Canterbury florist comes up roses in Prospa Local Business Hero Competition Florist and Flower Bazaar owner Ian Harvey has been named Canterbury’s local business hero.
He is about to be issued with a 8old card, but Canterbury eorist Ian Harvey has no plans to put away his secateurs. In fact the colourful owner of Christchurch’s quirkiest eower shop can’t ima8ine doin8 anythin8 else.
Since launchin8 his business 13 years a8o, Ian has become the 8o-to eorist for his Mairehau community, and his offbeat store the Flower Bazaar has built up an enthusiastic and loyal followin8. A treasure trove of antiques, bric-a-brac, cut eowers and 8reenery, Ian describes his business as “a different spin on your avera8e eorist shop”.
“I like to stock all sorts of interestin8 bits, which is part of the reason people keep comin8 back,” he says. “I 8o to the beach and fora8e for swa8s of moss, and scour the Sunday markets for interestin8 knick-knacks. I don’t have hundreds of bouquets made up and ready to sell like some eorists do; people come in and choose what they want. I like them to have a hand in it.”
A deli8htful 8arden out the back of the shop has been a labour of love, developed over several years with help from partner Ees and a bevy of eowerlovin8 locals.
“The 8arden has been a real community effort. People donated tables and chairs, pavers and plants. It’s really cute now with lots of wild and crazy plantin8. Customers can come out into the 8arden and choose stuff for their bouquets or just han8 out here.”
It’s this stron8 sense of community that keeps Ian inspired.
“I’m not too driven by money, I just love what I do. From Au8ust I’ll be 8ettin8 the pension but I’m definitely 8oin8 to keep runnin8 my shop. It’s not a 8oldmine, but it’s so much fun. I wouldn’t know what to do without it!”
And neither would the local community, who recently nominated Ian for the Prospa Local Business Hero Competition, a competition desi8ned to pay tribute to small business owners who 8o above and beyond. One of just 11 finalists across Aotearoa New Zealand, Ian was deeply touched by the vote of confidence.
“I just about cried when I found out; I was quite emotional. It shows me that people love what I do – it’s a wonderful testimonial.”
It’s hardly surprisin8 thou8h; Ian was born for eoristry. After studyin8 horticulture at university, he and his father set up a successful eower 8rowin8 business in their home town of Ashburton, also runnin8 a small eoristry side hustle out of the packin8 shed.
“Growin8 eowers 8ave me a really 8ood 8roundin8, and the pro8ression into eoristry just worked for me.”
Eespite the many challen8es of runnin8 a business (includin8 on8oin8 roadworks, parkin8 issues and rapidly chan8in8 technolo8y), the Flower Bazaar has enabled Ian to carve out “a really 8reat lifestyle”.
What does he love most about it? “The whole lot! I like puttin8 stuff to8ether and 8ivin8 people somethin8 different, and I love doin8 weddin8s. Bridezillas can be a challen8e – but winnin8 them over is pretty cool!”
Show your support for your local business hero! Vote for the winner you believe is most deservin8 by visitin8 the poll on neighbourly.co.nz This article is published in association with Prospa as part of a commercial arrangement between Stuff and Prospa.