Today we’d like to introduce you to Andi Xoch.
Hi Andi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started the Latinxwithplants IG page on the spring equinox of 2019. I first just wanted to highlight my community in the plant world, share tips, and post funny memes to keep people’s spirits high. That same Christmas, I had my first pop-up at Self Help Graphics, Which was inspired by my father, who had become gravely Ill. He was in dire need of help, and I admired all his hard work in caring for me, and I knew it was my turn to care for him. When the pandemic shutdowns started in March 2020, I couldn’t do pop-ups anywhere, so I started doing appointment-based pop-ups from home outside on my porch. They quickly moved our front yard, and eventually, I was selling out of my garage. Word spread about the plant parenthood pop-ups I was having & support surprisingly followed. I could see and feel that people were anxious and depressed, but thankfully, Folks were caring on that had plant therapy was an actual form of healing and a nice way to stay connected to other people during these scary times. That same July, I had the opportunity to open up my first brick-n- mortar with the support of my community in our beloved town of Boyle Heights. Spreading ancestral knowledge through plants and making plants accessible was and always will be a personal goal, all while addressing social issues that affect my community and other BIPOC folks.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As an immigrant and a child of immigrants, it has been quite a challenge trying to navigate the world of an entrepreneur when resources are scarce, and having other friends and family members with different types of issues doesn’t help. I’m constantly trying to figure out my next move, but those everyday challenges motivate me to keep going with my business to build a good team and community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I feel so fortunate to have a background in the arts, learning how to screen-print, design, paint, and composition, all of which has led me to be more confident in how I brand my company and the way I represent myself and my community. Organizing with other creatives has also given me a lot of insight into what my community needs, and it makes creating for my business that much more fun. I think every store I’ve opened up, I’ve seen it as a little utopia for my community, and it goes beyond the plant aesthetics. It represents my people and preserves my culture where it can be elevated in different ways.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Taking risks was something I learned to do. I was so scared and afraid of failing but seeing my dad risk his health for me and my family was the perfect example and strength I needed to risk everything I had.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: latinxwithplants.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinxwithplants/?hl=en
- Facebook: facebook.com/latinxwithplants/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/latinx-with-plants-los-angeles
Image Credits
Photo credit for image #3- Nelson ZePequeno
