HAVING been helping others to say it with flowers for more than 20 years... Bunches is coming up roses! In fact, despite the downturn, the family-owned Newstead Village-based business is positively blooming.

Its philosophy is "all about creating smiles" – keeping it simple and keeping customers happy with great service and quality flowers at the right price.

And it has been doing that so well that Bunches Florapost Ltd is now a finalist for the Evening Post's KPMG and Nottinghamshire County Council-sponsored Nottinghamshire Company of the Year Award.

Employing more than 40 people full time, with as many again as seasonal workers, in custom-built premises to which a £1m extension was added three years ago, the company has a turnover in excess of £6m.

While general UK flower sales declined last year, Bunches' grew by 15% – and they now have some 12% of the flowers-by-post market.

But all that is a long way on from the days when chairpeople and founders Erik and Sandra Hoving set up a market flower stall in Mansfield in 1989.

Nine years on they had developed a flowers-by-post trade which was incorporated as Bunches in 1990 – and they've not looked back since.

Much of their success since is attributed to its motivated staff.

"They are a key part of our mission, have a wide range of skills and are happy – which helps account for why more than two in every five has been with us for more than five years," said the company's managing director, Danielle Turner.

One thing which hasn't changed has been their belief in ethical trading, and they only work with suppliers which are part of the Fair Flowers Fair Plants initiative, and each year the company gives 10% of its profits to charitable projects in the UK and developing countries.

Bunches' services have long been available through any UK post office, but today some 70% of its orders come via its www.bunches.co.uk website and, again demonstrating its remarkable growth, the company has gone from selling five bouquets a week to more than 6,500.

It has also diversified, adding lines ranging from helium-filled party balloons and houseplants to greetings cards, soft toys and chocolates to its wares.