It’s officially the season of spring and we’re embracing this change in our Factory Shop at Middleport Pottery. Our Factory Shop Manager, Jemma Baskeyfield, takes us through the steps taken to transition the shop from winter to spring:
We always love to have flowering bulbs in the Factory Shop around this time of year, and 2017 is no exception! Once we have finished our Winter Sale, the time comes to start thinking about a new year and bringing colour and life into the shop, after the hectic December and January. With the celebrations of Valentines and Mother’s Day, our customers are always looking for unique seasonal gifts.
This week I went along to the local floral suppliers and purchased trays of bulbs, a real mixture of all my favourites, Tete-a-Tete Narcissus (for a great burst of yellow to brighten up the shop), blue and pink Hyacinth (my favourite scent), Muscari 'Big Smile' (vibrant sprays of flowers) and Ornithogalum Balansae (a real mass of white flowers from such a compact bulb).
We use the whole range of Burleigh bowls to plant up the bulbs from sugar bowls up to our elegant octagonal bowl, carefully covering the surface with sphagnum moss to finish. This year we have wrapped the bowls in cellophane and ribbon for customers to take them away with them as a beautiful gift. Perfect for Mother’s Day and Easter, the bowls make a lasting gift as well as a great personal treat to brighten up the home and prepare it for spring.