case study:
Grow thyme hydroponics

Graphic designer and illustrator serving Johnson City/Northeast Tennessee, and remote clients in Gainesville, Florida and beyond

branding

Building the brand and experience of Grow Thyme Hydroponics was a process full of love for me, as part owner, and full-time lover of growing things. As we explored what hydroponics meant and could do for our community, we identified and built on a thread of pun-friendly nerdiness that runs through many souls. I love the resulting brand collateral we collected.

Green hydroponics and supply logo featuring stylized leafy plants and the tagline “Grow Together, Grow Better.”
Organic kale graphic with the text “OH kale yeah!” and Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply logo
Grow Thyme logo with stylized plant graphics and the text “Thrive for a Thing for Plants,” plus “Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply” branding on a black background
Baby wearing a black T-shirt with a colorful radish graphic and the phrase “Growing food is so radish,” paired with jeans.
Stylized tan mushroom logo above green and pink “HAPPENS” text and a Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply logo on a black background
Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply business card with plant logo, co-owner Alex Graham’s contact information, Gainesville, Florida address, phone number, and ordering email

marketing

Marketing on a very slim, grass-roots funded business budget was an interesting experience that resulted in some guerrilla marketing, a highway mural, some bartered deals, and a whole lot of social media learning.

Summer cooking workshop flyer featuring fresh produce, a tasting lesson, August 12 from 6–8 p.m., and Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply in Ocala, Florida.
Spring Art Market flyer advertising a Mother’s Day shopping event on April 30 from 1–4 p.m. at Grow Thyme Hydroponics in Gainesville, Florida, featuring local women and femme artists.
Green circular Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply logo featuring illustrated plants, website, phone number, New Port Richey, Florida address, and slogan “Grow For the Greater Good.”
Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply Spring Workshops flyer listing nutrition, Valentine's cooking and cocktails, mustard-making, beginner hydroponics, mushroom growing, seed swap, and spring art market events.
North Spore mushroom grow kits advertisement featuring pink oyster mushrooms, a culture syringe, and text promoting three different kinds of kits.

Store design & experience

If our previous experience in other garden stores taught us anything, it was that we needed to create an easy-to-learn system for beginner growers and the store needed to reflect that experience, so creating a unique experience was front of our plans. We started with crafting an easy to understand layout with fun puns to relax people along the way, and copious amounts of demos set up to grab those eyes, brains, and hearts.

Hydroponic gardening display with system diagrams and three plant-themed T-shirts
Hydroponic gardening display with system diagrams and three plant-themed T-shirts
Indoor hydroponic vertical garden tower and grow tent filled with leafy greens under LED grow lights
Indoor hydroponic vertical garden tower and grow tent filled with leafy greens under LED grow lights
Hydroponics store interior with gardening books, aquaponics guides, a radish-themed wall mural, and a chalkboard displaying hydroponic growing systems.
Bartender preparing a cocktail behind a bar with liquor bottles, citrus fruit, and glassware
Woman demonstrating a bowl of food at a health products store while customers watch

education & products

With our vision for building something meaningful, and our previous experience in other garden stores, we knew the last key to success would be in educating our customers on the ease and value of growing your own food. We created a number of awesome workshops to convert our walk-in customers, as well as handouts and a great blog stacked with more educational opportunities.

Hydroponic plant propagation station with neon green seedling rack, potted plants, and assembly instructions on a wooden table
Grow Thyme Hydroponics propagation station kit with five glass tubes and stand pieces, featuring illustrated plant cuttings and setup instructions.
Illustrated assembly instructions for a Grow Thyme hydroponic propagation station, showing parts A–H and four construction steps.
Group of people gathering inside a local shop with product shelves, folding tables, and a service counter
Mushroom life cycle and terminology infographic labeling cap, gills, scales, margin, spores, stem, ring, cup, mycelium, and mushroom growth stages
Cooking & Cocktail Workshop quick cocktail recipes poster featuring Persimkin Toddy, Apple Cider Gimlet, Chilcano, and Milk Punch recipes

What Sets me Apart

my People-First Approach

Everything I do is built around understanding your needs and helping you succeed—because when you thrive, so do I.

Long-Term Relationships

I’m not just here for the now, I’m here for the long-haul. I love creating lasting relationships with my clients and watching their success and opportunities grow over time.

Proven Process, Flexible Execution

I offer structure where it counts and adaptability where it matters. My methods are clear, but they (and I) are always responsive.

Explore my Offerings