HURRICANE IAN UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on us recently. We are grateful to report that all our team members are okay, but some are still dealing with major damage at their homes. Our beloved Sanibel Island store has been devastated, and we are still working towards determining the full extent of the damage and losses, and what will need to be done to rebuild. We were able to take one boat trip over to the island shortly after the storm to initially survey the damage, which was extensive, as our store was fully stocked and ready for the upcoming season. Finally, late last week, we were able get back on the island with vehicles to save what we could and begin to clean out the rest of the damage. Our hearts go out to our fellow business owners and residents of Sanibel. It was sad and staggering to see the destruction on the island in person, but we are staying hopeful and focused on moving forward towards rebuilding.

Our dedicated team has not only been working on the cleanup effort, but also the monumental task of working with our wedding clients, most of whom have had to cancel, postpone, and completely rethink their wedding plans. As the only retail floral shop on Sanibel, so much of our business was based out of the beautiful resorts that line the gorgeous beaches we all know and love. We had a full 2022-2023 season booked with multiple weddings every weekend, which essentially disappeared overnight, along with the daily floral deliveries across the island that would normally keep us busy on the weekdays. Needless to say, we have been working nonstop to do everything we can to accommodate our clients and make sure that we can keep our staff at work and getting paid. Thankfully, as you may already know, we recently began the process of opening a second retail location in Estero. We are beyond grateful that we have this space as a hub to rebuild our business now that the Sanibel shop and all the venues it served will not be operational for the foreseeable future.