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The Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed three new businesses to its ranks: Wild Rose Boutique and Flower Shop, Timeless Treasures of KY and Central KY Dermatology.

Each offers something different for area residents.

Wild Rose is located at 704A North Main St. in Nicholasville and owner Cassidy May opened the shop and boutique because she wanted a local option to purchase beautiful things.

“The shop is a flower shop and a small boutique. I opened last year with the goal of providing event florals with day-to-day arrangements and also having an affordable place for the community to shop. I grew up in Nicholasville and Jessamine County, so always having to drive to Lexington for cute things was not at the top of my favorite things list,” May said.

Timeless Treasures is located at 120 Mcpeek Place in Nicholasville, and owner Anna Lewis opened the shop after her personal experience with grief.

“My business is all about helping with grief, loss, and joy. I started this as a stay-at-home mom of three. I had a miscarriage of my own, and I breastfed my three kids that I have. Once I had my miscarriage, throughout the years, I wanted a piece of that part of my life. I wanted a breast milk ring, but they were thousands of dollars and as a stay-at-home mom of three I couldn’t afford it,” Lewis said.

So she decided to do it herself.

“I looked into it and experimented with my breast milk and experimented with friends’ breast milk and made a whole bunch of free stuff to give away. I figured out how to do it, and I figured out where these other companies were buying their supplies, so I can make the same quality stuff, but instead of charging an arm, a leg, and a kidney, I could do it for $100,” Lewis said.

Making affordable keepsakes is what Lewis’ shop is all about.

“I probably make $20 after the supplies and shipping, but it was never about the money. It was about being able to provide this to other women or men as a way of coping with grief or loss or celebrating a big milestone,” she said.

Dr. Todd and Shannon Clark run Central Kentucky Dermatology at 249 East Brannon Rd. in Nicholasville. The practice offers a valuable service that is hard to come by in Jessamine County.

“We’re located in Brannon Crossing, and we were informed we are the only dermatologist office in Nicholasville now. Dr. Todd Clark has been practicing dermatology in Lexington and Frankfort for 15 years and decided to start his own practice. He does general dermatology and skin surgery is what he specializes in,” said Shannon Clark.

All three businesses joined the Chamber for different reasons.

“We joined the Chamber, because I guess, in the first few weeks that we were here and getting set up, we were informed about the Chamber of Commerce, and we wanted to do our grand opening,” Shannon Clark said. “When we did our ribbon cutting, we were just really blown away by the support of the Chamber of Commerce, and we have already been able to connect with several people.”

The connections have been beneficial for May.

“So I wanted to join the Chamber because I have always been very involved in the community through 4H, and I’ve always seen what 4H and the Jessamine Career and Technology Center have done with the Chamber and how they promote their businesses. It was mostly the sense of community. I wanted to reach out and make connections with everyone that I can. I have made some really good connections with different people who I can use for the business or who I can refer others to, and I’ve got a lot of other people supporting me that wouldn’t have known about me if it weren’t for the Chamber.” May said.

Being a Chamber member has helped Lewis’ business grow.

“I really enjoy being a part of the Chamber of Commerce. It’s nice to see other businesses grow as well. I mean they started out the same way as me, nothing that turned into something. The Chamber of Commerce helped me be able to branch out. A lot of people look at what I do, and they go, ‘Huh?’ so I have that obstacle. But it’s been really nice. I’ve been able to reach out to hospitals.”