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10 Worcester Business Journal | February 10, 2025 | wbjournal.com BLOOMING BUSINESS PHOTOS | EDD COTE e founders behind Worcester plant and decor shop Seed to Stem see their second location as the beginning of a bigger dream W O M E N I N L E A D E R S H I P BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer W orcester shoppers know, if you're in the market for a succulent, incense holder, or even an eel skull, there is a one-stop shop you can't miss: Seed to Stem. Between its brick walls and high ceilings lay wooden tables dripping in lush houseplants, displays of clay smudge bowls, pastel quartz, and essential oils. Taxidermy wolves and zebra heads are placed nonchalantly as the smell of sandalwood and palo santo wa through sun-soaked rooms. Providing a shopping experience nothing short of immersive, Seed to Stem has accumulated a cult following transcending the region. Founding owners Virginia Orlando and Candace Atchue opened shop in 2011 with Kris- tian Solfiell joining a few years later. About six years ago, they began keeping their eyes out for the perfect spot to expand. "For many years, we've wanted to, and we were always looking at different spaces, but nothing was really the right fit," said Atchue. eir search came to an end last summer, and the trio opened doors to Seed to Stem's second location at 26 South St. in Westborough on Nov. 2. From a meticulous location selec- tion to an unexpected building fire, Orlando and Atchue have centered the importance of their brand's essence and its impact on the community. All-encompassing shopping It's "like a museum, but that you're allowed to touch and be a part of too," said Atchue. Seed to Stem aims to create a calm and comforting atmosphere hitting all the senses at its Worcester and Westborough locations. As Cat Stevens croons from the stereo, shoppers can browse hundreds of botanicals, jewelry, Seed to Stem sells products from hundreds of other small businesses, many of them woman-owned. In a single day, Seed to Stem co-found- ers Virginia Orlando (left) and Candace Atchue will see customers from around the nation from Maine to Arizona. One memorable patron drove from New York while on vacation from Australia to check visiting the shop off of her U.S. bucket list.