Meet Sammy Spencer | Plant Designer & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Sammy, what role has risk played in your life or career?
How do I think about risk? Honestly, I don’t; I just tend to take them. Entrepreneurs are innately risk-takers, and it is an obvious component to starting a small business. They are statistically risky, often forcing us into uncharted waters that at times are scary, but mostly exhilarating and exciting.

From others’ perspectives, I have been a risk-taker since adolescence. After high school, I traveled across the country to attend college in Philadelphia and went straight to South America after 4 years of undergrad to teach English in Chile in a small mining town in the Atacama Desert. Unlike many of the Ivy League alumni with whom I graduated, I went to a town where not one other person spoke English while they went straight to Wall Street. I have traveled the world and learned to love and connect with Pacha Mama “Mother Earth” in the Sacred Valley of Peru at the height of the Pandemic. I left teaching after 11 years in education at the top of my field and a job chock full of stability and health insurance. All of this was nerve-wracking at first and continuously challenged me; but the benefits far outweighed the discomforts. In my life, risk has most often led to reward. And, hence, an entrepreneur with a small business is born!

The Plant Department started as a side hustle and is still quite new and growing. The version of The Plant Department closest to what it is today didn’t exist until January 2023 when, in complete alignment with my risk-taking personality, I decided to go to Nayarit, Mexico for two months. I opened a plant and design shop on the side of a dusty highway and loved it. I will admit that there was very little return on investment, but it was a decision to do something different and new while doing something I am passionate about: plant design. As a teacher, I am a natural learner, but to truly learn something, you must do it. There, I had endless access to some of the best pots or “macetas” in the world, and I started to really learn about the plants I was working with. I still travel to Higuera Blanca, Mexico often and although both my partner and I have focused more on our individual businesses, you can still find some of our designs on the side of the road on your drive from Sayulita to Punta de Mita. More than anything, that unorthodox decision taught me more about business, relationships, money, and most importantly, helped me realize what I wanted personally and professionally for The Plant Department.

Ironically, during that time in Mexico, I was contacted by a Mezcal company located in Los Angeles, that wanted me to do a large install for their new warehouse which would act as their office, tasting room, and eventually event space. I didn’t know how I would fulfill their request at the time, but, after a shot of Mezcal, I said yes to the job. Today, the space and its 20 plus trees and plants looks incredible.

On a more serious note, I have lost a lot of people very close to me, including my mother when I was in high school, and more recently, my younger brother. Of course that plays a role in my “live life for today” mentality, but it was those people who showed me how to do that. When I started The Plant Department, my brother was one of the only people who took me seriously. There was no doubt in his mind that I was capable of succeeding in the plant business and his referrals were some of my first big jobs. To this day, many of my close friends and even family members aren’t quite sure what I do, but so many have supported me without question. I have only just started to put my full energy into this business, and guess what? Still putting it all on the line! Admittedly frightening at times, I recently realized that without investing more into myself and my brand, we won’t be able to grow. We’re at the pivotal moment where I decide if we go the whole way or not, and I’m all in!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The Plant Department is a plant design and installation company that simplifies, yet individualizes all things plants for homes, businesses, and commercial spaces. From my apartment / workshop / showroom, we also sell plants in pots that I have personally sourced and paired for sustainability and aesthetic. Our plants and trees are ready to be picked up or delivered and placed directly in your space. No plastic grow pots and no soil needed. Beyond selling and customizing plant designs that are already potted for customers, our commitment to support and empower buyers is what really sets us apart from others. For some people, plant buying can be a nerve-wracking experience. It is human nature to want to keep a living thing alive, and at The Plant Department, we make sure to help people pick plants that are right for their space (think lighting, pets, placement), plant experience, and desire or ability to care for their plants. Just as we do with our plant installation clients, we provide a safe space to ask questions, communicate regularly, and provide plant maintenance services and virtual plant care sessions to support our clients in whatever way they need. In other words, we typically offer and/or suggest easy care and hardy plants that look anything but low maintenance.

I am most excited about the burgeoning relationships I have recently created within the plant industry and the realization that the plant community is filled with generous people who are willing to help and support my business. I am excited to continue to build these relationships and learn from others who are just as passionate and willing to share their knowledge.
I am where I am today due to a few characteristics that created the perfect storm of an entrepreneur. I am unapologetically driven and typically successful in both my life and career. Things either come naturally to me or I work harder than anyone in the room until I am at the top of the field. My success today is a combination of my innate ability and my unrelenting drive, paired with the only thing that can stop the two: my desire to help other people even if in the smallest of ways. My confidence and my eagerness were ignited after my first compliments on plant designs. I was brand new to both worlds, and I was already feeling successful. When I started receiving client feedback that not only involved my art, but the way I made them feel or how I impacted their day, week, or life, is when I knew this business had legs. We were emotionally attached through plants, and that is more powerful than any business model.

I am self-taught in plants, design, and business, and I am now running a plant design business. My success is rooted in human connection and a product that is alive as well. Sounds risky, eh? My biggest contributors to my success have also been the largest hurdles. I’ve hidden plants in the bathroom and cried over spilled soil. I made a few poor investment decisions, but luckily small enough to recover from and large enough to learn from.

The Plant Department strives to ensure everyone feels welcome to the world of plant and design and that we can support them without the fear of judgment or uncertainty. I envision a much more financially fluid future in which my designs can be found in homes and businesses regardless of income. In the meantime, we’re getting closer to realizing my vision for the year. On New Year’s Eve this past year, as 2023 rolled around, and I was isolated at home alone with COVID, naturally, I put a plant in a giant vintage wine glass, took a selfie, and posted it to Instagram. And therein lies so much of how this brand was created and what it stands for (as well as the encouraged over-use of plant puns).

I wrote: “Cheers to the MANY wonderful new and old friends, clients, buyers, and partners who have supported the growth of the plant department the past few months. The incredible people it brought into my life is something special. Looking forward to continued GROWTH, as well as fresh beginnings in 2023. Thank you pacha mama and the people you’ve inspired to do great things. Here’s to taking risks, creating change, and taking the time to enjoy the ride. Salud.”

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’d start with The Plant Department (aka my Santa Monica apartment), grab a smoothie at Kreation across the street, stroll down to Palisades Park overlooking the ocean to catch a glimpse of the pier. Perhaps a cliche Santa Monica daytime drink at The Proper and dinner at Elefante. Malibu is a must. We’d check out First Point and drive down to Neptune’s Net, or, if feeling fancy, grab a seat at the bar at Nobu Malibu. Best seats in the house. A day or two in Venice, of course, walking Canals and brunching on Abbot Kinney, ending with drinks and dinner at Dudley Market close to the boardwalk where to visit old friends, listen to records, and eat some freshly caught fish. I love sports, and if playing we’ll hit Dodger Stadium which is truly iconic LA.

And then when we can drag ourselves out of the Westside bubble, we’d make the trek to the way cooler, more diverse, and music-rich Eastside where we’d probably stay awhile…

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh man – I’m going to be in trouble with someone! First and most importantly, I want to dedicate this shoutout to my brother, Matty D., who was so brave in every regard, but particularly his drive to make and perform his music, and who was a great example for his older sister on how to live life.

I would be remiss if I didn’t shoutout the community of smart, capable, compassionate, and supportive women that made The Plant Department community and added to the business. They are now colleagues and definitely friends. You know who you are.

Special shoutouts:
Heidi, my best friend, who has more plants in her home than we have available at The Plant Department. Shoutout for supporting me since day 1.

Amber, my neighbor, employee, friend, and now student at Berkeley, Shoutout for preventing so many meltdowns and getting dirty with me.

To all my family and friends who have ever bought a plant, scheduled a full install, or simply encouraged me in times of uncertainty, shoutout to you, too!

Website: www.theplantdepartment.com

Instagram: @theplantdepartment

Image Credits
Unknown.