Vine & Vessel Swaps Retail Space for Studio Space

is undergoing some changes. The shop, owned by Xenia Buckley, has been a full service flower and gift shop on Fall River Avenue since 2008. As of this week, however, Buckley has closed the retail location and moved into a larger studio to focus solely on custom orders for special events, such as weddings, funerals and parties.

“I was really, really cramped in the workspace and I needed to expand,” she says.

Buckley says last year Vine & Vessel did flowers for approximately 50 events. The new space is outfitted with more leg room and walk-in coolers, which will allow Buckley to expand her business even further.

Buckley has been working with flowers since the mid 90’s after graduating from New England School of Floral Design. She cut her chops in a variety of settings from turn-and-burn production florists to high end shops. She considers Vine & Vessel more of a high end service, though she has gleaned lessons from all her previous employers.

Prior to working in the floral business, Buckley had been working in the food industry. A graduate from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, she went on to design and make wedding cakes.

“I really knew while I was doing it that that wasn’t what I wanted to do forever. I didn’t like being up to my face in butter and sugar, and washing dishes,” she says. “My favorite part was putting fresh flowers on the cake. I realized I should probably focus on flowers.”

Now, she can’t get enough. Buckley regularly attends floral industry conferences to keep up with trends, saying it’s a very creative and artistic industry similar in ways to the fashion industry. Back in the old days, she says, it used to be a “centerpiece was just a centerpiece,” but now everyone wants something different and unique. Current trends, according to Buckley, run the gamut from vintage throwbacks and “an earthy, clean, sophisticated style.”

On top of that, money is always on the customer’s mind.

“Everybody wants to save money. The florist has to be extremely flexible and work with customers to get the most floral bang for their buck,” she says.

Once Vine & Vessel finishes their move this week, they will be ready to get on with business as usual. Though customers will no longer be able to walk into the space and place orders, they can still contact Vine & Vessel by phone and email. Buckley also recommends setting up a consultation for more information.