Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chandler Rossi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Chandler thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My mom was around as I was growing up, but not functional. For most of my childhood – it was just David and me figuring it out as we went. It really did feel like it was the two of us against the world. We were a unit. We fought, we made up, we laughed, we cried. We cooked dinner together, did our chores together. We loved to gossip! There is something very sweet and very special about a single-dad-single-daughter relationship.

After David passed away in 2022, I quit my job and spent a couple of months at home helping out at his store in Pittsburgh. David, with my two uncles, have a flower shop, nursery, garden center, and landscape design business that’s been running for 45 years. Even though David was a trained florist, he was head of the landscape crew. A lot of people loved him and were coming into the store – as customers and as friends. I was seeing people I hadn’t seen for years, or meeting people I never met but knew through David. I kept introducing myself “Hi, I’m Chandler. I’m David’s Daughter” over and over again. The idea kind of clicked then for me. I never wanted to be a designer before this. My mom was a florist too, and my parents actually met because she worked in David’s shop. But something changed when I was home for that period of time, I wanted to do something with my two hands. I started to fall in love with arranging again and thought this is something I could see myself doing if I did it my own way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I went to school for PR and advertising and had blinders on for New York. I applied to so many jobs and had a few interviews, but nothing materialized. I ended up in SD first working at a financial group, and then a Montessori school. That’s the job I quit when David passed away. I really believe the universe has your back – even though it’s hard to see it sometimes. David lived in Tucson in the mid-70s and really fell in love with everything about being out west. He moved back home to run his business, but he was always very sentimental about his time there. There are so many reasons why the building of my own business has a special meaning, but one of the strongest parts for me is that I’m doing it here. It feels full-circle. I’m doing this for me and for David. It’s like he’s here too. I’ve busted out of our hometown for the both of us and I’m carrying him with me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I felt like my life had burned down and I was coming back from the ashes. I quit my job, my nuclear unit was gone, I didn’t really have any plan, and at my lowest point I had no interest in a future at all. I created something out of nothing and I think that’s what I’m most proud of. I did it! I did all the paperwork, I found a space, I hired a contractor, I conquered my million-item to-do list and opened a business by myself. David’s Daughter is a combination of literal blood, sweat, and many tears. When I feel afraid or I’m anxious to tackle something, I think “what would my dad do” or “what would he tell me to do.” I channel my inner-David a lot. He had a duality about him that made him so interesting. He was tough but also very gentle. He really was an artist. I just love him so much and I want people to feel that when they hear me talk about my business or come into the shop.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

At times, starting a business as a woman feels like trying to carve a hole through stone with a spoon. The most frustrating thing is not being taken seriously. Sometimes you can just see it on someone’s face or hear it in their voice. The unlearning is still a work in progress and maybe always will be. But compared to a year ago, I am much less afraid to do something that requires an interaction with a man in-charge. For me, I think that’s where the unlearning begins. Feeling more comfortable with that uncomfy feeling – and every time it becomes slightly easier because you did it last time. You know you can do it again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davidsdaughterfloral.com
• Instagram: @davidsdaughterfloral
• Yelp: David’s Daughter

Image Credits

Studio Luniste
In Full Detail