Meet Julie Sherer | Plant Enthusiast + Curator of Groovy Growing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Sherer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Well, before Groovy Growing, I worked in marketing and actually flipped furniture on the side. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. I remember one day I was watering my plants on my front porch thinking what do I love? What do I want to spend my days doing? And it clicked. I love my plants. I love tending to them and simply being around them. They truly bring me so much joy. From that moment on, I was on a mission to create joy in community by sharing my love of plants.

What should our readers know about your business?
The benefit of shopping with Groovy Growing is I’m not going to just sell you a plant and send you on your way. I put a lot of time and love into growing my plants, so I want to be a part of my customer’s plant journey. I encourage all my customers to reach out to me anytime about their plants. It’s extremely beneficial to have a direct line to someone who can help you with all your plant needs.

It definitely isn’t easy starting your own business. It’s actually one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Something I didn’t fully grasp before starting Groovy Growing is that my products require maintenance. I can’t just set my product on a shelf and go work on growing my business. This means I work anywhere between 16-18 hours a day to make it all happen. I’ll admit, it’s hard to work this hard. However, it’s worth it when I see my customers light up as they step into the booth or when I hear a customer’s plant is thriving because of the care advice I gave. The support and encouragement from the community has been a big part of the success of my business.

One thing I really prioritize is customer service. I treat everyone as if we are already friends and aim to make a connection with everyone who steps into the booth. I am blatantly honest will all of my customers and guide them on the right path with their plant choices. I really do believe that level of honestly and attentiveness sets me apart from other nurseries.

I’d also like to emphasize the importance of giving back. It’s my mission to create joy in the community, so for every 50 plants sold, I donate 1. It’s our goal to visit hospitals, retirements homes, colleges, first responders, churches, and more to individually hand out plants to those who need an extra boost of joy!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If anyone is visiting, we’re hittin’ the beach to spend a nice day under the sun. I also love the feeling of a farmer’s market, so I’d definitely take a stroll through the local markets. I love to engage with the local vendors, hear their story, and support local businesses. It’s hard to say where’d we go to eat, depends on the mood! However, I can almost guarantee it would be dining with a small business.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to acknowledge my dad, Jackson. I wouldn’t be able to dream as big as I do without the support and encouragement of my father. I am beyond grateful to have him as my role model.

Website: www.groovygrowing.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groovy.growing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groovy.growing/

Image Credits
The photo with the Haworthia and wicker baskets was taken by Ryan Garrison