5Q4 > A Winning Florist

An Adventist has been recognised as one of Australia's top innovators. Lisa Hayden’s Floral eKiosk is the winner of the Best Idea Concept Stage category at the 2003 Yellow Pages Business Ideas Grants. It could gross more than $A50 million in sales in five years, but Lisa, a member of the Adventist church in Wahroonga, NSW, plans to give one-third of the profits away.

1 What is the floral ekiosk?> The Floral eKiosk allows qualified florists to sell their products 24 hours a day. Customers can buy from a vending machine or arrange for flowers to be sent anywhere in the world via touch-screen technology. I’m going to launch the product as Flowers all Hours in April next year.

2 You’re going to make a mint. Why give it away?> God’s blessed me. But I don’t need that much money. I’d rather put it toward a worthy cause.

3 What cause?> I plan to give 30 per cent of the net profits back to the Adventist Church—20 per cent for training church members to share their faith and 10 per cent as tithe.

4 how did you win and what did you get for winning?> Judges of the grants selected me and two guys—Mervyn Dobbins and William Emerson—from 24 finalists in three categories. They announced their decision at a ceremony in Melbourne on September 3. I got $A50,000 for winning, plus $A15,000 worth of advertising and $A5000 worth of training and development support.

5 $50,000 for winning! Taking a holiday?> I wish. I’m currently doing part-time, temporary work because I need to give full-time attention to setting up the business. I get a fortnightly income from the federal government’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme. I’m living in the nurses' residence at Sydney Adventist Hospital to save money.