
Luckily for me, and anyone else whoโs found themselves looking to flex their green thumb, a new store recently opened up in Waterloo that taps into this growing trend.
Lately, it seems that plants have been enjoying a boom in popularity.
In 2019, HuffPost published an article titled โWhy Millennials Are Suddenly So Obsessed With Houseplantsโ that breaks down a widespread obsession with plants that have been fueled by online apps like Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
I can admit that Iโm slowly starting to become that person. I have a collection of plants that I have no intention to stop expanding any time soon and an emotional attachment to each one that Iโve brought into my home. Iโve become preoccupied with the best sunlight spots to leave them in, the ideal watering routine for each one and finding just the right Spotify playlist to put on to help them grow.
What can I sayโquarantine enabled my new infatuation with plants.
Kristy Skelton and her business partner Jamie Lee opened Homecoming X Talula Fields on Sept. 4. Their storefront is a temporary plant pop-up shop in uptown Waterloo, offering customers a varied selection of different plants to choose from.
The shop has provided them with the opportunity to advertise for Skeltonโs DTK ‘downtown Kitchener’ boutique flower farm start-up, Talula Fields, and has helped them connect with the local community over a shared love of houseplants.
โWe stumbled upon this spaceโ[it] was advertised for pop-ups โ and we thought, letโs expand this a little bit maybe and just have a nice time, and bring some vibrancy to the community with plants,โ Skelton said.
โPeople are still shopping for plants and [theyโre] something thatโs nice for your home right now when youโre spending a lot more time [there]. So we just spiraled and here we are, weโre a plant shop.โ
Although the duo is only contracted to stay in their current location until Oct. 5, depending on evolving COVID-19 regulations and the dynamics of their spot in Uptown, theyโve thoroughly enjoyed their brief stay.
โPeople are really excited and they want us to stay and we want to stay, weโve had an amazing time. Weโve been busy every day, busy all the time, so itโs been a very fun experience,โ Skelton said.
Homecoming X Talula Fields quickly became popular, attracting over 300 followers on their Instagram page since opening and busy store hours that include repeat customers.
โIt has been absolutely amazing, weโve been busy every single day, often we have a lineup,โ Skelton said.
โWe had a lot of interest from university students, weโve actually had a lot of interest from folks who have moved in for mostly tech jobs. Theyโve moved into condos around here who have also come out to say โI usually go out to a nursery, but itโs far away and I donโt drive so this is amazing to have around the corner from usโ.โ
Skelton attributes the budding craze and fascination with purchasing and owning houseplants, at least in part, with people wishing to become more eco-friendly.
โFor me, I think itโs important to recognize that people are getting back to earth. Theyโre learning how to cook their own food, grow their own vegetables, looking for more eco-conscious options when theyโre shopping and I think that plants hit that for a lot of things,โ Skelton said.
โYou donโt need to buy decor thatโs going to go out of style or made of plastic โฆ if you buy a plant, youโre getting an air purifier, youโre getting a beautifier, youโre getting something you can learn to nurture and grow.โ
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