Go South Go Local with Ross Roses and Kicco Coffee

Above: Andrew and Maureen – two generations of the Ross Roses legacy and (right) the rose catalogue includes cultural notes and the family’s history. Photos by Heidi Lewis.

Story by Jake Dean.

After more than 119 years in business, it’s safe to say the Ross family knows a thing or two about customer service. The fourth-generation Willunga business (established 1902) is Australia’s oldest family-run rose nursery, which means they’re often helping fourth-generation gardening families. ‘It’s not uncommon to hear a new customer say, “grandma always bought her roses from you”,’ says Andrew Ross, who runs the company with his mum, Maureen.

This autumn, the City of Onkaparinga is focusing on these personal relationships between customers and local businesses as part of its Go South Go Local campaign, which supports local businesses to recover and grow. While Ross Roses has had some high-profile clients throughout the years – their plants grow at Government House, Parliament House, Canberra and Kirribilli House, and most state botanic gardens – Andrew says they treat every customer with the same care and personal attention. History suggests it’s paying off. Andrew estimates more than a million customers have driven through their gates since they moved their operations to Willunga in the 1970s.

Despite their success, Andrew and Maureen are always looking at ways they can better serve their customers. Major hardware stores have been increasingly moving into the flower space, so the Ross family is looking to the future. ‘With the largest collection of roses in Australia, we’re ideally suited to open the display garden more for tourism,’ Andrew says. ‘The new plans incorporate extra parking for cars and buses, a garden to host wedding ceremonies and a collection of Australia’s rarest rose varieties. Once achieved, we plan to open for visitors to enjoy, stay, see and taste more of what the Fleurieu has to offer.’

About ten minutes’ drive north, another local business is flourishing thanks to the relationships it has built with customers. KICCO Espresso McLaren Vale – one of the Hackham-based company’s six coffee shops across Adelaide – has been brightening its customers’ days since 2016.

Owner Tyson Crosby credits his team’s laidback and welcoming vibes (as well as its A+ coffee, of course) for much of its success. ‘For many, a visit to the shop is like visiting a friend for a chat,’ says Tyson.

Above: At KICCO Espresso in McLaren Vale, they credit ‘A+ coffee and welcoming vibes’ for their success.

‘My staff and I have very laidback personalities and we’re not afraid to have a laugh and joke and be ourselves around customers.

‘When we’re genuine and relaxed, our customers feel the shop’s a welcoming place where they can be themselves. It’s a home away from home,’ Tyson continues. ‘These relationships are so important. It’s why the team comes to work every single day. We’re there to provide a friendly service and make sure our customers leave with a smile on their face (and coffee in hand!).

‘Many of our customers visit the shop daily and we’ve built strong relationships and trust. We know their order preferences and love to chat to them about what’s happening in their lives. We’ve even housesat for some who’ve gone on holiday. Our recent Christmas donation drive was the result of a strong friendship with a customer who had a passion to help families in need. We assisted in putting together over thirty Christmas hampers.’

Like most businesses, COVID-19 restrictions threw a curveball at KICCO, and Tyson admits to nerves when they were first imposed. ‘Having just acquired the business not long before, I was nervous that the dream I’d worked so hard for may potentially come to an end,’ he says. connected. I [also] felt it was my responsibility to ensure my staff remained employed. Fortunately, the community rallied around local businesses, and our takeaway sales remained consistent and even grew. We’re incredibly grateful for the support.’

Both Tyson and Andrew agree that supporting local businesses is paramount, particularly amid the pandemic, and both are walking the talk themselves, whether it’s by using Fleurieu Milk for handmade gelato, or buying Peats Soil & Garden Supplies to nurture awardwinning roses.

‘When you support local, you support your neighbours, friends and family,’ says Tyson, echoing Onkaparinga Council’s Go South Go Local mantras. ‘By doing so, it helps strengthen the community and keeps locals employed. After a long period of restrictions that affected many local businesses, it’s more important than ever that we all show them some love as they reopen and find their feet in the new normal.’

To learn more about City of Onkaparinga’s Go South Go Local campaign, visit onbusinesspartnerprogram.com/go-south-go-local