National Florist Day launches in style

Thanks to the amazing support of Philip Hammond, head florist at The Dorchester Hotel, London and the generosity of the hotel themselves, the National Florist Day launch was a fabulous celebration of what the industry is all about.

Because the gift of an amazing location didn’t just allow the Patrons - who along with Florist Magazine have made the project possible - and the Ambassadors and Good Florist Guide Council - who have been so instrumental in getting the project off the ground - to meet, see the website go live and celebrate the official start of the first ever Awareness Day for the industry but included some extra and very special guests as well.

A move, as founder and host Caroline Marshall-Foster explained in her opening speech, created a full circle of the amazing flower industry.

Because she had also invited the young florists who had responded to her call out for interviewees and some of the Flower Magicians who have taken the concept and run with it big time.

Speaking after the official ribbon … or rather bunting cut using, of course, Oasis® Floral Products scissors! - an, at times, emotional Caroline said that to see a random idea suggested at a GFG Council come to life was not only a career highlight but truly a way of connecting the whole industry together ... a role Florist Magazine has adopted throughout it's 75 year existence.

Like the wonderful growers Marginpar who provided a fabulous range of flowers for guests to create their own floral crowns and Meijer, who don't just grow the world-renowned Avalanche rose but are creators of The Dorchester rose, which festooned the tables.   

The importers, wholesalers and suppliers who everyday make sure the flowers reached florists safely whatever is thrown at them, the florists who turn them into magical creations and of course the students who are the future of the industry and the people who will keep it alive and thriving for years to come.

Now National Florist Day moves into the final stages as it hits the three-week countdown to THE big day and focus is turned to the florists and suppliers who are planning masses of brilliant events, competitions, giveaways and social media stories to start the ball rolling on showing consumers that this is most definitely not playing with flowers but an industry which turns dreams into reality and expresses every single emotion going.  

The Guest List

A group of amazing people who shared ideas, inspiration and support throughout the day ... look out for videos and more on our social media channels 

The Patrons

Stephanie Gillespie, OASIS® Floral Products

Paul Southwick, OASIS® Floral Products

Nicole Moore, Interflora

Lorraine Callacher, Interflora

Merel van den Burg, Florismart Direct

Barbs Derry McCellan, FleuraMetz

Tommy Leighton, New Covent Garden Flower Market

Good Florist Guide Council

Morgan Douglas Nuth, Morgan-Douglas Nuth Florist Business Consultancy

Karen Massey, Fleurtatious, Dublin

Karen Lindsay, Flowers by Karen, Kilmarnock

Nicola Evans, Beau-, Eastbourne

Stephanie Harris, The Rose Garden Florists, Great Dunmow

The Ambassadors

Philip Hammond, The Dorchester, London

Jake Nicholson-Lailey, Abundiflora, Glastonbury

Lizzie Newcombe, The Botanical Company, Guildford

Paula Rooney, Paula Rooney Design, Basingstoke

Paula Pryke, Paula Pryke Flowers, London

Rebecca Marsala, Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire

Sarah Richardson, Leafy Couture, Leeds, Yorkshire

Neill Strain, Neill Strain Floral Couture, London

The Young Guns

Brook Lewis, training at Nicola Downie Florist, Caerphilly

Lucy Cranton, working at Corbins Florist, studying at Academy of Floristry, Bournemouth

Maya Twigg – studying at Reaseheath College

James Jones – studying at Reaseheath College

Helen Longshawe – Course Manager at Reaseheath College

Oli Lowe- working at Bookers Florist & Gifts Liverpool and studying at Sheffield School of Floristry

Katie Weekes – studying at Moreton Morell College

The Flower Magicians

Jennifer Mchale, Gallery Flowers, Whitchurch, Shropshire

Michelle Johnson, Floral Glory, Walsall, West Midlands

Gemma Bithell – Bookers Florist & Gifts, Liverpool

The Host Team

Caroline Marshall-Foster, AJ and Gina Edwards, Purple Spotted/Florist Magazine/National Florist Day