Thanks for your reply. . . The shop currently makes enough to cover costs, on the books she earnt £8k but I know that the books are made to look like you earn as little as poss... That said I know i'd be a fool to rely on that...

The shop is leasehold and comes with a 2 bed flat which is rented out and covers half the lease which makes it very reasonable . The shop is on a busy main road in an affulent town which is good also as the flat has never (to my knowledge) been empty.
There was one other interflora shop in the town which closed last year ...

By her husbands own admission they have people who ring them as they can't find the shop... nothing out front, front door shut.... but a lovely neon light saying "open" in the window... which blind and you'd miss it... her husband said she is too lazy to put anything out the front as she is happy with what she makes without having to.!! ??

She has reduced it already from (hold ya breath!) 60K ! to 50k then £35k.

I would only offer 20 K but she seems to be under the illusion its worth more.

I have heard from whoesalers that she is a funny somethime rude woman (guess the customers thought so too) And our sundries guy said the whole place needs gutting. The layout is perfect but the stock is terrible... outdated and lots from when I worked there 16 years ago ! And its very sparce..

I just can't make my mind up because of the whole recession thing...

In my heart it would be a wonderful shop again ..filled with unusual and quality flowers, doing weddings and having great window displays... (currently just an inflatable champagne bottle in window!) And I would make enough money to have an enthustiastic team of creative florists behind me...

In reality I could end up with a shop where I spend 6 days a week for the next 10 years working on my own and slowly going crazy from the tedious mountain of paperwork that I hate doing.. and the loneliness ..


..... AGGGGGHHHHH !

No supprise I'm a pisces and I just can't make my mind up !

Is the trade really on its knees ??

PS I have been to the bank and they agreed to lend me the money !
It's just that I am surrounded by wholesalers and a boss who constantly drum it in that the trade is dying and on it's knees ! Apparently one wholesaler lost 3 grand last week and another may not even be comming over anymore...
If I was back in a good busy shop I'd be more reassured...
deep down I know its my awful boss whose ruining his own business but I just need to know how much or even IF the whole recession thing is really affecting us florists ??
Thanks for all the advise so far btw xx