A new florist that has been years in the making has opened its doors to an “overwhelming” response. Tommy McGuirk, from Anfield, is behind Tommy’s Florist on Endbutt Lane, just around the corner from Crosby Village.
The 37-year-old’s shop has only been open for a week, but it is an idea he has been toying with for much longer. Tommy said it was the constant encouragement from his friends and family that made him make his dream a reality.
From college to his own shop
The former Hugh Baird College student told the ECHO: “I’ve been in floristry for 16 and a half years. I’ve worked for different characters and a variety of people, but last year I just came to a point where I thought, ‘I’m sick of working for somebody else. It’s time to do it myself'.
“I knew I was good enough. I haven’t just rolled out of college. I’ve spent years trying to get myself up there, working with the best and getting the best companies to work with me. I’ve got a lot of expertise. The shop has been in the pipeline for about 24 months, so to finally have the doors open is a massive thing for me.”
Warm welcome from the community
Since launching, Tommy said the response from the community has exceeded his expectations, with the warm welcome confirming he made the right decision in choosing Crosby as the location for his first shop.
He said: “People have wished me well, popped in with cards and given me a pat on the back. It’s just been so lovely. I didn’t expect anybody to wish me luck, but complete strangers have come in, hugged me, congratulated me and wished me luck for the future.
“It’s been really overwhelmingly lovely. It makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing and that I’m on the right track.”
From barbering to bespoke floristry
Tommy specialises in bespoke floral arrangements, with funeral work being a particularly important part of his business. But floristry was not always part of Tommy’s plans. In fact, he originally intended to become a barber before a chance conversation led him in a completely different direction.
He added: “I fell into floristry. I was doing a barbering course back in 2010 while I was looking after my mum as a carer. It was during the evening, and the lady next door was doing a floristry course. She said that if no one joined their course that night, they would cancel it.
“I said, ‘My best friend’s mum’s a florist, and I kind of know a little bit about it, so I’ll join in tonight'. I ended up joining, and here we are, 16 and a half years later. I absolutely loved it. I thought it was really creative.
“It was better than barbering, and it’s funny how life can completely take a U-turn and send you in a direction you never thought you were going to go in.”
High-profile clients and future plans
Over the course of his career, Tommy has built up an impressive portfolio and worked with a number of high-profile clients. Among his clients have been football figures including Jürgen Klopp, Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard, as well as singer Rebecca Ferguson and a number of television productions.
One of Tommy’s career highlights came when Taylor Swift’s team got in touch ahead of her three-night takeover of Anfield Stadium as part of The Eras Tour.
He told the ECHO: “I’ve done flowers for a lot of celebrities. I did flowers for Taylor Swift when she was at Anfield. Her entourage rang me and asked for flowers in her dressing room. She had 100 white roses on her dressing table for when she turned up.
“That was a very surreal moment. I was thinking, ‘Wow, Taylor Swift is going to be sitting in front of my flowers while she’s doing her makeup'. Klopp would also get flowers every single week. His wife would want flowers.”
Having finally opened his own business, Tommy’s immediate focus is on establishing the Crosby shop, but he already has ambitions for the future. He hopes that in a few years' time a few more Tommy’s Florists will be found in the likes of Wigan and Chester.
