Meet the maker: Sale’s alternative florist expands business into Emporium M33

Bec Rotchell, the gothic-inspired imagination behind alternative dried floral design business Black Raven Flowers, has expanded into Sale’s small business hub Emporium M33. We caught up with Sale-born Bec to have a chat about the story behind her business and her influences – and to ask why more people are falling in love with “weirder” floral designs since the pandemic hit. 

Sale Today: Hi Bec, tell us a bit about your background.

Bec Rotchell: I did an art and embroidery degree and graduated in 2008. Like many students, I didn’t know what I wanted to do at that point and ended up as a fabric technician for Marks & Spencer – I was really bad at it! 

After having my first child, I moved about jobs a bit and then became pregnant again. The job I was in didn’t suit my situation, so I left and by complete chance, happened upon a florist in Sale that had an art space in it. I approached the owner and asked if I could take the space and they went one better – offering me a job as a florist. At that stage, I didn’t know the names of any flowers, but they trained me and taught me everything I know. That was back in 2011. 

ST: Tell us a bit about Black Raven Flowers and how it came about.  

BR: Really it stemmed from being on furlough during lockdown in 2020. I found I had no creative outlet and it was driving me crazy. I’m a very sociable person and was missing that connection to others. So I started faffing – and Black Raven was the result! I knew I wanted to create ‘weirder’ things that were more me. I have always loved the macabre and alternative and this direction seemed like the right one for me. 

After doing a bit of research, I saw that items such as curiosity cabinets were becoming more popular – I’ve collected Victorian items in my own cabinet for years, so to find that there might be an appetite from others was fantastic. 

I’ve noticed that the pandemic has led to people no longer wanting an ‘IKEA home’ – they want to stamp their own identity on where they live and magnolia walls aren’t going to cut it anymore. 

For example, due to the pandemic, many of my customers have had to postpone their weddings multiple times and now they are able to go ahead with their re-arranged date, they no longer want the ‘norm’ – more and more are looking for alternative arrangements. That’s what I provide through Black Raven and they last for such a long time, not just a week or so like fresh bouquets. 

The world of dried floral arrangements has exploded in recent years – just a few years ago, I couldn’t source good quality dried items from alternative suppliers, but now it is a lot easier to find a range of options. 

ST: Why did you pick Emporium M33 to expand into?

BR: I work from home in my small potting shed in the back garden and I’d outgrown it. I started to feel like I didn’t have the right outlet to showcase my work – I share and sell a lot of items via my website and social media, but I wanted a physical presence too. 

The beauty of Emporium M33 is that they put a small business’s needs first; Scott [Lyons, owner of Emporium M33] is a champion of independent businesses and knows what we need to grow. Thanks to its reasonable pricing, I have been able to expand my business into a space at Emporium without taking out a business loan. It was an absolute no-brainer for me – Emporium M33 was where I wanted to be. 

ST: What does the future hold for you and your business over the next 12 months? 

BR: I’d like to move into the world of antiques a little more – my dad was an antique dealer before he retired and I’ve learnt a lot about that world. I’ll also be bringing my Christmas wreath workshops back later this year, which will be hosted at Mano a Bocca again. I’m also taking part in some makers’ days, which will give me the chance to work alongside other creative local businesses. 

ST: Your work sometimes includes taxidermy – how have you found the reaction from others to that area of your business? 

BR: Mostly positive – and I am always very open and willing to discuss the subject with those who are less sure. In all of my creations that use animals, they are always ethically sourced and I work very hard to maintain high levels of respect for what was once a living creature. 

Given the subject, I know that not everyone is going to like it, but I would rather try to make it into something beautiful for others to enjoy for years to come than see it be simply thrown in the bin. 

ST: What do you think about the regeneration of Sale? 

BR: Wow, there certainly are changes being made, aren’t there?! It’s great to see the main entrance to Stanley Square opened up, doing away with those previous metal gates – that has made a big difference. There’s a nice buzz around town and I think there’s been a greater appetite from locals for supporting new, local businesses. Walking around town, I’ve never seen it so busy – and I was born and raised in Sale. 

I hope that Emporium M33 continues to thrive – the community feel here is strong; having been a customer here for years, I knew that setting up a space for Black Raven would be like joining a real family – and it has. I’m absolutely thrilled to be here! 

ST: Why do you love it in Sale?

BR: Sale is like a bag of pick and mix; it’s full of friendly, approachable people and for the most part, I think they are very open to change. Over the last couple of years, I really think residents have realised how lucky they are to live in Sale. 

Black Raven Flowers is located on Emporium M33 (ground floor), 3-7 Tatton Road, Sale M33 7EB and you can contact Bec via Instagram, @BlackRavenFlorist. 

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💭 Thought bubble: Bec’s approach to floristry is refreshing – her long-lasting creations allow people to keep memories of happy days alive for years to come. In a world where we’re all just trying to find our own way, don’t we all fancy something a little different from time to time?

Images courtesy of Black Raven Flowers