Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cage.
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?
After losing my corporate job of 14 years due to the pandemic I started to spend my time on my passion of plants. Creating dish gardens in my backyard… it was a great way to social distance and offered me a great calming hobby during a stressful time. As businesses started to reopen I thought how can I offer this fun, creative plant obsession with others. I wanted to create an environment where guests could come in and plant right in the shop. I have an extensive background in retail and merchandising so I started to put my vision together and it started to really fall into place. Finding the location available in Downtown Melbourne was perfect and our first step. I already had a good idea of what I wanted the design to look like and what type of vibe I wanted to create. Our next steps were plants and pots an that was probably my biggest challenge. The pandemic had created a shortage of tropical houseplant so most wholesalers were not taking new clients and there was a delay in shipping of planters. I spent a ton of time networking and was able to generate enough to open the shop in March of 2021
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?
There definitely have been some challenges. As a business owner, the work behind the scenes is tremendous. From pulling the right permits for the right items to making sure you have enough stock and the right mix for your guests.. The pandemic created a houseplant shortage as I shared before. Tons of planters were on backorder with long delays. Trying to find many resources was key.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Let’s Plant It!?
We are an interactive plant store located in the heart of Historic Downtown Melbourne. We specialize in tropical houseplants, succulents, and cacti. Guests can come in-shop and purchase a plant, planter or both. What set us apart is we have 8 self-contained potting benches that allows guests to plant their purchase right in the shop. In addition, they can create terrariums and Dish Gardens. No reservations or workshop needed. You can just walk in. Our novelty pots are a hit among our guests…we have every from Astronauts to Zebras. We also offer guests the ability to book private planting parties from 6 to 8 pm Tuesday thru Saturday. We have a party room that can be used for food and drink that guests can bring in. We do also offer after-hours workshops that are typically Holiday driven
What does success mean to you?
Succes to me is having guests coming in all day and saying how much they love my store! Providing that experience for my guests makes my day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.letsplantitmelbourne.com
- Instagram: letsplantitmelbourne
- Facebook: letsplantitmelbourne
Image Credits
Laura Cage
