An evening with Kally Ellis from McQueens

Flowerona presents it's first event featuring the UK's most talked about florist

Heist bank, London’s hottest pizza restaurant with an in-house florist set the scene for a late summer socializing event hosted by Flowerona, a multi-award winning blog by Rona Wheeldon. 

An evening of fun, food, inspiration and of course, flowers - tickets to this sold-out seminar were in high demand due to Kally Ellis, founder of McQueens one of the UK’s most influential and successful florists taking centre stage as guest speaker.


25 years of excellence 

Servicing a prestigious client list including London’s iconic Claridges hotel, fashion brands such as Mulberry alongside members of the Royal Family, McQueens proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, currently employs 40 staff and with an estimated value at around £5 million, business is clearly blooming.

Following your dreams 
On choosing Kally Ellis as guest speaker, Rona Wheeldon, founder of Flowerona explains: 

“Inspiring florists is one of our main aims, to encourage them to follow their dreams and think BIG! Kally's story is so inspirational. Everything she has achieved in the last 25 years and the position she holds now, not only in the UK but also on an international level.” Rona adds: “Our workshop and event attendees range from those who are just about to set up their floristry business to those who've been in business a couple of years, to florists at the top of their game who've been trading for 20+ years.”

A truly insightful, inspiring and entertaining evening for everyone involved, read Kally’s live interview here:

How did the business start?
25 years ago during the height of the recession, I left a job working in marketing for a bank in the city because it wasn’t making me happy. Around that time, I visited a flower shop in Paris to buy some tulips and was fascinated by the care and attention to the wrapping and packaging of the simple bouquet. It wasn’t long after that I realised I wanted to work with flowers and bring that kind of experience to London.

What inspired the name McQueens?
I bought an existing small flower shop in Shoreditch, east London and I liked the name so decided to keep it. The owner as it turned out, was actually Carol McQueen – Alexander McQueen’s aunt.

How did you grow the business when you first started out?
The business really grew organically. We had a few good existing customers which helped. Our hand-tied bouquets were well received and through word of mouth, the business simply grew. We are proud to say we never advertised or paid for advertising. With such a creative industry like floristry, I always think it’s better to see things in real life.

What do you consider the key secrets of your business success? 
For me it was about following my dream literally.  I use my gut instinct and it never fails me.  I was lucky enough to have an incredibly talented partner when I first started my business.  It's important to work with people that inspire you and that you trust and that you can learn from.  


Simple, understated, elegant, boundary pushing and trend-setting.

Can you name some of your high profile clients?
We service multiple 5 star hotels in London including Claridges, The Rosewood, The Connaught and The Berkeley among others. We are probably most well-known and proud to supply flowers for the Vanity Fair Oscar after-party and have done so for many years. We also have celebrity clients including royalty which I can’t name unfortunately!

I think social media is a great communication tool and a channel that enables you to share your business with interested groups.  It's definitely an opportunity to take your business globally in terms of showcasing your work. We have a flower school at McQueens and exposure on social media has enabled the school to go international, teaching classes all over the world from China to Dubai.
What advice would you give to those who are just starting out in the industry?
Surround yourself with experts, ask for advice from everyone. Do your research. Sometimes you just have to take risks in life. Trust your instincts and always stay positive and optimistic.