Meet Joan-Maureen Perez | Small Business Owner of Jojo’s Garden

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joan-Maureen Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joan-Maureen, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
When it comes to my garden, I don’t believe in giving up, I believe in trying something new in order to succeed. Sometimes, when I am arranging certain succulents they don’t always turn out the way I would’ve hoped, and that’s ok. It doesn’t mean I need to give up. This is the perfect time to grow my knowledge and work a little harder to see what works best together. In my opinion, a great way to succeed is to always try one more time. When I’m feeling like it’s time to give up, that’s the moment where I try something new or different. It may lead to nothing or it may lead to innovation. It may spark a great idea, or teach me what not to do. Regardless, quitting will never help my business succeed, and that’s a fact.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a nature lover who creates arrangements made with love and positive energy. My arrangements are made with succulents intuitively selected from my garden for the client. It pleases me to know that everything displayed in people’s homes, offices, and private gardens all began in my garden. The arrangements, and more so the succulents, speak for themselves, but through them I’ve gained the reputation of being the Succulent Queen. Clients have mentioned my garden has succulents not commonly found anywhere else, and it motivates me to continue collecting and learning about these wonderful plants. It has taken seven years thus far to build my garden, and I’m proud to say I have roughly 50 different species of succulents and cacti.

Anything worth building and growing is not accompanied with a smooth path because it is meant to test your strengths and motives behind your intention. Like all roads, mine was and is still not easy. Everyday, after leaving my full-time job, I put in work for something, anything towards the growth of my business. As my husband says, “even if it’s one arrangement a day, it’s still progress.”
There have been days and weeks where I don’t receive orders and months where I find myself challenged with racing against time, but all these moments lead to a great balance. I have attended some pop-up shops / farmer’s markets and have been very successful, while others I’ve attended led to no sales because it simply wasn’t the right crowd. None of those moments discouraged me because it’s all part of the process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Miami is one of the most diverse cities I’ve ever experienced. It caters to all personalities, ethnicities, and trends. Personally, the best thing this city has to offer is our beaches, dining and nightlife and sometimes all of those collide to bring forth some of the coolest places to visit here. There are also more relaxing activities like the Frost Museum, parks with nature walks, and city strolls through Brickell if that’s more your thing. Truly, I would try to fit as many of these places in one week to ensure my bestie gets the best of what Miami has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Before Jojo’s Garden is what it is today, it was only a few planters with succulents. My husband immediately enhanced my garden by bringing home rare succulents he’d find on his trips to the plant store. Eventually, my garden began overflowing with growth, love, and life. During one of our gardening days, he suggested I begin making arrangements for my friends from the overflowing new growth in my garden. Today, I can say he is truly the mastermind behind my success. He’s creative, supportive, and thinks outside the box when I find myself stuck in it. He’s present at all of my pop ups and markets, he’s hands on with me in the garden, but most of all he allows me to create freely and be myself in my business. I am grateful for a partner that is supportive in all aspects of my life.

Website: ShopJojosGarden.com

Instagram: Jojos_Garden_

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Image Credits
MariaPaz Forlong Aryn García Jerez