As talented as they are as florists, Nghia Diep and Mike Dreher have also earned their clients loyalty by being good listeners.
The business partners opened Blumen Floral Boutique in the Cambie Corridor two years ago after 10 very busy years doing weddings and events. Instead of falling into the mold of treating all weddings as if they were the same job with different customers, they established a devoted following by being intuitive about how to personalize each and every assignment.
Those customers have responded by voting Blumen as the gold-medal winner of best florist in WE Vancouvers Best of the City readers survey.
Youve got to get a feel for the couple and try to pull out something thats personal for them, Dreher says of their approach to coming up with the perfect bridal bouquet. We usually go with them to the coffee shop next door to get a sense of who they are and what they want out of the day.
The couple is often just as intrigued by the answers, using the opportunity to put their expectations into words. However, Blumen has learned that its important to re-connect a month before the wedding because I can guarantee theyll have changed their minds, Dreher says with a smile.
Blumen also specializes in micro landscaping, perfect for a city with so many condos. Everyone has this little piece of real estate they dont know how to make beautiful, says Dreher of their deck and patio container designs.
The night (and well into the morning) before talking with WE Vancouver, Blumens staff had been at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, decorating the ballroom with 1,800 red roses for the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs gala. It was a big project but they thrive on coming up with ways to create magic with flowers.
