Frequently asked Questions
Accounts & Shopping
Who can shop at Fresh Cut?
Fresh Cut is open to everyone — whether you're a professional florist, an event stylist, a business owner, or simply someone who loves flowers done properly.
Trade customers (florists, event designers, and floral businesses) get access to our full suite of services: wholesale trade pricing, pre-ordering, dedicated account management, and assisted sourcing for specialty varieties. Trade accounts require pre-approval — apply online and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
Public customers are warmly welcome to shop our full range online or visit us in-store. You'll have access to the same wholesale-quality flowers our trade customers rely on.
Not sure which category you fall into? Get in touch — we'll point you in the right direction
I have an NZBN, but I am not a florist. Can I shop at Fresh Cut?
Yes — having an NZBN means you're running a registered business, and we're happy to work with you. While our full trade account (with wholesale pricing and pre-ordering) is designed for florists and floral businesses, many other business types shop with us regularly — event companies, venue stylists, caterers, photographers, and hospitality businesses among them.
If you're purchasing flowers as part of your business activity, apply for a trade account and let us know what your business does. We'll assess on a case-by-case basis and find the best fit for you.
I'm not a florist or a NZBN holder, but I need flowers for my event. How can I get flowers?
No NZBN? No problem. You can shop directly as a public customer — no business registration required.
Simply create a public account and browse our online shop. You'll have access to the same fresh, wholesale-quality flowers in our chiller. For larger event orders, we recommend ordering at least 3 weeks in advance to ensure we can fulfil your full requirements.
Need help planning your event flowers? Contact our team — we're happy to guide you on quantities, varieties, and timing.
Does Fresh Cut offer arrangement or design services?
We're a wholesale flower supplier — we don't offer arrangement or design services directly. What we do is supply the finest stems so that talented florists and designers can work their magic.
If you're looking for a florist to create arrangements for your event or occasion, we'd be happy to point you in the direction of some of our wonderful trade customers. Get in touch and we'll see how we can help.
How do I apply for an account? How long does approval take?
Applying is straightforward and takes about 2 minutes. Head to our trade account application page, fill in your details, and submit. We'll review your application and get back to you within 24 hours.
Once approved, you'll receive a welcome email with everything you need to get started — including how to access the trade portal, pre-ordering, and your account manager's contact details.
We approve applications Monday to Friday. Applications submitted over the weekend will be reviewed first thing Monday morning.
Ordering
How and when should I order?
You can browse and order from our online shop anytime. Our stock reflects what's currently in our chiller — it's updated regularly as new shipments arrive.
For same-day pick-up: Place your order before [X:00am/pm] on a business day and we'll have it ready for collection from our [location] branch.
For delivery: Orders placed before [X:00am/pm] Tuesday–Thursday are dispatched the same day. We recommend ordering as early in the week as possible to ensure the freshest stems and broadest selection.
For trade pre-orders: Pre-ordering opens [X days/weeks] ahead of each shipment. Check our shipment calendar to plan ahead — especially for peak periods like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and wedding season.
Not sure what to order or when? Our team is happy to help — just get in touch.
Can I change an order once it's been placed?
We understand plans change. If you need to amend your order, please contact us as soon as possible — ideally before [X:00am/pm] on the day of your order.
Once an order has been picked and packed for dispatch, we may not be able to make changes. Our team will always do their best to accommodate reasonable requests — give us a call or send a message and we'll see what we can do.
What happens after I place my order?
Once you place your order, here's what happens:
- Confirmation email — you'll receive an order confirmation immediately.
- Picking and packing — our team carefully selects and packs your stems from the chiller.
- Dispatch notification — you'll be notified when your order leaves us, along with tracking information if applicable.
- Delivery or pick-up — your flowers arrive fresh and ready to use.
If anything changes with your order (such as a variety being unavailable), we'll contact you before proceeding.
What if I need to cancel an order? Do you have a cancellation policy?
Because our flowers are perishable and picked fresh to order, cancellations need to be made as early as possible. Please contact us as soon as you know you need to cancel.
Cancellations made before your order has been picked and packed can generally be accommodated without charge. Once an order has been prepared or dispatched, we may not be able to offer a full refund, as the flowers cannot be returned to stock.
If you have a genuine emergency or extenuating circumstances, please reach out — we're a real team and we'll always try to find a fair solution.
What if something I ordered in unavailable? Can I get a substitute?
Flowers are a natural product, and occasionally a variety may not be available at the quality or quantity we'd expect. If this happens, we'll contact you before your order is packed to let you know.
We'll suggest a suitable substitute of equal or greater value — something complementary in colour, texture, or style. You're always welcome to decline the substitute and receive a refund for that item instead.
We never substitute without checking with you first.
Can I order from reference photos?
Absolutely. If you have a colour palette, a Pinterest board, or a specific look in mind, send it through to our team and we'll help you identify the right varieties to achieve it.
This works especially well for weddings and events where you want a cohesive look across your flowers. Our team has deep product knowledge and can match tones, textures, and seasonal availability to your vision.
Get in touch with your reference images and we'll come back to you with recommendations.
I have a very large or specific order. Can you help?
Yes — large and complex orders are something we handle regularly. Whether you're supplying flowers for a major wedding, a corporate event, or a large retail promotion, our team can assist with planning, sourcing, and logistics.
For orders of this nature, we recommend reaching out at least [X weeks] in advance so we can source the right varieties at the right volumes. The more lead time we have, the better the result.
Contact us with your brief — quantities, varieties if known, event date, and delivery location — and we'll put together a plan.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Our flowers are sold by the bunch. Minimum order quantities vary by variety — you'll see the bunch size listed on each product page. There is no minimum basket size for online orders, though delivery costs make smaller orders more economical for local pick-up.
Trade customers purchasing wholesale volumes should refer to their account manager for bulk pricing thresholds.
Stock and Seasonality
Where can I see everything you have in stock?
Our online shop is updated regularly to reflect what's currently available in our chiller. What you see is what we have — we don't list items we can't fulfil.
For the freshest overview of what just arrived, follow us on Instagram — we post stock updates throughout the week.
Trade account holders also receive our weekly "Fresh This Week" email with a curated overview of current stock and upcoming shipments. Apply for a trade account to get on the list.
How do I know what's in season?
Seasonality is a big part of what we do — it's what keeps our flowers fresh, affordable, and beautiful. As a general guide:
- Spring (Sept–Nov): Tulips, ranunculus, peonies, sweet peas, blossom branches
- Summer (Dec–Feb): Dahlias, sunflowers, tropical varieties, lisianthus, garden roses
- Autumn (Mar–May): Chrysanthemums, celosia, amaranthus, rich toned roses
- Winter (Jun–Aug): Proteas, natives, anemones, hellebores, imported roses
We also import year-round varieties from Colombia, Malaysia, and other growing regions — so there's always a strong range available regardless of the season.
Check our shipment calendar for upcoming arrivals, or ask our team what's at its best right now.
Delivery, Logistics, and Payments
Do you deliver?
Yes — we deliver nationwide across New Zealand. Whether you're in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or further afield, we work with trusted local couriers to get your flowers to you in the best possible condition.
Fresh orders are dispatched Monday to Thursday to avoid flowers sitting in transit over the weekend. We recommend selecting a delivery address where someone will be available to receive the order, as flowers should be conditioned as soon as they arrive.
Delivery costs are calculated at checkout based on your location and order size.
Prefer to pick up? Walk-in customers are welcome at our [location] branch during business hours.
What about regional or rural deliveries?
We offer pack-out services via third-party couriers.
As we work with perishables, we do not recommending rural deliveries as these usually take more than 2 days to be delivered.
Place your order like any other, using our online form and selecting “Pack-out” as your delivery method. Fresh orders are dispatched Tuesday –Thursday. You’ll be invoiced first for your flowers, and a little later for your freight.
Need a last-minute pack-out? Give our specialist a call on XXX between 8am and 12pm and we’ll work with you to find a solution.
You are welcome to arrange your own preferred courier.
How do I know when to pick up?
Once your order is picked and ready, we'll send you a notification via email (and SMS if you've opted in). Pick-up is available from our [location] branch during business hours: [your hours, e.g. Monday–Friday 7am–2pm].
Please don't come in before you receive your ready notification — we want to make sure your order is fully prepared and waiting for you.
When you arrive, head to [reception / the counter / etc.] and give your name or order number.
When and how do I pay?
Payment is processed at checkout for online orders. We accept the following payment methods:
- Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
- PayPal
- [Bank transfer / direct debit if applicable]
For approved trade account holders on credit terms, invoices are issued at the time of order and are due within [X days]. You'll receive your invoice by email.
Walk-in customers can pay in-store via [EFTPOS / card / cash — confirm your accepted methods].
Do you offer credit terms?
Credit terms are available for approved trade account holders. If you're applying for a trade account and would like to discuss credit terms, please mention this in your application or reach out to us directly.
Credit is extended at our discretion and may require a trading history with us before being offered. We'll always be upfront about terms and conditions before any credit arrangement is put in place.
Questions? Get in touch with our accounts team.
Post-Delivery
How do I care for my flowers once they arrive?
Fresh flowers need a little love on arrival. Here's what we recommend:
- Unbox your flowers as soon as they arrive — don't leave them in a closed box.
- Cut 2–3cm off the stems at a 45° angle using clean, sharp scissors or secateurs.
- Place immediately in clean water — ideally with flower food if available.
- Keep flowers away from direct sunlight, heat, and fruit (ethylene gas shortens vase life).
- Change the water every 2 days and recut stems to maximise longevity.
Following these steps will significantly extend the vase life of your flowers.
What is your quality guarantee? What if I'm unhappy with my order?
We stand behind the quality of everything we send. If you receive flowers that don't meet your expectations — damaged in transit, lower quality than expected, or incorrect varieties — please contact us within 24 hours of delivery with photos and we'll make it right.
Depending on the issue, we'll offer a replacement, credit, or refund. We're a small team and we take quality seriously — if something's not right, we want to know about it.
Contact us here or email [your email address].