Phytophilia – PHYTO, from the Greek phyton, means plant; PHILIA, from the Green philia, means love or passion for. A phytofile is a person who is especially interested in plants.
Clay Hapke, a skilled phytofile, had so many plants in his home that his friends told him that that he should open a plant store. His wife, Lauren McKenzie, owner of Ren Creative, has a talent for design and marketing.
Turning Dreams into Reality
“We kicked around the idea of doing a mobile plant shop as a side gig,” McKenzie says. “We both had successful careers and initially just wanted to do pop-up events. As fate would have it, a friend of ours had a retail space available in Old Colorado City. We really had to think about it because at least one of us would have to leave our “safe career” and neither of us had experience running a retail business. In the end, we decided to take the leap.”
Hapke’s Hortum was a name that the couple came up with in the dreaming phase of their business.
“We discussed a few names and Lauren loved Hapke’s Hortum the best,” Hapke says. “It just flowed with my last name and Hortum is loosely translated from the Latin word hortus which means garden.”
The space, located on Colorado Avenue, needed a total buildout. It was previously a bar and it wasn’t fitting the plant boutique vibe. Hapke and McKenzie designed a vibrant and inviting space with warm lighting, plant and gift displays, and lots of unexpected whimsy.
Curating the Goods
Hapke did extensive research to find plant wholesalers that would allow him to hand-pick and curate the plants for the boutique. He wanted rare, uncommon, and exotic specimens that would draw people in to shop for their own plant collections.
“When it comes to selecting plants, there are things you will see in person that you wouldn’t see on a sales sheet,” Hapke says. “I am particular about the quality, health, and overall look of the plants I select for my store. I want people to see the value in purchasing from our plant boutique versus big box stores.”
In addition to plants, Hapke’s Hortum also sells planting vessels, tongue-in-cheek décor, plant supplies, and plant embellishments like tiny hats and other ornamentation. Even if you’re not into plants or are a self-professed “black thumb,” you will find something in this boutique that will inspire a purchase.
Plant Tutelage
In addition to selling plants, Hapke is passionate about educating his customers about all things plant related.
“I consider it a privilege to help my customers pick out plants,” Hapke says. “I ask questions to gauge their comfort and skill level with plants and help them pick a plant that they can successfully take care of. Customer service is also very important for us. If for some reason there is an issue with a plant, I offer tips to help to correct the issue or offer an exchange, if necessary.”
Workshops + Private Events
Hapke’s Hortum offers workshops that combine plants and creativity. Some examples include terrarium construction, moss frames, staghorn fern mounting, pot painting and repotting classes.
The workshops aren’t just limited to plants.
Lauren is very artistic and also likes to collect vintage items. She has created workshops utilizing some of her favorite collections including framed vintage matchbooks and collaging items from vintage magazines.
In addition to workshops, Hapke’s Hortum hosts private events for corporate team building, celebrations and large group private workshops.
Website: https://www.hapkeshortum.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @HapkesHortum