Goods & Services | Tomuri & Co. Floral Design
Petal power Where more than 10,000 beautiful flowers are lovingly arranged each week - Tomuri & Co. Floral Design is New Zealand’s largest floral design company that provides only the best variety of flowers at the highest quality, arranged with excellent workmanship and outstanding presentations. With two locations in Auckland’s Sylvia Park shopping centre and Botany town centre for your convenience, the business was established in July 2012 by Ratahi Tomuri and his sister Kareena.
“Since then my love for flowers has grown and I will always remember that moment I had with my nan. Turned out the man who served me was later my first boss who offered me a job sweeping the floors.”
Ratahi, who is 24 years old, grew fond of flowers at the age of eight when he bought a bunch of flowers for his grandmother who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ratahi studied business at AUT University and has been a florist for almost 15 years. “My mother and father were floral courier drivers who serviced flower shops across Auckland for almost 20 years; this is how I entered into floristry. My passion for flowers grew immensely from the age of 10 where I was arranging flowers from my Nans garden for my primary school teachers.
“I spent all my pocket money I earnt from mum when I was her runner on the weekends for her flower courier business. It was three bunches of daffodils with orange centres and cost me $6. The man wrapped it in green paper with a yellow ribbon and I thought it was the most amazing gift anyone could have and I felt good giving it to Nan.
“From here I entered the floral trade with a gentleman named Hamish Watson, who back then operated one of the most successful flower shops’ in New Zealand. I then moved on to further my career at other specialised florists before heading to work at one of Australia’s top floral design stores in Sydney and Melbourne. Family got the better of me and I wanted to return home to open my own store and be with them.”
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Ultimately, flowers are a gift from nature and it’s sharing the beauty of their nature in the home to bring happiness - this is what we call flower success. - RATAHI TOMURI
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The business ‘Tomuri’ (named after the male flower of the kiwifruit) is dedicated to providing quality, variety, and value in addition to the innovative designs that are executed by the team of 12 staff. All of them demonstrate excellent workmanship and outstanding presentation, using only the finest flowers, grown here in Aotearoa. Ratahi explains that the flower industry in New Zealand is highly competitive, based on fashion trends and a highly perishable product. “This means that quality, design, innovation and productivity are extremely important to our company. We believe in giving beautifully by reflecting the importance of these three key factors and implementing these factors among our staff. “Most importantly, the focus on setting the right price has always provided not only a competitive advantage to our store, but has changed the way flowers are purchased.” Flowers will always be a luxurious item, regardless of how much is spent on them, whether it be a bunch for $5 or a bunch for $500, people will always have a need and a want for them. However, Ratahi says that operating a flower shop isn’t easy. “Most people think its just twirling flowers with pretty butterflies - it’s tougher than that. High-end boutique flower shop owners need to remember that not everyone in our country has the power to splash out on flowers; this is why setting an effective and mutually beneficial pricing structure between our clients is imperative.
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5 Southgate Place, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand