Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Stanley-Jerrolds
Hi Abby, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Stanley’s is a family owned and operated small business in South Knoxville. We have been farming on this land for centuries. This property, formerly Davenport Farm, was deeded to our ancestors before Tennessee was a state. At the time, our ancestors were one of the largest wheat producers in the region and also had many livestock, etc. Much land was lost throughout the years, most notably, in the gold brick scandal. In the 1900’s we started growing vegetables and taking them to sell at the Market House on Market Square. Once my grandfather inherited the farm in the 1950’s, he noticed the market for vegetables was quite saturated so he transitioned to growing ornamentals and cut flowers which we then sold to local florists. That turned out to be a difficult business and soon gave way to finished products sold on sight in our first retail center which we date to around 1955, although our business is really much older. With the help of sons, Rocky and Monte Stanley, the business expanded over the years. We built more growing houses on the property and eventually a new retail space in 1999. With the influence of Rocky’s wife, Lisa Stanley and Monte Stanley, our customer base grew and the rest is history!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is never smooth.. as is also such in any business. We have been very fortunate and consider ourselves extremely blessed to have successfully weathered through all the storms thus far. The recession in the 2000’s and closing of the Henley Street bridge were are hard time I recall, but we made it through. We suffered tremendous damage from the hail storm in the 2010’s but managed to repair the greenhouses, one not being insured.. Covid was an extreme challenge and due to the nature of when things got bad we were not sure if we could stay afloat. Spring is the season that gets us through the slower times of the year. However, we were considered an essential business, being in the agricultural industry, and ended up having the best year to date. Needless to say, running a business is basically constantly putting out fires, big and small, but we just do the best we can and are grateful for each new day that we can continue doing the work that we love.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Stanley’s we pride ourselves in producing the highest quality plants possible. Growing up my dad would always say, “Grow good plants and the people will come.” So far that has worked out for us, although it is no easy feat. Our head grower, Holden Jerrolds, spends countless hours on our crops making sure they are happy and healthy. There really is so much more to it that you could ever imagine. We are extremely prideful in the product we produce. Some factors, like weather, are out of our control so it is even more difficult to control, but we do our best! We also strive to have exceptional customer service. At Stanley’s we want customers to be successful and to love gardening as much as we do. That is why we place a large emphasis on customer service. Not only do we want guests to feel positive and uplifted in our space but we also want them to be happy with their purchases and hobby. We know that gardening is healing, not just for ourselves, but also for the environment as a whole. We feel that we have a very important job in this world, to heal this world through plants, which is what we hope to do every day. Whereas you may find a cheaper plant at Lowe’s you probably won’t find better quality, better service or people who truly care. That is what we believe sets us apart from other nurseries.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stanleysgreenhouse.com
- Instagram: @stanleysgreenhouse
- Facebook: Stanley’s Greenhouse
