Changing faces: Flowers By Joanne

One of the Coast’s most established businesses Flowers By Joanne has changed hands, but the new owner Li Gong is promising the same level of service and creativity customers have come to expect.

The florist shop opened in Orewa 42 years ago and has been owned by Barbara Everiss for the past 18 years.

Li says the business has a good reputation, built up over many years.

“I love flowers, but I don’t have anywhere near Barbara’s experience so I am very grateful that she is making herself available to help me settle in,” Li says.

“I can see that the shops will need to continue to stock a wide variety of flowers to cater for all tastes.”
Barbara agrees.

“When giving a customer advice, it’s important to understand what the flowers are intended to mean or say,” she says. “What might express sympathy in one culture can mean something completely different in another culture.”

Barbara says it is also not unusual for people to personalise special occasion bouquets and she has done everything from birds to racing cars.

Li has bought both Barbara’s Riverside Road shop and the one at Coast Plaza, and she also own Fabulous Flowers in Silverdale Mall. Between the three businesses, she employs eight florists.
Li and her husband Max emigrated from Beijing to NZ in 2008.

“Max had already been here and loved it, but for me it was the first time. At first it felt like we were living on a big farm because, in China, I was obviously used to a lot more people and buildings.

“But we are very happy here and find it very peaceful. We love living on the Coast, at Millwater, because it is such a friendly community.”

The couple met at university, where they both studied economics. They now have a son Leo who attends Wentworth Primary.