Katie's Florist

We’re extremely excited to have Katie’s Florist join us at Brookside Garden Centre, and it was her reputation that sealed the deal. When we asked what customers wanted, the 2 most popular replies were bakery (more on that later!) and a florist, and Katie’s name came up. In her previous location, she was extremely well-known and popular, and we’re certain she’ll thrive here. Whatever the occasion – wedding, birthday, funeral – Katie’s displays will add the special touch you’re looking for.

Creative at school, Katie achieved at A in Media and left to attend Hadlow College, with a view to studying the same subject; it soon became clear, however, that Media wasn't the way to go, and it was suggested Katie try a different subject. Faced with a prospectus of choices, she opted for something she knew little about, and that was floristry. A year later, she'd gained a BTech, so it had clearly been the right choice!

Katie’s career began more than 20 years ago when she started working for Fellows Flowers in Aylesford. After a few years learning all she could about floristry, her knowledge and skills led her to London to work for Moyses Stevens – the prestigious, London-based florist, established in 1876 and located in several of the capital’s finest districts – but when the commute became too much, she took an even bigger leap, across the other side of the world! Working in Australia was a completely new experience, and Katie embraced the work and lifestyle until a year later, home beckoned, and she returned to Fellows but with a new perspective. It was almost inevitable then that when her employer was looking to retire, Katie should take over the business, and in 2018, she did just that; she made it her own and has spent the subsequent years honing and growing it.

The Royal British Legion Village is renowned for it’s work for and with veterans, and on her previous location, Katie was close to the site, often providing bouquets and displays for a number of staff members and functions. In 2019, a call from the RBLV created a wave of excitement and rather more activity than usual… A new, luxury care facility for veterans was to be opened to commemorate the charity’s 100 year anniversary, and the grand opening coincided with Remembrance Day activities. Katie’s Florist was invited to supply flower bouquets and displays for the reception, and that reception was for none other than Her Majesty, The Queen! Quite a memorable moment for a new business owner!

Just one month later, a call came from the most senior office at Maidstone Hospital, requesting flowers for the unveiling of the new helipad, and Katie was suddenly making a bouquet for another royal; this time it was The Princess Royal, but with the most senior royal under her hat, this new commission was a breeze! Other celebrities have been recipients of Katie’s bouquets, but she’s keeping very tight-lipped about their identities; she did, however, reveal ITV had contacted her for one of them, so we’ll leave it to you to decipher who that could have been!

In 2020, the world shut down, and with it, came the threat of losing Katie’s Florist. With staff furloughed, Katie saw many of her contemporaries shut-up-shop and never return, but rather than add to that toll, she worked from home, and the year of lockdowns was one of the busiest she’d ever seen. It wasn’t just the grief of COVID she dealt with; unable to see those closest and most important to us, sending flowers was a simple way to show our nearest and dearest how much they were loved and missed.

Returning to a new normality in 2021, Katie’s business survived, thankfully, and she remained at Holtwood until 2024. A mutual agreement to part company may have been a tough decision, but once again, it wasn’t the end of Katie’s Florist; Katie continued at home as she had during COVID, and after a short period juggling her work with homelife and bringing up two children, she joined us at Brookside in February this year; she has already gained a reputation for her friendliness and expertise.

Understandably, the years of growing her own business have created a great deal of hard work, excitement and heartache, and the trials and projects she has faced have been handled with the utmost respect and precision. Whilst the royal commissions may be a once-in-a-lifetime (or more accurately, twice-in-a-lifetime!) experience for Katie and her team – and still evoke immense pride – it’s the 20 years of creating for everyday occasions that provide the most satisfaction. 

Many weddings over the years (and several already booked for this year and next), have kept Katie busy, and not only can she provide displays for funerals and, in particular, coffins, Katie – unlike many of her peers – can also dress them; small corsages on handles and garlands around caskets are often requested by grieving relatives and can often soften the harshness of the service. Workshops for Christmas and Mother’s Day displays have been a great success, and they may well return if the interest is there.

Birthdays, Valentine’s Day and Mothering Sunday are some of the more popular occasions for bouquets and baskets, but we don’t need an occasion to show how much we care, do we? Katie has bunches and bouquets for every budget for every day, and if you need something more elaborate at short notice, just ask.

With Mother’s Day approaching, why not drop by and discuss your ideas with a dedicated and talented lady? Where else will you get flowers fit for a queen?