Published in Grower magazine
Today’s boom economy has produced a generation of
people with a penchant for growing things — and not only landscaping staples
like red tips, crepe myrtles and azaleas. Today's proletarian landscaper needs
water to be truly hip.
With ponds, fountains and other water features
quickly becoming the amenity of choice for lawns and gardens, Brian and Stuart
Schuck, owners of Charleston Aquatic Nurseries, have obviously found a viable
niche in the wholesale aquatic market.
Following business degrees — Brian at UNC-Wilmington and Stuart at the College
of Charleston — the twin brothers opened Charleston Aquatic Nurseries in a
sandpit in Hollywood, a few miles south of Charleston. With dual degrees in
business, why an aquatic nursery?
“By the time we graduated, our dad had been in the
aquatic business for a few years in Maryland,” says Stuart, who oversees the
field work. “We looked over what he had and thought it was a great idea. Plus,
I always wanted to work outdoors, and surfing doesn’t pay well. This is an
ideal job for me.”
Having business degrees certainly didn’t hurt in
helping them see the aquatic market forming in the mid-Atlantic region. Brian,
in charge of general management and financial planning, had always wanted to be
involved in a small business. “I didn't want to get into the big corporate
world. I enjoy the freedom of a small business.”
After four years in the Hollywood sandpits, the
Schucks purchased 20 acres on Johns Island and began serious production. With
eight acres in production and 12 employees year-round, Charleston Aquatic
Nurseries grows more than 200 varieties of water lillies, lotuses and marginal
plants every year.
One element that has helped business is the
environment-friendly image of water gardens. “Even on a small scale, ponds help
draw wildlife to people’s yards,” says Stuart. “Hummingbirds, raccoons, birds —
they’re all drawn to the water. That’s an important thing to nurture as the
world gets more urban.”
Customers planting a pond for the first time receive
from the Schucks advice regarding which plants will prosper and which will
attract wildlife. They also sell supplies for construction of the ponds.
Referring landscapers with expertise in the field, however, is a different
matter.
“Not many people are well-versed in building ponds,”
admits Stuart. “There’s room for some good pond builders and designers in this
area.”
Despite the lack of aquatic courses in the area
technical colleges, Stuart has managed to find adequate help. “I just find
people on the beach and put them to work,” he shrugs. “And they must like it
because most of the people I’ve hired are still here. They’re doing great.”
Hyams Nurseries, one of the
retailers Charleston Aquatic does business with, turns to the Schucks for their
water stock. “All of our water plants and pond hard goods [such as liners,
filters and rocks] are bought through them,” says nursery manager Katie Doyle.
“We’ve been working with them since they opened. They’re the most knowledgeable
and the most reputable.”
With a clientele ranging from the novice gardener to
the experienced grower, Doyle relies on the Schucks’ expertise to help her
customers decide which plants will grow well in the Charleston climate. Their
display pond is full of aquatic plants from Charleston Aquatic.
Stuart admits that business is seasonal as far as
cash flow and that March through June are the busy months, when they’re in full
production. The rest of the year is spent maintaining the land and equipment.
Still, for a business in high production for one-third of the year, Charleston
Aquatic isn't doing badly. This year they’ll gross just under $1 million.
The Schucks recently expanded with a new operation
in Vero Beach, Fla., called Indian River Lily Co., currently employing two
people. Along with their father’s facility, Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, the
Schucks’ operations cover a wide range of climate zones on the east coast.
The Maryland facility has the greatest volume and
employs 13 people, whereas the Charleston facility is biggest in terms of
production. Together they produce an annual 48-page catalog of aquatic plants
and water supplies, marketing their cooperative effort under the name
Aqua-Link.
Brian says the Johns Island facility will be pushing
10 acres by the end of the year. As general manager, he anticipates steady
growth every year – for the plants as well as the company's profit margin.