Meet Alie Olivia Wettstein | Plant Shop Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alie Olivia Wettstein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alie Olivia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I am pursuing this creative career because I enjoy making and sharing things that people discover for the first time. New, natural, and beautiful things that solely bring excitement and awe into peoples lives. I find that in houseplants and so do my customers. I have always admired people who use unique mediums for self expression. I believe there is a massive vulnerability in putting your creativity into the world through art or a business. I worked all my life assembling, fabricating, and selling other peoples designs and products and I think I reached a time in my evolution where I was ready to share my creativity and life experience through the medium of plants.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been working since the age of 14. My highest academic achievement is a high school diploma. I have worked every job from coffee shops, to raft guiding, to retail, farmers markets, home remodeling, to TV set building, to working in a design fabrication shop. I dabbled in the EMS service, personal assistance, farming, landscaping. What I learned is that I am happiest in project oriented work, creating, and physical work. It has not been easy by any means especially as a woman in male dominated industries. What I learned from challenges at work is that the hard times, the learning curves, the crappy coworkers won’t be there forever. Once you realize how many things you’ve gotten yourself through the challenges aren’t so big anymore. I also realized everything I dealt with lead me to know exactly what I wanted to offer my family, community, and society.

Some lessons I learned are: “Fake it till you make it but do your research”. “Do not react in the moment. Take a walk around the block, go to the bathroom, take some deep breaths, don’ let them win by getting under your skin.” “Put in the time, show up early, but establish your boundaries.” “Share the knowledge. Someone took the time to show you, now its your turn to give back.”

I think the most important thing I center my life and business around is the fact that I can make it whatever I want it to be. It doesn’t need to happen now or five years from now. It is all a mixture of the time and energy I give it. Like a plant, with enough light and water, its going to grow into something healthy and beautiful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Marble, CO is where my business headquarters is. The population is somewhere around 80-100 and there is one coffee shop and one restaurant that shut in the winter. So, come visit The Hub, our community coffee shop non-profit, go fishing in the Crystal river, SUPing in the lakes, hiking in the Raggeds and Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness, then enjoy some BBQ at Slow Grooving. Be sure to check out the history of our town and walk the old Mill Site park! The fun, tranquility, and beauty is endless here

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family and friends. I come from a family of entrepreneurs. Independence, efficiency, and business operations run in our Swiss blood. My sister and best friends are the most supportive and helpful with bouncing ideas around and building my confidence. Besides that, the Colorado SMDC has been most helpful with business resources.

Website: www.nightshadesplantshop.com

Instagram: Nightshadesplantshop

Facebook: @nightshadesplantshop