I’m a Plant Boutique, So Where Are the Plants? Why I'm Doing Things Differently

I’m a plant boutique, so where are the plants?

There are a lot of reasons why I don’t offer live plant sales in the online store.

While I started this business thinking I would be more of a traditional plant shop, I quickly realized that was not for me. Caring for my personal plants is one thing, but keeping up with an inventory of plants is another. Not only that, but they require space. Not just a place to sit, but a place with proper lighting.

Within a few months of starting TCPB, I had shifted to a retail mindset. I actually swore off plants altogether. My focus was retail only, until I started vending at festivals. That is when I created my air plant terrarium bar. It worked because I only had to order plants when I had an event, which meant less inventory to store.

Working with air plants in that capacity warmed me up to the idea of live plants again, and that is when I decided to specialize in air plants. They are unique, versatile, and fun to style; the perfect plant for my brand aesthetic.

People often ask me why I don’t sell other plants. And the answer is, “I’m not a plant shop. I’m a retail boutique.” Air plants happen to fit into my store motif, and if they didn’t, I would not be working with them.

It all comes down to brand identity and sticking with what I want for the future of the company. Being a boutique means specializing in something in a way others don’t. That is the creative part I enjoy. It is open ended, but still guided by nature, plants, and earthiness.

Now that the Living Wreath Workshops are happening, I am buying more air plants and thinking of new ways to use them. I’m inspired to switch up my market display for this summer and offer a wider selection of interesting species now that I see how air plants can be used as decorative home pieces.

Customers can visit me weekly at the Outdoor Sylvania Summer Market on Tuesdays starting May 26 and shop fun and interesting air plants as well as small business-made planters and accessories. Plus, workshop kits will be available for purchase to create in the beautiful Olander Park or take home for a fun DIY activity.

Knowing that I didn’t want to be a plant shop helped me focus on creating something new for people to experience, and I am really glad I didn’t give in to the pressure to sell other plants. While I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted this business to become, I also knew what I didn’t want.

Creating the life of your truest desires means saying no to a lot of things that might make sense in the moment. You have to have the courage to trust your instincts when it comes to passing on opportunities or ideas that don’t match up with exactly what you want to create.

There will always be people who will tell you differently, but they aren’t the ones who have to live your life. It is true that unexpected changes can alter the plan, but you’ll know the difference between being redirected to a better path and settling for low-hanging fruit.

People often misunderstand Terra Cotta Plant Boutique, assuming they know what it is just from the name. Plants, right? But it is actually an ever-evolving creative platform that allows me to dream of all sorts of new ideas around the theme of plants and nature in a highly specialized way. I created a space in the world for me to make my own rules.

In short, TCPB is not a plant shop. It’s a plant boutique. Can I tell you exactly what that means? No. But I can show you with every new idea, product, and service I offer.

Stay botanically inspired,
Brooklyn