What’s in a name? For
Limelight Floral Design, the moniker evokes a fresh, green concept that
can stand up to any spotlight. In the short time that the florist has
been operating in West Vancouver, the shop has become known for it’s
funky, clean and stylish arrangements worthy of any centre stage.
 What’s in a name? For Limelight Floral Design, the moniker evokes a fresh, green concept that can stand up to any spotlight. In the short time that the florist has been operating in West Vancouver, the shop has become known for it’s funky, clean and stylish arrangements worthy of any centre stage.
Kyla Reveley is the owner of Limelight Floral Design, a shop she opened two years ago after finding a passion for flowers as a teenager. An after school job at a large florist where she started out processing flowers and sweeping floors led to a lifelong passion. She has been in the business on and off since the age of 16.
The style and setup of Limelight Floral Design directly reflects Reveley’s personal tastes. “I really like clean lines and I really like modern arrangements.” One of her favourite designs is flowers arranged in tight cube arrangements – a distinctive look that the shop has become known for. “We try not to do too ‘fussy’,” says Reveley. “Monochromatic and tone-on-tone – that’s our thing.”
The 850-square-foot shop is located in the typically high-end neighbourhood of West Vancouver. This has attracted a number of corporate clients to the business. But because the florist is also part of The Village, a street level outdoor section of the Park Royal Mall, Reveley can expect a range of clientele on a typical day.
At a Glance
Company Name:
Limelight Floral Design
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Owner: Kyla Reveley
Years in Business: 2
Wire Services: FTD
Website:
www.limelightfloraldesign.com |
There’s only one thing that Reveley refuses to do for her customers and that’s discount her products. “People will ask for deals and discounts but we politely point out that we price fairly. We don’t discount because it’s already well-priced.”
The shop is surrounded by a coffee shop, a cheese shop, a fresh fruit and vegetable stand and a bakery, which Reveley says helps give the strip of stores a “very European” feel. Reveley has developed a service to make it convenient and quick to pick up last-minute blooms. Limelight Floral Design offers a Busy Bloom service for interested customers. If a customer needs flowers, they can call earlier in the day, order the flowers and tell the shop when they will come by for pickup. Because the florist is situated right outside a stop sign, when the customer swings by for the order, a Limelight staffer will be waiting outside with the order in hand, at no extra charge. “Our busy bloom customers are busy moms, film clients, executives. They love that they don’t have to find parking!”
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Owner Kyla Reveley is
always looking for
creative new ideas. |
Twice a week, Reveley spends the early morning hours at the United Flower Growers Auction to stock the shop with fresh flowers. If a customer requests a certain flower from the florist, then the following day, Reveley can search out the flower at the auction. “It makes the customer feel special. They like knowing that I have sought something out just for them.” Attending the auction regularly has also helped Reveley join up with a network of florists that meet for dinner once a month to chat about the world of flowers. “I really recommend that…it’s really fun to chat with people who speak your language.”
When it comes to finding inspiration, Reveley is always on the lookout for new design ideas and brainstorms frequently with her five staff members. “We’ll have a little too much coffee and have a good brainstorm- nothing like a caffeine induced creative frenzy!” she says. The designers at Limelight all have a distinctive artistic background and each brings their own style to create a unique floral experience.
After two years at the helm of the shop, Reveley says Limelight Floral Design is still a “work in progress.” She says one of the hardest things about managing the shop is just keeping on top of all the paperwork. “What I’ve learned is that artists are not always the best administrators. I just love creating things and talking to customers, paperwork is not my forte!” As a result, she’s hired someone to help with all the back-room finances.
Reveley refers to herself “a protective new mom” when it comes to the shop. To remedy this, Reveley depends on her “fabulous” staff to manage the business when she can’t be there. “Having great staff is so important. I feel so lucky to be working with such a great team,” she says. “I do my best to let them know how much I appreciate and admire their design skills, creativity and hard work.”
When asked what tips or information she has to give to other retail florists, Reveley finishes off with this piece of advice: “Consistency is key. While we can and will arrange in any style if requested, customers keep coming back for our consistent ‘Limelight look’.”
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