Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Hannah Brookfield, Founder of BotaniGal, LLC., located in Westminster, MD, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

BotaniGal is a houseplant boutique, but more importantly, we provide horticulture therapy services to the community. Horticulture therapy is the use of plants and plant-related activities to improve a person's overall mental and physical health.

Many populations can benefit, including individuals with developmental disabilities, mental illness, memory and cogitation concerns, or just anyone who wants to have fun with plants.

Tell us about yourself

I am a certified professional horticulturist and a certified horticulture therapist. Growing up with a brother with developmental disabilities, I learned compassion, patience, and empathy at a very young age. He instilled a passion in me to help people.

When I was young, I developed another passion. At my first job at a garden center, I remember the moment I fell in love with horticulture. I was walking through the greenhouse with my boss and came across a sick plant, and I asked her if she wanted me to throw it away.

She said no, she is going to fertilize it, and it will be fine. I remember being skeptical, but a week later, it was beautiful. At that moment, I realized you could change a plant's environment to make it happy, and through my years in horticulture therapy, I realized you could change a person's environment with plants to make them happy.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was winning the 2022 Carroll Biz Challenge last week, which is Carroll County, Maryland's version of Shark Tank. Before that, I was buying a company vehicle to transport products (the BotaniVan) with the money I made with the business.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

A person will never understand the time it takes to run a small business until you are actually doing it. I frequently have to miss out on or be late to many events with friends and family because my business takes up a lot of my time. With that said, it has been worth it!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Just do it! Take the risk on yourself and your community. With will be worth it.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Try not to do everything yourself.
Build relationships with your customers, community, and other local businesses. These will be invaluable.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

BotaniGal is trying to save the world, using one plant at a time.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.botanigalplants.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BotaniGalPlants/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botanigal/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HannahSBrookfield/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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