Meet Mike Styer of Vate Succulents

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Styer. 

Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started VATE as a way to do what I love in a way that my friends, family, and customers can also enjoy. It started at home with a small collection of houseplants which quickly grew to take over my apartment. Learning how to properly care for each individual plant was challenging, and I enjoyed sharing cuttings and caretaking tips with my friends. The joy and fulfillment I received from caring for so many different plants inspired me to try growing on a larger scale. 

My business partner, Nick, and I decided to take the leap and look for land to grow succulents and other houseplants on. Coincidentally, Weiland’s Market in Clintonville, Ohio was selling their greenhouse – and we were in business. We spent an entire summer moving the structure to a large family farm in Bethel, Ohio, and began making plans to start selling the plants the next summer. 

In 2021, we attended various farmers’ markets every week. The connections we made – both with customers and other small business owners – were so valuable to us. We found a great community and were given the opportunity to learn about the problems that plant-owners face in keeping their plants healthy. We spent the summer learning from and supporting both new and veteran plant-owners and enjoyed every minute. 

The most common issue that our succulent-owning customers experienced was over-watering their plants. So, we created a unique soil formula and got to work designing our own pots that drain more quickly than traditional pots. In addition to selling succulents and other houseplants, we now design and hand-pour all of our planters here in Columbus, Ohio. We’ve had so much fun with VATE over the past few years, and we are looking forward to continuing to innovate and grow in this industry. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any business faces challenges and we are no exception. However, we feel very grateful for the feedback and support we’ve received from our friends, family, and community. This has been a collaborative effort and has taught us more than I could have hoped for. 

We’ve had issues with our supply chain like many other businesses. We’re also seeing costs rise in many areas and working actively to avoid raising prices. So far, though, every obstacle has created a new opportunity and we’re moving forward with that in mind. 

We’ve been impressed with Vate Succulents, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
VATE designs and creates pots and planters that we fill with succulents and other houseplants grown in our greenhouse in Ohio. The planters are all designed to help plants thrive and look beautiful doing so. We specialize in succulent plants and design our planters with succulents in mind. All of our pots and planters are made from hand-poured concrete in a variety of colors. 

Our specialty planters have gone through several iterations to get to where they are today and we’re very proud of the result. The planter has sloping interior walls, a magnetic drip tray, and a pleasing shape that fits on most windowsills. The feedback has been great and we look forward to seeing more plants growing in them this summer. 

What do you think about luck?
We’ve been lucky to have the support of so many people along this journey. Help from friends and family has made all the difference and we are lucky to have the support structure that we do. 

Luck is certainly only a piece of the puzzle, though. As the saying goes “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. We’ve had a lot of luck so far and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to precipitate so much of it. 

Pricing:

• Small Potted Succulent (2in.) $8
• Medium Potted Succulent (3.5in) $15
• Windowsill Planter (15in) $45

Contact Info:

• Email: mike@vatesucculents.com
• Website: www.vatesucculents.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vatesucculents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vatesucculents