The Fresh Bunch
The Fresh Bunch (formerly '2 Fat Guys Talking Flowers') is your all-access pass into the wild and wonderful world of flowers. Hosted by Michael Black, Mimi Pacheco, Ryan Black, and producer, Joel, keeping us sounding fresh—we bring you unfiltered conversations about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the floral industry’s trends, challenges, and characters. From flower fails to petal-powered success stories, each episode blends laughs, insights, and special guests from all corners of the flower world. It’s part podcast, part therapy, and all fresh—welcome to The Fresh Bunch - a Jet Fresh Flowers podcast.
The Fresh Bunch
Ep. 213 - Serving Up Style: Rebecca Merritt, The Racquet Queen of Events
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This week on The Fresh Bunch, we’re joined by Rebecca Merritt, Founder & CEO of Beyond Merritt Events. Rebecca’s firm delivers creative direction, strategy, interior design, branding, room planning, and extraordinary florals for corporate, agency, and private clients across the country.
Ryan first met Rebecca at the Orchid Dinner at the New York Botanical Garden, where the two instantly connected over design and event production. In this episode, they revisit that moment and dive into Rebecca’s unique path in the industry.
Often referred to as the “Racquet Queen” (even though she insists she’s not exactly sporty), Rebecca has carved out an impressive niche producing events in the worlds of racquet sports (Padel, pickleball, tennis) and culinary clients. She shares stories from working in TV floral production, discusses how to transform practical production challenges into something magical, and offers insight into executing high-profile events from New York City to Miami.
From orchids and arenas to television sets and unforgettable dining experiences, Rebecca explains how thoughtful design and strategic production can turn any event into something extraordinary.