Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Pearman.
Hi Kelsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Niche Terrariums in 2021 after we got settled into the Cincinnati area. We moved over for my husband’s job shortly after having our first child, which was a bit of a reset for me— I was a new parent and was embarking on a new career path. During that time, I felt a bit like something was missing and fell back into an old hobby of hoarding glassware and making terrariums. Before moving over, my career had been very wildlife focused.
I have a BS and MS in biology and previously worked for an environmental consulting firm and as a wildlife biologist for a state agency. I enjoy my current role, but it’s more on the industrial side of the environmental sector than the wildlife side of things and that left a bit of a void. I started filling the void by filling the house with plants. There were some plants that I just couldn’t keep happy, so I popped them in glassware that I’d been hoarding.
Eventually, my husband started noticing a lot of terrariums around the house and had the nerve to ask if I’d considered selling some. I expected to prove that I was right and that it was a terrible idea destined for failure, but here we are almost two years later. Now, in addition to building terrariums for markets, I take custom orders, teach workshops, and sell complete terrarium kits!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
What could go wrong when you run a small business out of half of your laundry room? In all seriousness, it hasn’t been an exceptionally bumpy road by any means, but having a small business is never easy. In addition to the normal bumps, we had our second (and last!) child, which slowed me down a bit. She arrived a little early and I had to cancel a workshop, I felt so bad!
Fortunately, everyone was understanding. I never expected to be a small business owner and was surprised when there was so much interest in the terrariums I was building. Overall, the joy I get from helping people bring these tiny ecosystems into their homes outweighs the trials and tribulations of having a small business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Niche Terrariums is just a tiny terrarium shop that focuses on pre-built terrariums. I do my best to make them relatively accessible and to ensure that the terrariums I build will be easy for the average person to care for, whether they’re great or not-so-great with plants. In addition to pre-built terrariums, I teach workshops, accept custom orders (from custom plantings to laser-engraved slate additions), and recently started selling terrarium kits that can be mailed.
As much as I love customers coming back and buying bigger terrariums after being successful with a smaller starter terrarium, I may love teaching workshops more. I’ve always really enjoyed teaching and outreach, so workshops let me combine a few of my favorite things! As a brand, I think I’m most proud of the fact that people are comfortable reaching out to me for terrarium advice, whether they’re building their own or have questions about one they purchased from my shop.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People are welcome to reach out to me via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/nicheterrariums), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/niche.terrariums/), or e-mail (niche.terrariums@gmail.com).
Contact Info:
- Website: nicheterrariums.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niche.terrariums/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicheterrariums
