Meet Laurie Bernitt | Owner of Jungle Cat Plant Shop

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

Hi Laurie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In June of 2020, my partner and I ended up moving out of our 1500 sqft. house and into a 500 sqft. apartment in downtown Seattle. Along with the move came all of our 75+ houseplants, turning our new space into a literal jungle. In the hight of the pandemic and confined in a new space in downtown Seattle, I started to daydream hardcore about doing my own thing, starting my own business. Over the years of owning a house, we acquired a large collection as we wanted to fill our space with plants since it adds life and character! I really enjoyed collecting plants, learning how to care for plants and spending time in our outdoor garden.

For my business idea, I wanted to focus on indoor houseplants as I wanted to cater those in similar situations after our move: apartment dwellers, condos or people who didn’t have the luxury of an outdoor space. Indoor houseplants allows people to enjoy the outdoors, indoors. 😀

Prior to opening Jungle Cat, I was a senior merchandiser for a promotional marketing firm in Bellevue. My job was to source unique and fun products for corporate companies and specifically for their employee web stores. I really enjoyed my job as I felt like a personal shopper for businesses and I got to tap into my creativity when working with our graphic designers on coming up with design concepts to decorate the product. I’ve merged my passion for plants, my creative side in designing the brand and helping others learn in an inviting environment. Now instead of personal shopping for promotional merchandise, I’m now shopping for the best plants for my customers – way more relaxing!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Opening Jungle Cat, I had a specific vision in mind. Most of my exposure to plant shops in the Seattle area and local gardening centers all had a similar vibe, they felt a little sterile (white walls, metal racks), quality was limited (due to their space to turn over plants) and they were always so big that it was hard to get quality attention if you had questions. Most of my time was searching on my phone the care for the plants or searching for the best looking plants. Often times I would walk out defeated. I took all these things into consideration when opening my own shop. Being a first time business owner I was already scared of taking risks so I opted for a smaller store front for multiple reasons – makes it maintainable for one person, the selection of plants is always fresh and I can help provide detailed attention to everyone who walks in.

As far as design I wanted a warm and welcoming environment so added wood detailing in the shelves, warm tone paint colors and accents, and added rugs and tables for a cozy atmosphere. I provide care instructions for all the plants we sell so people can make informed decisions and have something to reference when they are at home with their new plant. I was going for more of a boutique style shop that carried houseplants and other plant themed accessories.

At Jungle Cat Plant Shop we host space for local artists to sell their work and we hold intimate workshops within our space. All the workshops either involve plants or are plant themed. For example, we had a local artist teach a watercolor workshop where customers got to paint their own monstera deliciosa masterpiece. We also had a fiber artist show us how to hand knot macrame plant hangers.

Lastly, I strive to source and support other locally women owned businesses here at the shop, from pottery to gifts and accessories. This is very important to me and something I will continue to do while owning the shop.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The city of Redmond, WA, let alone the block we reside on, has a lot to offer!

Start the day off with an amazing cup of coffee and pastry at Five Stones Coffee. This place fills up fast and on the weekends there is guaranteed to be a line out the door. Since I usually have a long to-do list before opening up the shop, I opt to order online when I’m on my way into the city.

The downtown Redmond area has a few beautiful parks in the area, one being right behind the shop. It has a well manicured grassy lawn for having a picnic or enjoying breakfast. It also has waterpark that is very popular come the summer months. The park also has a stage for local events or performances.

We have a great Poke place (Hello Poke) nearby that I like to grab for lunch when I’m taking my dog Tango for a walk. I’m embarrassed to admit how often I order from here but they know me by name…

Less than a mile away is one of the states largest parks, Marymoor. They have multiple soccer and baseball fields, a 40 acre dog park, an outdoor amphitheater among the trees for concerts and they have another section where they screen movies outdoors during the summer.

Some popular lunch and dinner spots that are worth a visit during your week stay: Woodblock (Elevated American), Matador (Tex Mex) or Tavolata (Italian).

If you are looking for a fun night out, we are right next door to Redmond’s oldest bar, Palmers. They host karaoke 7 days a week, starts at 9pm!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In the plant community, there are many influencers! If I had to pick one person who has been an inspiration in this plant shop journey, I’d have to pick Hilton Carter. Hilton is a plant and interior stylist as well as an author to 4 fabulous books. He can help teach you how to turn any space into a junglescape, he provides plant care tips and I love his brand aesthetic! My shop look and feel is definitely inspired by him.

Website: www.junglecatplantshop.com

Instagram: @jungle.cat.plant.shop

Image Credits
Laurie Bernitt