It has been a challenging 30 years for Celines Flowers
By Maurice Garvey
ESTABLISHED on the same day The Square opened its doors (December 15, 1990), Celines Flowers & Gifts in Village Green is part of the retail history of Tallaght.
Owner Celine Keane said it has been a “challenging” 30 years in business, working long hours to get the venture up and running in the early days, but she concedes 2020 to be the “most challenging” year so far.
Bridie Sweeney opening Celine’s Flowers 30 years ago
“I was forced to close my doors in March. At first we all thought Covid-19 would blow over in a few weeks and unfortunately this was not the case,” said Celine.
“With a heavy heart I have made the decision not to reopen my doors this Christmas. I worry about bringing the virus home to more vulnerable members of my family and one thing 2020 has taught me is ‘never take anything for granted.’
Hopefully when we all get the vaccine sometime very soon I can come back to retail as I miss the interaction and banter with customers.”
Since March, Celine has been working from her studio at home and customers can call or order online for a delivery service.
“To receive a flower gift by delivery is special when they are least expecting it. I will continue to offer a delivery only service over Christmas and hopefully in 2021, I will be back in retail enjoying the chats with customers and full service can return.”
Every Friday for the past two months, Celine has been gifting five random people a bouquet in Tallaght “the only catch is you have to regift the bouquet to someone.”
RTE broadcaster Joe Duffy even interviewed Celine on Liveline about it.
“The reaction has been phenomenal,” said Celine.
Joe Duffy asked me why and I said people need a lift in these dark times. To date I have gifted for free 50 bouquets so that should be 100 people who have smiled and spread a pandemic of kindness around Tallaght.”
During the early stages of the business, with no internet and social media, Celine says she “relied on footfall and word of mouth.”
“Then in the dot com era I set up my first website www.irishflowershops.com. I would say it is only in the past 10 years there has been a steady growth with online sales and especially in 2020 when internet sales have really grown.
“Earlier this year I launched www.wedding-flowers.ie. With the wedding business virtually nonexistent hopefully 2021 will see couples celebrating their weddings again.
I would like to thank all my customers for their continued custom and wish everyone a safe Christmas. And to all those families who lost loved ones in 2020 my thoughts and prayers are with you.”
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