Dunstable family businesses: The Smith Family Flower Shop - a future in flowers

Dunstable Family Businesses by Cllr Peter Hollick, past mayor of Dunstable

Lindsey grew up and attended school in Dunstable. She qualified as a nurse and worked in the NHS and private sector in healthcare and management.

During Covid she decided on a different path. She said: "I always had the wish to start my own business. I was creating floral displays as a hobby. In June 2026 I decided to finally turn my hobby into a business creating bespoke silk and acrylic flower arrangements for indoor and outdoor use."

Trading as The Smith Family Flower Shop, she has background support from her family; her husband provides moral support (and lifts the heavy boxes); her daughter helps with design ideas and her son helps loading and unpacking on his vacations from university.

"It is a challenging time to start a business but I am proud of what I have achieved in such a short time," she added.

Apart from Dunstable Middle Row Markets on Ashton Square, Lindsey traded at the Dunstable Live event in June, the Ashton Square Day in August and at the Soapbox Derby in September.

Lindsey has created bride and bridesmaid flowers for her first wedding client and soon hopes to offer funeral flowers.

While seeing the future as challenging, she says that as long as there is a demand, her goal is to rent a retail unit in town so she can trade on a permanent basis.

It is a brave step for anyone to start a business but there is support around to help that goal.