(Photo: Petals by Bike)
Petals By Bike is the latest bike-based business to launch in Portland. North Portland resident Jillian Sevick debuted her business last weekend to coincide with the opening of the new Bushel and Peck bakery on NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (between Shaver and Failing).
Sevick, who’s last job was touring with the Flaming Lips, says she’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit and, “a love for bicycles.” “I often dreamed about the endless possibilities Portland’s amazing bike culture has to offer. In today’s market, starting a business is really hard but I want to work for myself, to grow something, to share something with a community that has shared so many creative things with me.”
After being on tour, Jillian found herself working in the floral industry and was drawn to how flowers make people happy. Currently, you can find her on Sunday and Mondays at Bushel and Peck Bake Shop (3907 NE MLK Blvd). She also pedals around the Boise Eliot and Alberta/Concordia neighborhoods on occasion and can be found on N. Mississippi, Fremont, and Williams streets.
Jillian is running her business from a Mercurio tricycle (also used by Taco Pedaler) that originally came from Mexico and that she calls “The Market”. (And yes, the trike makes an appearance in the infamous Flaming Lips video for “Watching the Planets” that features naked bike riders up on Mt. Tabor.) The bike is geared very low and only has one speed, so while she does offer special deliveries, she encourages customers to call well ahead of time.
You can call Petals by Bike for private parties and Jillian also offers weekly or bi-weekly subscriptions where she’ll show up and put together a bouquet on the spot. For those of you familiar with floral jargon, Jillian says she offers, “Door bouquets, tussie-mussies, stems, bunches and creative extras such as badges, fascinators, pumpkin wands, mini wreaths and more to come.”
See what Petals by Bike has to offer each day by following Jillian via @petalsbybike on Twitter. PetalsByBike.com is coming soon and visitors will be able to find where the trike is, see maps of her current route, and view available flowers.
It is so inspiring to realize, gradually in my case, how many businesses are well suited to the humble bicycle. This is such fun!
Hmm. Not “Petals by Pedals”?
Or “Bicycle Petals?”
Petals on Pedals is our business and is an existing different Portland bike business. We are Portland’s original Bicycle Florists! We also provide deliveries, boquets, and subscriptions. Welcome to Jillian and her business Petals by Bike from the crew here at Petals on Pedals!
I’m a little disappointed it isn’t called “Petal Pedaler” but otherwise completely in love with this 🙂
Petals Peddled by Pedals.
Pedaling Petals Peddler.
Congrats Jillian! I saw you last week on Alberta. Best of luck and have fun.