Mezu Silk Flowers

Home Interiors

Handcrafted, handpainted blooms

We caught up with Donna Zurcher, founder of one of the leading companies in the world of exceptional silk flowers, to discover why her business is growing so well, and why your customers will love her beautiful blooms

Donna, what makes Mezu Silk Flowers so special?

Mezu was borne out of my own personal passion for flowers and the desire to find realistic silk versions I could enjoy throughout the year. I source handcrafted, hand-painted products directly from the supplier, at a price that represents good value. It’s all very personal, as is the relationship I have with customers, and the finished product is paramount.

What’s the story behind your company?

After a good number of years in retail and then over 15 years senior management within the global PR and marketing sector, I was looking for a change in life. My son was living in China so the dream and possibility of having a business selling quality silk flowers suddenly became a reality. I couldn’t manage the business without having the base in China, and it allows us to quality control and for me to go over there to personally source new lines.

What’s the ideal retail environment for Mezu?

We work on the basis that we’re large enough to offer a substantial range of products, and small enough to provide the level of service and personal touch that make a difference to customers. Mezu’s clientele is largely independent businesses - online retailers, high street gift shops, florists, wedding and event planners, interior design as well as garden centres. Our philosophy is if the product, price and service are right, the rest will follow.

Do you have a typical customer?

The growth of the silk flower market reflects consumers’ desire to enjoy their favourite blooms all year round as well as having floral arrangements, such as wedding bouquets, as a lasting memory of a special occasion. Similarly, TV, film and theatre productions are using silk flowers and of course, programmes such as BBC’s Interior Design have raised some of the many benefits for artificial flowers. I do not think there is a typical silk flower customer.

How has the past year been?

The environment has been tough for everyone. The need for silk flowers has risen in some areas, unfortunately such as funerals, and decreased in others such as weddings and large events. We are fortunate, however, due to our size and resilience to have been able to continue business as usual and we have adapted to meet our customers’ needs. I think it’s still a little early to talk about the longterm changes that will come with Brexit. Courier costs are certainly higher to some markets and there have been delays in delivery. The floral market is a resilient one and florists are resourceful - we have and will continue to respond to meet our customers’ needs.

Any ranges that have done particularly well?

Roses are the flower I initially built the business around and we do have an extensive array of varieties and colours. On a more general basis, it’s all about the cottage garden flowers inspired by mine. We feature most of the country’s home-grown range - peonies, foxgloves, daisies, hollyhock, lupins, iris, sweet peas, lilacs, scabious, nigella and so much more. Hydrangeas are one of our most popular ranges but I like to think we have something for every occasion.

Any special offers/services for new clients?

We are happy, within reason, to offer samples so new customers can see and feel how good our silk flowers are. We have a strong offering with minimum orders at only £150, low compared with other wholesalers, and orders over £200 are carriage free. That said, I am always happy to talk to new and existing customers about what they want!