Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Walsh.
Sharon, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been designing and planting commercial and residential container gardens on the north side of Chicago for over ten years. What began as a hobby with my daughters and friends has grown into an obsession to share my love of the outdoors and seasonal container gardening with everyone I meet.
Commercial clients incorporate container gardens into the patio spaces of their restaurants and stores to welcome customers and create a unique, dining or shopping experience for their patrons. Residential clients find container gardening to be an amazing way to connect with local plants, the changing seasons and like-minded creative people of all ages in the community.
Each season, I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned over the years, spread my love of gardening and meet more hibernating gardeners that are just waiting to blossom.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing from a small neighborhood business specializing in full-service seasonal plantings to a larger business offering a variety of services for commercial and residential clients has not been without its ups and downs. I have an undergraduate degree and work experience in marketing and advertising as well as a graduate degree in teaching that has provided me with 20+ years of education and experience to draw on.
Being an entrepreneur over the last 10 years has been an incredible learning experience. It’s always meaningful to get to know other local business owners and vendors. Semi Green Thumb is the result of expanding my comfort zone, trying new ideas, brushing my knees of when I stumble and making adjustments to meet the needs of a wide range of clients.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Semi Green Thumb – what should we know?
Semi Green Thumb is Chicago’s premier service that connects clients to a local designer who selects and delivers premium planting products to their door so they can create a natural beautiful container garden they love. Each delivery is tailored to the client’s specific container and light requirements. Plants are hand selected and labeled and the client receives them when it’s convenient for them with a detailed drawing, planting instructions and maintenance requirements. It takes the guesswork out of going to the garden center and the dirt out of the car. I leave my clients with all the tools they need to succeed and a bonus bottle of wine to enjoy when their work is done. I offer an unparalleled level of customer satisfaction and love that my clients feel proud and confident in their creations each season.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My attention to detail and desire to make every client a priority is what has led to my success. No matter how big or small the client, I recognize the fact that their success makes me a success. When they feel good about their planting, they spread the word. There’s been no better way to grow my business than the positive recommendations I’ve received from my valued clients.
Pricing:
- Design and delivery starts at $50 for up to three containers in a common space plus the price of plants.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.semigreenthumb.com
- Phone: 773.307.1919
- Email: sharon@semigreenthumb.com
- Instagram: @semi_greenthumb
- Facebook: Semi Green Thumb
Image Credit:
Sharon Walsh
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