Founder Stories Matter: Bloom Collective in Providence

Heather Wolfenden and Savannah Barkley, co-founders of Bloom Collective in Providence, share how the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program helped them build a space that supports other entrepreneurs.

Founder Stories Matter

Every business starts with a story.

Sometimes that story begins in a garage. Sometimes in a lab. Sometimes in a small retail space in Providence.

But the common thread is always the same. Behind every company is a founder who took a risk and built something from an idea.

As a Providence-based photographer and videographer, I spend a lot of time documenting founder stories and working with businesses across Rhode Island. Sometimes that means collaborating with startups. Other times it means working with small businesses rooted in the local community.

Recently I had the opportunity to create a short founder video and portrait for Bloom Collective in Providence, Rhode Island.

Heather Wolfenden and Savannah Barkley, co-founders of Bloom Collective and Shop Bloom PVD, photographed inside their Providence storefront.

Meet the Founders of Bloom Collective

Bloom Collective was founded by Heather Wolfenden and Savannah Barkley.

Together they created a space designed to support other small businesses. Their storefront, Shop Bloom PVD, serves as a retail incubation space where emerging brands can test products, connect with customers, and grow.

But the store is only one part of the story.

Bloom Collective operates across three areas:

• Creative services like branding and web design that help businesses grow

• A retail storefront that supports small product-based businesses

• Workshops and events designed for entrepreneurs and service-based founders

It’s a model built around collaboration and support. A space where small businesses can take their next step.

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

Heather and Savannah are alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Rhode Island.

During our interview they shared one of the biggest lessons they took away from the program. As founders, it’s easy to stay buried in the day-to-day work of running a business.

But long-term growth requires stepping back.

Building a team. Thinking about the bigger picture. Creating systems that allow the business to scale.

Another unexpected takeaway from the program was the community it created.

Their cohort supported them throughout the process of opening Bloom. From attending the grand opening to sending encouragement along the way, the relationships built during the program became a meaningful part of their journey.

Capturing a Founder Story on Video

For this project I created a short founder interview video along with a portrait of the founders inside their Providence store.

My goal was simple. Let Heather and Savannah tell their story in their own words.

This video was created in the middle of a working retail space with customers moving in and out of the store throughout the day. We paused filming when needed and picked up again once the store quieted down.

The goal was to keep things simple and natural while capturing the founders telling their story in their own environment.

Working this way keeps the environment authentic. The shelves, the products, and the energy of the store all become part of the story.

Why Founder Stories Matter

Stories like this are powerful because they show the people behind the business.

Whether it’s a small retail shop, a growing startup, or a MedTech company building the next breakthrough technology, founder stories help people connect with the mission behind the work.

They create trust. They build credibility. They make a brand human.

Video and photography make those stories visible.

A short founder interview. A portrait that shows personality and place. These pieces help capture the spirit of a business in a way that text alone can’t.

Founder Stories from Rhode Island Entrepreneurs

Providence, Rhode Island has an incredible community of entrepreneurs building thoughtful businesses and innovative companies.

Projects like this are a reminder of how many meaningful businesses and stories are being built right here in Rhode Island.

If you’re a small business owner or startup founder in Rhode Island and want to share your story through photography or video, I’d love to help.

This video was created as part of Rhode Island’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program to highlight alumni and inspire future cohorts.