A COLOURFUL new resident has emerged from beneath the busy city centre, bringing all the colours and fragrances of the garden.
Olga’s Florist has made the move up into the daylight from beneath Allendale Square and, judging by the first few weeks’ trade, it has turned out to be a profitable shift.
The store, Art Stems, has even received a letter from a grateful office tower resident who claims the colourful flowers
have improved his view.
“People come into the shop just to say that it’s just what the terrace needs,” Art Stems owner Sue Gane said.
The bulk of Art Stems’ business comes from the corporate sector but, with increased exposure in the new location, the business is attracting more passing trade.
It wasn’t an easy move. In fact Ms Gane spent 18 months negotiating the move into the retail space. In the end the florist had to move into the new shop at the same time as the new café next door, as the agent was unwilling to split the tenancy.
“By metre the location is more expensive and there’s a lot less space, but there’s a lot more exposure,” Ms Gane said.
“We were promised renovations for the last eight years (in Allen-dale Square).”
The departure of Hartleys from the building reduced the amount of foot traffic in the subterranean malls, she said.
“We just didn’t have the same sort of people after Hartley’s departure.”
