Thorn and Petal

A budding business in a growing community: Thorn and Petal Florist
From plants, gifts and hands-on workshops, florist Ran Sui has a lot more than flowers in her blooming downtown Paris store.

Ran Sui is the owner of Thorn and Petal in downtown Paris, Ontario.

Ran Sui admits she was nervous when she made the jump from working in human resources to becoming a florist. Transitioning from a ten-year career to something she hadn’t tried professionally was risky, but to her it was also exciting.

“After I had my first kid, I decided to have a change of my career,” said Sui. “I asked myself what I liked the most—I've been in love with flowers since I was a little kid—so I decided to turn to become a florist.”

Sui’s journey into the profession started as an employee at a few different flower shops in Toronto and Brantford. Here, she learned the tricks of the trade but still felt her passion could take her further. She began working towards the goal of running her own flower shop.

“At a certain point I figured I want open my own business and provide my expertise,” she said.

Now, in the brightly lit store at 127 Grand River Street North, she’s doing just that. The shop opened in October 2023 and since then Sui says she’s been welcomed by the warm embrace of the downtown Paris community.

Now nearing its third year in business; the store has really taken off.

Thorn and Petal takes orders for all kinds of occasions; holidays, birthdays, funerals, and—of course—weddings.

Being a florist in a wedding destination town has its benefits, says Sui. She and her team spend a lot of time preparing elaborate custom orders for the many happy couples who come to Paris to tie the knot. Often at the Arlington Hotel and its adjoining venue River’s Edge—both kitty corner to Sui’s store.

Sui says occasions that call for flowers often call for gift items too, which is why the shop carries things like greeting cards, jewelry, sweets and other small trinkets.

Since opening the store, Sui has participated in a number of community events. Last September she was part of Brant’s festival hub at Ontario Culture Days, creating a display titled “Flowers Through Time.”

“We designed different types of flower arrangements from different time periods,” said Sui.

She created displays in the styles of Victorian England, ancient China, and even one about classic rock in the mid twentieth century.

This year, we can expect Thorn and Petal’s participation once again, where Sui and ceramic artist Pauline Hasley are inviting the public to decorate tiles for the creation of an art installation that will become a permanent fixture behind the shop.

Sui also hosts her own community events in the form of monthly workshops where attendees try their hand at floral arrangement and other design skills. The floral and plant-related workshops are taught by Sui, while local artists are brought in to teach other mediums, such as ceramics or embroidery.

“It’s very rewarding to share my words with people who also love flowers and plants,” said Sui. She says the workshops have been very successful so far.
Sui says that what keeps her going is her passion for what she does. 

“When I’m designing, I can find peace and find real joy from creating flower arrangements,” she said. Even when there were challenges, it was the flowers that kept her pushing forward.

“Flowers are what first drew me into this path, and every time I see them, I am reminded that they are the most beautiful way to express feelings and bring comfort.”