Local family business ‘PassionFlowers The Florists‘ have been helping people celebrate birthdays, weddings, Valentine’s, Christmas and every other kind of celebration you can think of as well as also bringing much comfort to people through sadder times of life with their wonderful flowers for the last 20 years.
In a recent interview PassionFlowers founder, owner and head florist, Marita Dobson tells DGWGO all about how her business started and how it has changed and grown over the last two decades.
The first PassionFlowers shop at the Midsteeple, on the high street in Dumfries back in 2001.
Marita Said “My love of flowers began not long after my son David was born in 1995, I worked alongside my late father Jim Barr and mother Pat, at Moffat Garden Centre. My passion soon gravitated towards the floristry and flower side of the business, much as I enjoyed horticulture, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to working with flowers every day. So in 2001 I made a heart wrenching decision and a huge leap of faith, I decided to leave the comfort of the family business and set up on my own, and PassionFlowers put down it’s roots, in the little shop at the Midsteeple, on the high street in Dumfries. It was small but it had everything I needed in a prime location right in the heart of the town.”
Marita and Molly
Marita continued ” I was so delighted that Dumfries embraced Passionflowers and very quickly we were established as the go to florists for gorgeous fresh flowers with my artistic edge! In 2002 my Daughter Molly was born, maternity leave didn’t quite factor in and I was creating flowers as soon as I arrived home from Cresswell. I’m still waiting on time owed!”
The second shop, this time at Heathhall Garden Centre
“Sadly the crumbling roof of the Midsteeple had immediate evacuation thrust upon us, with no timescale to return, so my wonderful family stepped in and my brother Jim, kindly donated another prime spot for us in the shape of a lovely log Cabin, (one car parking space only!) at Heathhall Garden Centre, time passed and such as we were embraced again with our loyal supporters and many new ones we decided not to return to the Midsteeple, plus the coffee was good!”
Marita’s husband Richie Dobson, has been a major part of the team since 2012.
“In 2012 my husband Richie, a very familiar voice on the phone! joined me full time to help with admin and logistics. Unfortunately for him, he all to soon exposed his creative side and was put ‘on the tools’ alongside myself, creating specialist funeral pieces. His day now starts at 5.30am with admin, sorry Richie!”
Richie hard at work.
New foal Luna with her mum.
“Rapid growth of Passionflowers saw us having to look for bigger premises to work and store our flowers, and after much deliberation we made the final move on 2016 to our current location, at our home just outside Dumfries. We took full advantage of our outbuildings, converting them into our shop, studio and workrooms. With loads of room for parking, our various animals and pets are much loved features by our clients too, including our new foal Luna.”
Marita’s daughter Molly has now joined the team at Passionflowers
“Molly was qualifying as a hairdresser until Covid saw her furloughed for lengthy periods of time, which was much to our advantage as she soon, like myself, gravitated towards the love of flowers and floristry, and after finishing her qualifications, made a leap of faith and a complete career change and joined us as a full time member of the team, her amazing designs speak for themselves!”
Our Driver George Bell, is a much loved ambassador for Passionflowers, delivering all over the region and if it’s your Birthday, your guaranteed a song!
Marita Dobson Barr
“Finally I would like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 20 years since 2001, whether it has been a wee bunch of flowers or the grandest of events, we appreciate every single order and look forward to helping you with your floral needs for many years to come. Marita X.”
Follow PassionFlowers on Facebook by clicking HERE
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