In this episode of Checkout, we chat with Jared and Jimmy, co-founders of Plant with Willow, a tech-driven plant care brand designed to stop plant lovers from becoming plant killers. With their innovative sensors already used by plant enthusiasts across 28 countries and partnerships with major retailers like Bunnings, Jared and Jimmy are watching their business blossom in the indoor plant care space. We chat about their quirkiest purchases, their favourite tech tools and dig into what drives them as leaders and the exciting milestones on the horizon.
From Tea Emergencies to Everyday Essentials
While we all have our quirks when it comes to online shopping, Jimmy’s story takes it up a notch. One night, working late, he realised he was out of his beloved English tea and decided he couldn’t go on without it. What’s the solution when you’re desperate? Uber Eats, of course! But things didn’t quite go as planned. “I Uber Eats English tea bags at 11 o’clock at night,” Jimmy recalled.
I paid for PG Tips and got a box of Mandrake tea because they were out of stock. Couldn’t even have a cup of tea!
Jared, on the other hand, admits his online shopping habits are a bit more straightforward. “Honestly, I’m more of a clean-cut buyer—nothing too out there,” he said. “Clothes, tech, and the usual stuff, that’s about it for me.” Even though Jared may not have as wild a story, it’s clear that both co-founders know the value of eCommerce convenience.
Retail Brands That Inspire: We the Wild and Vitable
Jared and Jimmy are constantly on the lookout for innovative brands that align with their vision for Plant with Willow and two standouts are We the Wild and Vitable. We the Wild is a plant care brand offering organic products designed to keep indoor plants thriving. What really impressed Jared about this brand is how they’ve mastered the art of upselling and post-purchase engagement.
“They’ve got really cool integrations on their confirmation pages,” Jared shared. “It’s not just ‘thank you for your order,’ it’s ‘here’s what else you can buy,’ with a time-limited deal. We’d love to start looking at that for Willow.” This strategy isn’t just a sales tactic—it’s about keeping the customer engaged and providing extra value when they’re already excited about their purchase.
Jimmy also highlights the power of personalisation, drawing inspiration from Vitable, a subscription-based vitamin service that tailors its offerings to each customer. “I get my packet a day, and it’s got my name on it. Just an amazing customer experience…It’s those small touches, like seeing your name on something, that make the experience special” Jimmy explained.
Receiving a product with your name on it creates a connection, turning a simple transaction into a personal interaction. This level of personalisation is something that Plant with Willow aims to bring to their own customers.
For Jared and Jimmy, these brands highlight a crucial lesson: post-purchase experiences and personalisation aren’t just bonuses—they’re essential to building long-term customer relationships.
Tech Essentials: Custom PCs and Google Home Setups
When it comes to the tech they can’t live without, Jimmy and Jared have different favourites, but both are passionate about staying connected and productive. Jimmy is obsessed with his custom-built PC, which he says is his sanctuary. “I love tech. I built my PC, and I’m always tweaking it and adding bits. It’s a beast of a PC, and I spend a lot of time in my office around it,” he said proudly.
Jared, on the other hand, can’t live without his Google Home setup, both at work and at home.
We’ve got a Google Nest speaker in every room, and it’s got music blaring all day. As soon as I get home, it’s ‘cast Spotify to all speakers.’ It’s become a part of daily life.
For him, it’s about creating a lively and connected environment, whether in the office or at home.
Books to Escape and Podcasts That Inspire
In their downtime, Jared and Jimmy are both avid consumers of content that fuels their creativity and focus. Jared recommends the fantasy novel The Way of Kings as his must-read. “I’m a massive fantasy nerd. If I’m not working on plants or the business, I’m reading,” Jared admitted. The epic fantasy series offers him the perfect escape from the day-to-day hustle.
Jimmy, on the other hand, finds inspiration from the High Performance podcast. “It’s based out of the UK and has elite athletes and business leaders talking about their mindset. I love taking away those tips on how they operate at such a high level every day,” he explained. These insights help Jimmy stay motivated and focused on improving his business and personal performance.
Prioritising the Big Ideas: The Challenge of Time
For Jared and Jimmy, the biggest challenge they face is balancing all the ideas and opportunities that come their way with the limited time available to them. “The amount of stuff we’ve got going on is insane,” Jared said. “The challenge is just how much can we actually get done. Whether that’s growing the team or delivering on all these ideas, it comes down to time and prioritising.”
Jimmy adds that prioritisation is key as they scale, especially when so many ideas feel like good ones. “Every idea we have is a good idea—or almost every one. But we’ve got to figure out which ones to act on now and which can wait,” he explained. For the Plant with Willow team, staying focused on their mission—keeping plants alive—remains the core priority.
Growing a Tech-Driven Brand with Purpose
Jared and Jimmy’s success shows that staying focused on solving a clear problem—like keeping plants alive—while embracing personalisation and thoughtful engagement is key to building lasting customer relationships. For entrepreneurs, the takeaways are simple: focus on your core mission, listen to your customers, and stay adaptable as your business grows. With persistence and a clear vision, even niche products can blossom into big success stories.
The Checkout is a short snippet of our conversations.
