Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Lepley.
Hi Justin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In May 2020, I was in my last semester of Law School at Case Western Reserve, when the Pandemic shifted everything and sent the world into lockdown. With classes now remote, and many extra-circulars canceled, I had free time to sit and reflect for the first time in years. Needing something to channel my time and creative energy into, I decided to start a blog called Lepley & Co. Little did I know, that I was starting my new career.
One of the original blog posts was about a plant stand in my front yard here in Akron’s Goodyear Heights Neighborhood. My fiance and I had a mint plant from the year before that had taken over the garden, so I decided to pot it up, along with some other plants we had around our home, and thus the plant stand was born.
With a simple white card table, a picket fence, and a hand-painted sign, folks were soon coming from all over to safely shop for plants in my front yard (we were still in lockdown). Every time something would sell, I would take those proceeds and put them right back into sourcing new plants. From tropicals, houseplants, and cacti and succulents, our front yard was filled with plants and shoppers.
It became clear that my front yard was not a long-term solution if I wanted this new business to grow, so I began looking at other spaces where I could nurture this newfound passion. Since moving to Akron in 2017, we had been frequent shoppers at the Northside Marketplace, a retail co-op allowing vendors to sell their wares through a central register, and with its industrial feel, and large windows, it was the perfect next step for Lepley & Co. I signed a one-year lease and joined the Marketplace in late July 2020.
The night before our grand opening there, I was anxious, questioning what I had done. After all, I should be studying for the Bar Exam, right?! (Now postponed for the second time). To calm myself down, I took a deep breath and said that if the opening goes well, I will double down and give Lepley & Co. a year to see what happens. If it didn’t go well, I would take a step back, maintain what I’d created, and reevaluate.
That next morning, on August 1st of 2020, word had spread and we had a line out the doors at the Marketplace of excited shoppers waiting to check out our plants and wares. It was phenomenal to see all of the love and local support, folks thrilled to have new plant babies to love and nurture as the Pandemic raged on. True to myself, I decided to go all in for the next year, and see where it took me.
My next step was to find a place where I could pot and care for all of our inventory. Up until this point, this process was still happening in our driveway and single-car garage, which was not a long-term solution, especially with Ohio’s winter just around the corner. After endless searching, I came across a Craigslist ad for a nearly abandoned Train Depot from the mid-1800s in Massillon’s Historic Downtown District.
With the seller open to financing the building, I was able to put a downpayment with the money earned from the plant stand, and we were on our way. To say that the restoration was a huge undertaking would be an understatement. From plywood on every wall, broken-out windows covered by steel panels, and the need for a new HVAC system, my Father Keith, and Grandfather Dale, alongside the support of countless family and friends, the historic structure was given new life.
Our official opening of the Massillon Depot was actually on my 26th Birthday, November 14th of 2020. It was hard to believe in only about six months, we had grown an idea into multiple locations. My heart was full, and this was just the beginning. In the Spring of 2021, we decided to add a Floral Department to Lepley & Co., which has now grown to our largest single department. We acquired Art Lan Florist, in Uniontown, which has been a staple of the community since the 1970s, and have now expanded our space within Northside Marketplace for the fourth time here in the Fall of 2022.
Our latest expansion was taking over the operation and management of the entire Marketplace in October of this year, working to give the space new life, new Vendors, and create a sense of community and support. I have used “we” throughout this interview because I could not have done any of this without the countless team members, family, and support systems that have helped bring this vision to life over these past few years.
Most notably, my best friend, and Chief Operating Officer of all our companies, Bri Marshall. Her steadfast commitment to the vision of not what the company was, but what it could be, has been the single greatest factor in getting to where we are today, and where we are headed in the future.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As in any startup business, there have been many unique struggles and challenges. First, we started from the ground up, with no initial investment, and during a Global Pandemic. Every piece of the puzzle brought unique challenges from sourcing supplies to inventory.
One of our greatest obstacles has been fast and regular transitionary periods as what Lepley & Co. is has grown and evolved. Especially for some team members who sought consistency and routine in their work, the fast-paced business start-up just was not a good fit for their needs.
Learning not to take that personally, and just be grateful for the time and passion each person gave to the organization, no matter how brief, was a definite learning curve for me. I would say the second greatest obstacle has been funding and cash flow. While it isn’t a sexy answer, fast growth just means we need more resources, and that doesn’t always fall into place in the right order, which can make things very hard and stressful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Lepley & Co.
I am most proud of how a collective love and appreciation for Plants, Flowers, and the Natural World has created a local community that can share and curate that passion. Further, something that started as a simple idea, is now growing towards creating sustainable career opportunities for not only myself but a team that I have the greatest admiration for, professionally and personally.
I am also thrilled that Lepley & Co. has designated each of our locations as Safe Spaces, welcoming people as they are, and sharing community resources for better mental health and self-love. As a queer-owned business, visibility is important, not just for the next generation, but for anyone who may not have grown up loving themselves, or knowing what life could be.
One piece of information that I always try to share with others is to order your fresh flowers direct from your local florist. Large online companies like Teleflora and FTD take such a large percentage of the order, that you not only spend more, but you get less value in your arrangement. Do yourself and your local florist a favor, and always order direct! You are much more likely to LOVE the result, and they will love you for your support.
Northside Marketplace
In our new role at Northside Marketplace, my passion for Entrepernship and the Local Community has come to life. In the same space that allowed me to take Lepley & Co. from an idea to a thriving business, I can help other entrepreneurs do the same with their businesses, and try out new ideas in a low-risk environment.
Post-pandemic, and needing a refresh after five years, the Market was at about 35% occupancy when we took over in October, and through some hard work from the team, and great community support, we are entering 2023 at over 80% occupancy, which has given the space new energy and life.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson that I have learned is to tackle things one day at a time. You never know what opportunities tomorrow could hold.
Contact Info:
- Website: lepleyandco.com
- Instagram: @lepleyandco
- Facebook: @LepleyAndCo
- Other: https://www.northsidemarketplace.com
