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Petals of Purpose with Megan

Writer's picture: Woman Up ClevelandWoman Up Cleveland

Megan Robinson - Founder / Chief Visionary Officer of Blossom Flower Bar


Megan Robinson started Blossom Flower Bar to bring more artistry and creativity into the floral world.
Megan Robinson started Blossom Flower Bar to bring more artistry and creativity into the floral world.

Flowers have always been and will always be sentimental, stunning, and symbolic. There is no denying that, especially during the month of February, the act of buying flowers for someone conveys love in such a way that it has not only become a staple of this time of year but an everlasting symbol of appreciation and thoughtfulness. No matter the occasion, flowers are always in season, and no one understands this meaningful gift quite like Megan Robinson.


Megan Robinson is a mother, wife, Clevelander, Founder, and Chief Visionary Officer of Blossom Flower Bar. Her story is one of creativity, bravery, and depth, and has inspired us to see things from a different perspective. Starting with a single location in Lakewood, Megan has grown (pun intended) her casual ideas into the multiple storefront, ever-expanding business that we see today.


After arranging the florals for her own wedding her enjoyment of the craft eventually led her to leave her job in commercial real estate and take on a new role as entrepreneur and florist extraordinaire. Starting out by pursuing a degree in fashion design, Megan quickly realized that college wasn’t for her and began a career in the restaurant industry. Though she tells us her journey to entrepreneurship isn’t glamorous, there are so many parts of her story that feel not only relatable but truly real and down to earth.


She told us of her time in commercial real estate and how despite working herself to the top of the ladder at a young age, she felt unsatisfied and misunderstood. Seeking fulfillment in more ways than professional success, she sought out a way to make a change for herself. She remembers herself looking out her office windows downtown to see street vendors selling hotdogs and thinking, how nice it must be to have such freedom in being your own boss. Thinking back to her love for floristry and desperately wanting a change of scenery, Megan decided that entrepreneurship was what she really desired.

At Blossom, no need to be a master florist! Customers can select their favorite blooms and arrange them into bouquets or floral designs, often with the help of staff to guide you.
At Blossom, no need to be a master florist! Customers can select their favorite blooms and arrange them into bouquets or floral designs, often with the help of staff to guide you.

Beginning with a cooler in her garage, Megan started taking clients and learning her way around an arrangement. She shared, “I just went for it. It was not good at first. I was being honest with myself and everyone around me and eventually developed an actual design skill within that first year or so. It was humble beginnings and now here we are!” After consistent learning, evolution, and dedication, Blossom can now boast three brick-and-mortar locations in Lakewood, Chagrin Falls, and Columbus. With the help of many team members and her original flower bar idea, Megan has created a full-service floral studio complete with a one-of-a-kind in-store shopper experience.


After opening the first store in 2019 and soon closing again due to COVID, Megan reopened the doors with a clear mindset and outlook on the experience. People were traveling near and far to try their hand at arranging their own bouquets which soon prompted Blossom to think about expansion. After a six-month pop-up in the Van Aken District, they finally settled on an adorable house in Chagrin Falls for their next flower bar which opened in 2021. The experience continued to draw people in and eventually led to their third and most recent location, Columbus’ Short North in December of 2024.


The beauty and style of Blossom are of course inspired by her love for unique florals (especially Waxflower), however, it hasn’t always been just about the flowers themselves for Megan. While she did mention feeling at peace when working in this medium and truly using that feeling as a compass to guide her, she also mentioned the symbolism that came with her work and how it has driven her to continue on saying, “Doing something that brought life and brought joy, doing something that meant something, I was chasing that high.”


Blossom’s unique flower bar concept is one of the things that truly sets the floral studio apart from others. Guests are invited to shop in-store and build their own bouquets with the flowers that speak to them the most. This creative shopping experience creates a deeper connection for all who participate and has become a staple of the Blossom brand, especially now that they have expanded beyond Cleveland. 

There are three locations of Blossom: Lakewood, Chagrin Falls, and Columbus.
There are three locations of Blossom: Lakewood, Chagrin Falls, and Columbus.

Megan told us a little about the message she thinks the flower bar sends to customers saying, “Floristry is a beautiful awesome thing but making floristry about you is such a different thing. I love that it's not about us. It's about you being able to come in with your mom, or your friends. It's you becoming the designer.”


Living and working in Cleveland for so long, Megan is no stranger to the power of community. She considers herself to be an introvert, although many often tell her otherwise, and credits the community for helping her feel comfortable and confident in her work. She recalls the pressure of networking back in her real estate days and talks about the competition and pettiness that often came along with it. Now she says, “All the things that come with business that I didn't want to do back then, are so much easier to do in this community. I wonder if it's just Cleveland or the women in Cleveland or is it business owners? Everyone is so amazing and there is no negativity.” 


Not only is this inclusivity and uplifting nature so different from her past, but it has also given Megan the tools she needs to navigate entrepreneurship and a creative career. She recalled her experiences with her past jobs and how the environment was unwelcoming, competitive, and non-inclusive saying, “It was very cold and dog-eat-dog. Very network-y and not about what you know, but who you know. I would call my husband and tell him I hate my job. I needed to do something else.”


Megan has experienced so many examples of the community over competition and mentioned several florist friends who she often bounces ideas off of as well as fellow business owners who have been constantly cheering on their peers. These are all things we often see when people talk about their experiences in Cleveland small businesses, woman-owned businesses, and the local business community. 

The flower bars offer workshops, events, and even the chance to design arrangements for special occasions.
The flower bars offer workshops, events, and even the chance to design arrangements for special occasions.

Megan knows all too well how competitive energy can negatively impact your work and can now say that she has been able to experience the benefits of a positive and uplifting community, firsthand. “It's such a beautiful supportive relationship. I’ve experienced it across the board and it's unmatched. And for me, as we expand in new markets, I can only hope that I get even close to this level of collaboration and genuine happiness for other people's success. It’s a high bar as we grow in other communities,” she told us.


Megan shared with us that she didn’t always know what she was getting into. Her love of creativity led her to flowers without her realizing right away that they carry such a meaningful weight. The symbolism of flowers can mean many things but one thing is for certain, they are a beautiful visual reminder that you can add a bright light to someone's day.


No matter if we realize it or not, the act of giving and receiving flowers is intimate and an integral part of how we show and send love to those we care for. Whether it is for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary, a sympathetic moment such as the passing of a loved one, or bad news, giving flowers has always been a way to say, “I’m thinking of you” or “I love you.” Megan knows this to be a fact of life and has been sure to keep it at the forefront of her mind as she continues to be the provider of this special gift for others to give.


She told us, “Every single arrangement that goes out is something meaningful. One of my greatest joys, even when we are getting tons of orders, is reading the notes of how people are showing love for each other in all these ways being flowers. There are so many lives we touch, and what an honor that is.”

Megan's team wants to help you celebrate life's little moments and create your ideal arrangement of joy and color.
Megan's team wants to help you celebrate life's little moments and create your ideal arrangement of joy and color.

Megan truly understands the meaning behind her work and doesn’t take for granted the choice others have in trusting her and her team with their floral needs. Underneath the obvious beauty and enjoyment that comes with having bright colors and fresh scents on your table, there is a deep meaning that extends beyond the gift itself and sends a message of love and thoughtfulness.


For everything from wedding florals that the couple has dreamed of all their lives, to hand-picked arrangements, made by the clients themselves, just to take home and enjoy, there lies a deeper meaning. Although the practice of buying flowers is mainly to brighten a space, often as a gift for someone else, there is an even more sentimental truth behind the symbol of a flower itself. In Megan's own words, “Flowers are fleeting. They’re beautiful and then they're gone. You’re so hyper-aware of the lifespan of it, and we aren’t even hyper-aware of our own life span. Can you imagine if you treated every moment of your life like you are paying attention to these flowers? It's no surprise that flowers are included in all of these big moments whether it's love or death because their life is fleeting and it's so beautiful.”


Megan even went on to elaborate that often, the most expensive flowers often die faster than the ‘cheap’ varieties, and the irony of this temporary beauty is part of what we subconsciously love so much about flowers themselves. The way that she understands this duality and meaningful nature of her work makes Megan all the more grateful, and qualified, to do it each day. Her care and passion are clear and continue to be a testament to Blossom's success.


Anxious to hear more about the things that she loves, we asked Megan to talk about some projects and arrangements she has enjoyed most. She told us, unsurprisingly, that the biggest impressions for her come from floral arrangements that are deeply meaningful and personal to the clients. The projects that really wow are often large marketing events or celebrity events, big-budget weddings, and celebrations, but for Megan, putting the same love and care into the personal bouquets, small events, and non-profit work is what really pays off.

Megan brings the beauty and joy of flowers to important life moments like weddings and corporate events.
Megan brings the beauty and joy of flowers to important life moments like weddings and corporate events.

“When you talk to certain people you think ‘I like you, so I like this.’ The more I get to know you, the more love and care I want to give to you. It's cool to get to know someone and know what is the right fit for them and will make them excited whether it's a daily arrangement or a huge installation,” Megan said. She reminds us again that her work is deeply personal and that she doesn’t take that element of the business lightly. Megan wholeheartedly believes that every order to come in the door is important and she has a true passion for ensuring that each client is getting their dream arrangement.


Although it may be just another project for Megan and her team, they understand that for the client, these may be the most important florals they have ever given or received. This love and care not only shines through in their work but in the style of each individual designer. Although each designer follows a signature recipe for what an arrangement ‘should be’ they all have their own preferences for what they create, making the experience even more personalized for clients.


Megan told us that while she often leans toward bright colors and unique stems, the style of Blossom as a whole has evolved to reflect the styles of those who work there. She mentioned that she can often guess who made an arrangement by looking at it and the importance of giving her designers the freedom to create and connect.


As always, in addition to the highlights, we asked Megan to speak about the challenges she has faced in her work. With entrepreneurship, her past experiences in corporate positions help her to appreciate where she is now, and the collaboration that she is now so fortunate enough to have each day. She reflected on many of the differences after leaving the corporate world saying, “It has slowed me down a lot. Going from that to this, it's so wonderful and also sometimes difficult to slow it down and pay attention to detail and emotions. It's been good for me. It’s difficult to slow me down but it's been amazing.”

After you create your floral arrangement, you can find a perfect accessory like a book or hand soap.
After you create your floral arrangement, you can find a perfect accessory like a book or hand soap.

She also could not go without mentioning the pressures of entrepreneurship when it comes to having employees to take care of in addition to yourself. Especially as Blossom continues to grow and expand to more locations, Megan is hyper-aware that she is responsible for the work, and wages, for those who rely on her. This pressure is one that any entrepreneur can relate to when people invest time, energy, and even money, into the causes or businesses they believe in and decide to start.


There is so much mutual trust between Megan and her team. She believes and invests in their skills to provide beautiful work and positive experiences to her clients and the team believes in Megan to keep the business running and continue to provide steady work for them. This was the perfect reminder that entrepreneurship and small business ownership are often deeply personal for not only business owners and their patrons but for business owners and their staff as well.


Megan's advice for navigating the financial fears of starting a business is to work within your means and grow the business as the business grows. That is to say, don’t take the leap before you're able to support your ideas. She told us, “The first Blossom store was just boxes on shelves along the wall. It was unexciting but people were like ‘This is cool’ and so we upgraded and upgraded and upgraded. Instead of taking out loans and hoping we could pay for them, we did what we could and improved the business as we grew. It's not easy and it's scary sometimes because I think it's important to take care of your team. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a lot of pressure but it’s a beautiful thing and it’s worth it.”


As for her bright future, Megan says she is very happy with her roles as a mother and wife and told us she is soaking up this time with a flourishing business and rewarding career. She is thankful for the freedom and flexibility that Blossom’s success and entrepreneurship give her and only sees bigger and better things in the business's future.

Megan handing a beautifully crafted bouquet to a customer.
Megan handing a beautifully crafted bouquet to a customer.

She hopes to continue opening in new markets for Blossom and connecting with more people. “When I opened, I never imagined this. Now six years in I have an idea. Honestly, my confidence might be way too high. The possibilities are endless and after seeing how well we’re doing after a few weeks in the winter in Columbus and the potential there, I know this is something that can be duplicated. We can bring more joy,” Megan said.


There is a clear vision for not only more storefronts to come but for the possibility to spread more of this slow, mindful, meaningful experience with others, outside of the original reach. It is so refreshing to see someone admit to feeling like the sky is the limit. In addition to being content with where we are, we are often, especially as women, still continuously striving for more. Visionaries like Megan are the perfect reminder that we can in fact have it all, leading her business forward while continuing to reflect and sit with her gratitude for how far things have come and how far they still have to go.


One of our favorite quotes from Megan throughout our entire chat was this, “We may be the first flowers that someone receives in their life and the last.” 


It can be so easy to forget the simplicity and repetitive nature of buying someone flowers, but at its core, the act of giving and receiving a bouquet is deeply thoughtful, considerate, kind, and filled with love. Megan Robinson understands this more than most and carries the feeling of joy and pride with her in each and every bouquet she crafts, no matter the client's needs. As a founder and as a woman, she is thoughtful, dedicated, creative, and mindful. Hearing her story and being inspired by her deep understanding of the symbolism behind giving the gift of flowers, we truly have a new understanding of what it means to show love. It was such an honor to chat about Blossom and Megan's personal story, and we can’t wait to see where her flower bar pops-up next!

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