For enthusiastic home gardeners, it is always difficult to wait for the first sprouts to appear. This crucial phase is now being taken out of the consumer's hands by Groentepost. Consumers will only have to wait for the young plants to be delivered. "And then, we will guide them through the rest of the growth process with tips and tricks, so that people will have a piece of health and happiness at home", says Giel Janssen.
On the left: Maud and Giel, the creators of Groentepost
A piece of greenhouse
Together with friend Maud, he came up with the concept. Giel works for Gipmans Planten in Venlo. One evening in January this year, during an evening walk just before curfew, the seed was planted for the vegetable plants’ plan. The concept was subsequently developed.
Giel turned to Gipmans, where CEO Erik was enthusiastic from the start and willingly cooperated. Groentepost has a piece of the greenhouse at its disposal. As a result, plants are now being bred in the greenhouse for consumers, companies, and staff associations, which they will be able to order at the press of a button as vital attention.
Giel in Gipmans Planten's greenhouse
Eight vegetable plants
For the concept, Giel and Maud made use of the previous experience Gipmans had with the 'Sprout of the Box' concept. "We looked closely at how that went."
The Groentepost Box, which is made for both businesses and private individuals, consists of eight vegetable plants, yellow and red snack tomatoes, hot peppers, and snack cucumbers, which have been specially bred to help the consumer. "Vitality and working from home play a major role in many organizations," says Maud, who also works as an HR advisor. “We respond to this by customizing the box with the look and feel of the organization and a personally voiced video message by, for example, the management.”
The box consists of eight vegetable plants
Optimal conditions
Special varieties were chosen, for example, tomato plants that do not exceed 50 centimeters. "Consumers don't have to remove side shoots for this plant either, so it's a friendly plant, even for people without a green thumb. And because there are eight plants, you can spread your chances", Giel laughs.
The first plants have been sown for shipment at the end of March. Meanwhile, Giel is fine-tuning the packaging at home. "A question that we already received after we went viral at our launch on LinkedIn, is how the plants survive shipping. We make sure that the plants are in a recyclable blister pack and put a cardboard box around it. This allows the plants to rest for a while. Furthermore, the plants also remain moist. Over the past few weeks, we have tested what the optimal conditions are for shipping.”
Especially in the first phase of home gardening, things sometimes go wrong. Groentepost helps by carefully breeding the plants in a professional greenhouse before shipping.
Health and happiness
Giel and Maud are happy with the exciting reactions they already received. Giel emphasizes that they do not want to turn it into something very commercial. "I want to continue to transmit the passion that I have when I talk about plants and give people a piece of health and happiness. Which is also good for our industry, because ultimately we also provide health and happiness with our products.”
There is also a charity linked to Groentepost: KidzBase. For each box sold to businesses, 50 euro cents will be donated to this foundation. "We want children to experience breeding vegetables. The educational experience and the pleasure of growing, this is important and you want to pass it on. And who knows, maybe ten years later someone will choose to come and work in our industry."
Finally, an important tip for the recipients of Groentepost. Open the package immediately after receiving it and give it light and water. "That's the most important thing", Giel knows. This spring and summer, he will help the recipients of Groentepost through Instagram, Facebook, and their website. And after? "Whether the concept will be continued, I do not know yet. We will see what happens, but we are happy with the positivity that has already developed everywhere. We are surprised every day by how you can combine the Groentepost Box with gifts, and personal and business messages.
For more information:
Groentepost
www.groentepost.nl
info@groentepost.nl