Couple find business blooms

Jasmine Fuller and Bryce Williams have opened up their new Mint Floral at Laurie Hall Park.

It might have been written in the stars that Jasmine Fuller, a woman named after a fragrant flower, would open a shop selling posies.

Her partner Bryce Williams can be seen riding around the CBD on a mint green, vintage bike delivering bouquets from their new store, Mint Floral, which the floricultural duo opened at Laurie Hall Park on Monday.

Originally from Christchurch, Jasmine moved to Northland with family in 1996 but studied in Auckland, where she met Bryce before the pair moved to Whangarei to sow a business seed in the CBD.

The idea for the business began to bud while Jasmine was working at florists in Hawke's Bay and Whangarei over the last eight years, as well as Auckland, where she also studied visual arts in college, which has given her a sharp eye for decoration.

The funky store is full of homemade goods and has an eco-friendly focus, with luxury candles, greeting cards, skincare and a range of hand-crafted pressies for newborn babies.

"We sell locally grown flowers and New Zealand-made gifts too," said Jasmine.

And the name?

"It means 'all good', you know, 'mint'. I like it because blokes will remember it and we want that," she said.

"Mint is also a gorgeous-smelling herb - it just works well as a name."

The location was quite deliberate too.

"Laurie Hall Park is beautiful and become more so with the memorial, and we wanted to be somewhere with a good visual impact."

The store itself is certainly a treat to the eye. The pair teamed up with their Whangarei friend, Memory Lane tattooist Ernest Bradley, to paint a mint-coloured building adorned with huge painted flowers.

"We're really grateful to Ernest," said Bryce.

"It took us about three days over Christmas. We thought it was going to be quiet during that time, but with sales, shops were busy and there were lots of people coming over to see what we were doing."