Hartley’s Nursery
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A family farm which first diversified into 13 jobs safeguarded establishing its own shop more than 30 years ago has become one of the most advanced flower retailers in the country. Hartley's Farm in Lydiate, Merseyside, was ahead of its time when it began selling its own fruit and vegetables from a small farm shop back in the 1970s. But as major supermarkets grew more and more powerful, the family farm – which dates back more than 160 years – once again found itself facing fierce competition. "The nursery you see here today has been open just under a year, and already trade is up around 15 to 20 percent." Last year, with the help of ICEP and Business Link, Hartley’s diversified once more to build a much larger, more modern retail area from which to sell their range of home grown and imported flowers and plants. Gone are the fruit and vegetables which were once the farm's core business, and in their place, a large, modern nursery selling some of the best quality flowers in the region. 12 months after redeveloping its retail accommodation, the business is attracting customers from across south Liverpool and beyond, and behind the scenes has become one of the most advanced small flower retailers around. As well as selling their own high-quality blooms, Ann-Louise Hartley is one of the few buyers in the UK to purchase flowers directly from Dutch auctions, which she does daily via a live data link.
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