Allison was born in 1983 and grew up in the Bartonville area where her mom had a flower shop. This gave Allison a chance to see the business and the joy people experience from receiving flowers. She quickly learned the art of arranging the floral designs and helped with the deliveries.

Allison fell in love with a man from Chillicothe and soon Chillicothe became her new hometown. In 2016, she and Nick were married and blended their family. Together they have four kids—the eldest is a boy and then three girls. Like many people, Allison had a dream of building her own type of business, but her dreams had to wait. For five years, she thought about her dreams while she worked as a waitress in a local restaurant. Working long hours of serving meals, Allison was able to put back some hard-earned money to help make her dreams a reality.

Finally, in March of 2020, she found the perfect location and with the support of her loving husband and family, she took the leap to open her own business. Having a business isn’t easy and there are always obstacles to overcome but 10 days after getting the keys to the building, the pandemic hit. This was a major obstacle, to say the least. People were told not to leave home and when they did, distance was the key to staying healthy. Small successful shops struggled to stay afloat, and most new businesses just failed. But with determination and help from her family, “Stems by Allison” survived the pandemic.

Allison does various bouquets for any occasion and fresh flower arrangements, too. But this isn’t the typical florist shop. It’s a shop with Allison’s personality showcased amongst the unique gifts. It’s fun and spirited. As soon as you enter her store, you’ll realize you’ve entered a different type of shop. This shop is designed to be uplifting and fun. From stylish jeans to wooden plaques, flowers, and sassy sayings on different items, it’s obvious that this store is designed to have fun rather than the typical franchise type of gift store.

When I was talking to Allison, her beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Mila, was there politely listening to our conversation but never interrupting. Soon her son came from the back room to say his goodbyes as he went off. It wasn’t long after that her mom showed up to bring a couple of pieces of equipment to the store. I find it refreshing to see a family happily intermingling and working toward the success of a small business. Allison is clearly passing customer service to the 3rd generation. I found a gift for my wife, and Mila quickly raced Allison to the register so she could collect my credit card. Then she lovingly wrapped the gift in tissue paper and presented me with my purchase in a gift bag along with a satisfying smile.

In our fast-paced society, I think the small family-run shops are unique, yet Chillicothe has several. I guess that’s some of the magic of this friendly little town. But “Stems by Allison” is a unique shop like no other. It’s Allison’s personality and style that make her shop special. So, if you’re looking for a special gift for a loved one, or if you’re having a down day, stop in “Stems by Allison” at 915 N. Second Street in Chillicothe. Maybe, just maybe, after taking a deep breath and taking the time to slow down and casually shop at a friendly place, your anxieties will diminish, and you can enjoy some “me time.”