Spalding flower wholesaler says she is on 'knife edge' due to Brexit

The owner of a Spalding-based flower wholesaler has explained how it feels as though she is on a “knife edge” due to the ongoing Brexit trade talks.

Sam Lewis, of Sunflower Spalding Cash and Carry, says that she has suffered sleepless nights ever since Britain triggered Article 50 in 2017 to begin the process of leaving the European Union at the end of the month.

Sam has already experienced issues caused by Brexit and the talks surrounding the move.

She said: “It’s been a constant concern since the day we decided to leave and it has presented various issues for us already, such as late arrivals from Holland, and even a little bit of animosity towards us from suppliers there who feel we have created this situation ourselves.

“Prices went up almost overnight three years ago and we’ve found that pricing has been difficult this year.

“A no-deal Brexit will hit us with a big bill.”

Sam believes that the Government needs to give clear instructions to businesses that will be faced with the results of the trade talks.

She said: “I keep receiving letters telling me to ‘prepare for Brexit’, but we don’t actually know what we are preparing for, what the full effect will be or what extra costs we will be faced with.

“I understand they’re trying to get the best deal possible but I think they should have looked at giving people in business time to prepare as we are now on a knife edge.

“It was always going to be complex but this year it’s been a case of coping with the huge impact the pandemic had on the business and try to rebuild there. But now we are faced with Brexit and all of the implications which come with it.”

As weddings were cancelled due to lockdown restrictions, Sam says she has seen several businesses struggling to keep afloat.

She said: “We have been going through a very difficult time - as have so many other businesses - and we really need weddings back as we have had a whole summer without them this year.

“When it comes to dealing with this scenario, you can take steps, such as reducing the amount of your stock by half, but the overheads stay the same. It’s not just us - it has a knock-on effect from us onto everyone else.

“On the other hand, Brexit is very frustrating but it is something we are going to have to deal with.”