Rich Batcho
Batch O Blooms
Oreland, Pennsylvania
Tell us a little about your company and what you do there.
I own Batch O Blooms, and we are a full-service interior landscaping company. We design, install, and maintain tropical plants in residential, commercial, and corporate environments. I keep my hands in all of it, so I help with installation, I do design, I do sales and also some maintenance. We also do holiday decorating for some clients.
How did you get into interior landscaping?
I went to college for landscape design, started working part-time for an interior landscape company, and decided to stick with it. Initially, I was thinking of doing more of the exterior design work. When I started working for the interior landscape company I realized that this is a really great profession. It’s year-round, it’s inside, and you get to meet lots of people because you’re constantly on the go. I think that’s what really fascinated me most…instead of sitting behind a drafting table creating designs all day long I can get out.
What makes you unique from other interior landscaping companies.
I think what makes us different is that we are a smaller company, and I’m actually out there doing all aspects of the company. I think my clients like that because they get to see me instead of just talking to me on the phone. Being a smaller company, I think we provide better quality service, and with the holiday décor, I customize my décor to the building as opposed to doing cookie cutter designs.
Some people feel like being a small company is a disadvantage when it comes to ordering plants and supplies.
People do think that, but with this economy, it seems like the smaller companies are riding the storm better than the larger companies. We are better able to adapt; we don’t have the large overhead; and a lot of large companies tend to focus on large corporate accounts as clients so if they loose that client it’s a pretty big hit. I never really went in for a certain niche; I always felt like if someone wanted my services I would provide it for them no matter what size they are. I have a client that I take care of the two plants in his condo; I go every week and take care of those plants. I go from that small client to a mall account.
How are you involved with OFA?
I started going to the Short Course about 12 years ago. About 11 years ago I got involved on the interior landscape committee and then was elected to the board of directors. I am also in charge of decorations for the Short Course. My heaviest involvement work-wise is with the decorations because I do the procurement for the decorations; I’m busy year-round calling vendors to see if they want to donate products. During Short Course, I oversee about 20 volunteers to set up all the displays.
That’s a lot of involvement.
It’s a great organization, so I feel privileged that I’m actually part of OFA.
What do you feel like you get out of your volunteer work?
First and foremost, I think it’s fun. I truly love interacting with the staff. Plus, the networking possibilities are great with all aspects of the industry.
Is it more important for you to help with decorations or with the interior landscape committee?
I don’t see either one as more important. To me they both have the same objective: to give ideas to my peers. In some ways the display is even more important because it reaches all aspects of the industry. Garden center owners can look at a display and think, “Oh, I can do that when I get home.” Also, all of the displays are labeled, so in many respects the displays are just as educational as the program. We have to make the place look pretty so that the whole show is more interesting. I like doing that.