Meet Ross Blakeman | Floral Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ross Blakeman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ross, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Becoming a small business owner is a risk of its own, a risk that I was willing to take, but I believe it comes to you at a current time in your life. In 2020, I graduated from college with my degree in Business Administration, where I specialized in Human Resources. I landed my first job very quickly after and in an industry I knew hardly anything about. I left home and moved away to start work. Soon after about a year into it we found out my dad had stage 4 esophageal cancer. I was miserable in such a corporate setting in an industry where people could care less about my position. I couldn’t get home a lot to see my family and especially through such a hard time as my dad at this point was basically dying. My mental health was plummeting and I knew I needed to do something. I started thinking about my past experiences in the floral design industry and the many classes that I took about business ownership and small business; I decided this was what I needed to do. I moved home and risked it all. I hadn’t saved much money, and still had college debts, but it was the right time, I could feel it. Seeing someone you love, your father for that matter, dying unexpectedly, really changes your perspective on life. I have learned that life is short and to take the risks. My dad didn’t make it to see my grand opening, but I was able to share moments of excitement with him regarding opening up my flower shop. He was proud of me. He was proud that I was risking it all to do what I love. Unfortunately, I have also recently been diagnosed with testicular cancer and happily can report that I am in remission and doing great, but it was another eye-opener to me and showed me even more how taking risks to be able to do what you love is so important. I can’t imagine my life any different and I am grateful to be where I am. Finding myself in a career I disliked, losing my dad, and being diagnosed with cancer has been hard, but I believe that I am on a path that was chosen for me and I am going to continue to take risks and follow my dreams; for me and my dad.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is Rosebud & Co. Flower & Plant Shop. My shop specializes in custom fresh floral arrangements for any of life’s occasions, along with houseplants and retail gift items. This is my 2nd year of business and so proud of how far it has become and big my brand is growing already. I have successfully secured many local and not-so-local customers with my unique floral arrangements that stand out and above my competitors. I have given a fresh new look at what a flower shop looks like in my area and people are in love with it; I couldn’t be happier. Though there are many challenges that come with owning a business, I have learned to roll with the punches. As a new cancer survivor, at the age of 25, and a small business owner, you can imagine life has been difficult. I have learned that you just have to ask for help and continue to work as hard as you can. Cancer really made me slow down and reevaluate things. I had to learn my body’s new limits and how chemo brain is a real thing. I had to start asking for help even if I didn’t want to, I had no other choice. I am fortunate to be on the other side of cancer now and I am grateful to be where I am. Life has thrown many curve balls my way, testing me, and making things difficult (like they weren’t already), but if you have the passion, the drive, and the dedication behind your business you will succeed no matter the awful things that can be thrown your way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are many great things happening in my small town of Beardstown and the surrounding towns that my business services. I get the best of the best by being able to serve all the different communities around us. From the Jacksonville IL vibrant downtown square to participating in markets in Quincy IL. My shop is located at 220 Washington in Beardstown, which is home to not only my flower and plant store but also The 220 Boutique, Salon, and Cafe, which is owned by my own Aunt Michele Quigley. They have a great selection of the latest trends in boutique fashion, an array of salon services like hair stylists, nail technicians, estheticians, and a now full drink bar in the back that fuels me with delicious coffee every day. Across the street from me is The Shoppe, a beautiful home decor store, where most of my house’s decorations are from. The new shop on the block is Sanca, a Latinx-opened vintage resale shop. After shopping, we have a wide variety of authentic Mexican restaurants and a fabulous bakery. We have a rich history with our town being on the Illinois River and stories of Abraham Lincoln. We have a beautiful museum which is actually an old courthouse where Lincoln practiced law. It is filled with interesting artifacts and I believe everyone who visits needs to stop at the Old Courthouse Museum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I want to dedicate my shoutout to my grandma (aka Nana) Kathleen Quigley. She worked as a florist for 30 years, starting out as a part-time delivery driver. I would spend many of my days off from school or summer breaks at the flower shop. She always let me help her and “play” with the flowers and not once was told that I should be doing more boyish things, she loved my creativity and my eye for design. She continues to be my biggest supporter to this day and I love that I can share my own shop with her. It is something that I will treasure forever. She even came out of retirement to help me in my shop while I was going through cancer treatments. She isn’t only my biggest encouragement but is everyone’s biggest fan and a grandma to many. She has always believed in me and continues to support all my crazy ideas to this day. Nana, “I wish you enough.”

I have an incredible family. My mom, Wendy McClenning, is always the first to jump in and help at the shop when I need her. Though her mom, Kathleen, was a florist, she didn’t know a ton about running and working in a flower shop, but now she’s a pro. I’ve even made her into a Plant Mom. Along with my mom, I must mention my partner Nathan who puts up with long nights at the shop, working from home, and he was by my side this past year during my cancer treatments. Without these 3 people in my life, I would not be who I am, where I am, or where I am going.

Website: www.rosebud-co.com

Instagram: @rosebudco217

Facebook: Rosebud & Co

Yelp: Rosebud & Co.