Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Rodriguez.
Casaplanta Garden Center started in 2011 as an empty lot of weeds, cows, and a couple of palm trees. It was created in 2009 by Carlos Rodriguez, who always had a passion for plants and a vision for the land as a garden center. Carlos had his start in cut flowers, a very cut-throat, and stressful industry. He wanted his son, Danny, to go into a much calmer industry like the garden center industry, but he was not really on board with the idea. Danny wanted to go into a science-based career, so he went to the University of Florida to pursue his Botany degree. All through college, Daniel’s parents took him to garden center tours all around the country to learn about them and get ideas before they even had the business started. His dad tried to show him what successful garden centers looked like because there was a large void in Miami for a garden center and knew that it would be successful there.
After college, Daniel moved back to Miami and started working on the bare property with one employee as a landscaping business. The first structure was built in 2013 that served as a register. It’s still up to this day and now serves as a display for our exotic and rare plants. Daniel would drive to Homestead every week to Mom & Pop nurseries to purchase plants for the garden center. From 2012 to 2017, he learned from different managers all the skills that he has today, different skills from each one of them.
Now fast-forwarding to 2020, we expected to have a breakout year because of the houseplant explosion, and the coronavirus really changed everything. It was the most challenging time and also the most growing time for us. We lost some staff due to the scare of the virus and had to limit the amount of people into our retail. The country itself is seeing a huge gardening boom, which we attribute to quarantine. People are now spending so much time at home they think of ways to improve their backyards and indoor spaces and what better way than with plants? We have been hiring people through the whole pandemic to try and keep up with the plant craze that coronavirus has brought throughout America. The last decade of dedication, obstacles, and lessons has prepared our staff and me for the pandemic and the newfound success our garden center is experiencing.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the major struggles was obviously keeping open during the Coronavirus. We had lost staff members due to the scare of working during this time, and at one point, we had to close our doors to the public for two weeks. This hurdle allowed us to open our online shop, where we offered curbside plant pickup and deliveries during the quarantine. Our Instagram and social media accounts took off with an interest in houseplants and home improvement during this time. We have been hiring throughout to keep up with the plant craze. Now we are reopened to the public with limited parking and required masks.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Casaplanta Garden Center – what should we know?
Casaplanta Garden Center is a picturesque retail garden shop that sits on 10 acres of land, but the retail itself is 2 acres. We have a large selection of outdoor and indoor plants as well as pottery and Talavera. We specialize in houseplants, annuals & perennials, landscape plants, palm trees, herbs & vegetables, and Florida natives. We have a Botanist on staff as well as a few landscape designers to help with landscaping projects. We are most proud of our organization and cleanliness, as well as transparency with our clients. We label every single item and educate our customers on what they are getting and how to care for it. Our huge selection of plants, pottery, and educated staff set us apart from other garden centers.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My father Carlos Rodriguez, had the original vision for Casaplanta to be a successful garden center in Miami, and he instilled his strong work ethic in me. My brother Rene Rodriguez has been successful from a very young age, and so he had set the bar for me to strive for greatness. My mother Evelyn Rodriguez, has only wanted to see me succeed and always put me in the best position for me to do so. I also want to thank my girlfriend Ariel Blatt for managing our business since the beginning of the pandemic and taking Casaplanta to the next level.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.casaplantamiami.com
- Phone: 3053921791
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @casaplantamiami
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casaplantamiami/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/casaplanta-garden-center-miami-3?osq=casaplanta
Image Credit:
Ariel Madison
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