The Raspberry and The Rose was founded in 1999 by mother and daughter duo, Donna Wilcox and Melissa Ziogas. Originally featuring upscale, high quality silk floral arrangements, my mother and I traveled and set up our wares all over Ohio and Pennsylvania the first four years we were in business. I think we tried just about every type of event, totaling about 50 events during a year’s time, which if
you know anything about artists….that’s a tremendous amount of travel. As time passed, we learned and pared down the listing of events and shows we attended and for several years had a schedule of 32 shows and fairs we did during the year. At that time, we switched media from silk floral arrangements for what has become our signature item...folk art-style, primitive snowmen and fully decorated Christmas trees. Since 2003, if you have attended an art show or fair in Northeastern Ohio, chances are we have met and you have seen our products. In 2008, our product line expanded once again, when we added a line of handmade jewelry. Snowmen, while fantastic and fun are a tough sell in July. So adding the jewelry products made us into a year around business and also kept things fresh for us. We have been featured in The Wooster Daily Record and Mimi Vanderhaven’s Fabulous Buys and several other publications over the years. In 2012, after a horrific battle with cancer, my Mom passed away. There is not a moment that goes by that I don’t miss her terribly. So what do I do with the business we started? Do I fold and get a "real" job? I just couldn't do it. I couldn't imagine working for someone else. So I still kept the show schedule up for 2013 and and began plotting and planning to take a huge leap of faith. In the spring of 2014 I took nearly all of my available cash and I opened a tiny 400 square foot retail location at 102 West Washington Street featuring my handmade jewelry and infused the store with products I really liked and that I thought would sell. The mantra was to be reasonably priced, provide exceptional customer care and see what happens from there. It was a massive gamble that worked. In March of 2015, I moved the store from Washington Street to a more visible, larger storefront just off Medina's Public Square at 241 South Court Street and began occupying 1600 sq feet of retail space. The change in location allowed me to bring in clothing and a whole new realm of items that I just couldn't cram into the old location. I now have an ever-changing line of products that will keep you on-trend and looking fabulous for a reasonable price. Stop in anytime to see the latest and greatest. I offer free gift wrap, custom jewelry design, shipping to anywhere in the US and we have a fundraising program that will knock your socks off.
