Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cynthia Valenti, owner of WILDEHAUS, located in Portland, OR, USA.

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

WILDEHAUS is where plants and design meet! We bring the WILD inside your home, office, commercial or event space by combining our knowledge of houseplants and interior design. Because we espouse the belief that human wellness improves with more time spent around live plants -aka greenery- we really strive to connect people to nature on a daily basis. Why? Life is constant and demanding, but it becomes easier to manage from a more holistic environment. Our mission is to create interiors that improve physical and mental health because we want everyone to feel as good as possible, as much as possible.

Our customers are people who are interested in this phenomenon and want to add greenery to their environments - one or dozens of plants at a time! They are interested in creating an inspiring environment, have a collaborative spirit, and love plants. We love helping them by using our design eye and our horticultural knowledge for the best in wellness benefits for them. Nothing is more rewarding than watching our community thrive from the positive impact they feel from time spent around plants... everyone wins!

Tell us about yourself

In 2017, I was working in advertising and feeling very uninspired and unfulfilled. As a self-described creative, I knew there was something else out there for me, but I just had to figure out what it was. During this time, I started collecting houseplants as a hobby and noticed how much it improved my mood. New plants? Yes, please! Soon there were so many houseplants I really started running out of space. So in order to win back my counter and tablespaces, I also started creating products to integrate the plants into my home. When word got out, and people were interested in what WILDEHAUS was all about, I realized I had a business on my hands. Exciting! Finally, in 2019 I left advertising forever to pursue WILDEHAUS full time.

Every day since then, I have been motivated by the idea that I can bring life-changing, beautiful, live PLANTS and design to people's environments, and it still blows my mind! I absolutely love my job; it's difficult even to consider it work because I just enjoy what I do so much. I am so grateful that I chose this path and that my life is so much better for it.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

There are two accomplishments that I am extremely proud of, both because they happened during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In September 2020, WILDEHAUS moved from an online shop only to open our first brick-and-mortar location. In the middle of a pandemic, it turns out people REALLY came to love collecting plants! The shop has been an absolute joy to develop and curate the products of other small businesses as well. Our community has grown 1000x from taking this giant step!

In January 2022, WILDEHAUS launched a new offering: Greening Services. We visit your space to evaluate your conditions, devise a successful Greening Plan for you based on those conditions, and set a date to come back to install the custom greening feature of your dreams! Some serious wow factor at the end of these projects already, and I cannot wait to see what else I get to do with my clients.

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

Letting go of something that isn't working is tough, even if it was part of the genesis of your business. Taking time to identify what is working will help identify what needs to go.

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

Solo-preneurship means wearing a LOT of hats. It means being busy because you're doing it ALL. After a few years, you'll have systems in place or automated, and it will get easier. Until then...

  1. COMMUNITY. Business isn't done in a vacuum - and yours will be no exception. Go meet your peers! Invite the community to your space! Collaborate on events, share ideas and keep growing your circle until your business is a household name.
  2. BALANCE. Sometimes it might feel like you are working 24 hours a day, so prioritize your personal needs outside of the business, even if it is just a few minutes a day. For me, a mandatory 45-minute weekday workout gets my head right every time.
  3. DELEGATE. Anything you can. Work smarter, not harder. You've got this!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Finding a way to get paid for doing something you love is winning in life! So if you're reading this - congratulations!

Where can people find you and your business?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildehauspdx/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildehaus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiavalenti/

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.