Community Highlights: Meet Tessa Preston of Rose & Thorn Creative

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Preston.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story with Rose & Thorn Creative really started long before I ever dreamed of owning a business. Growing up, my dad was an entrepreneur, and I admired him deeply for what he built. But being completely honest… I always said I’d never own a business myself. I saw the long hours, the highs and lows, and the constant uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship. It looked like too much. (Spoiler alert: I definitely didn’t stick to my word, as you can see)

My marketing journey started, as you might’ve guessed, with my dad. I began by running some of the social media accounts for his businesses. I was experimenting, learning, and realizing how impactful social media and digital marketing can be.

In high school, I joined a business program called VANTAGE at Minnetonka in Minnesota. That program completely changed the game for me. I got to work with real businesses, collaborate with mentors, and see how ideas could turn into something tangible. It was there that I truly fell in love with business and knew that’s what I wanted to pursue long-term.

Fast forward to college… I got a role at a smart technology company, working in both marketing and sales. It was fast-paced, challenging, and pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. During that time, I filed for my LLC and started taking on a few clients on the side. I made Rose & Thorn originally for two reasons… to help small businesses who don’t have the budget to hire in-house and to test my creativity.

From there, I worked at a couple of advertising agencies, which gave me a deeper appreciation for storytelling, content strategy, and brand development. But what really stuck with me was my passion for helping small businesses — the kind of companies that dream big but need the right team behind them to make it happen.

While working at my second content marketing company, I kept growing Rose & Thorn on the side and working with some small businesses and seeing them grow. It was an incredible creative outlet where I was able to serve business owners and see their brand get more visibility.

In 2024, I hit a bit of a fork in the road. I was laid off from my corporate job and faced a huge decision: go find another corporate position or take a leap of faith and go all-in on Rose & Thorn Creative. After a lot of thought (and prayer), I decided to trust that this was the moment I’d been preparing for, even though it was terrifying (especially as a 23-year-old at the time)

Since taking the company full-time, we’ve grown beyond what I ever imagined. We now have four amazing social media managers and one full-time Director of Business Development (who also happens to be my incredible sister – shoutout to you, Kait!). Having a team has been another huge blessing, because I needed extra hands of course, but I have also always wanted to build up other women in business. Together, we’ve had the honor of working with over 50 businesses across industries, helping them build their presence, tell their stories, and connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.

Rose & Thorn Creative started as a side project, but it’s become something so much bigger… a team built on passion, creativity, and community. And I’m so excited to see how many more businesses we’ll help grow in the years ahead.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but we have been blessed to work with so many incredible partners and businesses. Being laid off was definitely difficult and scary, but it is ultimately the reason why I am here today. I am so thankful for everyone who have helped me grow and thrive. My parents, sister, and our amazing clients have helped me continue to pursue this business and grow the companies we get to work with!

We’ve been impressed with Rose & Thorn Creative, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rose & Thorn Creative is a social media management agency that helps small-to-mid sized business owners get their time back while actually seeing ROI from their marketing efforts. What sets us apart is that we truly care about our clients’ success. When they succeed and grow, so do we. We truly are an extension of our clients’ team, and we will put our hearts into what we do with them. We talk business owner to business owner, because I’ve been there and I get it. You didn’t start your company to become a content creator or spend hours figuring out algorithm changes. You started it because you’re great at what you do. We handle the strategy and execution of social media so our clients can focus on running their actual businesses. I’m most proud of the real partnerships we’ve built – when clients tell us they finally have breathing room or they’re seeing measurable growth from their online presence, that’s what it’s all about. We’re here to prove that digital marketing isn’t just another expense, it’s a legitimate investment in business growth, and we’re passionate about making that happen.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is the success of our clients as well as the growth of the girls on our team. Seeing our clients hit their business goals while our team members develop their skills and confidence – that’s what keeps me going. At the end of the day, we’re all growing together, and that’s what makes this work meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://roseandthorncreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseandthorncreative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roseandthorncreative
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roseandthorncreative