I know that my current boss has run our shop down as past colleagues have seen our customers out and about and they have left us after many years due to bosses behavior.. Our flowers are rubbish and my boss sadly lost his wife 3 years ago and has since become very hostile towards everybody and can be very very rude and arrogant.... even turning up drunk at work regually !
Our flowers are from wholesalers who either know he doesn't care and pass us the rubbish or just sell crap. . .We have a fantastic dutchman (heemskerk) who calls once a week but my boss is too stingy to pay that extra bit (which he used to) so we loose any repeat business because people don't come back when their flowers don't last.
I do know that being self employed can be hard work,long hours no hols etc but I am so frustrated where I am. . To the point that after 16 years I am loosing enthusiasm for floristry and I think its a crying shame that I worked for the best shop in our town and now I can sadly admit that I would rather buy from tesco myself than the shop where I work. . . They have more variety and better quality ...This a very sad day to admit to that !!
PS the shop that I am interested in is on a very busy main road...