Meet Melanie Adams | Small Business Owner – Retail

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

Hi Melanie, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Boulder Colorado, surrounded by beautiful mountains and hiking trails in my backyard. Growing up, I always felt a close connection with nature and to this day It’s still where I go to find peace and relaxation.

Both my parents were entrepreneurs who started their own business. They worked long hours but they were passionate about their work. Watching them run their company inspired me to follow in their footsteps. I wanted to feel that same passion for my career and create something unique that I could call my own.

I always knew I was creative, it’s probably the talent I value most in myself. When I was a child I dreamed of becoming an artist and I would spend hours or even days immersed in my latest project.

As I got older, my dreams of becoming an artist morphed into passion for architecture and design. I earned my bachelor’s degree in sustainable architecture from the University of Colorado Boulder. Shortly after, I began my career at an architecture firm called Gelfand Partners in San Francisco. During that time I had the opportunity to work on so many amazing projects, from affordable and transitional housing to assisted care facilities and schools. I feel an immense sense of pride when I can give back to my community, and working with Gelfand filled that need within me. I knew that no matter where my career took me I wanted to make a positive impact.

Fast forward to today, and I’d describe myself as seasoned houseplant and gardening enthusiast, but that wasn’t always the case. Ten years ago I was a self-proclaimed “black thumb” who couldn’t keep a plant alive despite my best efforts. That was until I purchased a cactus from a local vendor off the streets of San Francisco. I made a vow to myself that I would keep that cactus alive for at least a year and I followed through on that promise.

Since then, I have spent countless hours cultivating hundreds of plants, educating myself, and furthering my expertise. My true passion lies in helping others discover their green thumb like I did. 

Eventually I decided to leave my architectural career behind to start my own business like I had always dreamed I would. Inspired by my own green thumb journey, my love of nature, and my deep desire to create change, I founded Sage Spade with that in mind. The rest, as they say, is history.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Before founding Sage Spade, my background was in architecture; with nearly a decade of expertise working in the field of sustainable design. I am a firm believer in the power of using natural elements to blend indoor and outdoor spaces. The positive effects nature has on our mind and body are endless, and it’s important we protect the natural world from those who wish to harm it.

Watching our world decline at the hands of large corporations who care more about profits than the health and safety of people and our planet sickens me. I was tired of these same corporations making it difficult for people to support local small businesses.

My dream was to unite local artisans and small businesses under one roof, where they could sell their one-of-a kind products at affordable prices. Making shopping sustainably easy for the average person by creating a space where they can access high-quality locally-made products without the big price tag. I decided to take matters into my own hands and change the way we shop.

I started Sage Spade in the spring of 2022 with less than $1,000 to invest into my business. But I didn’t let my lack of funding, experience, or full-time job stop me from taking a leap of faith. I signed up to be a vendor at my local farmers market and effectively kickstarted my journey as an entrepreneur. I purchased a tent, a sign, business cards, and a small startup inventory consisting of plants, terrariums, thrifts, and locally-made home and garden products.

I consider it our responsibility as a business to prioritize the health and well-being of our customers and the planet. We do this by adopting a holistic approach to our products’ creation, packaging, shipping, and end-of-life footprint. We are 100% plastic-free, all our packaging is either reusable, recyclable, or compostable and our shipping is carbon-neutral, allowing our customers to shop sustainably online.

We proudly donate 10% of our profits to charitable organizations making a difference in the world. This includes community support, civil liberties, habitat conservation, climate change, etc. Our biggest goal is to serve and give back to our community by making the world a cleaner and safer place for everyone. I hope we can inspire more businesses to join us in adopting a low-impact method of running their business.

Our budget-friendly products sold out quickly and customers wanted more, requesting classes and asking where our store was located. The overwhelmingly positive response to our little booth showed the immense potential of this business idea.

After that first summer, I never looked back. I quit my architecture job to focus on my business full-time. Since then I have worked tirelessly on plans for our first retail location which is scheduled to open this Fall 2024.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many fun things to do and see in Colorado, it’s hard to know where to begin.

As a Boulderite, I need to start there. No trip to Boulder would be complete without a visit to Pearl Street and the Boulder creek. If you’re lucky enough to visit while the creek is running grab a tube and go for a float. The Boulder Creek Festival in May is a long-standing tradition I have participated in every year, specifically the rubber duck race! If you’re looking for some great hiking trails Boulder is the place to be, you’ll never get bored at Chautauqua park. Take a short drive to Eldorado Springs, a hiking and climbing paradise. The newly renovated historic Eldorado Pool is the place to be on a hot summer day. For scenic views of Boulder and the continental divide, take a drive up Flagstaff. If you go during the Holidays you can hike up the Boulder star – a Boulder right of passage.

Some of my favorite local spots and watering holes include: The Dark Horse – a hidden dive with some of the best wings in Boulder. Mountain Sun and Southern Sun also have a great menu and tap list – don’t sleep on the wings and nachos, if you visit in February make sure to stop by for Stout Month (note all their locations are cash only). The Buff, The Village, Foolish Craigs, and Walnut Cafe breakfasts can’t be beat, but be prepared to wait for a table. Illegal Petes and Snarf’s (and Snarf burger) are the best spots to grab a quick lunch. Backcountry pizza has fantastic pizza and an even better tap list. No trip to Colorado would be complete without a trip to a local brewery, Sanitas, Vision Quest, and Avery are some of my favorites in Boulder.

It’s worth making the trip to downtown Golden, this picturesque mining town is straight out of an old western. You can hangout by the creek, hike the tables, or join the famous Coors brewery tour. If you’re looking for a dog-friendly brewery with a view, look no further than New Terrain (it can get busy so go before the 5’oclock rush).
Some would say you can’t visit Colorado without going to a show at Red Rocks. But if you can’t snag concert tickets check out their Summer Film schedule. Bring a blanket and a cooler full of snacks to enjoy while you watch some of the best cinematic classics!

Denver is a vast sprawling metro, there are so many great places to go and see but here are a few of my favorites. Go for a brewery crawl in RiNo – Denver’s art district (First Fridays are always a blast!). Hangout in Downtown Highlands for a fantastic selection of restaurants, bars, and shops. Head to the Denver Zoo or the Nature and Science Museum to keep your kids entertained for hours – if you go during the holidays check out Zoo Lights. The Denver Botanical gardens are one of my favorite places, their expansive gardens and landscapes are breathtaking.

If you want to get out of the front range, take a trip to the mountains! Breckenridge and Winter Park are a short drive away and they both have great downtown areas to hangout winter or summer. Steamboat will always hold a special place in my heart, whether you’re tubing the Yampa, hanging out downtown, or skiing the slopes, you won’t be disappointed.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband Archie deserves all the recognition in the world. He encouraged me to pursue my dreams even when they felt impossible. He believed in me and our small business when no one else did. He has showed me nothing but love and support throughout my entrepreneurship journey, and has worked long hours beside me while working a full-time job. Last but certainly not least, he has supported us financially so that I could pursue my business full-time. Simply put, without him my business would not exist.

Website: https://sagespade.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.sagespade/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/101699800/admin/feed/posts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopsagespade

Image Credits
Kacey Haptonstall