Rowan Gaskin and Grace Moore are about to open Gro. in Gorleston – a new houseplant and eco-conscious homeware store. Here, Rowan explains how a ‘we should open a plant shop’ text has led them to this moment
I have many passions and finally I can put some to good use with Gro. I’ve always loved working with my hands and being creative. My parents have taught me so much and we were always out in the garden as kids, so they’re really excited about this venture too.
I was very lucky at the beginning of the pandemic to be in a job that kept me on although the business was closed. This gave me plenty of time to pursue the things I love doing such as tending to my plants, painting and decorating furniture, and my house! I was literally painting a new room each day.
Grace literally texted me one day saying: ‘We should open a plant shop’. I must admit I replied saying something like: ‘Oh if only’. However, not long after that we saw the units on Bells Road, and we started putting a plan together. The thinking behind it is trying to bring people the joy we get from nurturing and caring for plants and bring that creative side to it with the homewares and furniture. Also, we’d love to be able to share and learn ourselves more ways we can be conscious of being kinder to the planet.
I think we can all learn to become ‘greener’ if we really think about things and change the way that we think that ‘cheapest is best or easiest is best’.
There’s a double meaning of the phrase ‘Going green’: beautifying people’s homes with greenery, while also being conscious of our impact. There’s such a positive impact of having plants in the home as decorative items, to liven the space up and to cheer us up but there’s also the amazing bonus of them improving the atmosphere by detoxifying the air and helping with damp etc. They bring us closer to nature by letting the outside in. We hope to offer a retail experience that can inspire plant lovers and introduce them to things they maybe haven’t seen before and to inspire non ‘planty’ people! Also, the act of having things to look after and nurture is good for the soul, I believe.
Hopefully we’ll be open by the big Jubilee Weekend. Our customers can expect unusual and beautiful houseplants as well as unusual, beautiful and creative homewares and furniture pieces. We will be running workshops such as Kokedama making, Macramé, and some others we are still working on!
All furniture pieces will be preloved, and homewares will be unique and eco-friendly. For example, we’re in talks with companies that only make pots from recycled sea plastic, and we found a lovely man that makes pots from recycled go kart tyres!
Gro., Bells Road, Gorleston. Also, visit Instagram.
Featured image: Rowan Gaskin (left) and Grace Moore (right), of Gro. in Gorleston
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