Online plant business grows on the back of business loan funding

A fast growing plant business has created new jobs after securing funding from ART Business Loans to support its expansion plans.

Acqua Garden, based near Warmington in Warwickshire, has recruited two new employees with plans to further increase the headcount after receiving a five-figure funding package to invest in its operations to realise its growth plans.

The company, which was established in 2018, offers a curated selection of garden plants from its commercial greenhouse, all sourced from a national network of trusted growers.

Acqua Garden, which now employs 10 staff, has built its reputation by offering premium quality bedding plants, vegetable plants, herbs, fruit plants, roses, shrubs, perennials and trees to domestic and commercial customers via online channels.

CEO Jonathan Martin launched the company following a career in corporate law with the aim of providing a premium service for gardeners seeking plants online.

He is working towards a vision of establishing a group of horticultural businesses focussed on sustainability, biodiversity and wellness.

Jonathan said: “We want to become the go-to company for sustainability and biodiversity as there is no other plant seller that shares the core values that we have.

“The funding has enabled us to grow our operations and acquire assets to drive the growth of the business.

“By utilising the ART loan we have been able to employ two additional staff from the local community and expect to take on two more before the year end, as well as more next year.

“The terms of the borrowing were appealing and we had a very good experience working with ART, who were professional, proactive and engaged.

“Our manager Martin Edmonds took the time to visit us to get to know our business which made the process easier.”

ART Business Loans manager Martin Edmonds added: “We have been delighted to help Jonathan and the team at Acqua Garden realise the next stage in their business journey by expanding to better serve their customers nationwide.

“We are pleased that ART Business Loans has been able to establish a strong working partnership to provide the support their business needs. We have an ongoing dialogue around future opportunities and look forward to helping them achieve their goals.”

Birmingham-based ART Business Loans is a community development finance institution which seeks to ensure viable businesses in the West Midlands and adjoining counties can access the finance they need.

With loans available for any business purpose from between £10,000 and £250,000, ART Business Loans takes a personal approach to assessing applications. In the last 10 years ART has lent over £25million to 600 businesses that have created or preserved 4,290 jobs.

Pictured: ART Business Loans manager Martin Edmonds, back row third left, with Jonathan Martin, CEO of Acqua Gardens third right, and Acqua Gardens colleagues