BEING a florist is not just about smelling flowers all day while making whimsical bouquets, although it is a definite perk.Kerry and Mark, along with long term team members, Shari, Holly, Emma and Eden provide a full-service florist experience from friendly, professional client service through to the delivery of artistically crafted floral designs of exceptional quality and value.
Chatting with our customers and working with the flow of designing and creating unique floral designs to celebrate life’s memorable moments is a privilege. And providing amazing bouquets and floral features to enhance the romantic ambiance of a wedding is a delightful bonus.
Every day is a busy day for our Alstonville Florist team. From setting up the studio, unpacking new stock fresh from our select growers, talking with our wonderful customers, processing orders, and even finding a little time to smell the flowers, sees the day fly by. It's a fulfilling job .
We're florists because we love what we do; we love our flowers, and we love working with our customers. And we wholeheartedly believe we deliver great designs and great value ... and we offer the best floral experience in the Northern Rivers.
All our team members hold formally recognised national floristry qualifications, have extensive teaching experience at both TAFE and local, national and international workshops, and have had their work recognised with State, National and International Awards.
As a child Kerry’s intrinsic love of flowers was strengthened by her mum sending her out to pick flowers from the garden any time a distraction was needed. After enjoying time in the US as an exchange student (learning from her American florist Mom), Kerry’s career found her working as a legal secretary, TAFE teacher and administrator and farmer prior to completing her floristry qualifications as a mature age student. Throughout these years she continued to practice Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) under the guidance of Dorothy Edwards, a long time and highly respected Lismore florist and Ikebana Teacher. The decision to buy Alstonville Florist was one from the heart, and in hindsight it was a great decision. “Doing something I love while teaching floristry at TAFE as a part-time teacher while our business grew, has been and continues to be a wonderful chapter in my life story.” Kerry’s favourite flower is a calla lily.
Mark, a co-owner of Alstonville Florist, is an accomplished floral designer whose work is well known for its crisp lines and exacting craftmanship (just check out our window displays). He’s been Australia’s floristry champion on many occasions and has represented Australia at Floristry World Cups, the Asia Cup and in numerous other international competitions. Mark is also a floristry teacher, demonstrator, international judge and an industry consultant – roles that have taken him all around Australia and across the world. In 2019 Mark won the 2019 World Flower Art Competition in Beijing in a field of 80 universally recognised international florists. For an glimpse of some of Mark’s unique floral designs visit Flower Thinking. Mark loves to work with flowers and branches with character, such as anthuriums, vines, unusual roses, and hidden gems gathered from his garden.
Shari is talented local lady who has worked in floristry since her teens, has an extensive knowledge of plants and their growing habits with formal qualifications in both floristry and horticulture. She is our go-to person for indoor plant info, and very knowledgeable in all things floral as well as being an exceptionally talented florist. One of the highlights of her career was making bouquets for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. Orchids and hydrangea feature in Shari’s extensive favourite flower list.
Over the years we have had five trainees complete their floristry qualifications while members of our Alstonville Florist team. We met Holly another Alstonville lady, when she came to us for work experience in year 10; she then joined us as a School Based Trainee and completed her Certificate III in Floristry Traineeship while working full-time. It has been a delight seeing Holly’s innate talent for floristry develop along with her confidence, skills and technique. This is the second year Holly will represent our region in the National Floristry World Skills Competition. Holly’s favourite flower at the moment is delphinium.
Emma is a talented and experienced florist who was a student of Kerry and Mark at Wollongbar TAFE in about 2012 when she completed her Certificate III in Floristry. Emma’s mum and dad grow flowers and vegetables, and after completing her Business Degree she returned to the flower fold and works with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are many favourite flowers in Emma’s garden, and at this time of year he favourites are beautifully scented garden roses.
Another natural florist is Eden who worked with us full time for several years and returns to get her flower fix at busy times. As well as being a very talented florist, Eden is the most natural customer service professional we have ever had on our team. You will remember if you had the privilege of being a customer of Eden’s in the past. Poppies and rannunculus feature on Eden’s favourite flowers list.
Di (and yes, she is another local lady) is currently on extended sick leave having overcome one of life’s great medical challenges, and when the time is right will return to us. She is a valued member of our team and we hope to have her with us for Valentine’s Day.
Alison is a local girl who started her commenced career working part-time when a teenager, started graphic design at Uni, but found her love of floristry a greater passion. After working locally and gaining her formal floristry qualifications, Alison spent a year or two working in Perth before returning to her hometown to join Alstonville Florist as shop manager. She has achieved success in both State and National Floristry competitions, is an exceptional wedding florist, and an incredibly talented member of our team. Alison works with us when her family commitments allow, and we are always pleased to have her with us in hectic times.
We create high quality floral designs with the freshest blooms available, hand crafted with love, talent and professional skill and experience.
No floral order is too big or too small and all orders receive our professional, personal touch and meet our quality standards.
The flower arrangements and designs contained on this site are a snap shot of the products that Alstonville Florist can offer you.
Please contact us on 026629 6333 to discuss your individual requirements.
Our Email contact is florist@alstonvilleflorist.com
We are open 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, and are not open on weekends.
There may be occasions when specific flowers in designs pictured on our web page are not available due to seasonal non availability or because the quality of product delivered by our suppliers is not good enough.
When this occurs our florists may need to substitute one flower for another, or use a different wrap or container.
In the event we do substitute a flower we guarantee that any substitution will be of superb quality and as close to the colour and shape of the image flower as is possible. The value of the replacement flower will be equal to or greater than the original bloom.
When any substitution is made our florists will exercise the utmost care to provide flowers and a design which is in character with the chosen image.
Alstonville Florist guarantees that an arrangement or bouquet of flowers will last for five to ten days with five days guaranteed, subject to the person who receives the flowers implementing the flower care instructions which are delivered with all floral designs.
If the supplied flower care instructions have been followed and flowers wilt within five days, ask the person who has received the design to email a picture of it to us within five days of purchase in order to activate your guarantee.
Alstonville Florist