We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abby Rupsa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abby below.
Abby, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about how you identified some of your key partners/vendors and how you made those relationships work?
The lifeblood of my landscape design business is my clients of course, but if I don’t have good tradesmen to install my designs, then my service is just theory without application. One of my best contractor connections came to me via a client who hired a landscaping contractor on their own. I offer an aftercare consultation service ensures that the design is executed as it is on paper. The contractor was excited to install my design and executed it to perfection asking my opinion and catering to my vision every step of the way. They did not treat me like an obstacle in completing the job, instead they took great care with my design and my clients were thrilled with the result. They were cheerful and engaging and instantly I felt that they could be not just contractors, but friends. We’ve been working together for three years and have completed dozens of jobs, creating happy clients along the way.
Abby, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am an independent landscape designer/owner of Botanical Living in Broomfield, CO. I have been in the industry for about 8 years. After finding a passion for it renovating my first home’s existing yard and then installing the yard from scratch of my new build home, I fell in love with landscape design. Neighbors would wander over and ask for my opinion on plants and ask for ideas for their outdoor living spaces. What I noticed was how happy I felt talking about landscaping and how happy it made my neighbors when I’d help them. It all just felt so easy and natural and my passion was born.
I pride myself on treating every yard uniquely. I want my clients to see that I’m carefully crafting a space that caters to their lifestyle, but I also want them to feel cared for while it’s happening. Landscaping can be expensive. It’s up there with buying a home or a car, having a baby or getting married. It’s also very emotional for people. I help navigate the process easily and they come out of the experience having enjoyed it. I am a concierge to my clients providing them insight and easing their minds along the way. I say I will design their space as if it were my own and I feel that this earns me repeat clients and garners referrals like nothing else. I’m so proud to have created this business and that people want to invest in me. It’s not uncommon for clients to wait 45 days for an initial meeting with during the height of the busy season. It makes me giddy when they say that I was worth the wait.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I practice yoga and there is a philosophy that says your aura or energy can radiate up to 6′ around you. I find great connection to the word “RADIATE”. Not only am I designing for my client, but for their neighbors, even the ones who may stroll by randomly on an evening walk. A beautiful landscape exudes cheerful curb appeal, providing comfort to those who live in it and use it and it’s a safe haven for wildlife and environmentally beneficial pollinators. There’s just something special about a thoughtful and well designed space.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
It was pretty simple actually. I was in my design program and was realizing hand drawing was going to be cumbersome, as revisions would take far too long. When I made the switch to digital rendering I had the free student version of AutoCAD. I bought a PC and simply started designing. I got comfortable using it, but I always felt like it was lacking somehow. It was geared toward engineering and a bit bland for my creative designs. I saw another designer on Instagram who made the switch from hand drawing to computer rendering and I loved what her software could do. I decided to reach out and she sold me on switching to Dynascape. I say is similar to CAD, but much sexier for landscaping. That initial investment was scary for me but I had to rationalize it by telling myself I’d have to sell a few designs and then I’d be off and running. I have very low overhead and expenses, so I feel more nimble than a large design/build firm. Operating as a design only company affords me the ability to pivot quickly to anticipate market shifts and accommodate clients’ needs without being bogged down with inventory and crews with equipment.
Contact Info:
- Website: botanicallivingdesigns.com
- Instagram: @botanical.living
- Facebook: Botanical Living, LLC
- Linkedin: @AbbyRupsa
Image Credits
Nathan Hindman Photography and Will Strong Photography – headshot