New business blooms in winter

 

An eye for detail led to many saying she should turn her hand to interior design but instead Merijen Oliver says it with flowers.

Like many small businesses, My Little Flower Company began as a leap of faith, that exciting ride into the unknown.

Merijen had wanted to get back into the workforce now that her three daughters are all at school, and wanted something with a creative flair and design elements. Realising there was a gap in the local market for fresh flowers she was encouraged by her husband and friends to give it a go.

After getting one-on-one training with an amazing floral and event stylist in Auckland, she decided to take the plunge.

In April Merijen began her marketing, creating a My Little Flower Company Facebook page, and says she was “blown away” with the feedback.

“The response was super positive and quickly turned into a growing stream of orders,” she says.

Her regular spot at the Mangawhai Saturday markets is also well sought after and has contributed to her profile and the growth of her business with her fashion-forward bouquets and posies becoming favourites with many locals.

Over the last three months Merijen has worked hard to meet the demand, while transforming half of her garage into a workshop filled with vases, buckets and tools of the trade.

Flowers arrive every Friday fresh from the Auckland markets, however she is able to get them through the week as well if needed.

“Flowers offer a great variety of artistry,” says Merijen. “Whatever the occasion, the people involved all have different choices and preferences as to what arrangements and flowers they would like so each display or bouquet is pretty much an individual piece. Also you have the varieties, colours and scent that change with the sea-sons.”

My Little Flower Company is happy to cre-ate flowers for corporate spaces, weddings, parties, and of course special occasions such as Valentines Day. To order a bunch, pop down to the Mangawhai Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning, or you can contact Merijen on 021 989 050.

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