[title subtitle=”WORDS Liesel Schmidt
IMAGES courtesy Brooke Cagle, Tributary Studio”][/title]
Kindred.
By definition it’s a word that means “similar in kind” or “related.” It also refers to family and relations, though a kindred spirit may share no family ties with you at all, connected to you only through a deep bond that seems to transcend blood relation.
For Nick and Samantha Daniels, that word is at the root of their businesses, something that has driven the concept for everything they’ve put their hand to. Fittingly called Kindred Concepts, it all started with Kindred Barn in 2016—an event venue that takes the whole idea of a barn and turns it on its head. In 2017, the couple moved to Northwest Arkansas to renovate a second breathtaking venue called Kindred North. In both cases, they created something spectacular and memorable, establishing what has become known as the “Kindred Experience”—a phrase that conveys a dedication to going above and beyond in service to the client.
After the move, it only took a few months in NWA for Samantha to meet and become friends with Dave and Jenny Marrs, who were, at the time, filming their first season of HGTV’s Fixer to Fabulous. That connection led to some important things for Samantha. “After a few photo shoots and an episode premier event together, Dave and Jenny graciously offered me a spot on their team for the second season of their show,” she explains. “I quickly dove into the world of styling homes with decor and live plants and flowers. That work sparked an interest for me to have a studio space of my own that also offered various house plants and home decor. I’ve been doing flowers for my wedding venues for years now and needed to move away from doing them in my living room.”
By September of 2020, Samantha was ready to open All Things Kindred, launching this particular dream with faith that it would survive even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. “We opened during it and despite it,” Samantha says with an edge of confidence in her voice that testifies to her conviction that she knew it was the right move to make, despite the circumstances. “We knew it could seem risky for us to do it, but we were willing to take the leap, just like we have always been. Even back when we were twenty-five and Kindred Barn first became a reality. We knew that people were spending a lot more time in their homes, and we have seen how bringing live plants into the home boosts morale and also purifies the air.”
Populating the space with succulents, tropical plants, pots, and beautiful flowers sold by the stem, the store is a light-filled haven for anyone in search of beauty. With exposed beams, white walls interrupted only by simple wood shelving and potted plants hanging jauntily from pegs, the play of textures is stunning, giving the store just that right amount of something that makes you want to stay and look at absolutely everything.
Being the marketing genius that she is, Samantha saw the value in creating a pop-up version of All Things Kindred and met with the owners of the Bakery District, located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, about using a space adjacent to Fort Smith Coffee Co. “We knew that the very same people who drink coffee also buy plants, and we fell in love with the culture of the Bakery District,” says Samantha of the meeting that took place in January of 2021. “Fort Smith Coffee Co. owners Gabe and Kaity Gould have been so gracious and supportive of us, and we love watching our businesses complement each other.”
By February 2021, they had launched Kindred Roots, opening its doors to all who would come and offering not just beautiful plants and flowers, but the Daniels’ particular brand of hospitality and service. “Keeping up with the Kindred branding and paying tribute to our roots in Fort Smith, we wanted the name to be connected but also for this storefront to have its own identity. My sister, Ashley Parker, runs the store and has actually been interested in plants longer than I have,” says Samantha, who left her retail job in 2012 to focus full time on photography. Nick followed shortly after and was able to come on full time to the photography business, which became so successful that they were shooting a full calendar year of weddings and hundreds of photo shoots a year. That led to the addition of lead photographer, Courtney Ybarra, and the incorporation of The Kindred Collective in the summer of 2015. “Honestly, we opened this store for her. She is extremely knowledgeable about plants and will help you find something that you won’t kill—even if you aren’t particularly good with plants and living things. Our success as a storefront is credited to the people who frequent our shops and support local. Now more than ever, people are seeing the importance of supporting local businesses, and we are thrilled to be a marketplace for other local makers, including a local clay earring maker, Bashful Bluebird. Their earrings match the vibe of our store, and we are proud to be a vehicle for their success alongside our own.”
Set in a simple storefront whose adornments are only the plants themselves, covering wood and pipe shelving and every surface in sight, Kindred Roots feels every bit as connected to its name as Samantha could have hoped. It isn’t just that it’s visibly lush with green—it feels green. In its simplicity, it makes a statement, one that is authentic, wholesome, and—let’s face it—just plain pretty. Their offerings are focused and concise, a minimalism that makes perfect sense in the space, in those surroundings, and with their brand. Much like All Things Kindred, a variety of tropical plants, succulents, pots, flowers by the stem, and various home decor items fill the space at Kindred Roots and liven it, giving it a unique energy that makes you want to touch some things and leave with…everything.
As with all truly great entrepreneurs, business for the Daniels is more than just the bottom line. It’s about people—again, forming that kindred spirit connection. “Nick and I are passionate about creating jobs for people, especially our loved ones,” says Samantha, whose three-year-old daughter Arbor will grow up watching her parents build their dream. “What started out as just a young couple with a single business has now led to six full-time positions across all of our companies. That’s an amazing thing to consider, looking back at where we started. We are also passionate about offering people affordable and unique items that they can’t find just anywhere, a business principle that has been with us since the beginning of our self-employment career.”
As the year marches on and the pandemic that brought the world to a halt fades, Nick and Samantha can look back at the leap of faith they took and know that their faith has been rewarded—not only through success, but also through the many kindred spirits who have walked through their doors.
Visit:
Kindred Roots
70 South 7th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas
facebook.com/kindredrootsfs
