Rosie Welsh knows how to think pink.
The Fox Chapel native and lifelong resident has perfected showcasing pink as the signature color of Rosebud’s, a specialty gift shop in Aspinwall’s historic business district.
“Somebody told me on day one that if I made it for five years, then I’d made it,” said Welsh, who left a job in retail to open her business. “I thought then five years even sounded like a lot, but here I am all these years later.”
Rosebud’s bloomed when Welsh bought a former business called Abbie Perkins Country Store and began her journey as a one-woman-show businesswoman.
She has a few part-time employees, but customers will find Rosie at-the-ready to welcome shoppers and help them find the perfect gift.
In 1994, the business next door went on the market and Welsh expanded her specialty gift shop.
Welsh said she feels happy coming to work and recalled a celebrity encounter that she’ll never forget.
“It’s fun,” Welsh said. “I got a kiss from Muhammad Ali while attending a gift show expo in New York.”
Welsh travels to gift buying shows twice a year.
She used to bring in her late dog Lass, an Irish setter that ended up getting “fired” because she would nibble on the merchandise.
Bridget O’Malley was walking by on a recent Tuesday while in town visiting family when the colorful storefront displays and Rosebud’s green awning caught her shopper’s eye.
“I saw this store that just grabbed me and I love cute things, pink things, feminine things. I live in an old house that 140-something years old and when I peeked in here, it just appealed to me,” said O’Malley, of Bucks County.
The bright pink tin ceiling is hard to miss and the complimentary mini-chocolate chip cookies available to shoppers are a must-try.
O’Malley bought some.
“I always like to shop local and I live in a walkable town so we always try to support local businesses,” O’Malley said.
Welsh attended St. Scholastica as a youngster and later graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School in 1979.
Her large family includes dozens of nieces and nephews, all who grew up visiting her store.
The name pays homage to Rosie’s childhood nickname, Rosebud.
“It’s nice. I get a lot of people in town visiting and they always stop in,” Welsh said. “I never moved away and that’s good.”
One of six siblings, Welsh’s parents were the late Kathleen and Tom Welsh of Fox Chapel.
Kathleen was Welsh’s sidekick and traveled with her daughter to countless gift buying trips for the store.
“They were very supportive and my mother just loved it and all the vendors loved her,” Welsh said. “I’m most proud of the fact that I’m still here.”
Online shopping has impacted Rosebud’s.
“I don’t sell online and I have to compete with Amazon and Target, that really became evident about 10 years ago. There were times when it was really busier around here — Aspinwall in general — but now there’s so much competition, it’s harder,” Welsh said.
Complimentary pink signature wrapping with bows and gift bags is available with every gift.
“It’s pink all the time,” she laughed.
Men wander in seeking gifts for their wives, girlfriends and mothers.
Women stop in for shopping, socializing and to nosh on those chocolate chip cookies, which were discovered during a gift buying trip to Atlanta and are sold in two different sized bags and three different sized jars.
Welsh offers local, free delivery.
“This is my baby. Christmas is my busiest time, followed by Easter, Mother’s Day and summer,” she said.
The shop blends preppy with traditional, classic with whimsical and is chock full of unique and quality kitchen items, Italian glassware, serving items, wine glasses, limited women’s clothing, baby items, toys, cookies, regional food items, candles, sweaters and table top decor.
The rear of the store offers a mini-baby boutique including convenient, magnetized onesies.
“Baby gifts are really growing and the wedding season is a busy time,” Welsh said. “I’m going to expand on that.”
Rosebud’s offers a bridal registry with bride-to-be’s names and their wedding dates on a display board.
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With no retirement plans on tap, look for Rosie to keep on thinkin’ pink.
In her leisure time, Welsh enjoys playing golf in her spare time and is a dedicated 25-year volunteer and board member with Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh.
Rosebud’s is located at338 First St. in Aspinwall. 412-784-8272.