An interest free loan from the Isle of Wight Lottery was just the business for Leanne Arnold.
Leanne was awarded £12,500 which she put towards the cost of buying the Bay Tree Florist business in Cowes, where she had worked for six years.
It’s a dream come true for the 31 year old, who has been in floristry since she left school, and qualified at Isle of Wight College.
When the opportunity came to go into business in her own right, Leanne jumped at the chance.
“I was nervous because you keep reading about how tough things are,” she said. “But the support I have had from the Lottery team has been brilliant, and they also helped me to get another loan from NatWest, which meant I could go ahead with the purchase.
“The Lottery loan was all sorted within three months,” she said. “I’d recommend it to anyone.”
Leanne has already redecorated and modernised the shop interior, brought in a wider range of seasonal flowers, and introduced home made toys and glassware.
Now she is looking to expand the range of contracts to supply Island businesses.
