Floristry
Floristry is a very visual trade skill that shows the best of Mother Nature, using cuttings from different exotic and native flowers and plants and involves using colour, textures and embellishments.

The assembling of flower arrangements for different occasions needs talent and a special eye and colour co-ordination for the intricate detailing necessary. World skills courses recently held in New Zealand demonstrate the very high standards of floristry the students are learning. Learn more information about Floristry courses at World Skills from Flonzi.org.nz

Florist World Skills

Describing himself as a “fine artist who uses a digital camera” Rodney Love’s creativity ranges from his many years as floral banquet designer in one of the UK’s most famous stately homes, through to flower drawings and finely painted “portraits” of gardens and goes on to landscape photography plus commissioned private exhibitions of architectural studies from some of NZ’s leading property developers. From July this year he is the creator of cover images for the international magazine, Floral Design and is also the SouthIsland, NZ, correspondent for this journal. In short Rodney likes a challenge and will take his camera anywhere there is a celebration of colour.

In 2002 Rodney moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, after a life time of living and working in many different countries. In NZ he found “home” and now works as a full time artist/photographer. His achievements include an exhibition of floral work in the 2005 Christchurch Festival of Flowers, for whom he will also be the official photographer from 2009. He has sales of prints of his work world wide. He has done paintings of notable Christchurch gardens and produces personalised CD’s of photographs of private functions and also private commissions and exhibitions of various kinds, as mentioned above.

Picture of Rodney Love

Rodney’s work can be seen at Rodneylove.com and at Saatchi gallery.co.uk

Rodney is also available as a photographer of your floral events or your flower shops, for architectural photography and as an abstract image provider for magazines and interiors.
EMAIL Rodney at: love@there.is

Rodney has taken excellent photos for the Direct2florist website. On a weekend trip to Avoca in New Zealand, Rodney captured Garry & Joy Knight and friends in stunning surroundings. Using excellent camera skills and some inspired editing, Rodney has created an excellent Direct2florist publicity shot. The photo shows Garry making a flower delivery in a very remote part of New Zealand. View this stunning publicity shot here.

We were delighted to receive this picture from Angela Kelly, a customer of Direct2florist in the UK. She ordered flowers on Wednesday afternoon in the UK and despite her daughter living in Waiuku, New Zealand the flowers were delivered on Thursday in New Zealand by The Blossom Room florist. Says Angela; “this is the 2nd time I have used Direct2florist and have to say it is the best way to send flowers overseas, my daughter was delighted with her surprise flowers too.”

Bloom Saloon

Looking round the web at D2f members we are coming across some great florists with great websites. Here’s one I found at the weekend. Bloom Saloon based in Matakana Village in NZ, boasts a snappy name and website to match! Checkout the excellent photography and site design Click Bloom Saloon Florist

See Bloom saloon on Direct2florist

Amanda’s Creative Florist

At Just 23 Amanda has already owned and run her florist “Amanda’s Creative Florist” for 2 years. Based in the beautiful fishing town of Wick in Scotland, Amanda has a great looking website too; Click Amanda’s Creative Florist. The site demonstrates Amanda’s clear eye for design and stunning floristry. See Amanda on Direct2florist

On top of the world

Or should that be the bottom of the world?? Here are some breathtaking pictures taken by Rodney Love. They picture Garry Knight and crew at the Avoca Mountains in New Zealand Garry took along his trusty Direct2florist banner!!! - who says Direct2florist isn’t all over the world?!

See more of great pictures from the trip here: Rodney Love Facebook

Want to learn more about D2F in New Zealand? Call Garry Knight on NZ +64 (0) 3 348 4103 or click www.joyflora.co.nz

Close up shot

Direct2florist Promo Pic

Looking at New Zealand is really interesting, the first thing you notice are the bright exotic flowers. Take Beachside flowers in Papamoa, New Zealand.

The work on display includes lush exotic foliages - long lasting flowers. The style used is more along the lines of a traditional Gift Wrap and Hand ties - with use of lots of colourful gift wrapping. The prices are so good too! There is virtually full cover of real local florists in New Zealand on the Direct2florist website. Click to find your local florist.

A new innovative e-commerce opportunity has been launched into New Zealand. Direct2florist.com. Former florists, father and son team John & Simon Stirling from Bolton, England are set to change the way consumers shop for flowers worldwide.

Direct2florist has joined forces with the New Zealand based “Joyflora Network” based in Christchurch to form a partnership that will see the company’s direct2florist.com website initiative launched in New Zealand.

“Direct2florist.com could very well become the number one consumer flower ordering website worldwide,” said John Stirling. “We are delighted that Garry Knight will direct efforts of the Direct2florist.com program in New Zealand while we work to expand Direct2florist around the world.”

The Direct2florist initiative passes 100% flower value to the florist and allows the florist to set their own prices and upload their own products. Company Director Simon Stirling says “this program has been designed to drive business back to the real local florist, we aim to place real local florists on Direct2florist at the top of the search engines.”

Basic computer skills are all that are needed to get started and it doesn’t take much time. Everything is done on-line by the florist. Mostly answering some simple questions. Prices, delivery areas and product selection can be changed at will, by the florist using a system that will automatically size photos.

“Already there are almost 100 florists listed in New Zealand” says Garry Knight, “and we are receiving a steady increase in order volumes. This is not going to go away. The concept of a worldwide florist directory, giving each real local florist their own virtual shop with secure on-line ordering, has been just the thing the industry has been waiting for. Real florists can now have daily specials on-line, and change them every day. Promote occasion days, change their product range, from their pc, as often as they choose. All that for about the price of one cup of coffee a week and who can’t afford that? This could be the biggest florist shop in the world”.