PHILLIPS — Downtown Phillips was a celebration on Saturday morning as the city welcomed a new business along with other groups sharing in the celebration with fundraisers.
Robin’s Custom Arrangements opened with a crowd of family, friends and community on hand for a ribbon-cutting, a floral prize drawing and lots of fun conversation at 161 N Lake Ave.
Laura Palzkill was present as executive director of the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce, and officiated the ribbon cutting ceremony for the business that is now a chamber member. She said it was good to see someone who was raised in Phillips starting a new business here.
“She's got some really neat ideas and creativity going and we're just really excited to have her in downtown Phillips,” Palzkill said. “They just joined as a chamber member and so we are thrilled to have them.”
Store owner Robin McCallie said her arrangements are different from the “grab and go” flowers, and while she also has ready made arrangements the customers receive personal floral arrangement services to help get just what they are looking for based on a conversation about the people receiving the flowers.
“That is what you're paying for when you get here.” McCallie said.
McCallie learned that she had a knack for flower arrangements from the feedback she got from family and friends. She has worked in several professions and had planned to start a landscaping business until a knee injury and some new domestic responsibilities.
“So that kind of put everything on hold, and now I'm not getting any younger,” she said.
The idea of running a floral business out of her home seemed to be a good way to combine her existing skills in a new way. The availability of the store came at the right time and provided an appropriate space for this type of business.
“This kind of just fell on my lap,” McCallie said of the storefront. “I blinked and I was here.”
The business was basically built from scratch but McCallie said it all feels pretty natural. Her boyfriend helps with everything from making a work table to becoming an investor - but most of all he’s a source of emotional support, she said. Her sister volunteers her time to make bows, and her friends help with deliveries or getting the shop up and running.
“ I had a lot of support from my friends, family and the community,” she said.
McCallie spent a lot of time working with the open retail space, and converting it into a warm and welcoming space with restored wood furniture and chairs made from old tractor seats. There is a floral cooler coming in this summer.
The shop is now filling up with examples of sympathy arrangements, standing sprays, wreaths, bouquets, dried flower arrangements, potted plants. She also provides consulting and delivery. Find out more on the store's Facebook page.
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