Q 1. How, when and why did you start in the industry?
I come from a back ground in Real Estate and the wedding industry. My love of interiors intensified in the 4 years I worked as a sales assistant in real estate on the Bellarine Peninsular and Williamstown.
I worked alongside property stylist and saw a gap in the market offering plants and props as an option for vendors to dress their property to its utmost capacity by adding life and lush greenery with indoor plant hire.
My entire family are avid gardeners and I’ve been surrounded by indoor plants and beautiful gardens my entire life. My mum and dad used to make all their own hanging macramé plant hangers in the 70’s and I remember growing up surrounded with hanging succulents and philodendron including the longest chain of hearts I’ve ever seen, still to this day. Whenever we moved house, I remember my mum untangling the plant and carefully wrapping it around the car so it would travel safely. Mum is still making macramé hangers for my business and as gifts for people. From the first time I left home I started collecting pots and plants, and my husband has called me the crazy pot woman for years. I basically got into this industry because I was told I could not bring one more single pot or plant home so I had to think of better ways to keep my obsession current and continuous.
I love helping my clients bring to life their vision for their events, property styling and corporate interiors. It gives me so much joy to see how happy my plants and props make people and the difference beautiful greenery adds to the location that it doesn’t really feel like hard work to me. I also love finding new suppliers to support throughout my own business. My newest pot label, Modern Muse from Brisbane have just started out and I love that I am able to help her with some imagery for her social media and support fellow small business in this industry.
Q 2. What are the latest trends in Interior Design?
Copper is a huge trend at the moment with spring bringing with it splashes of bright colours. Our labels have embraced these trends with their plant stands and gorgeous Hand-painted concrete and fibreglass pots. We are so fortunate to have some of Australia’s leading labels in the interior design world. Ivy Muse plant stands from Melbourne have stunning ranges to choose from and we incorporate these into every display. On The Side concrete pots, originally a Sydney label but now based out of Melbourne are creating amazing indoor and outdoor concrete pots and other concrete wares. These are real beauties and I can’t get enough of them. My husband and dad have also been experimenting with new designs for my business using timber and steel and I have started incorporating these into some of my jobs
Q 3. What are your proudest business achievements?
I am most proud of the business relationships I have developed in the relatively short time I have been in the industry. I have a great network of fellow small business owners in the hire, wedding and event industry, real estate industry and food and wine industries in my area of Geelong, Bellarine and the Surfcoast and I’m looking forward to lots of collaborations with these guys on the near future
Q 4. What is your vision for the industry in the future – where do you see the opportunities emerging?
I am looking forward to learning as much as I can from fellow businesses in the plantscaping world and I have found the Interior Plantscaping Association such a valuable source of information and support, especially from IPA President Nerida Hills. Thank you for your time and expertise in helping me in the development stages of my business, I really have appreciated it.
Katie Heane
Olive Green – Plant and Prop
(M) 0418 124 731
Photos:
1st Image – Katie Heane, daughter Olive, son Rafael and husband Clinton
2nd image – Katie, mum Debbie and daughter Olive, both huge influences and inspiration for Katie and Olive Green.