QUITE THE CHARM
WORDS Joshua Brosnahan PHOTOS Susannah Blatchford
Everybody loves flowers, but Ginny Fagan has taken her floral adoration and made it into something beautiful.
Ginny took the plunge and opened her own floristry business, Charmed Flowers, nine years ago. At the time, completing a floristry course didn’t fit in with Ginny’s family commitments, so a correspondence course was the best solution for basic tools needed for floristry. In her own opinion, this has worked in her favour.
“I come from a big Cook Island and Māori whānau and we’re all creative. My mum is an accomplished sculptor and artist, and my grandfather’s beautiful weaving is displayed at Te Papa. They have both influenced my attitude to my craft. Looking back, I can see that being self-taught is what enabled me
to develop my own distinct style and not be afraid to seek out and create my own unique way of doing things.”
May of last year saw Ginny add another string to her bow, with the purchase of a wedding and event styling and hire business, Cressy Lane. This allowed Charmed Flowers to expand its offering and become the first wedding and event styling, hire and florist business in Canterbury. Cressy & Charmed was born. Ginny describes the entire team behind the business as ‘creative and passionate’.
“Our days vary a lot; sometimes I’m in the studio creating bouquets and arrangements, other days we are onsite setting up an event or conducting consultations and hosting workshops – all the usual stuff that goes with running a small business.” COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the industry; however, the support Ginny has received from both clients and industry peers has been instrumental in her recent growth. Although it’s been a challenging time, she now has exciting plans for the future in place.
“Lockdown gave me the opportunity to develop an idea [of] using preserved and dried flowers. I was unable to find preserved flowers for sale in New Zealand, so we decided to source our own, and create a unique range of ‘forever florals’. “These flowers are amazing; they have the same vibrant colour as fresh flowers
but can last for years and don’t need water. We’ve noticed a move towards dried floral installations being incorporated into interior design for both homes and business. We’re seeing them in places you wouldn’t expect to see flowers.”
There is a comprehensive range available to view in Ginny’s showroom. You can even send the Forever Florals nationwide.
When asked to sum up her venture, Ginny reflects on what makes the business unique. “We are in the business of bringing joy. The reaction on client’s faces when they see our work is something the entire team truly loves to see. Seriously, we have been known to hide in bushes to glimpse our bride walk down the aisle. We are that invested!
“It’s been such a tough time for everyone, so now, more than ever, we need to find things to look forward to, no matter how small. Plan that dinner with friends, celebrate that milestone birthday, stay hopeful for the future, but most of all, just keep smiling!”
