New Pontypool Business Is Coming Up Roses

A young entrepreneur who was left out of work following a serious car accident in December 2015 has launched a new florist in Pontypool Indoor Market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nineteen-year-old Bethan White suffered a number of injuries in the accident that left her unable to carry out the day to day duties of her full-time job, forcing her to leave. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Unwilling to spend time out of work she decided to strike out on her own and, just a few months later in February 2016, she opened the Market Garden florist. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ms White said: “I have always worked since leaving school and couldn’t stand the thought of sitting around at home on the sick doing nothing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“My great grandmother, Annie Murray, opened a flower stall in Pontypool market in the 1940s and most of my family have worked here over the years. I always liked the idea of carrying on the tradition and opening my own stall, so I decided that now was the right time to give it a go.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as flowers, the Market Garden stocks a variety of garden plants and ornaments, and also caters for funerals and events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In keeping with tradition the business is very much a family affair, with mum Deborah White and granddad Charles Murray, who are both former market traders themselves, helping to run the stall. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ms White said: “My family have been a great support to me, helping to run the stall and carrying out the jobs I can’t do since the accident. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have been here for just over a month now but we are already starting to get our regular customers and many people remember our family, and are pleased to see us back in the market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The indoor market is the perfect place for someone starting a business for the first time as the rent is affordable and there is a lot of support from local people.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gaynor Wakeling, business development and market manager at Torfaen council, said: “Bethan is a real inspiration to other potential young entrepreneurs. She has suffered a serious accident and the loss of her job, and instead of allowing this to get her down she has used it as an opportunity to do something she has always wanted to do. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the opening of the Market Garden we now have two quality florists in the market offering different goods and services, creating a unique offer in Pontypool.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​