Bundaberg’s newest boutique Shambhala Bay opens for business

A former real estate agent has traded property for blooms, after tapping in into her family history and opening Bundaberg’s new florist boutique.

A real estate agent turned business owner has opened her first floristry boutique in Bundaberg, celebrating local artists and creators.

Sherrie Booth first came to Bundaberg a little over two decades ago but it was only meant to be a 12 month stay.

After falling in love with the region, Mrs Booth quickly called it home.

Now she has traded her real estate career for a new challenge, opening her first floristry shop.

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Shambhala Bay, which takes its name from Sanskrit word for “place of tranquillity and happiness” opened on Tuesday, October 3 at Shop 6/12 Heidke Street, Bundaberg West.

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The boutique opened on October 3, offering a range of local and artisanal products.

The store has a range of items from local artists and creators as well as many floral arrangements.

Mrs Booth said they also offered cheaper options for floral arrangements with a “stem bar”.

“We’ve created our ‘stem bars’ so people can come in and pick their own types of flowers from our range, and then we will box or wrap them,” she said.

“That was to compensate for the way the economy is going, it’s cheaper for someone to buy a $3 stem over a $60 bunch of flowers.”

Shambhala Bay offers a range of fresh and dried floral arrangements alongside art, plants, gift baskets, lollies, and homeware.

Mrs Booth said she wanted to tap into her family history and a change of career pace, so she completed a two-year training floristry training course in Melbourne.

She said the store was inspired by her family history of floristry which was passed on from her great grandmother, to her grandmother to her.

Mrs Booth has fond memories of helping her grandmother create wreaths at Christmas and making bouquets out of willow sticks growing in the backyard.

Originally published as Bundaberg’s newest boutique Shambhala Bay opens for business