Happy International Women’s Day! Today is the perfect day to show off some of the brilliant women with houseplant businesses I have the pleasure of working with, thanks to Pow Pots. Here they talk about their triumphs and challenges in business. To the fabulous females doing it their way.
Hayley Stephens owns Mint plants, AN ADOPTION CENTRE FOR cacti & succulents
Tell us more about Mint Plants
We started as a high street houseplant shop in 2018, managed to survive Brexit, COVID, three shop moves and multiple economic crises. Now we specialise in cacti and succulents, buying and selling entire collections of privately-owned plants.
Why did you start the business?
I left corporate IT in early 2018, went to India to find myself and opened Mint the following September. I always felt a huge desire to create something for myself, and I’ve always had a ‘f**k it’ kind of attitude to life. So after much contemplation on what Mint would be, we settled on plants. It turns out I am totally and utterly obsessed, and so it worked out.
Biggest achievement?
Either being featured on BBC Gardeners' World for our cacti rescuing or standing on stage with journalist Jane Perrone at last year’s Malvern Spring Show, answering houseplant problems. I love people and being able to help with problems, and this was a pinnacle for me.
Hardest moment?
Realising our retail shop had to close in early 2023 after fighting with my life to save it. Admitting that things don’t always work no matter how much effort you put in. Having to have faith that there is still beauty to be found in situations you never expected or wanted to be put in, and pushing through it regardless.
Best thing about being a female small business owner?
I can be 100% myself in every way, and I don’t have to follow any rules. It has taken a while but I have realised the only time I am successful is when I am true to myself and do what I want to to do, rather than what I think I should be doing based on external factors. And having the ability to change path to ensure I am on the right one at the drop of a hat.
Hannah Gair SET UP Behålla IN 2021, WHICH MEANS 'TO KEEP' IN SWEDISH
Tell us more about your store
Behålla is a lifestyle store in Whitley Bay. It offers a carefully curated range of consciously-created goods, from plants and magazines to homeware and vintage. We champion independent makers from all over the world. After relocating to the North East from London it felt like the right time to take the plunge. We’re very lucky to have such a wonderful local high street with lots of great independents.
Biggest achievement?
Being featured in The Sunday Times. So much hard work goes into running a small business and it’s always lovely to get positive feedback.
Hardest moment?
Rising costs and the general uncertainty of running a small business.
Best thing about being a female small business owner?
The creativity and freedom it provides. Being part of a wonderful community and getting to meet so many lovely people. It’s always been my dream and it’s really special to make it a reality.
Geri Ward HAS HAD AN INCREDIBLY COLOURFUL CAREER but now she is adding colour to cumbria
Tell us more about your business
We are currently redeveloping a defunct department store in Kendal, Cumbria, into a contemporary eating and shopping hub called Spinning Jennies, championing local makers and independents. So far we have opened the colourful Pow Plants, the natural beauty store Fettle, and outdoor and adventure lifestyle store Berry Useful. A farm shop, gift shop and Champagne bar are next in line. In time there will be a food hall and apartments. Principally I'm a landlord, but one with a flexible and creative approach to high street regeneration.
Biggest achievement?
I am fairly humble about my achievements because I believe my best is yet to come! Passing through the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst was an achievement for a shy young girl. Travelling the world espousing Leadership skills was a great feeling. Being one of the first few 2 Rosetted restaurants in Cumbria was a milestone at the time. Now I reckon that Spinning Jennies is going to rank as my favourite, I think I am going to enjoy sticking with this one to my dotage, provided that the economy and British banking system enables that.
Hardest moment?
Most definitely 2024 with the failure of British banks to lend in support of high street retail and hospitality development, and our governmental malaise toward entrepreneurial effort and increasing onerous bureaucracy! It has been horrible letting other people down for months because the system is broken, whilst fighting to survive it for the (I hope) benefit of a town and its people.
Best thing about being a female business owner?
I come from a line of women who have forged their way in a man's world and I have done so myself, as well as travelled for work in various cultures and languages. So I don't really think about difference. I am who I am and everyone else is who they are. I just get on with it.
Lizzie Gissane owns The INDependent HOUSEPLANT SHOP THE Ledbury Leaf
Tell us more about your business
I opened The Ledbury Leaf in August 2021 having relocated, post-Covid to Herefordshire. I had a lifelong dream of opening my own shop and finally took the plunge with a tiny store in Ledbury. We sell houseplants, pots, plant accessories and botanical gifts.
Biggest achievement?
In 2023, after just 18 months, we moved a couple of doors down the lane into larger premises, with room upstairs to run workshops. To be in a position to expand so soon after opening and to build the shop and brand into what it is now has been my biggest achievement.
Hardest moment?
That is difficult to define. It’s been less about moments, more about times! Working for yourself with no staff can be lonely. I also find working in the business means it is difficult to work on the business. I hope to recruit someone soon!
Best thing about being a female small business owner?
The freedom from other people’s expectations; working for myself and not someone else’s reward; making decisions which are truly mine; knowing that my success is down to me.
Rebecca Crallan owns The eco-friendly GreenHouse in Ripon
Tell us more about your business
I set up The Greenhouse in March 2022, a general store for eco-friendly gifts, refills, plants and coffee. During lockdown we really noticed how much of an impact we were having on the planet and how we enjoyed a simpler life. So I decided to 'make it easy to make the greener choice' by carefully choosing products that are eco-friendly, functional AND beautiful.
Biggest achievement?
Winning a community award, a St Wilfrid's Star, in recognition of our contribution to the business community in Ripon.
Hardest moment?
A brief period of online bullying by another local business when we started stocking pastries from one of their competitors. It was hard to read (and not respond!) but in reality it drove quite a lot of business our way as his comments raised awareness that we now stocked pastries. And he's gone out of business now.
Best thing about about being a female small business owner?
How many friends I've made in Ripon and beyond. I barely knew anyone when I started as we moved here during lockdown, but having a business in town has attracted a fabulous community of eco-warriers keen to do their bit... and have a chat!
Jodie Marlow set up Southbourne Planthouse with her HUSBAND last year
Tell us more about your business
We are Southbourne Planthouse which opened in June 2024. I’ve always loved plants and loved nurturing and growing plants from cuttings. Yes we maaaaay have a few plants in our house. I’m a massive cheese plant fan. Our push to finally opening up Planthouse was due to the fact that we couldn’t find any bloody moss poles! It was the final push for us to say ‘right, let's do this’.
Biggest achievement?
Opening the doors on the first day. It was after years of talking and Pinteresting it, and we were so incredibly proud of what we created.
Hardest moment?
Getting my head around all the background stuff. Book-keeping, accountant meetings, new software etc. It's the boring stuff that you have to know.
Best thing about being a woman in business?
I adore being a female in business. I am able to choose suppliers that are also female founded and support them in their businesses.
Katie Heward plant-sits for PEOPLE AND companies across London and also has a PLANT Shop in Margate
Tell us about your business
I have a plant shop called The Potting Shop, which is a space for learning how to care about your plants through advice and workshops. We also offer repotting services, sell plants and care equipment for you to build your indoor jungle. I co-founded Plant Sit in 2016 and have been taking care of plants across London ever since, but then in 2022 I made the move to Margate to be closer to the sea. There were not many places to buy plants, and so in June 2023 I opened The Potting Shop on Northdown Road.
Biggest achievement? Not just one thing comes to mind, but some of the best things about running the shop is the autonomy to experiment with various different ideas. I have loved holding workshops, and talking to like-minded people about plant care. We have hosted a couple of great exhibitions and I am just so thrilled people want to use our space. Then working with independent suppliers to curate a beautiful space with incredible pieces from pots to macrame and greetings cards.
Hardest moment?
Running the business solo and being the person who has to have the answers and ideas to keep the business moving. Financially things are really tough across the country, and with trade prices of plants increasing due to importation, that is something we are going to have to think about more in the coming years.
Best thing about being a female small business owner?
I love being a business owner so I can decide what my business looks like and where I want to take it. It is exciting, moving from plant care in offices to owning a lovely shop by the sea. I'm excited to see what happens next!
Comments