'This year's more difficult for us': The Oakham business that was booming last Valentines Day
Romantic gestures were much more limited with COVID restrictions
Last updated 14th Feb 2022
It's Valentines Day today and flowers, cards and chocolates are being bought for loved ones all across Stamford and Rutland.
But for some people, business was actually booming more during the first COVID-19 lockdowns than ever before.
Liz Leaper, from Pollen Floristry in Oakham, has been building up for one of the busiest days of the year today, but says it's been more difficult since lockdowns were lifted.
"Last year with lockdown it was extremely busy. People couldn't go out, they couldn't go to restaurants, we were actually working in the shop behind locked doors and taking orders over our web shop and over the telephone and we we're really busy."
Liz said it was a privilege to play a minor part in delivering a bit of happiness when times were so difficult for so many:
"It was actually an honour to be able to deliver people's messages of love for people that perhaps were abroad and couldn't get back to see people. For people to send their love to their grandparents, it's not just about partners. So it was actually an honour - we enjoyed it last year."
"This year it's probably a little bit more difficult for us, because of the prices rising over Brexit, because people are going out which is lovely for them... so we're having to push the boat out, think of new ideas."
"I think we were one of the lucky ones really because we managed to stay open, none of our staff actually caught COVID we were extremely careful, and we still wear masks in the shop now because it has kept us so safe and we can't afford to be ill."