Take a look around any large modern office or commercial building and it is easy to spot the mood-boosting design elements – natural light, and natural greenery. The solitary potted plant in the corner of an office has become a well-planned cluster of pot plants that give the office space a welcoming, comforting vibe.

The positive impact plants provide in an office environment are well-documented, and scientific sources have highlighted the reduction of drowsiness, carbon monoxide, stress and noise pollution among the benefits.

A calm environment, and a greater focus on sustainability, is intrinsic in office design today and Frenchams indoor plant hire service has played a significant role in shaping contemporary commercial spaces.

Frenchams indoor plant business

Peter Anderson, who heads up marketing at The Frenchams Group, says “Custom planters are part of a build now. We advise joiners and builders on the size and type of plant and an appropriate setting, so we save architects time and money.”

The firm also collaborates with architects and builders to help their projects achieve a Green Star rating which requires a minimum ratio of plants to people in an office space.

“We have strong relationships with architects and designers, we are the company they rely on. Frenchams is known as a solutions-provider,” says Peter.

Modular system

A smart modular system that maintains a clean office environment is at the heart of the business. Frenchams designs hollow planter units and provides plants already housed in a sealed pot system. The pots are then slipped into the joinery and can last from two to five years.

“When we water the plant, the water stays in the pot. If we have to replace a plant, it’s easy to pull out the sealed pot and drop a new plant in its place. There’s no mess from water or soil,” Peter explains.

Clients who use a Frenchams’ service sign up for installation and maintenance. The regular care consists of fortnightly watering, cleaning, feeding, any necessary pest control, and occasional plant replacement.

Brand recognition

Even during and post-Covid, despite the challenges facing commercial spaces, Frenchams has thrived.

“We could operate through the pandemic because we are dealing with a live product,” explains Peter. “Even with a downturn in construction in Melbourne, we were able to operate and supply offices refurbishing their spaces.”

“Growth comes from the brand recognition we have with architects. This is a business that grows itself,” he says.

125 years of trading

Frenchams is the biggest commercial indoor plant hire firm in Australia providing planters, hanging pots, troughs, even green wall systems. It has been trading for 125 years so it has a solid heritage and an enviable reputation.

The family-owned Frenchams Group was founded by the current CEO’s great-grandfather Les Frencham, and family members across the generations are involved at all levels of the business.

The family ownership that gives its franchisees an unusual level of flexibility belies the national reach and more corporate, systemised approach the business takes with its clients.

Peter describes it as “a structure that gives us flexibility to adapt where it needs to change.”

Vertical business model

“The beauty of Frenchams indoor plant hire is the vertical business model,” he says.

Frenchams sources botanicals from in-house growers and avoids reliance on an external supplier by manufacturing its own pot range.

A franchisee orders, and owns, the pots and the plants it hires out to clients. Frenchams can supply franchisees with any volume they require through its centralised ordering system.

Marketing sources leads

“The marketing department would have suggested pot selection and plants; the franchisee simply installs and maintains. Of course they can source their own clients and then handle the whole process themselves, with any help from marketing if required,” says Peter.

“Franchisees are not horticulturalists and they can ask our expert team for assistance with plant and pot selections. We have a condensed plant range which it is easy to become familiar with,” he says.

Franchisees can service a local office of a national client; the centralised billing system streamlines the payments for the client.

The marketing department has several spokes, from website and brochure production to sourcing new business, quoting for work, and allocating the job.

“We work purely with commercial sites, from big banks and shopping centres to smaller offices, if they meet our minimum billing requirements,” explains Peter.

“Our support is our accounting team, the billing is all done for the franchisee. Our internal processes mean franchisees don’t need to attend to a lot of admin.”

Green growth

In Melbourne, there are 12 franchisees, seven in Sydney, three in Brisbane, three franchisees and a master franchisee in Perth. Other locations have operated on a sub-contract basis, and Frenchams is now looking to convert these to franchises.

“Franchises vary in size because as their businesses grew, they acquired smaller operations,” Peter says.

Overall, he reports, the business has grown about 20 per cent each year for the last 20 years.

As the demand for greener spaces in our work and leisure environments increases, The Frenchams Group is well-placed to deliver the goods.