Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Ray.
Hi Maggie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Originally, I am from Chattanooga. That’s where I had my first job at a nursery. When I worked there, something just clicked. I knew what I wanted to do. While working with nurseries, I learned about plant care and its characteristics.
As a visual artist, I found myself imagining the complementary colors and configurations of plants to develop aesthetic designs based on artistic principles. From there, I moved on to starting a company in my early 20’s but realized I needed to learn more about the industry in order to be a better leader. To acquire a better sense of business itself, I went the route of managing at different companies in Nashville.
Eventually, I developed enough of a reputation to make the leap of opening Nashscapes for designing custom landscapes. I wanted to evolve from my experiences by finding ways to benefit Nashville’s employees, environment, and community through fair wages and giving back. Over time, we created several green solutions which have made us stand out as a conscientious company.
We work without harsh chemicals, continually create less waste, and create personalized landscapes. It’s been a process becoming more green as we grow – but we are always working to improve our practices.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The Cons:
There’s a heavy amount of logistics involved with being sure these jobs are running smoothly. In order to offer high-end service for maintaining landscapes, we need to uphold a highly trained crew. This is an investment in our employees, so keeping a good work culture is important.
The weather is critical to the work. There are times in which projects have to be paused and halted due to weather conditions. This can create a major problem with systems and it’s unfortunate when the weather backs up schedules or creates unsuitable working conditions. Having clear communication and laying out proper expectations with clients helps us get through the inconveniences Mother Nature may throw at us from time to time.
The Pros:
Our clients are very understanding and value our hard work and safety, so we are immensely thankful for their grace. It is a rewarding experience to know that our employees enjoy their jobs and are given a living wage. We instill a culture of giving back by paying them for volunteerism in the community, and whenever feasible, we seek out local non-profit organizations to donate to.
These tenants of our company bond us together on the values of environmentalism, fairness, and a mindful work ethic. As we see our landscapes grow, we appreciate seeing pollinators and birds enjoying the plants. Seeing our clients so excited about their homes is extremely rewarding.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Apart from the quality of our artistry, Nashscapes is committed to being a low-waste company that is conscious of the environment. I am proud of our drive to improve our systems; the desire to keep striving to be as green as feasibly possible by creating sustainable landscapes.
We work hard to keep a company with good culture, where employees are empowered and feel valued for their work. I believe employees need the correct tools, support. and training to get their jobs done correctly. We also genuinely like each other and try to have a work event at least once a month. I love seeing the crew laugh and learn together.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Talk to peers, talk to mentors, don’t be afraid to reach out. Lots of folks had to get started – just like you. In my experience, working for others was immensely valuable for me to learn not only to plant life and care, but how to run a business, mitigate crises, do sales, and lead others confidently.
I am open to the advice that has been asked of me and I’m not scared to say “I don’t know.” Read more books and ask for recommendations- it’s something I wish I had done sooner!
I like to remind people I don’t have a scholarly background in business. Most of my experience has come from labor, managing, and design. Skill is definitely important but tenacity would probably be the most valuable trait to have. It will likely require early mornings, late nights, weekends, and stepping out of your comfort zone regularly.
Don’t give up – if you’re willing to put in the work to improve, then the road won’t always be rocky. Burnout is a real thing, so eventually, you will need to have boundaries. You don’t always need to respond to a 10 pm text.
Pricing:
- $95/1 hour consult.
- $50 for every hour after.
- $250-$950 Custom Landscape Design
Contact Info:
- Email: office@nashscapes.com
- Website: www.nashscapes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashscapes/?hl=en
