Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Bloomin' Buckets Floral Design Shop Rock Hill
Blooming' Buckets
BLOOMIN’ BUCKETS
When sisters Sydney Rogers and Alyssa French bought the floral design shop Bloomin’ Buckets in 2020, they did so with the intention of growing their marketing efforts and building their brand through social media. The plan worked, and the shop outgrew its quaint Rock Hill location within two years. So the women set out to find a new home. They didn’t need to look far: An auto body repair shop across the street sat vacant, so they bought and renovated it. In December, the sisters moved buckets of flowers and greens into the space. “We love the warehouse feel, with the garage doors and big windows,” says Rogers. To her, it’s perfect for what they do: design bright floral arrangements, mostly for weddings and parties but also for individuals seeking single bouquets. The new location also provides enough square footage for a retail section. Rogers is eager for the first spring in the shop and the flowers that the season brings with it.
EIGHT5 OUTDOORS
Jillian Eads, owner of Eight5 Outdoors, is a teacher-turned-horticulturist. When COVID-19 bulldozed the educational landscape, Eads went from a part-time job at Garden Heights Nursery to a full-time career in plants. “I started Eight5 Outdoors in 2020 because I love working outside with my hands,” she says. Eads calls the shop a boutique landscaping company: “We found our niche doing the smaller landscaping things that large landscape companies don’t do.” She and her team design landscapes and install plants for residential and commercial clients, manage outdoor patio design, and carry out minor landscape maintenance, such as pruning. They can even be hired to water houseplants while you’re on vacation. Those who hire Eads to create planters can expect an assortment of annuals. “We like to incorporate pollinator-friendly annuals, along with herbs, for an interactive planter,” she says.
PROJECT 2
Sisters Ann Meyer and Chris Conley share a passion for retail and dressing women to feel their best. This enthusiasm inspired them to open clothing and home boutique Project 2 late last year. The name is a nod to their second act: Meyer and Conley are the former co-owners of Never Enough, the Webster Groves boutique, which they sold in 2019. Their new store occupies the 1,200-square-foot space on Manchester in Rock Hill that was vacated by Bloomin’ Buckets. The cheerful décor reflects the merchandise—the sisters sell items that they describe as “classic modern.” This includes everything from on-trend denim to that special-occasion blazer. The store also stocks home décor items. The duo, having just returned at press time from the Dallas market, are looking forward to introducing their spring arrivals: colorful garments, great jewelry, bright glassware, and some new-to-St. Louis dress labels.
