Meet Tanner Mitchell | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanner Mitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanner, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The business really started on Instagram. I was always posting plant photos, projects, and little tips that helped me be successful. The more I posted, the more people would ask if I had plants for sale. I built a little website and would host weekly Facebook Live sales. These two outlets had us swamped in the shipping department and with porch pick up at our home for the locals. Orders would pile up because you have to ship all plants on Monday so that they arrive before the weekend. The last thing you want is a live plant sitting in a warehouse with no heating or cooling over the weekend! We knew we had grown out of our home when we had all the hallways, living room, dining room, and kitchen lined with boxes of plants ready to be shipped out. At that point my wife and I started looking at how to open a retail location. We had another friend who ran her business out of her garage, and we would chat every once in a while about the possibility of opening up a shop together, as we had both recognized the need for more space. A few months later, through many serendipitous events, we opened up our very first retail location-Famous In Oregon.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a plant collector and enthusiast, one of my biggest frustrations was finding unclear, or conflicting information on how to care for each plant. Vague instructions like, “bright light-don’t overwater,” are so vague and open to intepretation, a person is really only guessing, and guessing usually means the plant won’t last long. I want to change the way people think about plant care. I want to dispell all the myths and make caring for them simple and enjoyable. After all, if a hobby isn’t enjoyable, you shouldn’t do it! We have made hours and hours of video explaining how to differentiate between bright, medium, and low light, proper watering, fertilizing, pest control, and all other aspects of houseplant care. Not only do we have the videos, but we also have a Facebook Support group for all of our customers. Here is where folks can ask all of their questions, share their successes, and their struggles, but always feel supported by members of the group who have been where they are and have come out successful. It’s our hope that with these resources and support you can have the confidence to grow and enjoy plants within your home for years to come. We also offer in-home/office consults where we evaluate your light, style, and schedule to curate a perfect selection of plants that will thrive in your space.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m really proud of the town we live in. Whenever friends and family come to visit we are sure to take them around town to get a feel for what our day-to-day life is, where our kids go to school, and of course our shop-Famous In Oregon. We have to go to Tender’s Smokehouse in Celina, they have delicious barbecue! Hopefully they visit during hockey season. We love going to the STARS hockey games, and eating at Eatzi’s on the way.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Huge shout out and thanks to my wife, Erika, who not only has been my biggest source of encouragement and support, but is also the real reason why this little plant shop has been a success. I also have to thank our business partner, Bekah, who was just crazy enough to go into business with us!

Website: www.famousinoregon.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tannertheplanter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tannertheplanter
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2jCvieu40luV-dDGW59fpQ