Simon Lycett has been voted New Covent Garden Flower Market's florist of the year for 2013.
The London-based market is a mecca for top florists, and the inaugural award recognises the creativity, skill and expertise of the dedicated army of professional florists, whose work features in homes, hotels, restaurants and venues.
An expert Flower Market Awards panel deliberated for hours over entries, and the shortlist had to be extended to four in the overall winner category, as two florists could not be separated on point score.
The panel said that Lycett - who is renowned for his event floristry - had the edge over many excellent entries. 'Of the many excellent entries for the Flower Market Award for Florist of the Year 2013, one submission had the edge: Simon J Lycett. Well-written and illustrated with stunning photographs of great floristry, Simon's entry demonstrated his passion for flowers, floristry and the flower market alongside great entrepreneurial drive and resilience.'
The other shortlisted florists and companies were:Wildabout, whichincreased online sales by 74 per sale for nationwide delivery over the past 12 months, and have taken on additional storage space due to the expansion of their event and wedding business;Mary Jane Vaughan, who uses her proximity to New Covent Garden to source materials for events from the premiere of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, to creating a Harry Potter feast scene; andNB Flowers, which hasrecently won prestigious contracts for The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and One Hyde Park.
The judges for the prize were Caroline Marshall-Foster, of The Florist magazine,Rona Wheeldon, of the Flowerona blog,Barry Porter, of Porters Foliage, andHelen Evans, of Covent Garden Market Authority.
The panel was also on hand to judge the Plantspeople of the Year prize.
The winner was Indoor Garden Design, with Collier and Company and Clifton Nurseries gracing the shortlist.
Customers of the market, meanwhile, were invited to vote online for their Wholesaler of the Year.
The winner was Dennis Edwards Flowers, while Porters Foliage and Zest Flowers made the shortlist.
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