A FLORIST who started her business from her Kidderminster home has expanded and opened up a new shop.

Specialist florist and venue dresser Tricia Penny will unveil her new premises for Peppermint in Minister Road, Stourport at a launch event on Thursday, September 25.

Tricia, aged 51, established Peppermint in 2011 from her home on the outskirts of Kidderminster with a £10,000 investment but, with business booming, she has had to expand and take on her first permanent assistant Hayley Wood.

She previously worked as a primary school teacher for 20 years but was frequently asked by friends and family to put her talent for flower arranging to good use for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.

And as demand grew Tricia, who was a regional finalist in the Best Wedding Florist category of the 2014 Wedding Industry Awards, gave up teaching to launch the business from her workshop in Blakedown.

Tricia said: “I’ve always adored flowers and that passion has grown ever since my mother took me to arranging classes at the age of nine. I loved teaching but I realised three years ago that I had to follow my dream so I took a risk and entered the business world full-time.

“It’s has been hard work but I have loved every minute working with flowers and have never looked back as the business has gone from strength to strength over the past three years.

“Opening the new shop is an exciting step forward and it allows us the opportunity to really showcase what we can do for a variety of events and celebrations. I am already feeling at home and the feedback in the shop’s first few weeks has been exceptional.”

She added: “It’s fantastic to have Hayley on board as my first permanent employee. She has a great eye for detail, is superb with customers and will play a big role in moving the business forward.”

People are invited to attend the launch party, which takes place between 5-7.30pm on September 25, at Peppermint, on 106 Minister Road.