Foli’s wide selection of plants, expertise, passion keeps this business growing

Big plants, little plants and everything in between: Emily Wight wants people to be surrounded with them.

And she wants it to be as simple as bringing the greenhouse to your living room without stepping outside the house.

The born-and-raised Burlington woman, wife and mother of three, operates Foli out of Aldershot, a convenient premium tropical plant delivery service that has shipped some 40,000+ plants across Canada. The business, which she started out of her living room,  allows people to experience the joy and convenience of a one-stop shop for all your indoor gardening needs.

Foli has continued growing more each year, creating jobs and greenery for people across Canada. 

She’s hoping to spread her love of plants to others – all the way across the country.

Growing up on Caroline Street downtown, Wight said she spent a few years in Toronto before returning to her roots, and settling in Aldershot, where she’s happily able to mix having a young family with running a successful business.

Rich, luscious greenery, cactus, pet-friendly plants, and large plants for large spaces: you’re sure to find a wide variety to suit your needs. The same goes for planters - there’s a multitude of choices available, along with all the accessories you might need, from sprays and fertilizers, soils, watering cans and micro-green growing kits, right down to name-brand socks.

Foli got its start in 2019 when she believed in the power of plants so much that she wanted to spread the joy of connecting people with plants. In that time, she’s been able to connect plant lovers, gifters and corporate plant initiatives. In her first year alone, she shipped 25,000 plants – anything from Bird of Paradise, snake plants, cactus, and more. Each shipped plant comes with easy-to-follow care instructions and special gift messages if desired.

She said Foli plants are a welcome addition to corporate gifting where chocolate and alcohol products might not be enjoyed by recipients.

Again this year, Wight is happy to offer seasonal planters delivered to your doorstep for free, across the GTA. All the planters feature plants that are natural and modern as well as long-lasting and locally-grown, right in Waterdown. More than 1,000 planters have been delivered in the past, including fall and Christmas-themed planters.

Foli’s plants come from a Waterdown greenhouse where they operate 5,000 sq.-ft.; from there, they are shipped out of their Aldershot store-front and warehouse on Plains Road.

Wight is proud to be part of the local community too, by providing fun, plant activities on site, including an exciting re-potting event on Saturday, April 13, when residents can book time slots to come and re-pot their plants with soil and ideas awaiting. This year marks the third annual, and she expects a large turnout.

Wight said they provide the space, advice and education for those looking to grow their plants; she said the event is popular because people become attached to their plants, sometimes for sentimental reasons, maybe it belonged to someone else before etc.

“We provide ideas and tricks on how to do it the best way possible,” said Wight, who noted Foli is her third start-up; the first was a Greek yogurt marketed out of Union Station. "It was for me the training wheels of start-ups."

Foli's storefront location at 355 Plains Rd. E. is open weekdays, and also features ROAM, a boutique clothing section that operates Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and once-a-month in a retro-trailer in the rear of the business.

As seen on Dragon’s Den in November 2022, Foli is a budding business built on a strong foundation with a clear vision. Wight’s goal is to be the largest provider of indoor plants and plant gear to Canadians. She sought $250,000 for a 10 per cent share of her company.

On the show she says she’s “not the only crazy plant lady there is,” and said she isn’t alone, citing high numbers of millennials who also have a soft spot for plants. 

She said the plants are a better value than a bouquet of flowers that dies after a week or two. After making her pitch, every dragon made her an offer. 

Wight enjoys offering a diverse range of pots and plants in one place, to make it easy for you to find the perfect match for your space.