The Arab Irish Journal News
AIJ News Blooming Success Ireland’s No.1 florist launch in Dubai with their aim firmly set on taking over the UAE market. Flowere.ae have launched into the UAE market and have already gained massive success. The Irish company was founded by two of Ireland most prestigious florists and businessmen David Ferguson and Martin O Gara. The two established entrepreneurs saw a major gap in the market to launch a floristry business which would cover all areas of the flower market. They are focusing on areas such as the corporate, weddings , retail, online and gifting services. Martin says “There are many flower companies across the UAE however they tend to stay in just one market. They either specialised in the wedding and events area or they are a retail outlet with some online presents. Flowers.ae are the full package, the aim of our business is to establish the company as a market leader in the UAE. We are growing all aspects of our business from corporate sales, wedding business, online sales and gifting services. We are currently looking to secure a commercial premise which will give Flowers.ae a welcomed retail presents in Dubai. Both Martin and David have countless years of experience in the floristry business. Martin started business in the floristry industry back in 1972. In 1980 he opened his first company called Justyne Flowers and grew it into the market leader in Ireland for retail and online flower delivery. He was awarded the prestigious honor of winning ‘Irish Florist Of The Year” on more than one occasion and was the first and only florist to be awarded “British Interflora Florist Of The Year”. Martin then went on to become a Director of the British Interflora unit. With these accruements he then turned his expertise to the Chinese market and assisted in reclaiming the Interflora brand in China and re-launching it officially back into the Chinese market successfully. His company was responsible for the training and development of the first retail florists in China at that time. In 2012 Martin took a strategic move and partnered with FCDM a Digital Marketing Agency based in Ireland. Together they founded Flowers.ie which again has grown to be the market leader in the flower industry in Ireland. It was this brand which gave them the idea to move into the market in the Middle East and establish the company Flowers.ae. Co-Founder of Flowers.ae David Ferguson has equally as much experience in the flower industry. He is also currently the CEO of Ferguson Flowers in Belfast Northern Ireland which was established in 1939 as a family business. David went on to grow Ferguson Flowers to be the largest retail floristry business in Northern Ireland. He was appointed to the “Florist Advisory Council” by the Interflora British unit. David says “Floristry has always been a passion to me; it has been in my family for many generations. When Martin and I seen the opportunity to collaborate our experience and expertise to replicate our business model in the UAE it was a challenge I could not refuse. Although the UAE market is strong, there were many new guidelines and laws which we needed to adhered to before we launched Flowers.ae. Doing business in the UAE is different to what we are used to in Ireland however they have excellent information outlets and services which have assisted us along the way”. During their time in Dubai, David and Martin have built relationships with business networks such as “The Irish Business Network”. This outlet has allowed them to market their brand to the corporate sector and most importantly the hotel industry in Dubai. This business network and others like it have given Flowers.ae a platform to showcase their services. It has afforded them the opportunity to interact with other companies who have successfully grown a business in the UAE. The Chairman of the IBN Bernard Creed says “We are delighted to welcome new Irish businesses into the IBN. We want to help them to grow their business through both communication and connection with our entire IBN base. Flowers.ae have built what they call a ‘Layered Approach’ to their business model, Martin says “We offer our customers a wide and varied service. We have placed immense efforts in catering to all demographics across our market. We feel this is one of the factors that has contributed to our success in Ireland and now the Middle East. Other online services we offer range from balloon delivery, bespoke chocolate delivery and gifting. We understand our customer and being in this region has allowed us to explore a whole new market and customer base which we are thoroughly enjoying. We love what we do and we hope it shows in our work and service”. For this issue Flowers.ae have offered the readers of The Arab Irish Journal a very special 20% discount offer. If you wish to order flowers online at www.flowers.ae, insert the code AIJoffer. To contact flowers.ae login to www.flowers.ae or email martin.ogara@flowers.ae or david.ferguson@flowers.ae
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