Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Fuller.
Hi Cody, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Started off gardening with my meme after school. She would have a very elaborate garden with vegetables, succulents, and blooming flowers, all tied into an English style garden. She would teach me about each plant, and how each one needed different amount of attention. I would help her in the garden for most of my younger years after she picked me up from school each day. She was my rock and the person I went to for comfort growing up and the whole reason I am who I am today.
She later gave me the responsibility of cutting the grass each Saturday morning. I was woke up by a phone call from my Meme like clockwork each Saturday, wondering if I was able to cut the grass? As a young kid, 8am seemed like 5am, I wanted to sleep in, but I could not say no to her sweet innocent voice. I naturally did a good job on her yard simply because she was such a tidy and clean person, so I never wanted to disappoint her. That set me up for a foundation for later in my business life to do the best job I could do, and take constructive criticism when I missed a spot.
Fast forward a few years and I was able to drive myself to pass out flyers in neighborhoods, with a simply idea of trying to stir up business to get weekly mowing routes. That turned into a full time job years later.
I quickly was doing landscaping on top of juggling mowing yards. Meanwhile there was a local nursery in my town that supplied me with plants to use for my landscaping jobs. It was a beautiful Nursery with well stocked House plants, shrubs, and Trees. The older couple who I got to know very well, were so sweet and was always there helping you with any questions you had about there products. After a few years, Covid hit. This was a scary time for older people. This was when the Son of the older couple who ran it so well since the 80s was forced to stay home. The business soon suffered from the lack of upkeep and the thought of the nursery being torn down was heartbreaking for me. I was tired of mowing at the time, and was constantly looking for an escape route from the day to day operations of the lawn service. Everyday I was listening to podcast learning how to be a better business man and work on self development. So days and weeks go by and soon after, I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening to this place that once was so full of beautiful plants, now full of weeds and almost bare of plants. I had my friend pop in there one day and do some investigating. I thought my ship had sailed when I found out the Son was interested in selling the Nursery business. He just was not into the business like his parents were. From then on I poured my heart and soul into the business. I wanted to most importantly to run the store in honor of my meme who passed away before she was able to see me open the store.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
At the beginning of the purchase of the nursery, lots of emotions were going through my mind. I had no idea the place was going to be a success. Lots of doubt went through my mind on whether or not I would be able to pay bills and recover the business to what it use to be. Thankfully I had my Parents support me financially with a loan for the down deposit, so making it through the winter months after purchasing the business in September, was a huge weight lifted off my back. The nursery business is slow shortly after September, so until March, we made hardly any sales. The first year in business, I had an overwhelming support from my family pitching in to be cashiers and help in any way with customers as the spring rush of business came through. It felt very exciting and at the same time, I had a constant thought in my mind as when the business would come to a screeching halt. Luckily the first year in business, customers supported us until late in the year. Every year since, we have went through learning curves and setbacks financially and emotionally. Anyone who owns a business knows it takes a great deal of reinvesting into the business before you seek any reward, so the first few years took a lot out of me.
We’ve been impressed with Fullers Nursery and Landscaping, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a wholesale, and retail nursery. We provide house plants, shrubs, garden plants, annuals, perennials, as well as trees for our customers. I try to focus on treating our customers and my employees as I wanted to be treated. With retail, I hate walking into a store and not feeling like I am welcomed. I really focus on my customers, products, and my employees. Those are the things that drive the whole operation to run smoothly. Listening to my employees and customers have had the biggest impact on my business as a whole. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.
How do you think about luck?
I think luck has a way of showing up, but it is what you do with it, that is really what it boils down to. Lots of preparation goes into life, and then when a luck shows up, I try to follow through with a plan of action. I think everyone has a gift, and I think we could all be lucky if we just practice our gift and our calling. I just so happen to be lucky with the gift of loving nature and the love of business.
Pricing:
- House plants/Succulents $7-$60
- Shrubs/Grasses $7-$50
- Trees 5-65 gallon $30-$700
- Mulch/Soil $3.50-$30.00
- Garden Supplies/Edging $5-$35
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fullersnursery.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nurseryfullers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070946835903
