Adelaide florists overwhelmed by community support after COVID-19 lockdown announcement

Adelaide florists left with thousands of dollars of flowers have been overwhelmed by support after they were forced to clear stock on short notice.

Customer Tom Martin with owner of the Little Shop of Flowers in Hyde Park, Melanie Leigh. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

Adelaide florists heavily slashed prices in a last-minute bid to get rid of leftover stock on Wednesday, with one customer stocking up to spread kindness to disheartened business owners.

Following the announcement of SA’s six-day lockdown, florists were immediately hit by wedding and event cancellations and left with thousands of dollars of flowers.

Willunga florist Bonnie Dowie posted on Facebook to try and sell flowers which she had started to prepare for a wedding on Friday.

Within just an hour, Ms Dowie was sold out.

“It was very overwhelming, I didn’t expect such a response so I was very surprised,” she said.

“I was just hoping to at least cover the cost of what I spent on the flowers so that the couple didn’t have to absorb that.

“I’m very thankful for my community, it was all local people that jumped in and I’m so thankful to all the good people out there.”

Willunga florist Bonnie Dowie turned to Facebook to sell flowers from a wedding that is now cancelled because of SA's lockdown. Picture: Bonnie Blooms Facebook

Little Shop of Flowers owner Melanie Leigh said over $700 worth of flowers from her Hyde Park store were binned after the announcement of the lockdown restrictions on Wednesday.

Ms Leigh said while she understands the new restrictions have been put in place, she thinks there should be a better system to help small business owners who will now be out of pocket again.

“I just think that people like me and the restaurants that have just bought a load of fresh stuff, that we should get some sort of money back or compensation,” she said.

“And it’s another six days loss of trading and things haven’t really gone back to normal from the first lot.”

Ms Leigh slashed the prices of all her flowers to $10 on Wednesday, which she said is less than what she paid for them.

Customer Tom Martin said he saw the heavily discounted flowers when he walked past and couldn’t turn down the great deal.

He said he thought it was a great opportunity to deliver flowers to some of the traders on King William Road who may have been feeling downhearted with the announcement of the new lockdown restrictions.

“I love shopping at this flower shop because it has a great selection and excellent value for money,” he said.

“I couldn’t turn aside from the $10 a bunch so I thought it was an opportunity to fill the house with flowers and maybe brighten someone’s day on the way home.”

Ms Leigh, who only opened her floristry in November last year, said businesses on King William Road had been hit with the double whammy of eight months of roadworks and now COVID-19.

“It sent the business before this out and now the shop next to me is gone as well,” she said.