Entry No. 42 — the Anchorage file — filed under: hands-on
Alaska Wholesale Flower Market
A working flower wholesaler that opens its cooler to the public for hands-on floral design classes taught with the same fresh stems that supply local florists. The roster rotates through hand-tie bouquets, everyday vase arrangements, cascading bridal-style bouquets, and boutonniere-and-corsage making. Because it's the wholesale source, you're working with a far bigger and fresher selection than a typical craft-store class.
The story
Tucked into an industrial strip on Old Seward Highway right next to Mr. Prime Beef, this isn't a boutiquey shop marking up stems behind a retail counter [1.3.4]. It's a working commercial supply house—billed as the first public flower market in Alaska—operated by AIFD-certified designer Robin Hill, who also runs Statewide Wholesale Floral Supply out of the same building. Stems arrive here fresh from local growers and international farms, stacked in industrial walk-in coolers where local florists and event planners normally source their inventory.
The real secret is that Hill opens those exact wholesale coolers and design tables to the public for hands-on Saturday morning workshops. Instead of working with tired supermarket blooms, you step into the cold room, pick live stems directly from fresh bulk shipments, and learn floral architecture alongside a master designer. Workshop topics rotate between hand-tied spiral bouquets, everyday vase arrangements, cascading bridal bouquets, and boutonnière-and-corsage making—letting you assemble professional-grade arrangements for a fraction of standard retail florist rates.
What it's like
You'll pull into the lot on Old Seward Highway right beside the butcher shop. Dress in warm layers, because you'll be stepping straight into the walk-in cooler to pick stems, and damp blooms will chill your fingers fast. The vibe inside is pure working warehouse: stainless-steel tables, heavy shears, buckets of greenery, and water sloshing around the workspace. Saturday classes kick off promptly at 11:00 AM, so arrive a few minutes early to check in, claim your table, and inspect the weekly stem arrivals before clipping begins.
The move: Sign up for a Saturday hand-tie bouquet class and build matching arrangements from the wholesale cooler's stems, then walk out with two bouquets you made by hand.
📍 Before you go Classes are scheduled on specific Saturdays at 11am (roughly $75-$125) and need advance registration; call 907-349-1277 or email to confirm the next open date.
- 📍 South Anchorage
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 7437 Old Seward Highway, Anchorage, AK 99518
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Stranded Starfish — Walk a tenth of a mile down Old Seward Highway to trade stem trimming for copper-foil glass cutting at this hands-on teaching studio.
- Putters Wild — Follow up a precision bouquet workshop with four tenths of a mile of neon 3D blacklight mini golf.
- Snow Blossom Acupuncture — Float Tank — Thaw out after standing in the wholesale flower cooler with an Epsom salt float tank soak half a mile away.
- Get Scent Studio — Pair your handmade floral arrangement with a custom-blended soy candle under two miles north in Midtown.
Good to know
How much do the floral design classes cost and when are they scheduled?
Classes run on select Saturdays at 11:00 AM [1.1.3]. Prices range from $75 to $125 depending on the project type, which includes all stems, tools, and supplies.
Do I need to sign up in advance for a class?
Yes, class sizes are limited and require advance registration. You can sign up online or confirm upcoming dates by calling 907-349-1277 or emailing info@alaskaflowermarket.com.
Can I buy loose flowers here without taking a workshop?
Yes, as a public market, you can walk in during regular opening hours to buy individual stems, wholesale bunches, vases, and design supplies directly from the cooler.
What specific skills do they teach in the classes?
Classes are taught by owner Robin Hill and cover hands-on techniques for hand-tied bouquets, everyday vase arrangements, cascading bridal bouquets, and boutonnière or wristlet construction.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · theknot.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23