisory Panel and taken the lead on so many of the recent initiatives, it made absolute sense to see if she was happy to make it a more formal arrangement.”
The new role, which will ensure everyone who should and could be part of GFG is involved and see even more member focussed initiatives and activities happen, means Karen will be responsible for co-ordinating all things membership, whilst the team at Purple Spotted Media, owners of the brand, will be responsible for the admin and website side of things.
