Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Weina Dinata, founder of Poppy & Finch, located in Portland, OR, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is called Poppy & Finch, and we are a botanical design studio based in Portland, Oregon. Our work is inspired by the beauty and crucial role of native plants in our habitat. We create one-of-a-kind living botanical design/container gardens with native plants for small outdoor spaces, eco-conscious gift products, and hands-on educational workshops. We also offer botanical experiences through our mobile studio for company team-building workshops, engaging botanical experiences for wine tasting, weddings, etc.

Our customers appreciate beauty and care about nature, especially the existence of our habitats like beneficial insects and birds. They are looking to connect with nature in a deeper, meaningful, and ecological way through creative botanical solutions, eco-friendly products, engaging/educational experience, and practical tips or resources to empower them to help our habitat. We love hearing testimonials about how our customers appreciate the beauty of my botanical designs/products while learning so much from my workshops and experiences that they're becoming stewards of our habitat in the urban landscape. My company is a one-stop shop to become part of the change you want to see for our habitat.

There's only 4% of pristine habitat left in the US, so what we plant in our outdoor spaces plays a big role in our city. Imagine if we create a mini-habitat with native plants in our balconies, then our outdoor spaces become the corridors for our habitat in an urban landscape. Let me help you with creative botanical solutions for your balconies or outdoor spaces. You don't have to have a backyard to help our beneficial insects and birds! Join the native plant movement!

Tell us about yourself

Growing up in a metropolitan area in Jakarta, Indonesia, I've always had a soft spot for animals and plants since I was young. Then, I pursued my bachelor's degree in graphic design in San Francisco worked in design studios while volunteering for non-profit organizations around sustainability which led me to learn about the beauty and purpose of native plants for our habitat. I did a lot of outreach programs educating people about native plants while designing products and creating mini-habitat tabletop gardens to showcase the beauty and the versatility of native plants. That's how Poppy & Finch was born, the marriage of my passion for native plants and design.

What motivated me to do what I do each day is to plant the seeds in people's minds about the beauty, versatility, and importance of native plants for our habitat because once they learn how important native plants are, most people are feeling empowered to become part of the solutions for our environment.

I was one of them. That's one of the reasons why I started Poppy & Finch to provide information, tips, and resources for people to become stewards of our habitat. Education is key. Also, to help people to connect with nature in a deeper, meaningful, and ecological way. Native plants give us a sense of place, history, and equity.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is inspiring people to become part of the change they want to see in the world and shifting their mindset to garden from an ecological perspective which consequently transforms their lawn or ornamental plants into a habitat garden through my botanical products and offers.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is that I have to wear so many different hats, which means I need to learn to focus and prioritize; that's hard to do for my creative brain.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Find your purpose/why: do what you love and do one little thing a day to move your business forward. There's no such thing as little in running a business. Big things start small.
  2. Be courageous: explore different things within what you love. You don't know what works until you try.
  3. Start anyway: don't wait to start a business until it's perfect! Trying to be perfect (whatever that means) is a giant obstacle and such a debilitating state of mind that it doesn't serve you at all.
  4. A bonus tip: when you're overwhelmed, here's my mantra: "You are exactly where you are supposed to be."

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

It is not easy to start and run your own business, but it is rewarding because you gain a supportive community. Keep showing up and be gentle with yourself.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.poppyandfinch.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Poppy-Finch-LLC-108951300886549
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypoppyandfinch/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.