Disclaimer, Ben Zielinkski is a close friend of mine (Katie), so I’m even more excited to share his story! The two of us grew up in St. Louis, attended grade school together, and now see each other at least once a week. It’s been so exciting seeing Ben turn his ideas and dreams into a robust small business here in the STL.
Ben was born creative. Singing and dancing were early passions, and he still can be found at karaoke quite often. While we sipped on wine and had some appetizers at Square One Brewery and Distillery, Ben laughed saying an early career test actually told him he’d be a designer. He never would’ve thought a floral designer!
For college, he went down to Miami to study interior design. He didn’t stay long, as he described, “Too much parting and it was hard. Being away from home was the hardest.” So he returned back to his roots.
School didn’t feel like the right fit for Ben. He dabbled in various things like radio, retail, and cooking. (Katie here: Ben is an amazing cook.) “I’m not going to be in my fifties and work in a mall,” Ben said. He wanted something that fulfilled him creatively.
Flashback to about a year ago, Ben and I are having wine and appetizers (yes, it’s our hobby) at Sasha’s on Shaw and Ben tells me about his floral dreams. He’d always loved plants, purchasing and nurturing unique house plants and having a garden in his city home’s backyard. But, he’d never done it professionally. I floated the idea of him starting his own business and I’m pretty sure he laughed at me. He was debating taking a floral class, and I suggested, before you spend the money, try and get a part-time job at a florist or shadow someone. So he did.
“I trained under a well-known, amazing St. Louis florist and got to work. I became a Floral Assistant, then Studio Manager in a year,” he explained, then coughing. His spicy margarita was too spicy. (He switched back to wine.) As small businesses go, there were ups and downs in the amount of work available, so he eventually lost the position. “Losing the job made me make the jump,” Ben said about starting his business. “I was always planning too, but not so soon.”
Ben’s into month eight of owning and running his floral design business Fields and Fern and I couldn’t be more proud of him. After barely starting the business, he was also accepted into the St. Louis Art Museum’s prestigious Art in Bloom: a weekend of regionally-located floral designers displaying their pieces in the museum, inspired by a randomly selected piece of museum art. I’d say he’s ROCKING this small business thing.
I asked Ben what the best parts of owning Fields and Fern were. “Having people trust in my creativity and getting confidence from it,” he said. And the hardest parts? “Income emergencies. Still having to work other jobs. Not knowing the future of the business. Accepting it is my business and that the financials coming in are mine.”
Ben’s favorite time of year to design is surprising: “Fall. And Christmas. Most florists would think that’s crazy.” He likes the browns and creams of the flowers in fall, the moody vibes. For Christmas, greenery is fun to play with. “It’s last so long and smells so good too.”
Before we left the great patio at Square One, I had to know what floral trends he loved and… didn’t love. “Bright pastels and that wildflower look are always trending. Baby’s Breath is always trending too; it can look elegant and beautiful. Most brides choose it because it’s inexpensive, but it’s not, because you have to use so much of it.”
Fields and Fern’s specialty is weddings. When asked about the brides he’s designed for, Ben said, “I make sure the vibe is right for brides. They understand that fresh, premium blooms are a luxury. And they trust my vision.” Statement alter pieces are his favorite to make.
As we finished up our night, Ben told me more about Floral Row here in St. Louis. I’d known a bit and visited once with him; it’s a history many people don’t know about. It’s south of Chouteau between Jefferson and Grand. His favorite wholesaler is Baisch & Skinner. “They’ve been around since the 1950s, same location.” Others include Simon and Ita, an Amish couple from the Columbia, Missouri area. They pop up on Floral Row and people come specifically for them. You can only pay by check or cash and they “grow the most amazing shit,” Ben said.
As always, I wrapped up our interview with my typical question:
Favorite local businesses/nonprofits/entrepreneurs?
Russel’s on Macklind, The Green Shag, Luna and Co., Root and Relic, Cultivated Blooms, Wildflowers, Grow Your Own Way, Flowers to the People
PLEASE follow Ben and Fields and Fern at @fieldsandfern on Instagram. Learn more and book a call to make your floral dreams come true!
