About Jodi
Jodi Kallias is the owner and founder of SheyWest Garden Center located in West Fargo. Jodi and her husband, Brett, own and operate several businesses in the West Fargo area. Between the two of them, they own more than 10 companies with a collective of more than 80 full and part time employees. In her free time, Jodi enjoys traveling, reading, learning, being in nature and spending time with her kids.
“North Dakota is a gem and we enjoy the change of seasons and room to grow. “
About SheyWest
SheyWest is a garden center in West Fargo, ND, offering garden classes and DIY workshops. The boutique showcases stylish home decor and unique gifts for all ages. Trees and other plants are available for purchase along with bulk landscape materials in the garden center
Tell us about your company and your mission.
“We serve our neighbors. To me, from a Christian viewpoint, that means everyone God puts in our area and who is impacted by our staff or the space. We’re here to create beautiful things. That is why we’ve said SheyWest is “a beautiful beginning”…I want everyone to know that we’re just getting started and the best is yet to come.
There is a huge need in the community to give a sense of belonging. I’ve felt that…I want others to feel it too. My staff work hard daily to make clients feel welcome and appreciated. And I work hard to make sure my staff feel the same. We’re all here each day to make impressions on everyone we interact with. My sincere hope is that we take it seriously and make it count.
As far as community gaps…at our store…I feel so fortunate that everyone is welcome. We welcome all age, sizes, colors, denominations…everyone means everyone. You don’t even have to be a plant “pro” to come and spend time with us. You can come and smell the flowers for free and start learning then. Or just enjoy the day with us. No expectations and no prerequisites. Come on over and say hello! I hope you are able to leave with a smile. ”
What are some wins you are celebrating?
“In our journey as a garden center, we overcame obstacles by the dozens to come to fruition. Then, exceeding expectations and conservative growth models…we crushed one million dollars in revenue in our first full fiscal year (2021) and every year since!
I have two rules for my employees: 1. Come to work ready to present your best self and 2. Come ready to learn more than you knew yesterday.
In the spirit of these “rules”…one of our employees recently secretly submitted something for us to be recognized as having a pollinator garden on the grounds. We received recognition and will be mapped with others to help showcase how to build these in the community! She was so excited and I am proud of her outreach efforts. It shows me that things are working as they should and we are making an impact.
Everything we do, works on building up from what we had yesterday. Our next big investment at the garden center is a school bus we bought to be converted into a free garden library for everyone to enjoy and benefit from the resources! This will extend our Little Sprouts growing program even more and I am thrilled. ”
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned throughout your entrepreneurial journey?
“People are going to give you their opinions…whether you want them or not. Enjoy the information and learn as you go. Be humble, ask lots of questions and use the answers to grow! Sometimes, it is best to get out of your own way and let everyone (employees and subcontractors) shine in their own strengths for the business’s best foot forward. Hold the dream and keep on moving up.”
SheyWest is officially a part of the Fargo-Moorhead founder family. How can our community support you in your next stage of growth?
“We’re hoping to grow and add a deeper wholesale network to our business. If you’ve got products or a passion you want to share with the community, we’re trying to make spaces for everyone to do that. Bring your products and ideas, and let’s get to work getting the word out! ”
What are you grateful for today?
“I am grateful for good intentions and praying they triumph over bad. Our community just experienced a horrific loss and there was a scary possibility of something much worse in the outcome. In somber thoughts, I am so grateful for the good people I know and the ones I hear about amidst the chaos…and the good they continue to do. It gives me hope and helps me stay the course to keep on growing here. We have so much left to do and so much beautiful to share…”
Check out SheyWest!
Readers can learn more about Jodi and SheyWest by visiting their Instagram and Facebook page!
