Wall Of Fame: Sarah From brightbunch

An article by Claire    Comments Off

Sarah Shaw is a 34 year-old mother of two pre-school children living in the Preston Park area. Inspired by her love of all things flowery, and growing fondness for having nice things delivered to her house (i.e. fear of shopping trips with two pre-schoolers in tow!), she launched brightbunch flowers in January 2013.

Are you Brighton born and bred?

I’m from London and my husband is from Northumberland. We moved here in 2010, shortly after having our first son, Thomas. I’ve agreed that we’ll move up there one day if either the sea or the temperature rises (a LOT).

Tell us about your kids?

Thomas, aged 3, Sophie, aged 1.

What’s the best thing about being a parent in the city?

Having previously lived in a very buzzy, creative and child-friendly part of London (Stoke Newington), where we loved the atmosphere but craved a little more space and fresh air for the kids to run around in, there was only really one place to go…

Tell us about your business or work?

The idea behind brightbunch is similar to the organic veg box concept. Customers sign up to receive one of three bunch sizes every week or fortnight. I research and put together a lovely seasonal selection of flowers each week (check out some recent flowers here), arrange them simply in cellophane and brown paper and deliver them direct to customer’s doors.

I don’t have a shop to maintain and keep things as local and simple as possible, buying the flowers (locally grown where possible) in the morning, conditioning them and delivering them out to people the very same day, so there is no wastage and the flowers are super-fresh, and last longer too.

I believe that flowers can really lift the home and soul. By simplifying the supply chain, and supporting local growers, my mission is to bring their colour and cheer into more people’s lives, at down to earth prices, and with minimal environmental impact.

What do you love doing in your spare time?

After years spent in an office, both having kids and starting up brightbunch has re-ignited my long-neglected creative side, which I am finding very fulfilling.

Every bunch of brightbunch flowers come with a personalised hand-made label, and I am now making my own original lino-print gift cards too.

The cards are currently included free with gift subscriptions, but I’d love to expand the range, so any spare time I get in the evenings is currently spent working on new designs and printing.

Handily, the retro typewriter style hand-stamped labels have proven quite a hit with my 3 year old, Thomas – who loves getting inky and practicing his colours and letters with them – so we enjoy doing those together during the day!

What’s your favourite Brighton memory?

That would have to be waking up in the Royal Sussex last January the morning after having my daughter, with a view over the sunny seafront and feeling like the luckiest girl alive.

Tell us about your favourite place in Brighton & Hove city?

Blakers Park has to be my favourite local spot – great playground (small enough to feel safe for the dinkiest tots but with plenty to explore for the more adventurous tikes…), beautiful views, and (crucially) great coffee in the small but Aladdin’s cave-like café.

Slightly out of town, the areas around Ditchling, Black Cap and Fulking are also favourite spots for a walk and flower-spotting.

Where can we find you?

Website: www.brightbunch.co.uk

Facebook: brightbunch

Twitter: @brightbuncher

Claire Jones-Hughes