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Husbys make business world a bit greener |
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After many months of bare tree limbs and brown lawns,
the joys of spring make people more aware of how important the green world
is to our well being. Some of us get our daily dose of greenery year-round from
plants in our homes or offices. That’s where Greg and Jean Husby,
of Foliage Design Systems of Mid-Michigan, come in. The Husbys’ Lansing business, a franchise of a Florida-based
company, provides quality foliage and horticultural products and services,
from live plants and trees to silk and preserved plants and the decorative
containers for them, as well as seasonal holiday displays. Describing his company, Husby says simply, “we improve
the livability of homes and offices with foliage plants.” He points out that live plants are more than just attractive;
they help clean pollutants from the air and may help reduce “sick
building syndrome.” NASA tests prove that many common indoor plants
reduce certain toxic chemicals in the air by 80 to 90 percent. You might think of the Husbys’ staff as the plant
people who come in weekly to care for the plants in your office, store
or mall. Behind those visits is a much bigger picture. Greg, Jean or their sales manager, Rhonda Abood, start
by working with a client to design a plant plan for a given indoor space,
whether a home, a large hotel, or something in between, such as a restaurant
or office suite. “I have to consider the space, the client’s
needs and budget, and other factors as I prepare a bid,” Greg explains.
Husby maintains that what makes his company unique, a
cut above what he calls the “splash and dash” plant maintenance
companies, is the quality of the people he employs. Most have degrees
in horticulture or landscape design. “They earn their watering cans
every day,” Husby offers. All of Husby’s plants—about 100,000 in the Lansing
area—are guaranteed: “I have pretty high standards—our
plants should look great at all times. If they do poorly or get leggy
or unsightly, they are quickly swapped out for healthier replacements,
even if it’s just the normal course of growth for the plant.” Husby is also involved in his community, specifically
the Reotown neighborhood of Lansing, just south of downtown, where his
business is located and where Ransom E. Olds located his Olds Motor Works,
and later, the REO Motor Car Company. He is currently president of the
Reotown Commercial Association, which works to stimulate economic growth
and revitalize the neighborhood through the National Main Street Initiative. Husby is proud of the historic neighborhood and enjoys
sharing his enthusiasm for it with others. “I hope we can improve
this area not just for businesses but for homes in this part of town.
Lansing could use a little pride in its heritage.” Greg is also on the board of directors at the R. E. Olds
Transportation Museum and is a former treasurer for Lansing’s Old
Town Main Street. Jean remains on the Design Committee for Old Town Main
Street. Before turning to plants a decade ago, both Greg and Jean
worked for years in the financial world. Then Jean entered a landscape
architecture program at Michigan State University and they both realized
they were more interested in working with greenery than greenbacks. Their first business, an outdoor landscape maintenance
service, was too seasonal, especially in Michigan. When they saw an opportunity
to buy franchise territory in mid-Michigan from a Florida company called
Foliage Design Systems, they figured it might work for them. Capital City Airport, Meridian Mall and Sparrow Health
Systems prove that Foliage Design Systems can handle big accounts, but
most of their clients are much smaller. Commercial clients make up 97
percent of their business, but residential clients are on the rise. “Business has not been bad, but once the economy
turns around, even more people will be ready to beautify their environment,”
Husby says. The challenge of a new project is the most rewarding part
of the job for Husby. The challenge is both artistic and practical, from
deciding which plants, containers and other features will look great in
a specific space to choosing plants that will remain healthy in each spot
and fit the client’s budget. Husby has met the challenge handsomely, winning two awards
from Interiorscape magazine. In 1999, Foliage Design Systems of Mid-Michigan won a
Best Projects Award for its work for Auto Owners Insurance Company, a
three-story space with a large atrium. Then in 2003, he earned another Best Projects Award for
the “Savory Garden” project in the cafeteria in the state’s
Murray Van Wagoner Transportation Building in Lansing. A waterfall, free-standing
oak pergola, teakwood planters and sculptures from local artisans enhance
this formerly drab institutional cafeteria. Husby has been involved with MRA for more than six years
and praises the bankcard service and the workers’ compensation fund.
“I worked for an insurance company for years, so I know: Retailers
Fund is a great fund. Members who aren’t yet using it should really
consider it.” Describing his business philosophy, Husby explains: “We
really care about making the clients happy. We know that our products
and services are considered discretionary. Most places would view this
spending as about as discretionary as you can get. So we have to keep
clients perfectly satisfied, or they aren’t going to keep us in their
budget.” He advises other retailers to pay attention to detail.
“Prove yourselves daily and show that you care. Know your customers
and be interested in finding the right fit.” This article was written by Michigan Retailer staff writer Amy Buttery. |
If
all goes well, he and his staff then install the plants and set up a weekly
maintenance plan to keep them healthy and attractive. A technician from
his staff checks each plant weekly to ensure it is clean, free of pests
and disease and growing well; then waters it and cleans it if necessary.