August 2024 - 44

MANAGEMENT
Turning a
lifelong education
into a
I
was 16 when I fell in love with plants,
18 when I started my horticulture
education and 30 when I started a
business that allowed me to share my
passion with others.
The year 2020 brought many
changes, but it was the year that
kick-started my entrepreneurship.
At the time, I was eight years into
a horticultural therapy program
manager position - a position I
thought I'd have for many more
years. I was managing a greenhouse
and providing job training and
horticulture therapy services
to adults with developmental
disabilities. I loved what I did, but I
hated the hourlong commute.
During my commute, I would
drive past an abandoned greenhouse
property and daydream about
bringing it back to life. During one
morning drive, there was some life on
the property. Over time, curiosity got
the best of me, so I stopped in to see
what was happening. I learned that
the property was going to become
a year-round farm market and they
were accepting vendors.
Thinking of the many propagations
I had at home, I asked if I could start
selling houseplants there. This one
conversation kick-started what is
44 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | AUGUST 2024
Business
By Hannah Brookfield
now Carroll County Maryland's only
houseplant shop, BotaniGal.
Lesson 1: Don't be afraid to start
the conversation.
Putting yourself out there can be
nerve-wracking and anxiety provoking,
but conversations are the building
blocks of every business.
Inside the farm market, I set
up two small shelves of plants on
consignment. I quickly realized that
I would have to purchase additional
inventory to supplement my
propagations. Over time, I expanded
inside the farm market to an entire
corner of the store and started
conducting horticulture therapy
classes. Selling at the market allowed
me to grow a customer base without
taking a large risk on overhead.
Lesson 2: Dip your toes in, test
the waters.
Find a way to ease into your
business with a scale you are
comfortable with.
As my business inside the market
grew, I had a decision to make.
What next? Did I want more? Did I
want to leave my full-time position?
Ultimately, I did, and it was honestly
the easiest decision I ever made. I

August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2024

Editor's Letter
Contents
AmericanHort
Headlines/Calendar
The Garden Center Show Attendee Guide
GCS: Schedule at a Glance
GCS: Educational Sessions Schedule
GCS: Meet Our Speakers
GCS: Show Floor Map
GCS: 2024 Exhibitor Listings
Innovator of the Year: Innovating the Future
Technology: Embracing Change
Showcase: Garden Accents & Décor
Management: Turning a Lifelong Education Into a Business
Showcase: Miniature/Indoor Gardening
Event Central: Goat Yoga
Showcase: Garden Pharmacy
Marketing: Mastering Live Selling
Holiday: A Winter Wonderland
Pohmer On ... : Who Packed Your Parachute?
Marketplace
Ad Index
5 Minutes with ...: Melinda Koetsiers
August 2024 - 1
August 2024 - 2
August 2024 - 3
August 2024 - Editor's Letter
August 2024 - 5
August 2024 - Contents
August 2024 - 7
August 2024 - AmericanHort
August 2024 - 9
August 2024 - Headlines/Calendar
August 2024 - 11
August 2024 - 12
August 2024 - The Garden Center Show Attendee Guide
August 2024 - GCS: Schedule at a Glance
August 2024 - 15
August 2024 - GCS: Educational Sessions Schedule
August 2024 - 17
August 2024 - 18
August 2024 - 19
August 2024 - GCS: Meet Our Speakers
August 2024 - 21
August 2024 - GCS: Show Floor Map
August 2024 - 23
August 2024 - GCS: 2024 Exhibitor Listings
August 2024 - 25
August 2024 - 26
August 2024 - 27
August 2024 - Innovator of the Year: Innovating the Future
August 2024 - 29
August 2024 - 30
August 2024 - 31
August 2024 - 32
August 2024 - 33
August 2024 - 34
August 2024 - A1
August 2024 - A2
August 2024 - A3
August 2024 - A4
August 2024 - 35
August 2024 - 36
August 2024 - 37
August 2024 - Technology: Embracing Change
August 2024 - 39
August 2024 - 40
August 2024 - 41
August 2024 - Showcase: Garden Accents & Décor
August 2024 - 43
August 2024 - Management: Turning a Lifelong Education Into a Business
August 2024 - 45
August 2024 - Showcase: Miniature/Indoor Gardening
August 2024 - Event Central: Goat Yoga
August 2024 - Showcase: Garden Pharmacy
August 2024 - 49
August 2024 - Marketing: Mastering Live Selling
August 2024 - 51
August 2024 - Holiday: A Winter Wonderland
August 2024 - 53
August 2024 - 54
August 2024 - 55
August 2024 - Pohmer On ... : Who Packed Your Parachute?
August 2024 - 57
August 2024 - 58
August 2024 - 59
August 2024 - Marketplace
August 2024 - 61
August 2024 - 62
August 2024 - 63
August 2024 - 64
August 2024 - Ad Index
August 2024 - 5 Minutes with ...: Melinda Koetsiers
August 2024 - 67
August 2024 - 68
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/thriveguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/thriveguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2020
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october-2019
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