An Edinburgh florist says she is defiant to continue to deliver for her customers on Monday’s bank holiday despite being told that she should close for the Queen’s funeral.
Nikki Boyd who runs Nikki’s Fleurs on Wolseley Place, says she has received messages from locals who have told her she should be closing her business on Monday, September 19 to pay respect to the Queen.
But the 42-year-old has refused to give into the pressure, stating she has to deliver for her customers as she has several funerals taking place in Edinburgh on both Monday 19 and Tuesday 20.
READ MORE: Gifted Edinburgh florist builds thriving business from home after shop closes
She says funerals in the capital are still going forward and that there are families relying on her to be able to deliver flowers while they grieve. Nikki has received several emails from locals questioning her decision to keep her business open on the ‘national day of mourning.’
In one email, someone titled ‘concerned customer’ wrote: “Hi there, sorry to bother you while browsing your website. I have come across that you are in actual fact open on Monday the 19 of September 2022.
“I am actually really unsure if you are aware that in fact it is a bank holiday as the Queen’s funeral will be at 11:00am at Westminster Abbey. The reason being it is a bank holiday is to mark a national day of mourning for the late Queen following her state funeral.
“Many thanks.”
Another unknown person commented that Nikki should be “closed as a mark of respect for the Queen.” But the experienced florist, who successfully relaunched her business on the other side of the city after the pandemic, argued that funerals for well loved family members of her customers are equally as important next Monday.
Nikki, who comes from Parkhead in Edinburgh, said: “We have several funerals still going ahead on Monday and Tuesday. It is important that we remain open for these families as if we were closed we would not be able to create funeral flowers during a very difficult time for families.
“We have received a number of messages questioning our decision to stay open but we have to deliver for our customers. When you are self employed it’s hard enough as it is and we don’t really have a choice but to work as people depend on us, especially at a time of grieving.”
Nikki creates a variety of specialist funeral flower displays as well as wedding bouquets for customers across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
You can visit her Instagram here if you wish to learn more about the service she provides.
READ NEXT:
Man dies in Edinburgh hospital after 'attempted murder' as probe rages on
Edinburgh company apologise after dumping building materials on war memorial
Two Edinburgh friends will run a makeshift food bank on Monday after others close
Scottish mum driven to despair by 'eyesore' garden next door as rats run riot
Edinburgh locals react to securing affordable housing development
