Who: Flower Bowl
Where: 8 Ormond Road, East Geelong
When: Mon – Fri 8.30 to 5.30 & Sat 10-noon
Beautiful flowers can bring life to a room, a smile to your face and even a little love to your heart (aaaaw), so just imagine how a shop full of gorgeous blooms can make you feel! Oh! Hello Geelong has recently stumbled across another stunning flower shop – Flower Bowl, in East Geelong. Flower bowl is a florist in the classic sense of the term, highlighted by the stunning variety of traditional and contemporary flowers, and the seriously beautiful arrangements put together by the Flower Bowl team. The shop itself has a sunny garden feel, with flowers displayed above and below and all around you, as well as a scattering of silver birch logs, vases and vessels, teacup arrangements and cute glass bottles and jars. We especially adore Flower Bowl’s little wedding station, a cosy meeting corner dedicated to brides and all their flower (and invitation) needs for that special day (very clever indeed). We also love Flower Bowl’s range of Mor products, Alimrose baby rattles and toys as well as Victor Fox and Peace, Love & Letterpress cards. To help share this new find with you all, we have been lucky enough to borrow a little of Flower Bowl owner Jodie Connoley’s time for a quick Oh! Hello Geelong Q&A – thanks Jodie!
Can you tell us a bit about your own background in the industry? Have you always had a love of flowers?
I began my arty path with graphic design but I hated spending so much time on a computer. I have always had a love for flowers and was forever arranging and rearranging my mum’s flowers at home. I decided to approach Glenn at the Flower Farm, and was lucky enough to work there, which was a job I loved. I also spent a couple of years working in a florist to gain experience in weddings and corporate work.
As for owning a small business, my parents have always been business owners and so it was always a path I wanted to go down too. So when I spotted the run down old pizza shop in East Geelong, I knew it had to be Flower Bowl!
How long have you owned the store?
I opened Flower Bowl in May 2005, which is 7 ½ years ago and it has flown! It’s hard to believe that I was only 20 at the time!
Flower Bowl is well known for its beautiful displays especially its window displays, who is behind this?
I have a fab team of four girls and me so we all have input into the windows. I am often the one with the concepts but we all work together to make things happen and put them together. We have a really nice balance within the team, Verity and Rachel are the arty ones whereas Ellie and Emily are a little more practical and I’m somewhere in the middle so it’s a good combination. We love the window! (and so does Oh! Hello Geelong!)
What are your three favorite flowers?
Even my husband knows the answer to this one! Hydrangea, hyacinths, peonies and bouvadia…oh can I have 4? They are the ones that I always seem to choose to take home and they are almost always white!
What are the trends for spring 2012?
Defiantly vibrant colour especially yellow, which we are loving! We are also in love with some old school favorites at the moment such as sweet pea and anemones, which both come in a fab range of colours. Oh, and as we begin the wedding season it’s all about natural and pretty; David Austin’s and peonies along with a large range of berries, silver suede and hydrangea is always popular.
Do you have any special trade secrets for people at home?
Keep it simple, and always use clean water! At my own home I usually stick to small vases and bottles where you can pop in a couple of stems and the room already looks more loved and that way you can have flowers in every room!
Thanks Jodie!!
Love Penny + Laura
