FloraGuppy anyone?

[WillieeArmellini]

ECO-FRIENDLY FLORISTS EMBRACE NEW ALTERNATIVE TO GREEN
FLORAL FOAM. INDUSTRY ABUZZ WITH ECO-FRIENDLY ‘FloraGUPPY’.
BRITISH FLORAL MAGAZINE PRAISES IT WITH HEADLINE – “SAY
GOODBYE TO FLORAL FOAM”.
VANCOUVER, Canada. For nearly 70 years florists world-wide have relied on
green floral foam to keep their arrangements together. However a ‘newcomer’ is
creating rave reviews in London, Rome, New York, Ottawa and other global
centres among florists concerned about the planet. The game-changing
‘FloraGUPPY’ has become an overnight sensation. Even schools like Kay’s
Flower School in Dublin have made it a teaching module.
On the face of it, it looks like nothing more than a plastic sphere with 58 holes of
various sizes. So what’s so great about the FloraGUPPY? Just that it’s a
revolutionary, eco-friendly alternative to floral foam – something the industry has
been using since 1954.
One of Britain’s major magazine publishers singles out the FloraGUPPY in The
Flower Patch – its newest magazine – with the headline, “Say Goodbye to Floral
Foam.”
Former Canadian investment advisor turned inventor – James Wong – says his
‘creation’ came about accidentally one day as he observed his pet dog playing
with a destroyed toy ball. Growing up in a blue collar working class family, he’s
always regarded floral arrangements as something special – a bit of a luxury –
and since he once suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and sought
perfection – getting flowers to stay in place when he changed the water was a
challenge. He describes it as trying to put humpty-dumpty back together. He
spent 15 years trying every product on the market including wire and rocks and
says he wasted lots of money on gadgets.
Wong spent several years searching for a solution that was, easy, simple and
eco-friendly. He finally came up with a ‘simple’ design, consulted with Canadian
florists. had them experiment with prototypes, submitted a patent application and
began a hunt to source out manufacturers. He called his patent-pending device
a ‘FloraGUPPY’ because guppies are a cute tiny fish and are multi-coloured like
floral arrangements.
The fact that it can be reused up to 25 times and is eco-friendly has attracted
widespread interest from florists concerned over the future of the planet. Wong
says, “I share their concern. I wanted to make a difference and I’m pleased to
offer them something that is reusable, recyclable and eco-friendly”.
It’s a hit with eco-minded florists. Here are some of their comments on social
media: “The flowers last longer than in foam…and I don’t feel guilty by using it.”
“My clients are…happy that we are an Eco-friendly florist….” “… here in Italy
we have started to use the GUPPY for the health of our planet.” “…hope we will
see more options for environmentally conscious florists.” “Time is up!!!!!!!! We
are all guilty for our planet.” “…floraguppy is the present and the future for the
industry of flower!!!”
His product has caught on with florists over the globe who comment: “Clever
Invention”, “Awesome”, “Game-changer”, the future “post-it of the floral world”.
Many florists say it saves them time and money and frees them from cuts. One
wrote; “No more cuts from chicken wire.” Anther wrote, “ Oh God, I’ve been
trying to make a round ball with chicken wire and it always ends in blood
letting…”
The ‘FloraGUPPY’ is an especially big hit in the UK where one of six leading
florists invited to show at the Covent Gardens during British Flowers Week, Helen
Chambers of Evolve Flowers, used them for her display. It was viewed by
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who crowned the winner.

[Author]

Posts