An award-winning florist has closed her Llanidloes shop after four years, saying the business is set to reach more customers than ever through a new home-based studio.
Hollie Hulme, owner of Hollies Floral Design, shut her Llanidloes premises last Friday after four years in the town.
The move marks the end of the shop, but not the business.
Instead, Hollie is launching a home-based floral studio in Churchstoke and says she already has a busy calendar of weddings and events booked across Wales, the Midlands and beyond.
Announcing the move, she thanked customers in Llanidloes for their support over the last four years.
"A massive thank you to the wonderful people of Llanidloes for the last four years," she said.
"You welcomed me, supported me and encouraged me, and I've met some truly amazing people and made friendships I'll treasure for years to come."
"Llanidloes will always be a very special part of my journey."
The florist, who won a Welsh Wedding Award in 2024 and was recently featured in SMS's Top 10 Florists of 2026, said the decision was ultimately about taking advantage of new opportunities rather than simply walking away from the high street.
"The decision to close the shop is ultimately a business decision and about looking at where the best opportunities are for the future," she said.
"The challenges facing the town centre, including reduced footfall and the traffic situation, have obviously played a part, but they aren't the sole reason for my decision and I wouldn't want that to be the focus."
Earlier this year, Hollie was among Llanidloes traders who spoke publicly about the impact of prolonged traffic management linked to repairs at the Old Market Hall.
At the time, she said the disruption had cost her business around £11,000 and warned that another lengthy period of roadworks could force her to leave.
However, she now says the business has evolved far beyond a traditional florist's shop.
"Over the last few years, the business has grown well beyond the traditional high street shop," she said.
"Winning the Welsh Wedding Awards and more recently being featured by SMS in their Top 10 Florists of 2026 have really raised the profile of Hollies Floral Design, both online and within the wedding and floral industry.
"Those opportunities have helped me realise just how much potential there is for the business beyond the shop."
Hollie said she already has weddings and events booked in different parts of the UK next year and hopes to explore opportunities even further afield in the future.
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The new studio will allow her to focus more on weddings, events and bespoke commissions without the costs and restrictions that come with running a retail premises.
Despite leaving the high street, she says the business will remain active locally through markets, events and customer orders across Mid Wales.
"Leaving the shop is obviously bittersweet after everything I've put into it, but I genuinely feel that it's the right time to take Hollies Floral Design in a new direction," she said.
"The shop may have closed, but Hollies Floral Design is very much continuing. I'm just doing things differently, with some really exciting opportunities ahead."
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