New girl

She had been working a few weeks and settled in nicely

"Jo can you go out on a delivery with him, you can stand by the van as he carries the boxes in"

We loaded the van, and off we went

"Why does she want me to go with you"

"You think your is a rough estate, where we are going there is some really rough types

They would steal anything from an open van, but not if someone is sitting in it.

Once I have the last box in you can come and meet Julie and have a chat with her;

And the girls who are her customers.

 

As the goods were carried in girls came down the estate to collect their orders.

Jo followed me inside.

As the orders were being sorted out and Julie collected their money Jo asked

"Are they all off this estate, how do they know what they can order?

Julie has a kit with samples of our baskets made up, we make them in their colours,

That's what you have to learn now to assemble the flowers.

Once Julie customers had left she explained her sales methods, how she got parties and payments  

 

We took our empty Cartons out, set of for home

One the way Jo asked about running a party herself

I explained we had to be careful;

She was just below paying national Insurance extra would take her over and you get some people who are jealous and report you

She could make up a kit for a party herself and run one party where she may get a friend who could run them

 

Next day she came in 'full of beans'

"The girls say yes they would like a flower party - girls get together no fellas, an I think one of em will take over -

They asked if we gave them a display for a raffle, sort for the host to help pay for the grub, just a 'lall' one "

What's the girls name ?

"Oh Josie she worked in a garage doing the accounts now she stays home to look after the kids, doesn't get on with her mum, she interferes with how she brings up her kids, they have to sit quiet and not make noise as they play"

She made up a kit of displays - Josie came in and  helped to pack it in two boxes wrapped with paper, then the raffle item had a tag with our trading name, address and phone number was attached; then wrapped in cellophane finished off with a cheap bow.

"Tell them if they want anything special Birthday and such a fancy bow is 50 pence extra"

 

The party was a success they got orders for over two hundred pounds (amongst them was one for a Golden Wedding to be delivered the following weekend) for fifteen girls Jo said Josie could have all the commission. They used her house and she did all the selling and paper work so she would also get the hosts share

Josie began a few afternoon parties, a few girls couldn't get to the evening ones

Jo was now making up displays; we had the local radio on at work she would sing along to the songs