MOTHER-DAUGHTER duo and plant enthusiasts Janey Chadwick and Lauren Osbourne are making their mark on the business scene, hoping to prove that local is better.
Almost a decade ago, they launched their business Mad Plant Ladies, trading at markets in the Logan and south-east Queensland regions and setting up temporary shops in Brown Plains and Loganholme shopping centres.
Deciding on a regular retail spot in Loganholme’s Hyperdome shopping centre last April has been a game changer for the brand.
During Ms Osbourne’s childhood and adolescent years, her mother, Ms Chadwick, was always involved in business. Together, Ms Osbourne’s parents co-founded and ran a construction business for many years.
When the opportunity to combine business expertise and a shared love of plants, Ms Osbourne and her mother worked hard to realise their dream.
“She’s just always loved plants. Her house is like a jungle and she lives in the last subtropical rainforest in south-east Queensland,” Ms Osbourne said about her mother.
Ten years ago, Ms Osbourne too became enamoured by plants and gardening, beginning as a hobby and becoming more serious when the business was established in 2016.
“It started as a hobby, we went to markets and sold little creations that we made,” she said.
“Then it just grew and grew, as we saw that people were loving what we were bringing out, we got more passionate about it.
“At first, it was just a side hustle. For years, we were operating and weren’t even paying ourselves, so it didn’t really feel like a legit business.
“I guess we’ve only really felt real for the last maybe two years.”
Today, the shop sells a range of locally made pots, planters, gardening equipment, and plants. Providing high-quality products from local sources is important to their business and identity as a small, Logan-based business.
But there are challenges in sourcing and selling handmade products by locals.
“Handmade products usually come to higher price points,” Ms Osbourne said.
“We try to keep a broad range of price points so that we appeal to everyone, so there is something for everyone, but more often than not, the customer will reach for that cheaper price point.
“If we’re there to explain that it’s a local artist and get that point across, but sometimes we can’t always tell the whole story of the artist.”
Contacts the business made from trading at market stalls helped to grow their product range, but Lauren hopes she can reach more local makers looking to sell their products and gain shop front exposure.
Getting artists on board can also be challenging, but Ms Osbourne is determined to connect with more local brands and artists.
“I want to get more brands on board, more small businesses and local makers.”
This year, Mad Plant Ladies have been nominated for a Local Business Award, which Ms Osbourne said was a “surprise, but really exciting.”
