Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia McCallum.
Olivia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I didn’t necessarily set out with the aim of starting my own business, or at least not this one. After spending the previous eight years in the film industry, I decided it was time to move on from the grind of working on sets. I wasn’t entirely sure which direction to go next, but I knew that, eventually, I wanted to be my own boss, with the freedom and opportunity for a more hands-on type of creativity. I’ve always been a tinkerer and love getting my hands dirty and though, I’d made some pretty swell excel spreadsheets in my day working in production, something was still missing.
But while brainstorming for what was next, the holiday season of 2015 rolled around and I needed Christmas gifts for my friends. I’ve always enjoyed making gifts over purchasing them to add a bit more personalization and I happened to have quite a bit of time on my hands. One day I was applying aloe to a particularly rough sunburn, while listening to Adele’s “Hello from the Other Side,” when the idea for my pots struck me on the head like Newton’s apple and the first Plant Pun was born, “Aloe from the Other Side.”
Using supplies from my craft closet, I settled on a simple design and made a small batch of pots for my friends and stuck some aloe plants in them. I still had no intention of starting a business out of this particular idea yet, but once friends of my friends saw the pots they wanted some of their own and soon enough, I was being asked about what other puns were available. From word of mouth alone, I had several orders by the end of the month. At that point, I decided to give Etsy a try and see if the popularity was sustainable and now here we are, a little more than two years later!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Figuring out basil puns hasn’t been that easy…
Each and every day has been a new lesson in being a small business owner. I came from a very structured world where there was a chain of command and everyone had their own role. Then, all of a sudden, I found myself navigating the waters of entrepreneurship on my own. You find yourself trying to answer questions you don’t even know how to ask. Where’s the best place to buy supplies in bulk? What are the various permits, taxes and fees required to operate within in Los Angeles? What’s the most efficient way to prepare inventory? In that respect, it’s often a two-steps-forward-one-step-back type of situation, but as long as I’m learning with each problem, they are good problems to have.
Plant Puns – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Plant Puns started straight up as puns stamped on decorated and sealed pots, sold on Etsy. Soon after that, I started selling at craft fairs and markets around the Los Angeles area. From the original 4″ pots, I’ve expanded my inventory to include 6″ and 2″ pots as well, the latter of which are perfect size for tiny cacti. My pots aren’t crazy elaborate or delicate and I haven’t strayed too far from my original idea, as my goal really is to make something that pleases the eye and puts a smile on your face. I base my puns on just about any plant that will fit in one of my pots and I’ve always been open to suggestions or collaborations; all gardening wordsmiths welcome! I’m lucky and honored to have a small online following and I am always so excited to see familiar faces and repeat customers at my booth and with so many different puns, I have a joke for everyone. There really is no better feeling than seeing one of my pots catch a stranger’s eye, stopping them in their tracks, and causing a chuckle, almost in spite of themselves. A little bit of inanity in an increasingly angry world can go a long way. But above all, I’m proud that I’ve been able to do this by myself. Setting and achieving personal goals is an incredibly rewarding experience and each time I learn something new about owning a business, I’m also learning something about myself.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I feel like I ask myself this question constantly! If I’m being honest, I’m not sure I’ve found it quite yet. But I feel like I’m heading in the right direction and that feeling alone, that I’m close to figuring it out, is what continues to push me.
Being the sole employee and owner of a company can definitely be limiting, but those challenges are greatly outweighed by the freedom of being my own boss. Pressure is far easier to deal with when I’m the only one applying it to myself.
But the fact I’m here with a sustainable business, tells me I’m doing something right and provides me with an enormous amount of pride and happiness. And as I write this, maybe that’s the answer, that you can be proud and work hard without sacrificing your personal happiness.
Pricing:
- 2″ pots are $12.95
- 4″ pots are $21.95
- 6″ pots are $24.95
Contact Info:
- Website: etsy.com/shop/plantpuns
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @plant_puns
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/plantpuns
- Other: www.pinterest.com/plantpuns
Image Credit:
Shanley Kellis
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
