Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Buchanan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I was once very focused on a path: bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, clinical licensure and then PhD happened one right after the other. I worked as a staff social worker for a couple of agencies throughout, returned to one after taking a couple of years off to complete PhD coursework and became Director of a county-based program while finishing my dissertation. I then moved on to a role as Director of a new state-wide program that I’d been advocating to initiate.

I worked with the same population throughout: adults incarcerated or otherwise impacted by the criminal justice system (largely impacted by severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance abuse issues) and utilizing the services of a public defender. My dissertation research focused on social work practice in public defense. I am currently collaborating on an ongoing research project focused on the same with the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School.

I was hyper-focused. I wanted to figure out a way to continue research while working in the field – and I was doing that. I felt (and still feel) very strongly that social work and public defense are a good combo and I wanted to “prove” it. Unfortunately, it was a constant battle: for our clients, for funding to keep the programs going, for our own fair pay, and for our role in the system to simply be valued.

It’s the battle part that prompted me to take a risk and step outside of the work I’d been dedicated to since I started my bachelor’s degree. I looked around and realized that I’d accomplished what I set out to accomplish (or had at least somewhat positively impacted the trajectory of the field) – and I was tired of fighting. I was ready to pass the baton, so to speak, to others who weren’t burned out.

Risk #1 was leaving a career path I’d been on and had planned to stay on indefinitely – at 40 years old. I bought a small building, launched a private practice, and expanded by adding a few therapists – all in late 2019. COVID-19 shut it all down in early 2020 just as I was starting to feel comfortable with the huge new endeavor I’d taken on. I suddenly had to learn how to switch to telehealth and had to make all of the decisions associated with being a small business owner during a pandemic.

Risk #2 was opening a plant shop in 2021 – because why not? Life was upside down, anyway, and nobody was renting office space at the time (and nobody in my practice was eager to give up telehealth yet) – so I had to get creative. I had a mortgage to pay, but I also wanted to fill my space with life again. I wanted community.

I’ve had plants my entire life. I never considered them to be a hobby. They were just part of life. I traveled across the state in my very early 20s (20 years ago) with a car full of plants. I’ve decorated every office I’ve ever had with them. I’ve bought and killed hundreds. I’d never actually talked about them, though, until I looked around during the pandemic and realized other people were interested.

I opened a plant shop because it seemed easy. And fun. I started small – just one room (my own former office) – but I’ve expanded and have now taken over the entire building. I added a coffee shop a few months ago. I’ve slowly worked out a balance between the two worlds, but the plants + coffee are pulling me their way. I feel immense joy every time I find a new plant to add to the shop – and every time someone comes in and just wants to hang out and talk about plants.

Plants make people happy. Hearing that the shop is a happy place – and that it brings joy – is the absolute best professional feedback I’ve ever received.

Maybe it was a mid-life crisis, burn-out, or the pandemic – or maybe it was a perfect storm. Regardless, best risk ever.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a career social worker with three degrees in social work: BSSW (University of Tennessee), MSW (University of Michigan), and PhD (University of Tennessee). I have been licensed for independent clinical practice (LCSW) since 2015. I’ve worked as a therapist in community mental health, have been director of county and statewide programs, and I own a group practice. I spent many years going down a certain path before taking a sharp left and opening a plant + coffee shop.

I’m a long-time plant person, gardener, and grower of just about anything that will sprout from soil. Plants of all kinds have always been part of my life. I can’t remember a time I’ve not had houseplants and gardens.

Plant People, my botanical boutique, was born out of a love for both plants and community. I looked around during COVID and just missed people. I heard from so many others who also felt disconnected from their families, communities, hobbies. What better way to reconnect with the community than with plants?!

My goal – from the beginning – has been to spread and share a passion for growing and enjoying plants throughout our community – and to create a space for those with this shared interest.

I am most proud that I have created a happy, safe, welcoming space for my community.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I am likely not a great example when it comes to funding a business. I’ve been following my gut instead of a business plan, which is risky, for sure – but hasn’t led me astray yet.

I started my private practice, Foothills Counseling and Wellness Center, on the side while working a full-time agency job. I wanted to see how it might go before fully committing (even though I was more than ready to quit the job). I looked for office space to rent and wasn’t overly enthused to have to pay to update someone else’s space while also paying huge amounts of rent with 3+ year lease terms. I was in a position to be able to buy space, so I found a small old commercial building that needed some work and invested my time, energy, and money in my own space. I worked both jobs (agency and private practice) until I was able to make the leap to full-time private practice. All of the money I earned from my private practice while working both jobs was invested into building the practice.

In-person practice came to a halt with COVID and I wasn’t eager to return (telehealth won me over), so I had some space to utilize in my building. I took on a small consulting project with the sole purpose of utilizing that income ($5,000) to purchase the starting inventory and supplies for Plant People, my botanical boutique. All of the money generated by Plant People has been invested back into the business. It’s grown from one small room and open only on weekends when I could be there to encompassing my whole building, open 7 days per week, with 6 employees.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I want my counseling clients and my plant shop customers to walk away from their encounters with me and my businesses and feel as if they were valued, appreciated, heard, welcomed – unconditionally. I’m interested in relationships – across the board – not just in filling a practice schedule or in selling plants. I’m interested in building community and spreading a little happiness. I put great emphasis on surrounding myself with other therapists and plant shop staff who hold these same values.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.plantpeopleboutique.com
• Instagram: @plantpeopleboutique
• Facebook: @plantpeopleboutique