Green shoots Ex Nando’s worker puts down roots with plant pop-up
AFORMER hospitality worker has quit his job at Nando’s to launch his own houseplant shop in Bristol.
After being furloughed from his role managing a branch of the South African restaurant chain in March, Sam McKay decided to take his hobby one step further by setting up an online plant shop called Mila.
Interest in the 33-year-old’s business rose quickly and he was invited to showcase his selection of plants at St Nicholas Market.
Here Mila went from strength to strength, with people visiting the Saturday market from outside Bristol just to pick up foliage to take home.
“After being furloughed from Nando’s I had all this free time on my hands,” said Sam, whose business is named after the three-year-old daughter of the friend he and his boyfriend live with in Stoke Gifford.
“I used it to launch the website and see how much I could grow it.
“To my amazement, it really started to take off and a few months after getting going I was approached by St Nicholas Market to run a weekly stall.
“It was inIstta’sntlpyrreeallty yraindd ple said they had come from as far as Tewkesbury just to buy our plants having found our website, which was amazing.”
With a fast-growing social media following, Mila piqued the interest of Cabot Circus’ bosses, who approached Sam and asked if he would like to open a pop-up in Quakers Friars.
He jumped at the opportunity and his bricks and mortar store will open in the unit formerly home to Gant on December 2.
“It’s pretty ridiculous to think we’re opening a shop just eight months after launching the business online, and I’m so excited I can barely sleep,” he said.
“I’ll definitely miss working for Nando’s though, who are the best company I’ve worked for in the hospitality industry by far.”
As well as a wide range of houseplants chosen by Sam, Mila will also stock a selection of lifestyle products sourced from local, independent creatives.
Helping Sam with the running of the store will be his friend Katie, who also quit her full-time job in the summer to focus on the business.
Mila will be located at 12 Philadelphia St, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3BZ for a minimum of six months.
tbyus ipceou- lous to think we’re opening a shop just eight months after launching the business online Sam McKay