Entrepreneur Kim White had searched for a new business venture for months, so when she learned cannabis would be legalized, she decided to combine her interest in gardening with helping others grow marijuana plants.
She had planned to open 4 Plants Indoor Gardening Supply on Oct. 17, 2018 the same day as the legalization of marijuana, but missed that window and opened on Nov. 6 instead, at 123 High St. W.
“It’s all based on how to grow plants. So I don’t have plants, but I have everything you need to grow plants,” said White, who co-owns the business with her boyfriend, Nyle Cockwill. The business sells equipment for people who want to grow vegetables, herbs, houseplants, micro-greens and cannabis.
There is a big push to encourage people to grow food — such as lettuce — indoors all-year round, White said. This helps reduce grocery bills and ensures food is grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides.
With a chuckle, White added that food grown indoors tastes much better than the produce purchased from a grocery store.
“Fresh, right? Fresh.”
White knows that she and Cockwill made the right decision to focus on selling equipment to grow both vegetable and cannabis plants. She was unsure initially if they could make the business work if it sold supplies for only vegetable plants.
About 50 per cent of the customers who purchase supplies at 4 Plants grow cannabis, while the other 50 per cent are focused on growing vegetables.
“The cannabis market in Moose Jaw is big,” White said. She believes there are many residents in their 50s and 60s who use cannabis for medicinal purposes. They grow their own plants and make their own edibles, oils or tinctures.
While there is also a group of people who use marijuana for recreational purposes, “the medicinal side is really taking off.” White has many customers who have the proper permits allowing them to use cannabis for medicinal needs.
Business has been steady since the store opened in November, White said. Customers have told her that ever since Moose Jaw’s retail cannabis stores opened last October, they have not gone to Regina to purchase their supplies.
“To bring the local market here is nice,” she added.
What makes 4 Plants Indoor Gardening Supply different is it sells high quality products at reasonable prices, while it is competitive with big box stores and even Amazon.com, White said. As she tells her customers, she is in business to provide decent prices and not rip them off.
As for how the business received its name? White pointed out four cannabis plants is the legal amount people are allowed to grow at home.
For more information about the business and its products, call (306) 972-4769, or visit 4 Plants Indoor Gardening Supply’s Facebook page.
