Four Decades of Twigs
The people, places, and decisions that shaped Twigs Floral Design Studio.
Every business has a beginning. What makes its story worth telling is everything that happens afterward.
For four decades, Twigs has been part of Rhode Island's floral landscape. Since taking ownership in 2000, Bobby and Mia have guided the business through years of reinvention, expansion, difficult decisions, and new beginnings.
Through every chapter, one thing has remained constant: a belief that exceptional floral design and thoughtful service should never be compromised.
This is the story of how Twigs became the studio it is today.
2000 - A New Beginning
After 14 years and three previous owners, Twigs was preparing to close its doors.
Bobby and Mia saw something worth preserving. They fell in love with the name, recognized its potential, and made the bold decision to take ownership.
What followed was far more than reopening a flower shop. It was the beginning of a determined effort to rebuild the reputation of Twigs, redefine its approach to floral design, and earn the confidence of Rhode Island clients.
A new chapter had begun.
2004 - Expanding The Vision
Four years into their ownership, Bobby and Mia took another significant step forward with the acquisition of The Flower Shed in Cranston, Rhode Island.
The decision was about more than adding a second flower shop. A more central location offered an opportunity to better serve clients throughout the state while laying the groundwork for the next evolution of Twigs.
Even then, the vision extended beyond expansion. The goal was to bring the business together under one roof, creating a stronger, more unified approach to floral design and service.
2008 - One Studio, One Vision
Eight years after taking ownership, Bobby and Mia brought the next phase of their original vision to life.
With the Cranston location established, they made the decision to close the original Twigs storefront and bring their designers together under one roof.
The move represented the culmination of years spent rebuilding the business, refining its identity, and raising expectations for both floral design and customer service.
What began in 2000 as an effort to rescue a familiar name had become something entirely different: a floral business with its own distinctive approach, a growing reputation, and a clear sense of direction.
2010 - Raising The Standard
After years of helping shape the direction of Twigs, Mia moved from an advisory role into hands-on management, bringing her experience in retail operations and a fresh perspective to the business.
Together, Bobby and Mia made a deliberate decision to elevate the quality of their fresh flowers, refine their design aesthetic, and continue investing in the experience they offered their clients.
At a time when much of the floral industry was increasingly focused on competing through price, Twigs chose a different path: greater attention to quality, originality, and service.
Those decisions helped establish the foundation for the next chapter of Twigs and an eventual move to East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
2012 - A Creative Partnership
As Twigs continued to evolve, Bobby and Mia redefined their roles to better serve the growing business.
Bobby assumed the title of Creative Director, concentrating on the artistry of everyday floral design while devoting greater attention to weddings, events, and the meaningful work of creating flowers for families experiencing loss.
Mia became General Manager, bringing her leadership and operational experience to the daily management of Twigs.
The partnership created a balance between creative vision and thoughtful business management, allowing each to focus on what they did best while continuing to shape the future of Twigs together.
Proud to be recognized in Rhode Island Monthly's
Best of Rhode Island 2026
2014 - A New Home on Main Street
With the original vision for Twigs firmly established, Bobby and Mia began searching for a location that better reflected the personality and direction of their business.
They were drawn to the charm of a traditional Main Street, a place with character, community, and a sense of belonging.
They found it in the Hill and Harbor District of East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
On January 1, 2014, Twigs opened its doors on Main Street, beginning another chapter in a business that had already undergone remarkable transformation.
The move represented more than a change of address. It was an opportunity to bring the evolving identity of Twigs into a setting that felt like home.
2016 - Room to Grow
Two years after establishing Twigs in East Greenwich, another opportunity presented itself.
A space on Main Street that had originally captured Bobby and Mia's attention before their move from Cranston became available.
In July 2016, Twigs relocated once again, this time into a larger setting that offered additional room for floral design and a more comfortable experience for clients.
The new location reflected the continuing evolution of Twigs, providing a workspace better suited to its growing creative ambitions and the level of service Bobby and Mia envisioned.
It was another reminder that the journey of Twigs had never been about remaining in one place, but about finding the right environment for what came next.
2018 - Embracing a Digital Future
As Twigs continued refining its floral designs and the experience offered to clients, Bobby and Mia turned their attention to another opportunity: making it easier to order flowers directly from the studio.
Following the launch of a redesigned website in 2017, the focus shifted toward improving the online shopping experience, guided in part by feedback from Twigs clients.
In 2018, that effort expanded with the introduction of a dedicated Twigs mobile app, available through Apple's App Store and Google Play.
The technology was new, but the philosophy behind it was familiar: make ordering flowers more convenient without sacrificing the personal service and distinctive designs that had become hallmarks of Twigs.
It was another step in bringing a traditional floral business into an increasingly digital world.
2020 - Flowers When They Mattered Most
The year 2020 brought challenges unlike anything Twigs had experienced in its history.
As families were separated, celebrations postponed, and familiar ways of gathering suddenly disappeared, Bobby, Mia, and the Twigs team found themselves navigating an entirely different world.
Securing fresh flowers from international markets became increasingly difficult, while the need to connect with loved ones remained as meaningful as ever.
Through those uncertain months, Twigs continued designing and delivering flowers, helping clients express sentiments they could not always share in person.
The experience reinforced something Bobby and Mia had believed for years: flowers are more than decoration. They are a way of reaching someone, celebrating a beginning, honoring a life, or simply reminding another person that they are remembered.
It was a difficult chapter, but one that deepened their appreciation for the work they do.
2022 - Reinventing The Flower Shop
After more than two decades of ownership, Bobby and Mia began another transformation of Twigs, perhaps their boldest yet.
They had long envisioned a private floral design studio, a space dedicated entirely to creativity, craftsmanship, and the thoughtful preparation of every arrangement.
In 2022, that vision became reality.
Twigs closed the chapter on traditional walk-in retail and moved into a purpose-built private design studio, creating an environment where the focus could remain entirely on flowers and the clients who order them.
The transition was more than a change of location. It was a reimagining of how a floral business could operate, combining decades of experience with a more personal, design-centered approach.
What had begun as a traditional Rhode Island flower shop had evolved into something distinctly its own.
The Twigs Way had entered a new chapter.
2024 - A New Look for Twigs
With the private design studio firmly established, Bobby and Mia turned their attention to another ambitious project: completely reimagining the floral collection offered by Twigs.
Over months of designing, photographing, evaluating, and refining hundreds of arrangements, they began creating a new catalog that better reflected the studio's evolving aesthetic.
Following Valentine's Day in 2024, nearly the entire existing collection was retired and replaced with fresh interpretations of the designs Twigs had become known for.
Some familiar names remained, but the flowers, compositions, and creative direction were renewed.
It was a substantial undertaking, particularly for a business with so many established favorites. Yet the motivation was simple: even the most successful designs deserve to be reconsidered.
After nearly a quarter-century of ownership, Bobby and Mia were still finding new ways to express their passion for the art of flowers.
2026 - Resilience and Renewal
As Twigs entered its fourth decade, Bobby and Mia encountered an unexpected challenge: the loss of a Google Business Profile they had spent years cultivating, along with hundreds of customer reviews that reflected decades of dedication to their clients.
It was a disheartening setback, but hardly the first obstacle they had faced together.
Rather than dwell on what had been lost, they began rebuilding, strengthening the studio's online presence, refining the website, and finding new ways to introduce Twigs to the next generation of Rhode Island clients.
That same period of uncertainty also inspired the creation of The Bach Flower Co., a separate floral design brand offering Bobby and Mia another avenue for creative expression. What began as a response to an unexpected setback became an opportunity to explore a different approach to floral design, while preserving the distinct identity and longstanding traditions of Twigs.
The year also brought a welcome recognition, with Twigs earning a place among Rhode Island Monthly's Best of Rhode Island honorees.
Through every change, one principle has remained constant: the willingness to evolve without losing sight of what made Twigs special in the first place.
Forty years after the name Twigs first appeared in Rhode Island, and 26 years after Bobby and Mia began their journey, the story continues.
The Story Continues
Buildings have changed. Technology has changed. The way people shop for flowers has changed.
But the heart of Twigs remains much the same.
Today, from our private floral design studio, we continue creating and delivering distinctive fresh flower arrangements throughout Rhode Island, guided by the same commitment to thoughtful service and creative expression that shaped our journey.
To everyone who has been part of our story, whether for decades or just recently, thank you.
Our "Passion In The Art Of Flowers" continues.