The Plant Friends Journal 001
Hey plant friends,
Welcome to the first-ever weekly edition of The Plant Friends Journal! Three different names before a single edition even went out—so this better be good, right? After a couple of failed attempts, I’ve finally landed on a name that feels right. I journal a lot in my personal life to keep track of everything going on. It helps me work through problems, organise my thoughts, and bring some of my many ideas to life.
So, taking a deep breath and sending those thoughts out to you all feels both scary and natural at the same time. I think that’s what matters—keeping this real and authentic, rather than just another hard sales pitch or some AI-generated nonsense. That’s what you’re getting with this newsletter—a weekly update from a back garden business selling plants. The highs, the lows, and everything in between. I hope you find it interesting, maybe even entertaining, and—most importantly—something that actually feels relevant, rather than just more content lost in the endless social media scroll.
And let’s be honest, this is ultimately about plants. I have a strong hunch that, if you’re here, you’re probably a plant person.
First Things First—A Huge Thank You
Before I go any further, I need to say thank you.
304 people. That’s how many of you have subscribed to this newsletter. That’s 304 people who decided they didn’t mind Plant Friends showing up in their inbox. Across all social platforms, we’re creeping up on 5,000 followers, which is incredible in itself. But the fact that 304 of you actually chose to subscribe means even more.
Some of you might have heard of 1000 True Fans, a concept introduced by Kevin Kelly in 2008 (later turned into a best-selling marketing book). The idea is that while you can have loads of followers, it’s the people who opt in for more—like a newsletter—who are your true supporters. Apparently, you need 1,000 of those to build a sustainable online business. Personally? I’m more than happy with my 304. So, truly, thank you for being here.
Also, unlike a lot of newsletters, this isn’t just me shouting into the void. If you hit ‘reply,’ it actually comes straight to me. And if you follow me on social media, you already know I love interaction (and plant competitions). So feel free to reach out!
Business Update
Let’s be clear—I absolutely love running this business. But without a doubt, it’s also the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And I have two kids.
I’ve always been open about the realities of running a small business, because in today’s world of perfectly curated social media, transparency can feel rare. I’m not telling you it’s hard to make you feel sorry for me—I genuinely love what I do. But I do think it’s important to share what actually goes into it.
Last year, someone in the Plant Friends Facebook group asked, “I hope you still have time for your own garden?”Truthfully? Not really. Right now, there’s a full-on war for space between the houseplants and the outdoor plants—all of which are for sale. By the end of summer, I need to add another polytunnel, which means half the garden will be dedicated to plants, and the other half will stay as a play area for the kids. It’s not quite what I imagined, but it’s the only way to keep things running smoothly. Otherwise, I’d be carting plants indoors every night and back outside every morning just to pack orders.
I used to have this idealistic view that once the business started growing (pun intended), everything would just fall into place. Turns out, growth often means more chaos. Back in August, I posted a screenshot showing £12,000 in revenue and set myself the goal of doing another £12,000 by the end of 2024. What I didn’t anticipate was smashing that target—£24,000 from October to December alone, with 99% of sales being houseplants. Amazing? Yes. A nightmare to manage? Also yes.
Going All In
That brings me to a big decision. On December 4, 2024, I left my delivery job to sell plants full-time.
For a while, I was juggling both—working, running the business, and shipping out £2,000 worth of plants per week from my back garden. Eventually, I had to decide: keep trying to balance it all, or go all in? So, I took the leap.
Right now, it’s just me—handling everything from growing and stock management to admin, customer service, and marketing. It’s chaotic, but I like knowing that if this works (or doesn’t), it’s on me.
What’s Next?
So, what can you expect in the near future?
Well, if we met through the Plant Friends Facebook group, not much will change—you lot mostly take care of yourselves in there anyway! If you follow me on TikTok, expect more late-night livestreams of me packing up plants. There’s also loads of content I’ve already recorded—podcast episodes, garden centre visits, all sorts—but I need to actually upload it all. I’m hoping that writing this newsletter every week will help me stay on track with that.
Speaking of which, I’m committing to sending this out every Monday. Writing comes more naturally to me than being on camera, so this feels like the right way to stay connected.
The Plant Friends community has grown into such a big part of my life. Finding people who share the same interests as you is so important, and I’ve learned so much on this journey. I’ve loved every minute of it so far, and I hope you’re enjoying being part of it too.
See you next Monday!