Inspiring Conversations with Tishana Richards of Coco and Seed

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tishana Richards.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started out with a t-shirt printing concept but eventually realized that something was missing. I wanted to do more than just design shirts to express myself creatively. That’s when I knew I wanted to do something where I could give back. I loved the philanthropic concept of growing fruit bearing trees and the impact they have on people’s lives particularly in developing countries and the communities they live in. I figured that if I could sell a shirt and donate that way then that could make an impact. But that still wasn’t enough for me.

It wasn’t until I started gardening and failing that I knew this was the real problem to solve. Gardening seemed easy in theory but not so much in concept. I would try planting everything I could and they all seemed to sprout and quickly die. I then made it my mission to figure out how to crack the gardening code, particularly inside container gardening where Arizona summers were in the high 115-120s and at times when space was limited. I combined my love of mason jars with the science of gardening and made my first mason jar hydroponic garden kit in 2013.

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?
It has not been a smooth road at all. In fact, it has been very bumpy and full of twists and turns! There have been times when pivoting has been helpful, times when I had to take a break and step away, but I have always felt like during those times away that I wasn’t living my life with purpose until I got back into my passion for gardening and growing with others.

Like with many businesses cash flow and reaching your audience can be the hardest things to do simultaneously. Even as you grow bigger there is always a new threshold to reach and push through. There will always be surprises along the business journey no matter how long you’re in it for. That is also what makes the ride of entrepreneurship so intriguing, there’s always something to keep you on your toes.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Coco and Seed specializes in making indoor gardening beautifully simple. Our most popular product is the Hydroponic Mason Jar Garden Kit. It was picked up by media outlets during the summer of 2020 first by the Today Show and then making a spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things list that same year. Since then it has had a couple of small but impactful upgrades making it better than ever. I believe what sets Coco and Seed apart is that it is truly a small business. I take pride in taking it this far mostly on my own. That however may change one day with growth!

What I’m most proud of is being able to grow and adapt along with my business, just as the plants I grow from seed do. There’s always something new to learn, something to appreciate, and be inspired by.

Growing edible plants indoors is absolutely possible for any level of gardener and not only is it rewarding in the practical sense but also in the psychological sense. Being able to tend to a plant from seed and care for it and watch it grow is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I believe that if you can find a personal mentor that is a wonderful thing, but if not hit the books! There are many wonderful business owners that have gone through this before, and while everyone’s journey is different, reading about their experiences can be helpful and always readily available. Podcasts to inspire can be just as valuable. Find groups with like-minded people and learn from your peers. They don’t have to know it all just know a little bit more than you. In turn, you can be a mentor for someone else to help them get to where you are now.

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@cocoandseed.com
• Website: https://www.cocoandseed.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coco_and_seed
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cocoandseed
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CocoandSeed

Image Credits
Tishana Richards