A new website has been launched by a local florist which will enable both local residents and people from overseas to order fresh cut custom-made arrangements for special events in Bermuda within 24 hours from mouse click to delivery.

Petals, a company established by owner Nikki Begg who also operates Bermuda Bride Ltd., provides a floral design and delivery service for individual and corporate clients. The company caters to everything from weddings to formal events, to providing arrangements for private homes, boardrooms and public spaces in office buildings.

"We bring everything in to order and we don't have a retail store," said Mrs. Begg. "So the website was a natural next step to help existing and potential clients see the full range of what we offer, and make it even easier for them to contact us to make orders."

Once an e-mail is received from a client via the website Petals contacts the sender to confirm details of their order.

"We then schedule the order with our supplier for the desired timeframe and the flowers are literally picked, put on the plane and flown in from the East Coast of the US," said Mrs. Begg. She adds that even with this level of service, coupled with dedication and skill of senior floral designer Marguerite Clark who also manages the business, since the company has very little overhead the flowers can still be priced competitively. Mrs. Begg said that the company has seen a very positive response from the market, both local and overseas, and as business has grown she is currently looking to add another employee to the team of one full-time and three part-time staff.

"We emphasise quality and freshness in our flowers, as well as unique and creative designs," she said. "Now we can use technology to add another dimension to our service."