Zilah Drahn has always had a passion for plants. After years of being a go-to for friends and family on every possible plant-related question, Drahn had a thought: “I should be getting paid for this.” So in 2019, she took the leap and started Plants & Spaces, an LA-based plant nursery, interior design, and retail shop. It’s a multihyphenate business to the core — offering plant health services (both in shop and in home), interior plant design services, and a variety of antique planters and other plant products for purchase.
“It’s really hard to explain to someone that we’re not just coming over and watering the plants,” Drahn explained of the services side of business. For Drahn and her team, they’re involved in everything from assessing a plant’s health, exposure to light, ventilation levels, and etc. to the interior design elements that make a plant stand out. Retail-wise, she sources one-of-a-kind planters (some dating back to the 19th century) to sell to plant-lovers seeking to grow their collection of rare plants.
The level of detail required to run a multifaceted plant business hinges on a delicate balance of art and science. As a first-time business owner, Drahn needed business tools that would flex and grow with Plants & Spaces. So she made the jump from peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and elevated to Square.
Building out a professional foundation with Square
“I just wanted things to look a little bit more professional,” Drahn said, talking about her decision to start with the Square Reader. In the early days, the Square Reader made it simple for her to accept payments at floral popups around the city. As her opportunities grew, so did her Square tools. Once she began curating art shows featuring the plants she worked with, she decided to upgrade to Square Terminal. When she developed her retail offering, she switched to Square Stand.
Aesthetically, [it] looks so clean. I didn’t really have any other thoughts of doing it any other way. ”
Zilah Drahn
With Square Plants & Spaces is able to balance its multihyphenate needs without sacrificing efficiency or the customer experience. Square Stand makes its blossoming retail offering — which currently accounts for 30% of its business — easy to manage. For larger retail purchases, the business uses Square Invoices. “Being able to include photos and bring in SKU numbers with the inventory piece is super helpful,” she said. Before using the inventory management software through Square, Drahn said that her team briefly used spreadsheets to keep track of different retail items. “I was like, ‘What are we doing?’ We have Square, we should just be using that to keep track of inventory.”
Making taxes easy and seamless
Drahn had a similar revelation when tax season came around. Because she offers a range of services, she often likes to see their monthly sales individually. With the breakdown in categories available through Square Payroll, she’s able to analyze how her services perform individually and understand the resulting tax implications. “I easily go into Square and look up the info on our product sales, and then input it that way,” she said. “It’s a lifesaver.”
Branching out with more offerings
Taxes weren’t the only business hurdle for Drahn. Like a number of service based businesses, she also had to learn to navigate around the occasional window shopping customer. When putting together care plans for clients, she often creates 30+ page decks outlining all of the necessary steps needed to care for the plants and their subsequent home environment. But she became disheartened when clients would take her work and share with her friends and peers at other local plant nurseries for a better deal.
She started to ask herself how she could attract more serious clients and broaden her business prospects in general. That’s when the idea to invest in retail came to life.
“I opened retail to give people like me who just are walking down the street an opportunity to buy one or two plants every couple months or once a year, or as gifts so people don’t have to do entire home projects,” Drahn said. “Having [price] minimums really sets the standard for who you’re going to work with and what kind of homes you’re going to work in, and what people are also willing to spend.”
Drahn’s love for plants is deeper than just business. Recounting her journey tended to make her emotional — in a good way — because she has a genuine love for what she does. When the “plant gods” (as she calls them) help pull together the finishing touches while she designs a home for a client, she relishes in the beauty of nature. And when she’s sourcing new, unique plants for the store, she feels most at home. “Sourcing days for plants are probably my favorite days ever because I’m basically putting out into the universe these are the plants I need,” Drahn said. ” Then I take pictures and share with clients, and everyone’s in love.”
