Meet Megan Jewell | Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Jewell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started selling my personal houseplants & succulents in my front yard on a makeshift table when I lost my job at the beginning of COVID & it was a hit from the start. From that point on I knew I needed to get on the road at markets & pop ups or open a brick & mortar in order to broaden my customer base. I started looking at trailers on marketplace just to see what was out there & came across a gypsy-like “trolley” that a guy had built from recycled parts like gas station roofs & used wood. He had built it with a table inside & 6 seats to move his friends from the lake to their houses safely after a day of drinking. I quickly bought it & had the high schoolers at a local high school in the mechanic workshop learn how to weld side tables, support bars, & a front door. Because it’s basically been built by the community it’s got a lot of character. The business has built itself from the minute I was stressing about being able to pay bills & setting a table in my front yard to today where The Plant Trolley has become Knoxville’s Mobile Plant Shop with a steady customer base. When I saw the trolley I new immediately what it was going to be.

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets us apart from other local plant shops is that we’re completely mobile. Our set-up is one of a kind & unique in every way. Theres not another shop out there like The Plant Trolley. I’m most proud of the business in itself. It started from absolutely nothing & a hope that I could just make a little extra to float me to my next job & it’s become my full-time gig because of the support from the community. It’s been stressful along the way. Learning how to take care of a business, keeping up with social media, learning taxes, licenses, how to be a successful manager, budgeting, inventory, where & how to set up effectively, the list goes on. It’s been a learning curve, but having a background in customer service & being a server for years before this venture has really helped prepare me for where I am today. I want customers to feel like we’re friends & they can come to me with their plant questions, that a small business is personal & every share or like on social media helps as well as every sale, & that I have the community to thank for the success of The Plant Trolley.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For coffee I’d take them to FableHollow Bookeshoppe or Likewise. Lunch & dinner I’d definitely go to Barleys Pizzeria & Taproom & Kaizen in the Old City & Calhouns on the river for beautiful sunset views. If you wanted a little bit of entertainment with your meal I’d go to Token Game Tavern, Bit Burger, or Maple Hall for fancy cocktails & bowling downtown. There’s plenty of rooftop bars downtown to hit afterward such as Preservation Pub or Scruffy City Hall. For a day of fun & entertainment I would hit Dollywood, Alcatraz Crime Museum, or Anakeesta for Mountain View’s. For a bit of nature & wildlife I’d hit the Smoky Mountains, IJAMS Nature Park, Navitat, UT Gardens, or the Knoxville Zoo! & of course, they is always a market or two going on in Knoxville on any given day you can check out for local vendors, artists, & food trucks!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The kids at Halls High School, the plant community & support of the local community, my husband, the man who originally built the trolley, & everyone in-between!

Instagram: @theplanttrolley

Facebook: @theplanttrolley /theplanttrolleyknoxville

Image Credits
Madeleine Juliet