"The shop as source of inspiration”

For over 25 years Ton Verzijl (born 1956) has been combining his work as a trainer and arranger with running his own shop. And he certainly has not finished learning yet. In fact, he draws a lot of inspiration from the daily contact with his staff. After training as a Florist/shopkeeper he studied the Master Arranger course for a while. But practice appealed more to him. He worked as a senior arranger for twelve years, and then decided that it was time that he opened his own flower shop. He enjoys the daily contact with his customers and his staff. "During the lunch break we often leaf through the Dutch and foreign trade press and get ideas."

Rich experience

As a trainer/arranger he can draw deeply on his own experience as a businessman. And he does it enthusiastically. Motivating florists and training retail managers in developing ideas and concepts often takes him abroad. He speaks English and German, and has worked in more than 15 countries, with the emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe. But his most exceptional assignments were in the Netherlands. "That was the dressing for the baptism of Princesses Alexia and Ariana. Stressful, but above all a great honour."

Definite favourite

On stage Ton Verzijl prefers to work in the same way as in his shop. And that means that he checks carefully that what he is making is also sellable - regardless of whether he is demonstrating to florists, supermarkets, garden centres or street traders. In his work life he will never express a preference for a particular flower. He loves them all equally. But as a private individual he certainly does have a definite favourite. That is the tulip, especially because it does so much. "It starts with a green bud, and then acquires colour. And it grows and ‘droops’ over the vase. So much happens to it - it’s alive!"

Two-wheeler