The studio behind
the bouquets
EntryChoiceWave is a two-bench floristry studio on Thames Highway in Oamaru. This is who we are, how we got here and why we still argue about eucalyptus.
Started with a market stall and a borrowed van
Back in 2019 Ren was selling $20 market bunches at the Oamaru Farmers Market out of a station wagon that smelled permanently of eucalyptus. People kept asking for "something like that, but for a wedding": so the orders got bigger, the van got upgraded, and in 2021 we signed the lease on a small shopfront on Thames Highway.
We're still small on purpose. Two benches, one cold room, a chalkboard of the week's stems. Big enough to do weddings properly, small enough that the person who takes your order is the person who makes it.
The short version
- 2019: first market stall, one grower, borrowed van
- 2021, the Thames Highway studio opens
- 2023: first full wedding season, 30+ celebrations
- 2025, weekly subscriptions for offices and cafés
- Now, 11 Waitaki growers, two florists, one very patient delivery driver
Three things we won't budge on
Every florist has opinions. Ours fit on one hand, and they decide every order that leaves the bench.
The person comes first
A bouquet for your gran shouldn't look like a bouquet for a product launch. We design to the human, which is why we ask slightly nosy questions.
Season beats catalogue
If it's not growing well in the Waitaki this month, we won't force it from a cold store. Seasonal stems look better, last longer and cost less.
Show, don't promise
You see a photo of the finished bouquet before it leaves. It's harder to disappoint someone when they've already approved the work.
A few numbers we're proud of
Not bad for a shop that started in a station wagon.
Two florists, one driver, zero call centres
When you ring the studio, one of these three picks up. Now you can put a face to the voice.
Ren Calder
Started at the farmers market, still buys the first pick of the week. Handles weddings and the weird custom briefs. Allergic to carnations, uses them anyway.
Mags Tuitama
Ex-set designer, so event installs are her happy place. If your table pieces look better than the venue, that was Mags.
Dave Ormond
Knows every driveway in the Waitaki and most of the dogs. Your bouquet arrives upright, hydrated and on time because of him.
Pieces that left the bench recently
A grab-bag of orders: weddings, weekdays and one very ambitious anniversary.
What people tell the neighbours
Pulled from our review pages, spelling kept as found.
The sympathy flowers for Dad's service were so considered: they even used the white freesias Mum grew. Small detail, meant everything.
Sent a photo of the venue and a budget that was honestly too small. Mags made the room look like we spent three times that. Book them before everyone figures this out.
The questions new customers ask
Can't find yours? The contacts page reaches a real human.
Come meet the bench. Or just order the flowers.
419b Thames Highway, Oamaru North, kettle's usually on. Otherwise +64 7 578 3264 gets you straight to the studio.