This week in our ongoing Meet the Maker series, we’re excited to introduce you to David, Veronica + Jaclyn of Shopsucculents.

 

 

LBC: What inspired you to take the leap as an entrepreneur? 
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  A deep love for horticulture and a desire to work for ourselves kind of pushed us to put our heads together and make it happen.

 

LBC: How would you describe what you create?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  One of our designers has a background in landscape architecture so his succulent arrangements include balanced structural design that encompass texture, shape, and an extensive foresight into growth pattern. His designs are the more “clean edge” creations with an eye for sharp contrast. Our other designer has more of an eye for color melting and the overall feel of the piece. She creates designs that are both appealing to the soft and elegant or the bold and edgy clients. For both designers the creative process is something that involves a lot of joy for what we are doing. We create statement pieces, with love.

 

LBC: Where can we find your products?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  You can find our products on three diferrent marketplaces! Check out shopsucculents.com, Shop Succulents on Etsy, and on Amazon at amazon.com/shops/shopsucculents.

 

 

LBC: When you first got started, how did you envision your business would be defined?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  We envisioned a business that offered a quirky product with a refined design and exceptional customer service. We just really wanted to share our passion, so along with a beautiful design we also wanted people to experience working with these incredible plants.

 

LBC: Walk us through your typical work day.
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  Typically, we wake up early to begin tending to the nursery. This includes watering, trimming, shifting, propagating, etc. We will then usually gather the plant material needed to ship for that day, and take the plants to the office. The plants are then carefully packaged alongside glassware, assembly instructions, and soil and then shipped to your doorstep. Potential new products are uploaded, quantities are adjusted, and emails are also all done during the day.

 

 

LBC: What are 3 things makers should think through when they initially decide to start a business?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn: 

1. Find your niche and nail it!
2. Do you and your partners share a common goal?
3. Are you sure you want your hobby/love to be your occupation?

 

LBC: When you’re overwhelmed, what brings you back to focus?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  A long walk, yoga, playing soccer, a cup of tea, music, bombing a hill on a skateboard, laughing with each other or reading kind reviews from our customers of Etsy. It also helps to remember that we all love what we’re doing and we truly want to share the magic of plant love and gardening. It’s really awesome to think of our designs in someone’s home across the country too, that ALWAYS makes us feel like all the hard work is worth it.

 

 

LBC: Tell us about a few of the best business decisions you’ve made to date?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  One of the best aspects of our team is that we are exceptionally well-rounded. We’ve got a nice balance of left and right brainers involved and we believe that’s crucial for a successful business. In addition, the decision to offer our products in multiple marketplaces has proven successful for us and has propelled our business quicker than we could have hoped for.

 

LBC: Please share one mistake or obstacle from your business experience. How did you bounce back/overcome it?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  One of the biggest obstacles we have faced thus far has been unpredictable weather. Over the past few months the severe weather that most of the country has been burdened with has greatly impacted the health of our succulents during shipping. Delivering unhealthy succulents to our customers just wasn’t an option so we have spent much time researching warmers and more efficient methods of packaging and shipping so that our little beauties stay healthy and our customers happy. We are proud to say that we fought the severe weather and came out on top!

 

 

LBC: Is there a cause or organization that you contribute to that you’re particularly passionate about?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  One of our designers, David, is also a landscape architect and is passionately involved with the local Community College Horticulture Department, where his passion for plants was developed as a student. David is also currently installing a drought tolerant, California native, succulent and cacti garden in a southern California suburban home. This garden will demonstrate the use of low water, low maintenance plants in a tasteful arrangement with the hope of educating the community on eco-friendly landscape alternatives. The design is complete with pathways lined and labeled with botanical names for the community members to enjoy.

 

LBC: What are 3 essential resources in your business toolbox you can’t do without?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:

1. Needle nose nippers (floral clippers)
2. Natural pesticides (peppermint oil, neem, vinegar, etc.)
3. A paintbrush, we use the bottom end to make depressions in the soil for planting and the brush end to clean the inside of the glass when the design is complete.

 

 

LBC: Suppose we had a time machine. If we blasted ourselves forward a few years, where would we see your company?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  Hopefully on the cover of Sunset Magazine!
At some point we would love to be more involved in the succulent wedding scene. We all love working more intimately with people, so in as much as we plan to keep our online presence strong and continually growing, we would also really love to start working with people in the Southern California area doing custom work for homes, local businesses, and weddings.

 

What’s the one thing you would eat, if you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  As California natives, we’re going to have to say, burritos!!

 

Your musical play list is full of…
David, Veronica + Jaclyn:  Modest Mouse, Stevie Nicks, The Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, The Supremes … and many many others.

 

 

What’s your favorite quote and who said it?
David, Veronica + Jaclyn: “Among the most intricately evolved examples of life on earth, succulents have an almost magical ability to flourish in the environments of unremitting harshness.”-Fred Dortort

 

Connect with David, Veronica and Jaclyn + Shopsucculents all around the web:

Company Website
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram

 

Thank you, David, Veronica + Jaclyn, for sharing your fabulous talent + gorgeous succulents with us. We look forward to keeping up with you!

 

Want to see your brand featured in our continuing “Meet the Maker Monday” series? Drop us a line: hello@luckybreakconsulting.com. Please use “MEET THE MAKER” as the subject line and be certain to include your web address. We look forward to hearing from you!