Business is blooming for a family-run Holywood business.
Following its relocation from Belfast the Church Road based Floralearth has seen its demand increase rapidly in its specialised field of floral design.
It has also enlarged its market-place and now has clients east and west of the Province as well as across the Border.
The father and son team of Neil and Tim Kirkpatrick are building up a significant reputation as providers of unique floral displays for major fund-raising events for charities such as Mencap, Marie Curie and Special Olympics, trade and professional bodies such as those representing civil engineers.
“We’re especially proud to have been commissioned by public institutions such as the Grand Opera House and the Odyssey as well as dressing for special occasions leading hotels such as the Culloden, part of the Hastings Group,” said Tim, who designs and installs the floral display with the help of Hazel Gleeson and Micelle Andrew.
Crowning moment:
A crowning achievement was when they were invited by the K Club in Country Dublin to enhance their international golf-related events which are attended by some of the sport’s best known players and sponsors.
Golf in Ireland is not complete without a K Club visit, lets face it where else can you play The Ryder Cup and European Open Golf Courses at one venue?
Tim discovered his talent for floral art after studying at Greenmount Agricultural College.
After a short period as a landscape gardener he realised that his true talent lay in bringing the colour and blooms of the garden inside.
Customers soon came to recognise his gift and some of the biggest weddings in the area were a tribute to his success.
Proud parents and happy brides and grooms were willing to spend up to £4,000 to dress churches and receptions in recognition of the special event.
In recent months Interflora appointed Floralearth as area representative which has further enhanced the firm’s international recognition.
The company’s fleet of vans are a special feature of the town’s centre as they busy their way with flowers from Holland and other countries to grace social and business events throughout the country, their display having been enhanced with the skill and talent of one of the North’s finest floral artists.