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Wildroots & Blooms is Fairfield’s budding floral business
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FAIRFIELD – Nikia Fry founded Wildroots & Blooms in 2021, and enjoys being her own boss while she juggles running a small business and being a mom to two young boys.
Fry grew up on a farm south of Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 2011. She’s been interested in flowers her entire adult life, going back to her time as a student at Kirkwood Community College.
“I was on a horticulture visit, and I went to a presentation on floral careers,” she said. “I said, ‘I think I’d like to do that.’”
The one-year floral program prepared Fry to run her own flower shop. The class covered how to design floral arrangements, how to mix and match colors, entrepreneurial skills, and how to manage a retail business. While in college, Fry got more experience in the floral industry by working for 1-800-Flowers.
Fry lived in Colorado for awhile where she worked at a flower shop. She got a scholarship through Teleflora to become certified in any floral related subject she wished, and she chose wedding professional. While living in Colorado, Fry said she got to design some very pretty arrangements for weddings that she’s proud of.
After returning to Fairfield, she worked at Fairfield Flower and More for a few years. Fry and her husband Dillon married in 2020. They had their first son in 2022, and their second one four months ago. Fry said she decided to venture out on her own so that she could work from home while also watching her boys.
“I wanted to continue doing flowers, but on my own schedule,” she said. “I liked staying home with the boys while working a few weekends out of the year, and the kids could still come to work with me.”
Fry maintains a studio in Birmingham where she stores her flowers, though it is not a retail location. She said she likes being the face of her own business, the one everybody talks to and the one who gets to experiment with creative designs.
“I like the freedom it gives my family,” she said. “My boys have a toy room at my studio, and in crunch time, grandma babysits.”
That “crunch time” Fry refers to comes every Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and high school prom. Fry takes prom orders for several local schools such as Fairfield, Van Buren, Cardinal and Pekin.
Fry also does consultations for weddings throughout the region, having done several in Albia the last few years and others around Fairfield, Keosauqua and Mt. Pleasant.
“I do a consultation with the couple and we go over everything they’re looking for in the wedding party such as the bridal bouquet, bridesmaid’s bouquet, boutonniere and corsages,” Fry said. “We also do centerpieces for reception tables, or arches for the ceremony.”
Fry estimated that she does about 10-15 weddings per year. She said she looks forward to growing her business once her kids are in school.
“I do funeral work, and I’d like to do more holidays and maybe everyday deliveries,” she said. “I like being by myself, but I do plan to grow.”
Those interested in learning more can check out Fry’s Facebook page under “Wildroots & Blooms,” find her on Instagram, and contact her at wildrootsandblooms@gmail.com or 641-919-8106.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
