Artistic ability manifests in a myriad of ways. Some can pick up a brush and paint a canvas with a few strokes of colour to create a beautiful scene, others can turn a lump of clay into an impeccable human replica. One thing is certain: an eye for composition is the crux of any artistic pursuit. Suzane Lee, owner and creative director of Granville Island Florist, has that all-important artistic eye. While her creative talents have manifested in a number of ways throughout her life, flowers are now her medium of preference.
"My parents were grooming me and my sister for careers as fashion designers," Suzane says about growing up in Hong Kong. But once she came to Canada and began helping out at her father-in-law's corner store on South Granville in 1982, life took a turn and with that, she found an opportunity that allowed her talents to really flourish.
"Most grocery stores then had their bouquets of flowers out front on the street, but there was really no competition," she recalls. When Suzane began rearranging their floral displays with some extra thought and her special touch, the bouquets sold out everyday. She soon realized she had found her calling, and the seeds for Granville Island Florist were planted.
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Beautiful bouquets, but theres a thousand other beautiful florists in Vancouver. Suzane runs her shop like a sweatshop. Very unprofessional and rude. Her staff are over exhausted, overworked, and underpaid. Do not recommend her services.
My daughter and I had occasion to visit Granville Island Florist on May 5th hoping to get help, advice and encouragement for a very important event in my daughters life...her upcoming wedding. The woman in charge was very unfriendly, unhelpful and short. She would not allow us to make an appointment to discuss floral arrangements but said we could send her an email. Emails back and forth are neither efficient or satisfactory. She was also dismissive of my daughter's desire for simple arrangements suggesting alternatives such as orchids or roses. Whatever happened to serving the customer? I live in the Granville Island area and visit the market almost daily. Her store will not be included in my stops any more.
Suzane from Granville Island Florist was just amazing. From the very first time I met her, she was incredibly thorough. She asked me so many detailed questions such as the theme, venue, my colors, my dress, shoes, hairstyle... This proved to me that she looks at the big picture and not just the flowers. My trust in her grew tremendously. She also gave me a referral for someone who didn't work out and because of that she went above and beyond her role as a florist to ensure I have a replacement for this vendor. She was super kind and a genuinely nice person to work with. My Mom has never been a fan of flowers but she absolutely loved these flowers so much so that she has still kept the bare wish tree having removed all the perished blossoms. Suzane you were truly one of the best vendors I had the pleasure of dealing with. Thank you.
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When approaching Granville Island’s legendary Public Market on the east end, one of the first sights you’ll see is the bold and colourful floral display at Granville Island Florist. The shop has become a staple in the market and the city; newly betrothed couples often head here when they are looking for lavish wedding flowers to mark their special day. Creative director Suzane Lee oversees the team of passionate floral designers.
View this Smart ListThis fragrant market stall in the Granville Island Public Market evokes all the romance and nostalgia of indulging in a bouquet of fresh cut stems on your weekly market shopping excursion. The corner stall is bursting with buckets of hydrangeas, gerbera daisies, freesia and alstroemeria and every other varietal you can think of. Known for their elaborate, large-scale arrangements as well as their work for high-end clients like the Shangri-La, Pacific Rim and Holt Renfrew, their humble location belies their floral expertise.
View this Smart List