Florist is a goldmine of garlands and gift ideas

From hand-bound garlands to stocking fillers and ‘girlfriend gifts’, Demco Florist has Christmas all wrapped up.

If you’re looking for wreaths, bouquets or table decorations, Demco can create something wonderfully festive for your home.

Clients however, may be surprised to find the Devonshire store is also a goldmine for Christmas gift ideas.

Owner Carmen Phillips said: “We are all about diversity and have changed up Demco dramatically, because these days in retail, unless you diversify you may not survive.

“We used to do traditional but now welcome the contemporary, the modern and the bespoke customer. There is something for everyone here, no matter what your taste or budget.

Diversity

“We carry carnations to orchids and can create $65 round table arrangements to $400 vases.

“For Christmas we can do traditional flowers and decorations, to the ultra-modern.

“If you find nothing suitable then we will put something together for you.

“We love talking to our customers. If you don’t know what you want then we will come up with some designs and ideas, and go from there.

“The biggest thing that distinguishes Demco from other florists is our diversity.

“We don’t want to turn anyone away, so whether it’s a simple ornament or an elaborate mantelpiece decoration, you will find it here.

“Our florists are amazing at changing-up, according to each customer. We also try to find out the individual details of each gift recipient.

“We will design differently for a 20-year-old versus a 50-year-old or 90-year-old, and that’s what makes our customers come back.

“It’s not just about what the customer wants but also how you want the recipient to feel, so we design based on the message you want to send.

“Flowers speak to people, so we design to deliver the message the customer wants.”

Table centrepieces are a mainstay of any Christmas dining experience, and Demco can offer both the round traditional candle centrepiece and more modern versions.

The florist’s “biggest traditional seller” is the ‘long and low table centrepiece’.

Mrs Phillips said: “Most people want ‘traditional’ at Christmas, and this is the long table decoration.

“Some people also like to tweak with tradition though, so we offer 10 different table settings.”

Traditional table decorations can come in red, green or gold, or white and gold.

Or this year, why not opt for a more rustic, natural look, with Demco’s bark-lined centerpiece with moss, driftwood, pine cones, mushrooms and cinnamon sticks?

There are also exotic versions containing details such as orchids and bay grape leaves.

Mrs Phillips said natural wood and shades of bronze are very “in” for this year’s Christmas decor.

“Expect to see a lot of table arrangements incorporating wood and mosses,” she said.

“Bronze also works well with any colour scheme. It can work with something colourful, such as turquoise or purple, to traditional Christmas colours of red, green and gold.”

Spruce up your decorations with wooden or bronze reindeers, driftwood ornaments and shells, all available at Demco.

When it comes to hostess gifts, the florist’s ‘grab and go’ handheld festive bouquet is very popular.

Mrs Phillips also recommends Demco’s arrangement of red amaryllis and twigs inside a tall white window vase, as “a wonderful upscale gift”.

For smaller apartments or studios, you can also add a touch of Christmas spirit with a boxwood tree.

Mrs Phillips said: “This year we have a boxwood tree, which is fabulous for smaller apartments as it is 18 inches high.

“It starts out as just a stick in a pot but is hand-crafted by our florists to end up as the perfect boxwood tree, without any gaps. You can then add your own ornaments or glitter spray.”

She added: “We also have an amazing topiary tree, which we ran out of last year. And we also do hand-crafted garlands. Rachel (Smith), our head florist, particularly enjoys making the garlands.

“She hand-binds them using the freshest materials available.

“Our customers love them. You can put them on a staircase or a mantelpiece, and each one is pre-ordered according to individual specifications.”

Wreaths are another popular holiday decoration in Bermuda homes.

At Demco, you can choose from either a traditional or luxury wreath, which contains gold poinsettias, red or gold balls and battery-operated lights.

Both styles use fresh Noble Fir and come in four sizes, ranging from 18 to 28 inches.

All Demco’s Christmas decorations can be ordered online at the florist’s website.

The store also supplies traditional and themed decorations for corporate offices or individual homes. This year, it has wall, floor and ceiling ornaments in themes such as Candyland and Winter Wonderland.

Whimsical

Giant vases, baubles, light-covered branches, giant stainless steel balls and reindeer can decorate your office, boardroom or Christmas tree to add that festive cheer.

“For homes we have lots of whimsical stuff, such as reindeer, snowmen, Dr Seuss-style red crushed velvet Santa hats, and cone Christmas trees in silver, red and gold,” said Mrs Phillips.

“They are well priced. We try to offer our customers unique items from around the world for under $40.

“We also love reindeer, and have them in all shapes, colours and sizes, from wooden to silver glitter to bronze.

“Most corporate clients however, prefer the traditional and elegant to the whimsical and glitzy.”

If you are looking for a Christmas gift, Demco can also help you find something ‘out of the box’, with presents for both sexes, ranging from the fun to the flirty to the practical.

Men’s gifts include office desk items such as a metal Vespa money box and a golf bag pen holder, with pens shaped like mini golf clubs.

But Demco really comes into its own with its range of gifts for women.

“We’re a girly shop and love ‘girlfriend gifts’,” said Mrs Phillips.

There are lots of fun stocking fillers and ‘Secret Santa’ gift items around the $20 mark, such as the shoe and dragonfly ornaments, candles, and shot glass tree ornaments.

There are even sparkly pink ‘leopard skin’ baubles if you really want to go “over-the-top girly”.

Hand painted wine glasses and ‘shoe’ wine caddys shaped like stilettos ($37-52) are fun gift ideas, while Mrs Phillips said the Illume soy-based candle line is also “very popular”.

Bakeware

With scents such as Balsam and Cedar or Mulled Wine, these make ideal hostess gifts.

There are also festive wine bottle hangers, Christmas napkins, and red, white and green aprons designed by local artist Viv-Hayward, bearing such phrases as ‘The tree will not be the only thing lit tonight’.

Demco also stocks a new line of soy-based candles, soaps and handwash liquid, by Michel Design Works. These come in scents such as Sunflower, Honey Almond and Candy Cane.

“They have a vintage, powder room-type feel, which makes them perfect for gifting”, said Mrs Phillips.

If you are bringing baked goods to a party, then Demco’s ‘oven-safe paper bakeware’ is ideal for your fruit loaf or bundt cake.

There are also throwaway standing cups for mini-rum cakes, so neither the guest or party hostess will be left with the washing up afterwards.

Also perfect for parties, the Corkcicle can be placed in the freezer and then inserted into a bottle of white wine to keep it chilled during your celebrations.

Demco Florists, 14 South Road, Devonshire. Tel. 234-7777 or e-mail [email protected]. Website www.demco.bm