For caterers and event service providers, the flood of client cancellations that came as a result of the pandemic nipped most hopes for last year in the bud.

Tina Barabonoff said her Sooke-based business felt the effects instantly. B次元官网网址淚n a matter of a week B次元官网网址� all of our work throughout the summer was either postponed or cancelled. I had an inbox full of cancelled events,B次元官网网址� she said.

For 11 years, BarabonoffB次元官网网址檚 business, Platinum Floral Designs, had provided full floral arrangements for weddings and events throughout Greater Victoria. The restriction of in-person gatherings forced her to reduce operations and staff, and pray for a return to normal in January 2021.

When that didnB次元官网网址檛 happen, her questions became: B次元官网网址淗ow do we pivot? How do we move forward?B次元官网网址� The answer was something the Pacific Design Academy alum had thought Victoria needed for years but hadnB次元官网网址檛 had time to pursue given the prior pace of her business.

Platinum Floral DesignsB次元官网网址� mobile flower truck B次元官网网址� named B次元官网网址淧oppyB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� took to the roads of Greater Victoria on June 11. Its stops include Westshore Town Centre, Mayfair Shopping Centre, Mile House Liquor Shoppe, Market Square and Sidney Street Market on different days throughout the week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The mobile shop sells chrysanthemums and other long-lasting blooms, rotating week to week; offerings more colourful and larger than the companyB次元官网网址檚 usual event assortments. Barabonoff said all are locally sourced, with an emphasis on supporting micro farmers across the Island.

READ ALSO: Highlands wins 2021 Greater Victoria Flower Count

READ ALSO: Vancouver Island flower farmers were blooming as the pandemic wilted everything else

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still trying to create a luxury market experience with the truck,B次元官网网址� Barabonoff said. B次元官网网址淎s opposed to just sending people away with bouquets, we are wrapping them really beautifully and making sure everybody knows how to take care of the bouquets.B次元官网网址�

Every one of Platinum Floral DesignB次元官网网址檚 delivery vans has a name, Barabonoff said. Poppy, a 2002 Suzuki Carry, got hers from one of 120 suggestions made online. After Barabonoff and her two children narrowed those to a shortlist of 20, a second online vote settled on B次元官网网址淧oppy.B次元官网网址�

Before they took to the road, the multiple-award-winning florist had never sold retail bouquets. Barabonoff said sheB次元官网网址檚 learned that B次元官网网址減eople are more drawn to bright colours, as opposed to the soft and the blushes and the very classic design palettes for weddings.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 find more appreciation in (flowers) that I havenB次元官网网址檛 worked with for many years,B次元官网网址� she said.

Even as the province returns to normal and event booking begin to flow, Barabonoff said she intends for Poppy to be on the road forever.

Do you have a story tip? Email: kiernan.green@blackpress.ca.

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