Nikki and Her Family
Introducing Nikki… Nicole Rask who goes by Nikki grew up in Arapahoe (2023 population of 963) where U.S. Highways 34 and 283 intersect in Southwestern Nebraska. She moved around living in Lincoln, then Holdrege and now calls rural Oxford home. Oxford is just 14 miles down the road from Arapahoe. Nikki pursued a career working in social services helping individuals with developmental disabilities. She grew into management and loved this work. Along the way Nikki married and is mother to three children.
The stress of the COVID Pandemic took its toll on Nikki and the staff she managed. When asked why she bought a business and became an entrepreneur she shared… “…I was working hard for someone else and made the decision to work hard for myself.” Nikki has a creative drive, motivation to help people and give back to her hometown Arapahoe. Then in the fall of 2022, Arapahoe’s local 
flower shop was up for sale and had closed nine months earlier. Loss of the floral shop concerned Nikki knowing that the next closest floral service was in Cambridge (20 minutes down the highway and further for other Furnas County communities). By Thanksgiving 2022 Nikki was making the leap and bought the business in December 2022, and began her Nebraska entrepreneur journey.
About Local Roots Floral & Gifts… Nikki bought the floral/coffee shop in November 2022 and on December 19, 2022, she reopened for business. She really wanted just the flower shop, but the sellers wanted a package deal including the building with both the flower and coffee shops. Paying attention to her customer base, Nikki quickly realized that “…Arapahoe is a black coffee kind of town…”. She closed the up-scale coffee shop but continued selling just black coffee for $1 per cup. This main street shop serves a large market area including all of Furnas County (2023 population of 4,556) including the cities of Arapahoe, Beaver City, Cambridge, and the villages of Edison, Hendley, Holbrook, Oxford, and Wilsonville. The previous owners had renovated the building where Local Roots Floral & Gifts. Nikki’s shop are four businesses in one:
- Floral Shop
- Gifts
- Online Clothing Boutique
- Let’s Paint
Floral Shop. The main business is the floral shop providing fresh arrangements and area delivery. From weddings to anniversaries to funerals to get-well reminders. Having an area florist is important to any community. For Nikki, preparing arrangements is a creative outlet. In rural America a floral shop is an essential business!
Gift Store. The gift store provides an outlet for 22 area artisans. A gift store is a great fit with a floral shop and provides a retail outlet for other artisan businesses meeting customer needs and attracting both local and passing through customers to Nikki’s shop.
Online Clothing Boutique. Local retail offerings like clothing stores are struggling throughout the United States and particularly in rural markets like Arapahoe. This community lost their last clothing store years ago. But Nikki offers an online clothing boutique meeting area consumer fashion needs. Her boutique specializes in women’s clothing and syncs with consumer shopping online. For more information on the boutique check out www.mylocalrootsboutique.com.
Let’s Paint. At the end of 2024 the Kearney business “Paint Paradise” came up for sale and Nikki purchased it. This line of business provides entertainment, a profit center, and the ability to travel with the business for events in other communities. An opportunity for friends and family of all ages painting pottery and having some time together is important in any community. With more limited entertainment offerings in rural communities like Arapahoe, Let’s Paint fills a void.
In rural America with big distances and fewer consumers, hybrid businesses with multiple lines of business are a winning strategy. Nikki’s Local Roots Floral & Gifts illustrates this approach in winning fashion. To learn more about Local Roots Floral & Gifts check out Nikki’s website at https://localrootsfloralandgifts.com/.
Those Who Helped… Nikki is community minded, and she sensed following the COVID Pandemic “…a hangover…” and a need for a gathering place and fun things to do. She sees community building as part of her personal and business’ mission. When asked who had helped her in her entrepreneurial journey, Nikki was quick to share.
Her husband is a sounding board and supporter challenging her to be a smart businessperson.
✓ Here two oldest children help out at the shop running the cash register, stocking shelves, and cleaning.
✓ Here mother is her floral delivery person.
✓ At one time her sister, with full time work. Make sweet rolls for the coffee shop.
I asked Nikki about her business experience and while she has management skills, she was new to business ownership. I then asked her who has helped her besides family and friends in learning how to succeed in business, Nikki responded “…she is a member of GROW Nebraska…” (https://grownebraska.org/). Through GROW Nebraska Nikki attended workshops, trainings and webinars learning about marketing and business.
It was through GROW Nebraska, the lead administrator for the Nebraska Small Business Assistance Act (NSBAA) Program she learned about NSBAA. Grant funding from the State of Nebraska through NSBAA enabled Nikki to make important physical improvements to her shop including energy efficient LED lighting and modern cooler, plus a public bathroom upfront in the shop. Lower energy bills are contributing to Nikki’s bottom line and business success. Best wishes Nikki and Local Roots Floral & Gifts!
Post-Script… Across America small businesses and entrepreneurs like Nikki are facing new headwinds due to uncertain international trade policies and tariffs. This year Nikki shared that her wholesale cut flowers from Columbia and Ecuador are 35% higher. Increased input costs for a core line of business like Nikki’s floral shop erodes affordability and is cutting into sales and profit margins. Succeeding in business for any entrepreneur requires determination, smarts, hard work and a bit of luck.