Introducing Shroot
We’re currently running a giveaway, one of the products available to win was gifted to us by another Welsh business, we wanted to share their story and support them: Introducing Shroot: Postable Microgreens Gifts.
Shroot is a new company inspired by and established during lockdown, selling gifts and greetings to sow and grow.
Jude Cook and Carolyn Davies launched Shroot with their first product range called Greens & Greetings in January 2021. They’re a greeting card, envelope and stand-up plant pot in one, containing everything the recipient needs to grow delicious and nutritious microgreens. There’s a range of attractive designs with room on the back of the greeting to write your own personal message. They’re a unique alternative to birthday cards, or just to show you care, any day of the year.
The idea for Greens & Greetings came about during the first lockdown when Jude decided to try her hand at a bit of windowsill gardening. She discovered the joys of microgreens – so quick and easy to grow. Jude wanted a way of sharing her lockdown hobby with friends. We couldn’t go anywhere or see anyone – so coming up with a way to reach out to people actually became a business opportunity.
As Ecology and Environment graduates, and with Jude’s Masters and work in Environmental Management, it was really important to them to offer products that will not have a detrimental impact on the environment. They spent many months developing their products and sourcing sustainable suppliers and materials.
They avoid single use plastics where possible; the stirrer is wooden and the seeds are contained in a little glassine envelope – it’s made of water-resistant paper that is recyclable/biodegradable.
The seeds are from a UK supplier and are non-GMO and untreated. The expanding coir soil blocks are an eco-friendly alternative to peat pellets, made from coconut husks (a by-product of coconut processing). They readily absorb and hold water so are ideal for growing in our pouches.
In recognition of their targets for continual improvement Shroot has been awarded SME Standards: Sustainability.
Shroot have been selling their greetings via their website whilst continuing to develop and test ideas for more products. They’ve been delighted with the feedback they’ve received from happy customers and have been busy creating new designs to meet the demand.
Now that restrictions are easing, Shroot will be expanding to sell their products in shops, and will also be offering bespoke corporate gift packages for companies wishing to send their staff and business partners something unique and uplifting (complete with their company colours and logo). They have already completed their first such order from a company who thought Greens & Greetings were a perfect way of saying thank you to staff for their hard work and support during such a difficult and unprecedented year.
If you’d like more information, or if you’d like to place an order, check out their website. Each Greens & Greeting costs £6.99 plus postage (but if you sign up for their newsletter you’ll be sent a discount code for 10% off). They can send your greeting, complete with your personal message, directly to your recipient should you wish (or they can leave it blank and post it to you).
