Founded by Cindy Chen, Madam Rat began as a passion project. While searching for dried flowers to decorate her home, Cindy quickly realised they were surprisingly hard to come by.

 “At the time dried floral wasn't so much a ‘thing’ and they were hard to find. So my partner and I started exploring the possibility of drying our own flowers and doing our own arrangements. This quickly became a new passion and we thought why not try and turn something we love into a business?”

While floristry was a new direction, Cindy brings a wealth of experience from an unexpected background. She holds a Pharmacy degree from the University of Auckland and spent nearly a decade working in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Alongside this, years in retail and community pharmacy helped shape her strengths in operations, customer care, and relationship-building. 

After outgrowing their previous Ponsonby space, Uptown felt like the right next step. The new location offered the larger footprint they were looking for, while still keeping them close to familiar surroundings. 

Cindy’s first home was just a five-minute walk from the current store. Making the move feel like a return to a well-loved neighbourhood. So far, the transition has been a positive one.

 “We're loving it! It's changed a bit from when we lived here 10 years ago, but for the better! I'm definitely enjoying all the lovely little cafes and eateries around here. Everyone's been extremely friendly and welcoming, we're so glad we chose to move here.”

Now with more space, Madam Rat is looking ahead to continue growing. “We're really excited about meeting new customers and building up an extended clientele in Uptown. Long term wise we're just hoping to continue growing our business now that we have the space to do so, especially with the likes of weddings which require a lot more space.”

So whether you’re treating yourself or searching for the perfect gift, pop in to Madam Rat, meet Cindy, and help us give her a warm Uptown welcome.

Website: madamrat.com

Instagram: @madam.rat.floral

Email: madamratfloral@gmail.com

Phone: 02102291828

Address: 3 Hohipere Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1010