Interview Flossy
Right in the center of Gouda, we visit Mariëtte van Eijk. Since May 2021, she is the proud owner of Flossy, the flower boutique with a bit of catering.
About the store
How did you come up with the name Flossy?
"The word Flossy actually comes from American street slang and means excessively ornamented, showily stylish and elegant. You can use it in a lot of ways in your stories. Think 'a flossy moment' and a bouquet with a flossy style. It is simple to pronounce and it remembers easily. Moreover, the word 'flossy' in the letters and/or tone is naturally also very close to the words flowers and coffee."
Tell us something about the process of establishing the flower boutique. How did the idea come about and what was involved?
"Previously I have been in the management of a personal injury firm, among other things, and held a management position at RITUALS. Even though my parents used to work 'in flowers,' I always believed I would never work in that industry myself. That changed when my father suddenly passed away. I realized that I needed to start doing more things that I enjoy, because after all, life can be over just like that.
During that same period I saw the property vacant and thought: I want this property! Three weeks after I signed the lease, the coronavirus in the Netherlands came around the corner. All stores had to close and the bank's agreement would take six months. I didn't want to wait and decided to do things differently. And there I went, eventually going into flowers after all."
How would you describe Flossy, what makes the concept unique?
"We are definitely not a traditional florist, we always want to stand out. That's why at Flossy you'll find the best of both worlds combined, or: Life is better, with coffee and flowers. A flower boutique with a slice of hospitality."
How would you describe Flossy's style?
"Suus has worked with us since the beginning and people see her creations as the Flossy style. So pretty soon clients came asking for a Flossy bouquet. But whether it can be captured in one style? Definitely not! We do always play with high and low in the bouquets and go for pronounced elements. There is also a difference between style and a trend. A style can always be beautiful and a trend fades away. We try to put down something stylish, our own style, a Flossy style!"
About the field
What is your favorite type of flower?
"The Gloriosa was always my ultimate and favorite flower. I thought the Anthurium was ugly but have become a huge fan of it over time! It is a difficult flower in terms of shape and texture but especially in combination with a romantic bouquet fantastic to work with."
What does an autumn arrangement look like for you? What colors of flowers do you combine?
"In autumn we prefer to combine the colors: deep red, coral, purple and orange. For the flower varieties we incorporate more branches, like the rose hip or passiflora. Now we do not have a standard autumn range, but look for the most special varieties so it always remains a surprise for our customers!"
What are your requirements for a good bouquet?
"A bouquet should not be predictable, there should be excitement in the bouquet. We do this through height variation, working in groups and exciting combinations. What every florist will recognize is that there should be some good sturdy flowers with a long vase life in a bouquet."
What do you find the most fun/special to make in terms of bouquets and arrangements?
"Our slogan is: flowers don't tell, they show. At any moment this applies and we incorporate this in individual flowers, a bouquet or a complete decoration at a wedding. We do indicate that we do not copy something from a picture, but work with a theme, color or our own vase. This way we have the creative freedom and we can create something unique and special."
What do you pay attention to when purchasing your flowers?
"When purchasing, I look at what flower types we can combine. We ourselves like ton sur ton, a few nice shades and embroider on that. I also pay attention to length, quality, maturity and price ratio."
You also have silk/artificial flowers in your assortment, do you see a growth in demand because of that because of the current development?
"The consideration of buying a bunch of artificial flowers does take longer, as it is more expensive than a bouquet of fresh flowers. In the future, I think artificial flowers will gain more and more ground. Sustainability is increasingly playing a role and people see artificial flowers as an investment. But these two types reinforce each other, and when giving a gift, fresh flowers remain a beautiful gesture."
About the Alstroemeria
What do you think are the most beautiful features of the Alstroemeria?
"The Alstroemeria is strong! Also, there is so much variation in color possible and the stems are super long which we love to work with. In the florist world it is also said, 'you have to kick them out of the vase' because they last so long."
In the florist world they also say, 'you have to kick them out of the vase' because they last so long."
How do you think the Alstroemeria looks best?
"There are so many possibilities, there is no one answer. You can put 7 stems in a simple vase and watch the Alstroemeria bloom open. Or like this cool example, a kind of tulip vase where we played with the height and lots of different colors. Just be careful: if you put this flower low in a bouquet its power goes out."
What are your care tips for the Alstroemeria?
"How long a flower lasts in the vase depends on the care you give it. Now you have strong and not so strong flowers, but the Alstroemeria is hearty. For any flower, don't put them next to a fruit bowl, in a draft or in full sun."
Tip 1: Always make sure you clean the vase beforehand so all the bacteria from the old flowers are out.
Tip 2: Cut the stems diagonally and make sure no leaves get into the water.
Tip 3: Put tepid warm water in the vase.
Tip 4: Change the water regularly and cut the stems at an angle again.
What else would you like to know about the Alstroemeria?
"More about the process! The creation of a new variety, the breeding and when the flower is really ready for sale. Information that the breeder and growers take for granted but the florist doesn't know!"
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Nina-Lotte van der Weijden
BloemenWeijden in Hoofddorp
After Nina-Lotte completed her degree in Flower & Design at Wellantcollege and gained work experience, she took over the flower store, where she already had a side job on the weekends.