Meet Rikki Cook | Co-founder of Happy Roots Plant Pots

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

Hi Rikki, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We started this business as a means to achieve independence and pursue our passions. We work towards a future where the business can support a more conscious work/life balance that promotes community and sustainability. It is an enormous dream, but it makes us happy and gives us purpose.

My name is Rikki Cook and my business partner is Marc Fiot. Just over three years ago we met at a coding competition in Grand Junction, Colorado. Shortly after, we fell in love and became entangled in the obstacles of entrepreneurship. Marc is talented at product design and research & development while I am educated in mold making/casting and business practices. Combining our skills, we created a product that is developed and manufactured entirely in-house. The challenges of developing manufacturing procedures make work fun and the obligation worthwhile.

The idea for the innovative planter sprouted out of necessity. During the coronavirus pandemic, we accumulated over one hundred houseplants. The task of maintaining these living things in an apartment was sizable. A terrible fungus gnat infestation educated us in the practice of bottom-watering as a way to deter pests. Inspired by our indoor gardening struggles, we developed a plant pot to help successfully grow indoor plants and make maintenance and bottom watering easier.

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.
Happy Roots Plant Pots were designed to make keeping houseplants easier. The innovation embraces the elegance of a ceramic vessel with the utility of a flexible plastic liner. A removable insert helps users to maintain healthy houseplants while aerating the soil and allowing for easy bottom-watering. The uniquely glazed ceramic pots feature a water indication window to help gauge watering.

The development of this product took over a year. During that time, our home was converted into a workspace where we experimented with a variety of methods to develop reliable manufacturing procedures. The business took over the house until we moved into our first manufacturing space at The Grand Junction Business Incubation Center in late 2021. Diligently documenting the entire process, we have developed procedures to allow the business to scale. Committed to sustainability, we have pledged 5% of profit for the planet and maintain 100% recyclable packaging.

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?
When visiting Grand Junction, Colorado a drive along the Colorado National Monument is a must. The magnificent plateau hosts many trails and overlooks accessible to the public where vast panoramas appear to have been painted with iron saturated soil in shades of red and orange that contrast against cloudless blue skies. The visually striking semi-desert landscape is the reason many people fall in love with the Grand Valley.

After the drive, I would recommend an afternoon on Main Street. Grand Junction’s historic Main Street features some excellent restaurants, shops, and art galleries. The hours fly by in between admiring antiquities, minerals, and vinyl records.

Visit neighboring Palisade, Colorado, especially in the fall to enjoy Colorado’s finest peaches. In the winter, a variety of local mountains lend themselves well to snow sports. In spring, explore the many lakes of the Grand Mesa National Forest. In summer, take a float down the Colorado River.

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 who have shown me unwavering love and support.

The Grand Junction Business Incubation Center for business mentorship.

Ben McFarlin at Mary’s Ceramics & Gifts for countless hours of mentorship.

Colorado Mesa University for a hands-on education/networking experience.

Our customers whose support and feedback keep us in business.

Website: https://happyrootsplantpots.com/

Instagram: happyrootsplantpots

Facebook: Happy Roots Plant Pots

Other: Etsy: Happy Roots Pots

Image Credits
Kaylan Robinson Photography