Finding a partner in life and business is a process. It requires ensuring that two people are on the same page and focused on a common goal. For CEO, Mitesh & CFO,Vicky Popat of PlantOGrams, they've been able to accomplish both. We had the opportunity to hear from the dynamic duo about their business and what has led them to be successful.
What's your story?
We are a Husband and Wife team and started our business 10 years ago. Being an entrepreneur has not only allowed us to focus on creating something unique to be placed in homes, something that can change the way we give and receive gifts. We wanted build something that will be incorporated in the gifting industry giving the consumer the choice of how they gift. The perks of creating such an amazing business is it allows us (my wife and I) to be very hands on with our growing children Sanum,7 and Sohum, 4 both homeschooled. We didn’t want to miss a moment in our children’s lives and wanted to spend more time with them.
Tell us about your services
We send the “only gift that keeps on giving” We ship over 200 types of live and exotic fruit trees from around the world as gifts for all occasions. We have something for everyone, from a Vanilla bean or Cinnamon tree for the aspiring chef in your life to a Coffee or Tea plant for the caffeine lover in your life and hundreds of plants in between. Unlike traditional gift such as flowers or gift baskets which are short lived, our fruit trees can last for generations, providing the recipient and their family with fresh, health fruit year after year and some plants can even fruit multiple time per year.
What are some of the accolades that you have in business?
PlantOGrams are Hollywood's favorite gifts. We have a loyal following among several Hollywood stars and have been featured in numerous media outlets such as In Touch Magazine, Fox News, Reader Digest, Forbes, Entrepreneur.com,Credit.com, Glamour, Extra, Wedding Wire these are just a few to name.
What advice would you give to people that are looking to build a family based business?
Makes sure that you choose a field that you are passionate about, it makes it a lot easier to wake up in the morning when you know you are going to be doing something you love all day.
There is no substitute for hard work, no matter what business you are in you have to put in the hours. Get to know all aspects of your business intimately, invest the time to know how every detail works, this will allow you to streamline processes and make your business more efficient and ultimately more profitable.
What have been some of your favorite clients to work with?
Enid from New York is one of our favorite clients, she is retired and started with just a few plants, growing them in containers. Over the years she has steadily added to her collection and now has a room in her home dedicated as a green house for all her plants, she has a lush tropical oasis in the middle of New York city.
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Entrepreneurship is like planting a seed, you plant it, nurture it with love and attention, help it weather the storms and harsh elements, watch it blossom into a strong, mature tree and ultimately reap the rewards of sitting under its shade and enjoying the delicious fruit it provides.
Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years we see PlantOGram’s gaining more market share in the gifting market and becoming the go to name for gifts of all occasions.