Gerard Toh AIFD, CFD, CCF

Garden Trades Services
Sherman Oaks, California

In addition to the main store that he owned for 25 years, Gerard Toh, AIFD, CFD, CCF also operated a second branch and co-owned a third store for 4 years each.  As an active member of the Southern California floral community, he has held many positions.  From serving as president of Teleflora’s Los Angeles Coastal Counties Unit, board member of the San Fernando Valley Floral Association, to The Associated Florist of Southern California, he has also held positions on the education committees of several associations.   Other positions include being on the board of the California State Floral Association and serving on the national board of directors of AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers). He is currently the marketing and PR committee chair for the Southwest chapter of AIFD.

Gerry’s work had been featured in numerous floral publications, including several covers, features, and editorials in Flowers& magazine, Flora, Blooming News, Town and Country and The Bride and Bloom magazine.  A winner of a number of awards for design including the California State Designer of the Year, he has also served as judge for various floral design competitions across the country.  Some engagements that have shaped Gerry’s style include presenting at the annual AIFD international symposium, AIFD Across America series for the Northwest and Southwest chapters and Southern Conference AIFD. He has also conducted workshops in Taiwan and served as the creative director for a large silk flower manufacturer in China where his job was to oversee product development and five showrooms in Hong Kong, China, Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles.  One of the fun things he has done is decorated the official cars at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.  His latest endeavor was being the floral consultant, opening the hotel complex, Aria, Vdara and City Center in Las Vegas. 

Gerry is a member of Teleflora’s prestigious team of Educational Specialists.  He currently works as a creative director and visual merchandiser for various floral companies and occasionally as a special projects art director for the magazine The Bride and Bloom.  In addition, he is the publisher for the digital magazine Design in line for the SW Regional chapter of AIFD

His personal agenda is to promote floristry as a viable art form and to showcase the creativity of the American florist.  Gerry’s life motto states “Always take life in small steps and enjoy every little miracle along the way”.