Growing up, 28-year-old Nicole Niland loved the outdoors and helping her Italian Nonnie (grandma) in her garden. She enjoyed sending friends plant-oriented gifts like painted pots, colorful rocks, or unique plants. So it’s no surprise she now owns her own floral shop, You Grow Gal in Totowa.
However, how she got to this point is the real shocker. The Totowa native was unhappy for a while working a sales job. Niland has an undergrad degree in business and an MBA in marketing; she also had plenty of time to think about her future during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Corporate America wasn’t for me,” Niland realized. “It helped me save money. But I was unhappy emotionally and mentally. I did some soul searching.”
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Personal Growth
In June of 2020, Niland left corporate America (as well as the fashion industry) to pursue her lifelong dream; being a small business owner. Now, she is the proud owner of You Grow Gal; which she describes as a wellness shop that sells home décor, plants, furniture, and florals. “I couldn’t ask for a better set up,” she says. She has help from her family in the shop, and she found a space offering reduced rent. “Everything was aligned in a row for me.”
You Grow Gal offers items that make you feel good about yourself and promote self-care. “We’re a one-stop shop for wellness products,” Niland says. Guests will notice the scent of lavender burning when they walk in. “You’ll feel a good vibe when you come into my store.”
Her services run the gamut. First, Niland creates floral arrangements for events both big and small. Recently, she hosted a 10-year-old girl’s birthday party; guests got to pot plants and then decorate the pot with paint and stickers. You can also rent plants for an event, or send someone a rock message. Likewise, you can drop off a knick-knack or possession (like a football helmet) and she’ll put a plant in it. She even creates moss letters and moss walls, perfect for a picture backdrop. Click here to see some of the items for sale.
You Grow Gal Does it All
Niland also does her own take on subscription boxes, making one revolving around plants. Subscribers take a “plant personality” survey, then receive anything from high maintenance ivy to low-maintenance succulents or cacti. She even adds in home décor items like candles and beauty items like hair ties, too.
“I put a lot of detail into everything in the store,” Niland says. “Everything has it’s reasoning. I don’t sell it if I wouldn’t want it for my own home.” Speaking of home, she loves working with her family. In fact, she says that mixing business with pleasure hasn’t been problematic in any way. “They understand me,” she says.
Visit You Grow Gal at 340 Union Boulevard in Totowa (Click here to see it on Google Maps). To learn more, click here to visit the website or you can click here to give them a call.
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All Photos: © Nicole Niland / You Grow Gal
Source: bestofnj.com