February Feature Interview - Neill Strain

We delve straight in to our Best of British floral celebrations with an interview with London based designer Neill Strain.

 

 

 

Neill inspires his London clients with contemporary, haute couture floral designs from his beautiful Belgravia boutique. 

 

" A Dramatic Bouquet - Fiery Colours - Sensual and Wild "

 

 

I had the pleasure of working for Neill as a Junior Florist and Hostess whilst I was studying for my BA degree in Professional Floristry. It was a wonderful experience for a training florist. 

 

 
 

 

Neill is renown for creating sensational displays outside the store from a full scale Poinsettia Star for International Poinsettia Day to a sky scraping Love heart for Valentines.

 



 





So with one of the prominent days in floral calendar fast approaching, and with just little over a week until the Neill Strain team unveil another of their glorious displays for Valentines, Neill kindly took a few moments from his hectic schedule to tell Wannabe Florist how romance should be done.

 

 

 

1. What trends do you predict for Valentines Day 2014? . . . The classic red collection or will your clients be looking for a more unusual colour palette? What will Neill Strain Floral Couture be promoting?

For our own clientele in Belgravia, we are predicting that they will continue to want the super premium, long stemmed (80 cm) Red Naomi red Rose to which they have become accustomed to over the past 6 years since we’ve been in business, or alternatively beautiful mixed bouquets including some Red Roses but also a wider colour palette of passionate pinks, reds and purples, including flowers such as Eustoma, Spray Roses, Tulips, and other seasonal flowers.

Our bouquets are luxuriously packaged in our own black square bags (with our logo) and the flowers protrude sometimes up to 1 metre tall!

Note our Red Naomi roses, and many of our other flowers, are carefully selected and picked especially for us, and sent to our boutique on the same day, so the flowers arrive extremely fresh. I am told the Red Naomi Rose has a vase life of 3 weeks!

At Neill Strain Floral Couture, we also offer our clients the possibility of home styling - tailor-made bouquets designed especially to enhance their interiors.  For Valentines Day we can decorate our clients’ homes in pure floral romance, from the front hall through the living room, and the bedroom to the bathroom!

 

" Luxuriously Packaged . . . . . Passionate pinks, reds and purples"

 

 

2. If you could design the ultimate Valentines Bouquet for yourself, no expense spared, what would you love to receive?

 

 

A dramatic Bouquet of Roses, Phaleanopsis Orchids and Gloriosa, in fiery colours of reds, oranges and hot cerise pinks. Sensual and wild.

 

 

 

3. Valentines Bouquet or Arrangement and why? As a retailer do you think its important to offer your clients a choice at Valentines or just to stick to one product line?

 

 

I think it’s all about the choice for the client. So we offer lots of variety.

 

 

 

 

4. What is your favourite part of the Valentines Celebrations?

 

Relaxing when it’s all over and getting the feedback from all our happy clients!

 

 

 

 

 



BEST OF BRITISH FLORAL DESIGN

A belated Happy New Year to one and all! I hope you are well rested and well prepared for the Valentines rush.

 A new year brings much excitement for Wannabe Florist! The blog will be going through a metamorphosis, so keep your eyes peeled. Whilst Wannabe Florist is having a facelift please bear with me as posts and updates maybe a little sporadic!

So to kick start 2014 Wannabe Florist will be championing 'Best Of British'! Even up to last week, media reports were being released about high street retailer, Marks and Spencer, offering an online Wedding Flower Collection! The floristry industry can be a challenging sector to work in without the ever increasing encroachment on our industry.  So, with this in mind, we, as an industry need to start celebrating what we do best, rather than allowing a heightening sense of despondency to overtake. We commence by showcasing the best of British floral designers. Over the forth coming year Wannabe Florist will be filling your screens with interviews from some our home grown UK talents. 


Our February Feature Designer is none other than the wonderfully talented Mr Neill Strain of the Flower Lounge, Belgravia, London.

Revisiting The Lonely Bouquet

With Christmas fast approaching I thought it would be nice to reflect upon the year as it draws to a close, and revisit this summers international first for the floral industry - the arrival of  'The Lonely Bouquet' event.

Wannabe Florist took part in July and supplied three lucky Cambridge residents & visitors with a lonely bouquet.  I have caught up with one of the recipients to get a greater insight to how the event has reached out to the general public.


 

 

Name, Age & Occupation

 

Elizabeth Stella Maria (Mellen) age 54, occupation Primary School Teacher

 Are you a Cambridge resident or visiting? If visiting what was your purpose of your visit?
 

I am a resident of Hackney and was visiting Cambridge for a weekend reunion at my old college, Trinity Hall, of my matriculation year, 1977.

Where did you find the Lonely Bouquet? What/who drew your attention to it?
 

I found the lonely bouquet in the alcove of the Caius College clock, in Senate House Passage. It was drenched in sunlight and immediately caught my attention.  

What were your immediate reaction/ initial thoughts?
 

My first thought was that it was placed there as a shrine or memorial to someone possibly recently dead, and so the immediate delight was tempered with apprehension as I peered at the label.

I was with a friend and she said, 'It's for you!' and then pointed out that we were being watched.
(Elizabeth was being watched by myself and my camera crew from a secluded spot, so that we could watch and capture the publics' genuine initial reaction first hand for the video documentary. )

 

Had you heard about the Lonely Bouquet project before you found the bouquet?

 

I had never heard of the lonely bouquet project, but was delighted to receive an unexpected bouquet as I have so rarely been given or sent flowers.  

 

Do you frequently buy flowers for yourself? If so why? 

I adore nature and its flora and fauna, so I buy flowers for the house every week; usually whatever is in season and cheap.  This week there is a large blue earthenware jug of sunflowers, and just fading, the first bouquet my son has bought me, double red roses and gypsophila, which I left in their pretty pink cellophane.   

Where did your Lonely Bouquet end up? At your home? at work?
 

The lonely bouquet went home to London with me and lasted well over a week.  The boys were all very curious about it, and maybe it prompted Alex's gesture.  It was sad when the bouquet started to droop, but I took it into the garden and photographed it for posterity before it passed its best.  Its ruby coloured vase is a now a lovely sundae glass.

 

Wannabe Florist 3rd Anniversary & Lonely Bouquet Documentary

Dear all,

Here is the full length documentary of how Wannabe Florist took the streets of Cambridge (UK), to partake in spreading a few smiles, by leaving 3 lonely bouquets in the 3 very special places! #thelonelybouquet

The video is also in celebration of Wannabe Florist storming into its 3rd Anniversary (August 10th). A massive thank you for all those who have followed and supported Wannabe Florist. A special thanks to mum, who always makes me strive to be the best I can be and for supporting Wannabe Florist wholeheartedly  Xx

Ill leave this blog post short - The documentary says it all. I would love to hear from you and what you thought of the video and how fellow florists celebrated this wonderful new event in our floral calendar! Photographs from the documentary can be found in the Photo Gallery.

 

Lonely Bouquet #1 - The Mill Pond, Cambridge

 

Below is the link to the video. ( in purple text).

 Wannabe Florist - The Lonely Bouquet - Documentary

 

If you saw us ( myself and crew) about town then please do drop us a line and say where you saw us or if you found one of the lonely bouquets and took it home to enjoy then please do get in touch and  share the journey the bouquet had and why not attach a photo too!!

A huge amount of thanks to Lizzy Marriot for her wonderful photography and Michael Boardman of HardKore Blellow Productions for his camera wizardry.  

 

You can find Wannabe Florist on Twitter and Facebook too. Or email wannabeflorist@gmail.com

 

Keep your eyes peeled you never know when you might see a lonely bouquet just waiting to be adopted

The Lonely Bouquet - Wannabe Florist

Dear all,

Here is a little taster of the full length film to be released shortly, of how Wannabe Florist took the streets of Cambridge (UK), to partake in spreading a few smiles, by leaving 3 lonely bouquets in the 3 very special places! #thelonelybouquet

The videos are also in celebration of Wannabe Florist storming into its 3rd Anniversary in August. A massive thank you for all those who have followed and supported Wannabe Florist. x

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0l-rE6G2sw&feature=youtu.be

 

 

 

 

If you saw us ( myself and crew) about town then please do drop us a line and say where you saw us or if you found one of the lonely bouquets and took it home to enjoy then please do get in touch and  share the journey the bouquet had and why not attach a photo too!!

 

You can find Wannabe Florist on Twitter and Facebook too. Or email wannabeflorist@gmail.com

 

Keep your eyes peeled you never know when you might see a lonely bouquet just waiting to be adopted! x

Wannabe Florist Blog Store Open

Wannabe Florist now has a floristry store open! I have chosen products from Amazon that are related to every aspect of floristry both practical workshop items from scissors to oasis foam and recreational and resource materials such a floral design books. 

So whether your looking for a gift for a flower enthusiast or you have forgotten to buy that extra roll of cellophane, the Wannabe Florist store is a direct link to these products on Amazon, which  provides stress-free shopping even in the small hours of the night!


The Wannabe Florist Store can be found on the right hand tool bar, just below the Facebook Badge. 

Happy shopping! x

Floral Fantaisie Book Review

Although no design is truly unique, as concepts are inspired by something that already exists, what makes a design special is the designer’s interpretation and vision, and award winning French designer Marie – Francoise Deprez has a wonderfully refreshing approach to floral design.

Deprez’s style is distinctive; it is simplistic, contemporary and sophisticated, created by sweeping rhythmic lines and architectural shapes, blends of textures, themes and choice flowers, all equally balanced with a youthful playfulness.

In this latest addition to her book collection, Floral Fantaisie, arts and crafts feature in many designs, incorporating traditional floristry tool box items such as ribbons and feathers to the more unusual mediums of paper doylies, newspaper and other paper products to kitsch floral printed fabrics.

What is particularly compelling about Deprez’s work is that the container and vases used, form an integral part of the design, it is not simply a vessel to hold the materials but provides part of the overall shape and form, reflecting the nature of the design and the colour palette used, whilst some mirror the movement and rhythm created, others pose as a textural juxtaposition to the core materials used. 

Other themes explored in the book are the links between the floral world and fashion design, not just by incorporating fabric into designs but items such as buttons and zips in vivid hues, skilfully placed, creating a contrast between materials used, greatly representing the world today where nature and man – made products converge and become  one.

Space and form are used imaginatively in Deprez’s work, with negative space ( an absence of material within an area of a design) and positive space (an area of material that creates an outline) used together to great effect, which adds depth, perception of distance and density of material.

Floral Fantaisie  provides the reader with a journey of themes, colour and shape, awakening the visual senses with every page turn.

www.jeuxdefleurs.org

A Thief In The Night

"It is not what they take but what they leave behind"

This is the slogan from the TV advert for British security services company, ADT,  and it really is true.  Yes, you feel sick to the stomach that something you own and have worked hard to earn or purchase is vandalised or stolen by a mindless individual, but it isn't until all the pandemonium of the phone calls to insurance companies, the police inspections and repair men boarding up smashed windows and crow barred doors are finished and you finally sit down with a cuppa, that it hits you. . .  Someone  was cruelly selfish enough, or really that desperate that they felt the need to steal from others.

This will be the second break - in at my current workplace in as little as three months. Thankfully on both occasions we were fortunate enough to have 'considerate' burglars who simply took what they were looking for and left the shop relatively tidy except for several large muddy foot prints on the floor (more fool them for leaving such evidence behind - they also match the footprints found at the local primary school which was also targeted for petty cash). So in that respect we are at least grateful, as we have heard many dreadful stories of properties and businesses alike being treated like a pinata and left in tatters.

Although I am only an employee at the shop, and the items that were stolen where not mine . . . Ive certainly been left with a sour taste in my mouth and a sadness for my Boss and my colleagues who all work hard to make a safe and enjoyable workplace.  It certainly makes you question your faith in humankind but at the same time you almost have to pity people that would stoop so low.  


On a more practical level I urge florists worldwide to take their building security seriously especially as Valentines is fast approaching and you will likely to be carrying extra stock and possibly store highly quantities of cash on site.

Here are some ways to deter vandals and burglars

• Firstly remove all cash, bar your float, from the premises and hide the float money somewhere out of sight or better still in a safe that is either screwed into the wall or floor and locked - Hide the keys for this or remove from site upon leaving. 
• Put up flood lighting over entrances/exits, in the car park attached to the premises or in any other area around the shop which is dark and provides 'lurking/hiding places'.
• Have your computer equipment insured and attach security tags/ locking mechanisms around the wires etc.  
• With a mind to identity theft do no leave personal addresses or documents at the shop or lock them away in a filing cabinet. 
• Put up CCTV either internally or externally or both if you feel its necessary. You can purchase realistic fake ones at a cheaper price form the Internet. . . . these can act as much as a deterrent as real working ones. Display signs on the premise that state that CCTV is in operation. You can buy these from building and hardware suppliers, security companies and the Internet. 
• Install an alarm and make sure you set it when you leave the building.

If you have any stories or ways you have deterred burglars at your shop then please feel free to share below this post in the comments box!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Big Retail . . . Little Retail. . . Big Retail . . . Little Retail

Well my darling readers, I should be tucking myself up in bed after spending all day on my feet at the shop but I am so incensed I don't think Ill sleep a wink until I have had my say on this matter.

You don't need me to tell you that florists up and down the country are tearing their hair out in despair at the current (and yes I'm going to utter those fateful words) economic downturn  . . and it seems that only the giant national companies seem to continue to rake in the dosh . . . Well I shall depress you further as the independent florist has taken another beating of late . . . but at the hands of the relay companies - the so called friend of the florist.  It was brought to my attention on Facebook this evening that consumers are complaining on the Internet and unusually on money saving and comparison websites, that local florists are not delivering the product specified on the Internet. . . . and this isn't through shoddy workmanship (and I know of a few cases that would make your eyes pop) but because florists nation wide are struggling to fulfil unrealistic orders from relay companies because the florists are not receiving the the full paid value, which is then followed by VAT, Delivery charge (which might I add  does not even cover a delivery to the village that the shop is situated at my workplace) and a labour charge. Whilst all of these are legitimate charges, they leave the florist with pittance for flower value and often resorting to reducing the quantity of stock used. What the consumers do not know is that whilst placing orders with a relay company might seem quick and easy and good value - actually what they are doing is just giving these companies reason to expand and exploit the real talent that florists have.

So I hear you cry, why don't these florists leave the relay company on the shelf if they are receiving such a raw deal?  I will tell you why  . . . because they are often pushed into a corner, and in quiet times rely on these orders to provide a small source of income and with the hope that the recipient will place an order with the florist instead of a automated system set up by people, who it clearly seems have never set foot in a florist shop nor have any real idea of what it takes to produce a good sturdy product.

What grounds do I have to say this? Well for one, I work in a florist that uses a relay company but my boss refuses to use the relay 'advertising' garb including any wrapping or promotional items, so that she may retain her own brand image, replicating the sentiment in the previous paragraph.  So fellow florists, you do have a choice on this! You can say No!

Secondly, I have lost count of the phone calls to fellow relay members regarding an order without a lengthy decision ensuing regarding the 'rip -off' manner that these companies have. And this seems to stretch the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

So Ive had my rant on the subject . . . but offered no solution . .  So here it is, I propose a FLORIST'S REVOLUTION. I would personally like to see relay companies thrown into ROOM 101 for ever and a day, but whilst consumers continue to use them that will never happen. It once again falls the florist and the industry's governing bodies to educate the public. 

1. If you feel you need or maybe even want to use a relay company, be sure to voice your PROFESSIONAL opinion on the services and products that are demanded of you - If its unrealistic and unfair then tell them and keep telling them.

2. Do make sure you thank your regular customers for choosing to buy local with a little gift from time to time. One good turn deserves another.

3. Be your own relay company but without the membership fees or referral fees. Make sure your website is well designed and easy to navigate. Offer a range of products that consumers can purchase direct from you online or over the phone. Your range, your look, your price points. This range need not be huge. Have a compact, well practiced and designed selection that showcases your signature look, your talent and what your business/personality is all about. Value for you - Value for the customer.  

I don't claim that  my simple suggestions will rid relay companies from the industry for good - in fact mostly likely far from it but hopefully offer some comfort and confidence to florists to go it alone and reduce our reliance on these bruts. Independent retailers are wanted and needed by the consumer to make sure they are receiving fairly priced, unique products produced by those who have years of know how and qualifications in the trade and fantastic one on one customer service. 

I was horrified to read on the link http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4227271 that customers thought that buying flowers from supermarkets and department stores online was better!! They are produced by unskilled people in warehouses most of the time. But that is a topic for another day, along with them trying to break into the wedding flower and funeral flower market.

There I've said my piece, for now I can rest easy - but I would dearly love to hear your thoughts on the matter in the box below or on my Facebook page - A link can be found on the navigation bar to the right of the posts.

I have just checked my stats for my blog and I am truely astounded . . . Wannabe florist Blog has had visitors from the following 50 countries in order of most - least total unique visitors . . . UK, U.S.A, Australia, India, Canada, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Romania, Spain, Sweden, New Zealand, Russia, Netherlands, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland, Philippines, Finland, South Africa, Ukraine, France, Hong Kong, South Korea, Brazil, Japan... Indonesia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Portugal, Pakistan, Greece, Mexico, Hungary, Lativa, Croatia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Austria, China, Peru, Thailand, Turkey, Norway, Vietnam, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Wow!! Please drop me a comment below and let me know where you are from or perhaps you might like to be the first person to visit my blog from your country if its not already listed, only 143 more countries to go!

 

A huge thank you to all my followers, likers and readers.

Gx

 

2013 Calenders

Dear all,

 

My apologises for being off the air waves recently - I have been very busy juggling working at a local florist shop, writing articles and working on some very exciting projects for Wannabe Florist all of which I hope to be able to share with you soon. Don't forget you can also keep up to date by following me on Twitter @wannabeflorist or on Facebook www.facebook.com/Wannabe/Florist. I frequently post updates, snippets of news and inspiration there - so make sure you don't miss out and check these pages out.

 

 

 

However, today's news is that - Wannabe Florist 2013 Designer Calenders will be launching in October - each month featuring a floral photograph taken by myself. Wall Calenders £19.99 and Desk calenders £9.99 will be available. 10% of the total profits will be donated to Fauna and Flora International  ( a charity that means a lot to me) and all Wannabe Florist followers on Facebook, Twitter and on the blog will be automatically entered into raffle, with one lucky individual winning a desk calender. More details to come.

 

Keep happy and well. Gx

THAT DRESS!!

My sincere apologises for the delay in this article, we have experienced some severe technical problems, but everything is up and running. This blog was originally written for a friends website - Colab Clothing - do take a look if you have not already. They use local artists work and print them onto t-shirts, hoodies and vest tops and also work closely with charities to give a little something back.


ROSES ARE RED . . . .

 

I am  excited to be blogging for Colab Clothing, and thrilled to connect my profession (floristry and floral art) with my love of fashion.  Yes, floral is big this spring on the catwalk from the ditsy florals at Alexander McQueen, to the retro floral prints at Prada; But in a time of austerity, this really is a sight for sore eyes! 

 

May I introduce Mr Joe Massie, 23, from Liverpool.  Joe has been RHS Chelsea Gold Medallist and Best in Show every year since 2009.  As part of the retailers Valentines campaign, ASDA enlisted the assistance of Joe and his creative team to create a stunning floral dress showcasing ASDA’s Valentines flower range.

The inspiration for this seductive dress came from Stephane Rolland’s collection, modelled at Paris Fashion Week earlier in the year. The fabric dress weighed in at 110 pounds, the floral adaptation weighed an impressive 2 stone!  I had the privilege of interviewing Joe about this exciting venture which took 170 hours, 7 florists, 1,725 flowers to complete .

Do you think the dress concept will appeal to men?  Or is it solely targeting the female market?  What sort of reaction have you had from florists and non - florists?Is this the largest exhibition/campaign you have undertaken?

“I believe the flower dress concept will appeal to women and men equally - as everyone can appreciate beauty and the sheer skill involved. The reaction has been really positive - I'd say 90% of people - florists and the public - love the dress, the concept and the design. That is a damn good result - I'll take the 90%, any day.”



“This is definitely the biggest campaign I've worked on - the reach has been just huge with an audience of millions. It was that popular, we launched it in Holland also!”

What is your most memorable moment from the process?

“I had a moment, just before we began shooting the dress, when our model was wearing it, stood underneath the lights, looking just gorgeous, and I just turned to my team, and I was like, this is ACTUALLY happening. Like, ACTUALLY happening. We're about to shoot a major campaign for a major corporation. Oh Lord!! Everything came together really well on site - we had no hiccups, no problems, and I can't thank my team enough - we knocked it out of the park!”

How far would you agree that clothing fashion trends relates to floristry themes/ trends?

“I agree 100% that trends, whether fashion, architectural, interior or cultural can affect and translate solidly into the floral world. When I'm designing for a wedding showcase, an event or even house flowers, we always listen closely to what our client wants, and then translate this through our vision and what is hot right now. We look at fashion shows (I'm loving Dolce & Gabbana, Mary Katrantzou, and Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 - so much colour!!), interior design magazines, pantone swatches, blogs and of course big shows like IMP Essen and ChristmasWorld.  I've just done a huge interview with a big national magazine, all based on flower trends and how they can combine with lifestyles and nature.”

Can you let us in on any other projects you have coming up?

“ I have a few demonstrations and workshops throughout the UK in February, and then come March I'm off on a tour of China with Shackleton Education Ltd. We're taking in five cities, and hosting workshops and demonstrations in each! Kicking off on March 7th in Beijing, I am more than excited to hit the road and meet all of the participants and our hosts in China!”

Given the opportunity would you do it again?

“Most definitely. 100%.  And upon asking my design colleagues, all of them said they would do it too.”

And me . . . . I personally, think this dress is a stunner, and has certainly turned some heads!! It demonstrates professional, designer floristry at its best and completely reflects the marriage between flowers, art and fashion.

For more details visit

Or follow Joe on Twitter @GoJoe_Inc

Grace Walker – Wannabe Florist for Colab Clothing

www.facebook.com/pages/Joseph-Massie-Concepts.