Cardiff Florist Blooms with £15,000 Micro Loan

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Development Bank of Wales , 19th September 2023

A £15,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales has helped John Henry Flowers to relocate to larger premises at Unit 10, Wellfield Court in Cardiff as business blooms for the popular florists.

Owned and managed by married couple Michael Webb and John Sartain, John Henry Flowers was established in July 2021 and now provides a range of flowers for all occasions including bouquets and arrangements to go. An increase in demand for house plants, decorative pots, vases and accessories meant that additional space was required.

John Sartain and Michael Webb, John Henry Flowers, with Donna Strohmeyer, Development Bank of Wales

Director John Sartain said:

“Our landlord contacted us to explain that a larger shop in Wellfield Court was becoming available and it was ideal timing as we needed more space and wanted to take advantage of a larger shop front with more passing trade.

“We did the sums and quickly established that we needed £15,000 to fund the fit-out and give us some extra working capital to buy more stock and pay the higher rent. That might not seem like a lot of money to some business owners, but for us, we knew it would make all the difference by paying for the move and giving us room to grow. The flexible and friendly approach of the Development Bank meant that we got the exact amount that we needed, when we needed it so we’re now up and running in our new premises and we couldn’t be happier.”

Donna Strohmeyer is an Investment Executive for the Development Bank of Wales. She said:

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy so we’re working hard to provide loans that help business owners to take advantage of new opportunities and ease cashflow. John and Michael have done a great job fitting out their new shop and now have the physical and financial space to grow.”

The £32.5 million Wales Micro Loan Fund is financed entirely by Welsh Government. Loans between £1,000 and £50,000 are available for small businesses, sole traders and social enterprise with repayment terms ranging between one and 10 years.

Mae benthyciad o £15,000 gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru wedi helpu John Henry Flowers i adleoli i adeilad mwy yn Uned 10, Wellfield Court yng Nghaerdydd wrth i fusnes ffynnu ar gyfer y gwerthwyr blodau poblogaidd.

Yn eiddo ac yn cael ei reoli gan y pâr priod Michael Webb a John Sartain, sefydlwyd John Henry Flowers ym mis Gorffennaf 2021 ac mae bellach yn darparu amrywiaeth o flodau ar gyfer pob achlysur gan gynnwys tuswau a threfniadau parod i fynd. Roedd cynnydd yn y galw am blanhigion tŷ, potiau addurniadol, fasys ac ategolion yn golygu bod angen lle ychwanegol.

Dywedodd y Cyfarwyddwr John Sartain:

“Cysylltodd ein landlord â ni i egluro bod siop fwy yn Wellfield Court yn dod ar gael a’i fod yn amseriad delfrydol gan fod angen mwy o le arnom ac eisiau manteisio ar flaen siop fwy gyda mwy o fasnach yn mynd heibio.

“Fe wnaethon ni’r symiau a sefydlu’n gyflym bod angen £15,000 i ariannu’r gwaith gosod a rhoi rhywfaint o gyfalaf gweithio ychwanegol i ni i brynu mwy o stoc a thalu’r rhent uwch. Efallai nad yw hynny’n ymddangos fel llawer o arian i rai perchnogion busnes, ond i ni, roeddem yn gwybod y byddai’n gwneud byd o wahaniaeth drwy dalu am symud a rhoi lle inni dyfu. Roedd agwedd hyblyg a chyfeillgar y Banc Datblygu yn golygu ein bod yn cael yr union swm yr oedd ei angen arnom, pan oedd ei angen arnom, felly rydym bellach yn weithredol yn ein hadeilad newydd ac ni allem fod yn hapusach.”

Mae Donna Strohmeyer yn Swyddog Buddsoddi ar gyfer Banc Datblygu Cymru. Meddai:

“Busnesau bach yw anadl einioes ein heconomi felly rydym yn gweithio’n galed i ddarparu benthyciadau sy’n helpu perchnogion busnes i fanteisio ar gyfleoedd newydd a hwyluso llif arian. Mae John a Michael wedi gwneud gwaith gwych yn gosod eu siop newydd ac mae ganddyn nhw bellach y gofod ffisegol ac ariannol i dyfu.”

Ariennir Cronfa Micro Fenthyciadau Cymru gwerth £32.5 miliwn yn gyfan gwbl gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae benthyciadau rhwng £1,000 a £50,000 ar gael i fusnesau bach, masnachwyr unigol a mentrau cymdeithasol gyda thelerau ad-dalu yn amrywio rhwng un a 10 mlynedd.