After much deliberation and consideration, we have come to the difficult decision to cease trading as The Guild Dumfries C.I.C.
This decision hasn't been an easy one for us and there are many factors involved including changes in circumstances for the directors, financial factors, capacity and mainly volunteer fatigue. Unfortunately, these challenges have significantly impacted our operations and sustainability. As a result, we have reached a point where continuing our business operations the way they are is no longer feasible.
As a result of these challenges The Guild Dumfries C.I.C will stop running all our projects including Flourish at 111 High Street in Dumfries. Flourish will remain open until the 31st May and The Guild will continue to promote and champion our current collective of makers, creatives, producers and small businesses until this date, there will then be a period of transition.
The good news is, Flourish will not disappear but will be under new management. Leah Halliday has made the decision to personally take over as a sole trader, and will still continue to invest her time and love into the business so it remains part of the community. The board of trustees at Midsteeple Quarter have agreed for her to continue at 111 High Street, but she will only occupy the gift shop and rear stock room in part of the ground floor.
So the new venture won’t be dissimilar to the Flourish we all know and love. Her passion of finding and sourcing beautiful and thoughtfully made things to share with our customers won’t stop. Leah is still really keen to continue to stock products made by small businesses based locally and across the U.K, alongside ethically sourced and fairtrade items. It will also continue to have a refillery and a selection of zero waste products.
But to ensure its sustainability a few changes need to be made. The gift shop will reopen hopefully mid June as the shop area will be reduced in size and a more flexible space will also be created at the rear, to accommodate a studio|workshop|office during some of the year. We hope you will support this new venture.
We want to say a huge thank you to our community and customers for their support and encouragement. We also want to thank our team who have helped to make Flourish what it is. We are incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished together at Flourish over the last 2 and a half years, and the many relationships forged during our time working alongside each other.
The Guild Dumfries C.I.C have loved collaborating with so many small businesses at Flourish, and we are immensely grateful for the support we have had from them and our community throughout our journey at 111 High Street. Our decision to no longer manage and run Flourish was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it may have.
The Guild Dumfries CIC want to assure you that we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for all parties involved. We will be working diligently to fulfil any outstanding obligations and ensure that any ongoing projects are properly concluded. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns, these can be sent by email to theguilddumfries@gmail.com.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.
Warm Regards
Leah, Natalie, Diane & Rebecca
Directors at The Guild Dumfries C.I.C
Flourish is a Non-Profit Community Space + Shop
Flourish, 111 High Street
Managed and curated by social enterprise THE GUILD (DUMFRIES) C.I.C
Registered in Scotland as a Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee Company Number No | SC595249
Registered Address | Solway House, Crichton Business Park, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA
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