Scarlett & Rosie Floral Company

Jeff Green | Feb 01, 2023

Last year, Nicole Potter was at a bit of a crossroads. Her three daughters are in their 20’s, “are all grown up and moved away, doing their own thing,”

She said that this meant it “was time for me to do my own thing, but what was my thing?”

She has a background in business, having a successful home business, SkaterGirl, a figure skating business, in Harrowsmith between 2007 and 2012, is an avid gardener, and has worked in nurseries, in landscaping and in the flower industry.

“This is my passion, everything to do with growing flowers and house plants, gardening, and floral arrangements as well,” she said.

She decided to open a florist business that is capable of serving the traditional floral market, “weddings, funerals, school formals, Valentine’s Day” sourcing imported and greenhouse grown flowers from a number of suppliers in Toronto, while at the same time supporting local flower farms in the Sydenham/Harrowsmith area.

Her vision for Scarlett and Rosie is to take full advantage of the southern exposure out of her storefront window to grow plants and herbs on site, to support local businesses, both garden related and other ancillary businesses such as soap makers and chocolatiers, and be part of the growth of retail in Sydenham.

“This community has seen a lot of change, younger people are moving in, a lot of them are like I was when I moved here over 20 years ago,” she said, “they want to get out of Kingston for affordability and to have some space for their families, and they want to support their new community.”

When she decided to open Scarlett and Rosie, Nicole looked at all of the small communities near Harrowsmith, from Selby to Verona, because she knew she wanted to be based in a village, not in Kingston, but she wanted to be close enough to Kingston to serve that market as well.

Then she heard that the Fox Plumbing and Heating office space was available, and talked to the Fox’s about using the space for her new business.

The space is a lot larger than she needs as a florist, but since she is also selling house plants that she grows herself or are supplied locally, as well as her other products, and is able to make use of the large space at the back of the building for workshops, she jumped at the opportunity, and started up Scarlet and Rose on December 1.

She has already hosted two workshops in the space, one of which was about growing Luffa’s, and it is ideal for groups of up to ten people.

Even though she is in the flower and garden business, she did not choose to use her last name in the title of her business.

Instead, she looked to her four-legged friends,

As followers of Scarlett and Rosie on social media know well, Scarlet is the name of one of Nicole’s pet dogs, and Scarlett is also a fixture in the store, coming to work every day with Nicole.

“She’s my co-worker.”

Rosie is the name of Nicole’s daughter’s dog, hence the name of the business, which refers to flowers and colours as well as the two animals.

For now, Nicole is running the Scarlett and Rosie herself, and she is also working with SHS and other local high schools, providing placements for students and raising funds for the prom committee as well.

As with any new business, she is looking at many different ways to thrive, while maintaining a focus on both on the traditional florist business as well as the flower/garden business.

And two months in, even in the midst of winter, her enthusiasm is only growing.

“I’m excited about the business. I look forward to coming to work every day. This is what I want to do,” she said.