Palmyra's Flower Boss

Written by: JOEY BARTLETT

Flowers have a way of appearing quietly at life's most significant moments.

They stand proudly at weddings, offer comfort at funerals, mark anniversaries, celebrate new beginnings, and express emotions that words sometimes cannot. Whether arranged in lavish displays or presented as a simple bouquet, flowers often become part of memories that last a lifetime.

Yet behind every arrangement is a creative hand shaping those moments.

For 35-year-old Christopher Deonarine of Palmyra, South Trinidad, that responsibility has become both his profession and his passion. As the owner of The Petal Pro, Deonarine has spent the past seven years helping people celebrate, mourn, remember, and love through flowers.

Ask him for his professional title, and he answers without hesitation.

"I'm the Flower Boss. That's literally my email signature," he says with a laugh.

The title may be playful, but the business behind it is serious. While The Petal Pro has grown steadily over the years, Deonarine remains at the heart of every aspect of the operation. With support from a small team that includes his sister-in-law and a full-time driver, he continues to oversee everything from customer service and design to online operations and delivery logistics.

Ironically, flowers were never part of the original plan.

Founder Christopher Deonarine puts the final touches on an arrangement for an event.

Before becoming a florist, Deonarine worked in information technology. He was employed at a company that also operated in the floral industry, initially serving as its IT specialist. Over time, his responsibilities expanded into sales, customer service, and management. When staffing shortages emerged in the floral department, he stepped in to help.

What began as a temporary solution quickly became an education.

He learned how to design arrangements, understand flower care, and execute orders. Without realising it, he was building a foundation for a future business.

Eventually, when the company's florists left, Deonarine found himself taking on the responsibility entirely.

"I believed in the skills I had acquired, so I started doing the orders myself," he recalls.

Still, when he eventually left the company, entrepreneurship was not part of his immediate plans.

When I left, the plan was to go back into corporate IT. But I left without having anything in place. So I thought, OK, I already have this skill. Let me do this in the meantime to bring money in while I look for another job."

Life, however, had other ideas.

Armed with a $6,000 floral chiller and roughly $500 worth of flowers, Deonarine launched his venture. In the first month, business began growing faster than expected.

"I said to myself, OK, well, I guess we do this now," he says. "And I've been doing it ever since."

The success was not accidental. Behind the flowers stood years of education and professional experience.

Deonarine holds a degree in business computing from the School of Accounting and Management and a master's degree from the University of Trinidad and Tobago in Innovation, Manufacturing Management and Entrepreneurship. Together with his IT background, those experiences shaped the way he built his company.

"My work experience is the foundation of what the business is," he explains. "I don't have a shopfront. Everything is online. I've built the website myself, set up payment gateways, and tried to make the whole process as user-friendly as possible."

Christopher Deonarine creates a stunning arrangement featuring roses, gerberas and orchids, reflecting the creativity and craftsmanship behind The Petal Pro.

His academic training proved equally valuable.

"The master's really helped in terms of entrepreneurship, supply chain management, forecasting, and understanding how all those different things work together. It still helps today."

While business knowledge gave him a strong foundation, mastering floral design required a different kind of education.

In the early years, Deonarine spent countless hours studying the work of florists on Instagram, searching for inspiration and techniques that could elevate his craft. One designer from Spain particularly caught his attention. When that florist began offering workshops, Deonarine enrolled.

His commitment to learning eventually took him to Amsterdam for an intensive floral retreat.

"A lot of the basics I thought I knew, I basically started over from scratch. I think a lot of the pieces I create now reflect the skills I learned there, but adapted into my own style."

That style, he says, is best described as "garden style."

Imagine stepping into a flourishing garden where flowers appear naturally gathered rather than rigidly arranged. Romantic, organic, and elegant, it has become a signature aesthetic that distinguishes his work.

Running a floral business, however, involves far more than creativity. Flowers are highly perishable, seasonal products, and demand can fluctuate dramatically throughout the year.

"Flowers are a luxury item; it's a seasonal market. I can look at any month and tell you that the first week and last week will be great. The two weeks in the middle? Those can be slow."

Managing those fluctuations requires constant marketing, careful forecasting, and adaptability. Changes to social media platforms have created new challenges. As marketing tools evolve and advertising costs rise, small businesses must work harder than ever to remain visible.

For Deonarine, that means embracing new content strategies across Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and other digital platforms while continuously adjusting offerings to meet customer budgets.

Beyond business realities, however, flowers remain deeply connected to human emotion.

Over the years, Deonarine has witnessed countless personal stories unfold through the arrangements he creates. Sometimes it is a bride honouring loved ones who are no longer present. Other times it is a heartfelt note accompanying a bouquet.

"At times I have to write the cards, and I'll read them and think, wow. In this day and age, people are still writing these heartfelt messages. You really do see the romance in it."

Christopher Deonarine, owner of The Petal Pro, combines delicate lilies, roses and lush greenery to create an arrangement that balances beauty, texture and sophistication.

One of his most memorable projects involved decorating an entire church for a wedding and transforming a private maxi with flowers, ribbons, and decorative details for the bridal party.

Another more sombre experience came during his first large-scale funeral installation, where massive floral pieces required special transportation equipment and on-site assembly.

"That was when I was really tested creatively," he recalls. "Those were some of the largest and heaviest pieces I've ever created."

Through it all, his greatest support has remained simple.

"My mom," he says when asked who keeps him grounded during difficult periods.

Looking ahead, Deonarine has ambitious goals. Among them is opening a branch in Tobago and eventually building a team capable of operating the business independently, allowing him greater freedom to pursue new ventures.

For those considering a career in floristry, his advice is straightforward.

"Learn the basics properly and don't be afraid to try something new. If you see something a florist creates and you think you can do it, buy some flowers and try it. The more practice you get, the better your work becomes."

It is fitting advice from someone who never planned to become a florist in the first place. What began as a temporary solution became a thriving business, a creative outlet, and a career that has exceeded expectations.

"This is the best decision I've ever made. I've been able to travel and do things I always wanted to do. Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind."