CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- "Just like their weddings weren't going to be what they were picturing this year, my wedding business also was not going to be what I was picturing."
Lynn Fosbender is the owner of Pollen Floral Design in Chicago. In the time before COVID, she made flower arrangements for weddings. Then the pandemic hit, which forced couples to postpone or drastically scale down their weddings.
"Once Gov. Pritzker's reopening plan came out, that's when I was like okay, no we are not having any weddings," she said.
And Fosbender had to confront the other p-word that has defined 2020.
"You know early on everyone was talking about their pivots, and I kind of hated that word," she said.
With the wedding business on hold, and the shop on Milwaukee Avenue idle, Fosbender said she had to do something to pass the time.
"I went out and I went houseplant shopping," she said.
Lynn Fosbender, of Rooted by PollenKevin Lee
And a business idea was born.
"Here I am, here is my pivot, I opened up a houseplant store," Fosbender said.
It's called Rooted by Pollen. She sells houseplants to homebound people who have spent the majority of the pandemic inside.
"They are really focusing on making that environment more comfortable, more cozy," Fosbender said.
Lynn Fosbender, of Rooted by PollenKevin Lee
She admits the houseplant business is a lot more low stress compared to weddings, where every detail of the special day has to be perfect.
"People are spending their fun money on it. It's a low-risk, low-cost way to make yourself feel better," Fosbender said.
Rooted by Pollen, a pandemic-coping mechanism turned business that's made in Chicago.
