Florist got her start in Newcastle

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent
 
Although she moved away from Newcastle several years ago, Noni Frye is back in town, where her floral design interest began, to visit friends and family. However, that’s not all Frye is doing back in Newcastle. She has also designed an aloha-style float for the fair parade – bringing, as Frye put it, “the tropical to Newcastle.” 
Frye said that a relative talked her into designing a float, and she decided to do it for the “fun of it.” 
“It’ll be fun – it’s been fun being back,” Frye said. 
In 2001, Frye was looking for a job at Decker’s Food Center as a cashier. Frye said that when she entered the store, Becky Decker, of Decker’s Floral and Gift, asked her if she was looking for a job. 
“She hired me on the spot,” Frye said. 
Even though Frye hadn’t been interested in florals, she worked with Decker for more than a year. Decker trained Frye in floral design, and her fascination with the work began, Frye said. It was quickly discovered that Frye was very adept at design, as Decker can attest to.
“Noni was just a natural designer,” Decker said. 
Frye’s eye for design allowed her to quickly gain understanding of the different aspects of design, which Decker listed as color, balance, texture and more. 
Frye recalled a story from her time working with Decker. Frye always loved Decker’s training, she said, noting that Decker was a “perfectionist” – always showing Frye how to properly clean flowers, cut them and place them in water and so on. Frye also mentioned that Decker had specific recipes for flower arrangements, and one weekend, when Decker was gone, Frye decided to try to make up an arrangement of her own. Frye made a few of these arrangements, and they all sold. 
This is just one example of Frye’s natural talent, and Decker said she is very proud of how far Frye has come.
“I was just thrilled for her opportunity to be able to grow,” Decker said. “I just thought it was amazing.”
Frye moved to Maui, Hawaii, in 2005 and continued to dabble in florals. She did weddings for family and friends, but nothing beyond that. In 2009, Frye did a wedding for a friend, and rapid growth began from that experience, with numerous people asking Frye to do the florals for their weddings. Frye then started her business, Maui Palmtree Floral, in 2009.
“I wasn’t really trying to make a career,” Frye said. 
What started out as a way to make a little money on the side quickly grew, she said. Frye does an average of 60 weddings every year, with most consisting of destination weddings. Frye works out of a studio in her garage because not many businesses have store fronts in Maui, according to Frye. 
“I have a huge floral studio,” Frye said. 
As her business has grown and flourished, Frye has also correlated with well-known wedding planners and photographers. The successful florist has also been highlighted in blogs and magazines. such as Magnolia Rouge, Wedding Chicks, Pacific Weddings and others. 
Overall, and despite the challenges that “juggling” being a mom of three and working hard on her business can present, Frye said that she loves what she does. 
“I love making brides happy,” she said. “I love handing the bride her bouquet.” 
Frye said that she also loves being part of the most important day of a bride’s life and doing her best to make the occasion memorable for years to come. 
Frye expressed hopes that her business will continue at its current pace. On top of being a contractor, her husband, Dade, makes arches for weddings, and the couple collaborates through their specialties. 
“It’s a total family business,” Frye said. 
Frye’s three children – Sylas, Asia and Echo – also help out in the business. They’ve caught on quickly, Frye said, and they know how to handle the flowers and get them in water and help in other ways. Frye said that she enjoys working with her family and is excited to see the business continue to grow. 
“It’s been an awesome family business,” Frye said.