Professionals Tamborine Mountain 
Flowers are beautiful. This is a hard point to argue, especially somewhere like Tamborine Mountain where the beauty of the natural world surrounds us every day. But when brought into the home to spread a little of that beauty, it quickly fades, withers and dies. Kassandra de la Zilwa doesn’t think this is fair at all, and at Kanda Flower Studio, she’s offering mountain residents an innovative solution to bring the beauty back into their lives: dried and preserved flower arrangements. She explains more within.
by Kyle Hitchmough
How did Kanda Flower Studio get started?
I started doing paintings during COVID, and selling them online to kill time. Then I started playing with flowers and selling them as well. It went crazy, so I started a website and it quickly grew! I’ve had the store for about six months now.
Where does the name come from?
Kanda is “Kassy and Adam”, which is my partner’s name. “K-and-A”, together!
For those who might not be familiar, can you explain what it is you do?
We’re a flower studio that does dried and preserved flowers only. They last a lot longer than fresh flowers, so you’ll get a lifespan of about two to five years out of dried flowers and about eight to ten with the preserved, which is a lot more value for money. You’ll get those memories for a lot longer. That’s the biggest selling point.
Where do you source your flowers from?
All the flowers are sourced from Australian wholesalers. They come to us already preserved and dried, which makes it a little bit easier!
Does any special care have to be taken with dried or preserved flowers?
With all the arrangements that you purchase in store or online, you get a care card that has all the instructions on how to keep them clean and dust-free. The best way is to keep them out of wet, humid and moist conditions or direct sunlight. The ideal location would be a shelf out of the sun in your living room, coffee table arrangements, or even wall arrangements. You’ll get so much longer out of those than you would with a bathroom arrangement.
Do you personally design all the arrangements?
Yes! Everything in here is designed, decorated and styled by me. An arrangement can take anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours! In-store is my creative freedom, it’s whatever mood I’m in when I create them. Sometimes I will do it to what’s popular, right now it’s the mini, giftable sizes because it’s Christmas time. The best part is I can create little gifty ones for $5 and up to $50. My pricing can be really customised to the client, which is great. I also do events like weddings as well as installations for businesses. That’s all customised, starting from your colour palette to flower preferences. With brides and weddings, I’ll have a colour palette and a couple of favourite flowers or textures of flowers that they’d like to have, and we’ll go through the whole process start to finish. Everything’s completely customised.
Are there any particular flowers or arrangements you stock that are notably bestselling or popular?
I would definitely say arrangements between that $50-$60 range, as well as our stem bar. Our stem bar is so popular because it’s got so much variety and colour and I’ve got something for everyone. If you can’t find an arrangement that you want to purchase in store, you might already have something existing that you’d like to add to. That’s the best thing about the flower bar, they can create their own arrangements when they come in and I can take them through the whole process, from bases, popular flowers, colour tones, vases, the lot.
Have you noticed any particular trends in your clientele?
Trends are more about the style! I feel the bohemian whites and neutrals, the more earthy colours, are very in, as well as the natives. Australian natives are so popular because they’re gorgeous and they dry really well naturally. I’ll also have people coming in with fresh flowers they were gifted and I can take all the fresh ones out, dry them, put in any other colours and tones that they’re wanting, and it’s as good as new! They can keep that same arrangement a lot longer.
Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the Tamborine Mountain area and community?
No, I actually live about an hour away, but I absolutely love it here on the mountain. It is gorgeous, and it’s got awesome weather and food! I love the drive up here, it’s so scenic and doesn’t feel like an hour’s drive. I love being up on the mountain in general, it’s stunning, quiet, peaceful… it’s lovely.
Do you have anything you personally like to do on the mountain?
Mainly just walking, any hiking, I love trying new food… I would definitely say Tamborine Mountain Pizza and Pasta on Main Street is one of my go-to’s on the weekend!
What do you think Kanda Flower Studio really provides to the area?
I think for a community that is very artistic, it brings us together a little bit more where people can come in and create their own arrangements with me or add to their own flowers.
What do you enjoy most about doing this?
My creative freedom! I love being creative, I did an office job for a very long time and I think I went back to my creative side because I realised how much I needed it.
What’s been your most memorable moment in your time here?
I had a lady when I first started the business in its very initial stages. She sent me photos recently of the arrangements she purchased from me about 2 years ago now, and they still look amazing! She continues to order from me and it’s great seeing those return customers, because then you know you’re doing a good job!
We are always looking for new topics for our blog. If there’s something you like to see more of, email your suggestions to: social@professionalsserendipity.com.au, or email the writer at kyle.hitchmough@hotmail.com.
