Meet Brum's famous pedal-powered flower seller -who shoppers stop to take photos of
| Published date | 28 August 2022 |
| Publication title | Birmingham Mail: Web Edition Articles (England) |
But, after council rule changes led to most of the city's Heartbroken city centre street traders being 'wiped out like the dinosaurs', Cary now works from his Mill Lane warehouse and shop in between Birmingham Coach Station and Selfridges, supplying regular customers as well as providing displays for funerals and weddings.
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Working in tandem with Sutton Flowers but trading independently, Tadas is now launching a nationwide delivery business for flowers called Aspen Flora -and hit on the idea of using a pedlar's licence to promote the service in town. At the back of his trike for good luck is a woven basket that gave more than 100 years of service -and two World Wars -to the Sutton family.
With shoppers frequently stopping to talk or to take pictures of him, Tadas is quickly becoming a well-known figure. He said he aims to add character to the city centre whilst helping people to put the brakes on the cost of living crisis by sharing their love with quality roses at £3 each. Other flower bunches are available.
Tadas used to supplement his studies by working for Pret A Manger on New Street from where he would take an inquisitive interest in anyone with a good story to tell. He got to know Cary in 2014 and, after thinking about what he could do to help him years later, Tadas offered to build a website that would create a whole new online business -Aspen Flora.
To promote that idea, Tadas then bought a pedlar's licence -a Victorian scheme covered by the Pedlars Act 1871 that is still administered by the police not the council -and a fully equipped tricycle to start spreading the news by old fashioned word of mouth.
Tadas said: "I'd known Cary since 2013. He's old school, so I offered to start my own company Aspen Flora which will specialise in online orders, same day Birmingham city centre delivery and next day nationwide delivery. We aim to cover events, corporate, entertainment, balloons, decorations, florists, gardeners' apparel and accessories, gifts and much more.
"Aspen Flora is officially registered as a private limited company with...
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