Meet Jun: The Florist Behind Chinatown Florist
Behind every bouquet is a story, and for Jun, the owner of Chinatown Florist, that story began with a simple question: What kind of business would I enjoy running?
At 25 years old, Jun wanted to start his own business — something creative, enjoyable, and relatively low risk. After searching newspapers and online business listings, he came across a flower shop for sale in Rockdale.
That's when everything changed.
The shop owner, Peter, agreed to teach Jun not only how to create flower arrangements, but also how to run the business. In return, Jun would purchase the shop. What started as a business opportunity quickly turned into a genuine passion.
"I fell in love with how flowers connect people."
Today, Jun proudly runs Chinatown Florist and has been part of the Interflora network for the past six months.
What Jun loves most about being a florist is being part of life's most meaningful moments — from birthdays and anniversaries to welcoming new babies or saying goodbye to a loved one. Flowers become part of those memories, and being trusted with that is incredibly special.
A Florist Inspired by Culture and Community
Located in the heart of Sydney's Chinatown, the community is one of the most unique and inspiring parts of Jun's business.
Chinatown is incredibly multicultural, with people from all around the world — including Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Thai, Japanese, and Australian communities. That diversity shapes customer preferences in fascinating ways.
Different cultural backgrounds often influence floral choices. For example, many Chinese customers love red and pink flowers, while white flowers and chrysanthemums are often associated with funerals. Meanwhile, many Australian customers love white blooms and chrysanthemums for everyday gifting.
This deep understanding of cultural preferences allows Jun to make gifting feel far more personal.
"After communication, it's much easier for a local florist to understand what people really want."
Supporting local florists matters for many reasons — fresher flowers, better quality, convenience, and stronger local communities. When customers buy local, they're also supporting small businesses that reinvest back into the local economy.
Fresh, Diverse and Elegant
If Jun had to describe his floristry style in three words, it would be: fresh, diverse, and elegant.
His favourite flowers are peonies and garden roses, admired for their soft, full shapes and beautiful colours.
"They feel warm and elegant."
When winter arrives, two flowers stand out above the rest: freesias and tulips.
Freesias are loved for their beautiful fragrance, while tulips bring colour and elegance to every bouquet.
For inspiration, Jun often turns to florists on TikTok and YouTube, where creators from around the world share beautiful floral designs and techniques.
One floral trend he's especially loving right now is the combination of soft garden-style blooms with Australian natives such as eucalyptus, banksia, and waxflower.
The result is relaxed, textural, long-lasting, and beautifully reflective of the Australian landscape.
The arrangement that best represents the shop's personality? A pink rose arrangement — fitting, considering Chinatown Florist's logo features a large pink rose.
Memorable Moments in Floristry
One of Jun's most unforgettable arrangements featured 999 roses.
The arrangement was so large it had to be assembled outside the shop and took half a day to complete. Passersby stopped to take photos, amazed by its scale.
When the young woman receiving the arrangement saw it, she was moved to tears.
"In that moment, I knew all the effort was worth it."
Because the shop is located in the city, one of the most popular occasions in Jun's community is something quite unique — grand opening flowers.
With new businesses opening regularly, grand opening arrangements are in high demand as owners celebrate exciting new beginnings.
Behind the Scenes
A typical day at Chinatown Florist starts early.
Jun's day usually involves buying flowers, unpacking fresh stock, taking orders, creating arrangements, and coordinating deliveries. It's always busy — but always creative.
One thing many people don't realise about floristry is just how physical it is.
Florists spend long hours standing, lifting heavy flower buckets, conditioning blooms, and working nonstop during busy periods.
"It's actually very physical work. You stand for many hours every day."
During peak seasons like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, the workload becomes even more intense, often involving 16-hour days spent almost entirely on his feet designing flowers.
Coffee, surprisingly, isn't part of Jun's routine.
"Sorry, I don't drink coffee."
And perhaps the funniest customer request?
"I want you to make a bouquet that looks very big and expensive… but my budget is $30."
A challenge every florist probably understands — though our range of flowers under $80 comes close.
Quick Fire with Jun
- Roses or natives? Natives — they last longer
- Tulips or lilies? Lilies
- Early mornings or late nights? Early mornings
- Favourite colour palette? Pink and purple
- Favourite occasion to create for? Grand opening flowers
- One flower everyone should have at home? Natives — beautiful and long-lasting