August 2024 - 66

5 MINUTES WITH ...
5
MINUTESWITH
Melinda Koetsiers is the social media,
events and marketing director at Koetsier's
Greenhouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What brought you to the green industry?
I married into it! Koetsier's Greenhouse is a 100-plus-yearold
family business. It's not what I studied for in college,
but I love it! I grew up literally right around the corner from
our greenhouse and even went to preschool with my nowhusband
- we started dating when we were in college and
I started working for his dad at the greenhouse. The rest is
history! I always joke that we didn't get very far in life - I
grew up around the corner and we are living in the house my
husband grew up in. Wouldn't change a thing.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I love making customers happy! We want our greenhouse
to be a place where people can feel comfortable, happy and
known - a place they can sit or stroll through with a cup of
coffee and relax. I love it when our customers say, " Hey, Mel! "
They know me either from me helping them with plants, at a
class or from social media. Our staff is really good at spending
time with customers and making them feel welcome. To be in
a business that makes people happy is so rewarding. The best
is when we first open in the spring, after a cold winter. Their
faces just light up and they all sigh, " Ahhh. "
As a family business, how do you separate the
family part from the business part?
That's a hard one, as most people with family businesses
would agree. In a way, we can't separate it; it's kind of who
66 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | AUGUST 2024
By Teresa McPherson
we are. Plus, it's in our backyard, which can be really good
and really hard. You can be home for meals and when the
kids need something, but it's also easy to sneak back in there
when you could be at home.
Being seasonal helps. The spring season is intense and
all-consuming, but then there is a break for the summer -
and we look forward to that family time - then another
break after the winter holiday season. As our kids grew up,
my husband and I made sure that, whenever possible, we
attended their concerts, games and school functions. I hope
we did OK!
If you weren't in this profession, what would
you be doing?
My husband and I laugh about this because we talk about
what we would do if we ever sold this place - what would
we do? We both thought we would start a little place, a little
greenhouse, a few more animals. ... I guess we are in the
right business.
Favorite plant to grow?
I have two: I love echinacea - I have a whole garden of
them. What's not to love about a plant that comes back every
year, has so many different varieties, and that you can use
for cut flowers? My favorite annual flower is definitely the
begonia Whopper series or the Proven Winners begonia series
Surefire. I have them all over my yard in containers. They just
look spectacular all season long. They flower all summer with
minimal care and can take full sun to shade.
Melinda
Koetsiers
August 2024

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