RUST + FLOURISH

The term “one stop shop” is often overused, but it is an apt description for Rust + Flourish. In business for nearly a decade, the woman-owned business hosts virtual and private workshops, plans weddings and, if that weren’t enough, has its own line of bouquets, smudge sticks, crystals, plants and floral arrangements.

Owner and Lead Designer Ricci Candé is a true entrepreneur who is not afraid of risk or failure. She started the business with just $600 in her pocket nine years ago. In the midst of the pandemic, she rolled the dice again, opening a brick and mortar to house her growing line of products and soon, in-person workshops.

While the brick-and-mortar is undergoing renovations, Ricci and her team are doing virtual workshops and pop-ups throughout the Oakland area. This included a recent Sharon Green partnership where Ricci taught bouquet making for residents on Mother’s Day. It was such a success that it will become a quarterly event.

Ricci’s next workshop will be Jun. 12 at Sharon Green on the Great Lawn from noon to 1 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to make their own succulent bowls and learn how to propagate these plants, from sprouting leaf cuttings to growing a new plant from them.

Ricci first got into the events, wedding and workshop business after finding that wedding photography wasn’t as lucrative as first thought. She ended up working as a florist on weekends to earn extra cash, then became a manager of a flower shop at Fairmont. Over the years she continued to save up her money to start Rust & Flourish.

The new brick and mortar store at 326 23rd St. in Oakland allows her to operate a retail space in the front and conduct workshops and events in the back. Rust + Flourish is known for its attention to detail and intention; everything is handpicked, hand tied and hand bottled, giving every product a very personal touch. Whenever possible, products are sourced from local farms and the company’s carbon footprint is further reduced by using dried products and carefully controlling inventory to reduce unnecessary waste.

You can learn more by visiting the shop in person or Rust + Flourish’s website.