Fletcher & Foley

Where is it?
Fletcher & Foley
49 Old Hall Road
Sale Moor
Manchester
M33 2HT

Tel: 0161 962 7341
www.fletcherandfoley.co.uk

History:
Owner Joanne Fletcher worked in PR before enrolling herself in a degree in Commercial Floral Design in order to pursue her love of floristry. Working in several other florists before deciding to start her own business, Joanne had built up experience in flowers for all occasions – ranging from weddings to corporate events. She bought a former kitchen and bathrooms shop in Sale last October and it opened as Fletcher & Foley in December.

On a shelf in the shop sits a photo of Joanne’s parents which is where the name stems from. Her mother’s maiden name was Foley and her dad’s Fletcher. Joanne wanted to steer clear of the floral puns and the personal touch in the name sits well with the company’s personal service.

What do they sell?
Joanne is committed to pleasing everyone with her range of seasonal flowers. She doesn’t like to advertise set bouquets, instead offering her customers as much choice as possible. Joanne is very conscious about where her flowers are grown and tries to source many flowers from the UK as there’s a lot to offer without buying in from abroad. Of course, there are times when flowers need to be imported but Joanne favours flowers from fair-trade growers when possible.

Packaging is modern and minimalist, with paper and biodegradable cellophane echoing her environmental values. She recycles cardboard and composts any off cuts – she’s even planning to grow flowers in her own allotment for truly local bouquets.

Who shops there?
Although only established for just over a month, Joanne tells me she’s already attracting regular customers. She doesn’t see her business limiting its clientèle in any way and she caters for weddings, funerals and corporate events as well as offering arrangements for everyday purposes. Individual flowers are priced between £1 and £3.50 and can be embellished with handmade ceramics or cards. They can even be sent with accompanying cupcakes from Sale cupcake bakery Jellytots and Dollymixtures (four large cupcakes for £7, nine mini cupcakes for £6).

The company offers delivery everywhere within the M60 and Joanne and her team are keen to give customers as much choice as possible. So if you go in and ask for a £25 bouquet including Bird of Paradise flowers and something yellow then the team will do its best to ensure that is exactly what you get.

Future:
The building itself is huge and offers plenty of space for development. A large backroom is hosting a photography exhibition from 21 January to 12 February and Joanne’s still debating what to do with the large basement area. Joanne’s got a busy summer lined up with plenty of weddings and the fast approaching Valentine's Day has given her some ideas for contemporary twists on roses with accompanying seasonal cupcakes.

Verdict:
The team at Fletcher and Foley is committed to making customers happy and they’re already cementing themselves as a must-visit shop in Sale. Their seasonal flowers mean that you’re sure to find quality produce all year long and if you’re planning a wedding, it’s definitely worth dropping in.

Find out more about Fletcher and Foley here.