Intro: 

Walk into almost any office building and you'll find the same thing. Furniture, technology, conference rooms, collaboration spaces, but something important is often missing. Nature. For thousands of years, humans live surrounded by natural environments. Yet many of the spaces we spend our days in are filled with hard surfaces, artificial materials, and very little connection to the natural world. And while we often think of nature as something we experience outside of work, a growing body of research suggests that connection to nature may influence how we think, feel, collaborate, and perform. And my guests today have built a company around that belief. Not simply by creating beautiful products, but by helping organizations rethink the relationship between people, nature, and the spaces where work happens.

Sponsor:  

We'd like to thank our presenting sponsors, Avanto, services and software that streamline how you operate and the collaborative network, a platform where leaders in the contract interiors industry unite.

Avanto Ad: 

This episode is brought to you in part by Avanto, the workflow automation software built exclusively for the commercial furniture industry. Avanto automates the full quote to cash cycle for manufacturers, dealers, rep groups, and installers. Quoting, order entry, AP processing, PDF to SIF conversion, and more without replacing your existing systems. Over 130 companies trust Avanto to run their operations. Learn more at goavanto.com.

The Collaborative Network Ad:  

What's one decision that's been keeping you up at night? Before you make it, imagine sitting around the table with five experienced executives who have faced similar challenges and are invested in helping you succeed. That's exactly what happens every month inside the collaborative network. Honest conversations, practical insights, trusted peers. Because leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about having the right people in your corner. Check us out at thecollaborative.network.

Meet Green Mood And The Mission

Sid:  

Welcome back or welcome to the Trend Report, your inside look at the people, products, and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. I'm your host, Sid Meadows. Today I'm joined by Green Mood, founder and CEO Sid, and Vanessa, who leads the sales and market development efforts in North America. Welcome to the show, folks. How are y'all today?

Vanessa: 

Doing great. Thank you, Sid. Excited to be here.

Sadig:  

Hello, Sid. Thank you for inviting us. Doing great as well.

Sid:  

Well, I'm excited that you guys are here. We had the opportunity to visit a couple of months ago, and I got to learn about your products and what you do and stories fascinating. And I want to start there with your story. So,

From Azerbaijan To Building A Brand

Sid:  

Sadiq, let's talk about you for a minute because you grew up in Azerbaijan and then you moved to Belgium and started a company. So tell us about that journey.

Sadig:  

Yeah, so I was born and raised in Azerbaijan in the capital, Baku. And then I went when I was 20 years old, I moved to France for my studies and in international business school. Then I did my master's in procurement. So I was I got an offer from a consulting company. They were looking for sourcing experts who speaks many languages, as I speak five languages. So it was beneficial for them to find someone that speaks so many languages. So it's perfect for them to find the needed suppliers, vendors in different industries. So I joined the consulting company in 2007. I used to work for three years and then almost four. And then I said I was too ambitious, and I was uh dreaming to be an entrepreneur and uh setting my own business, and then I discovered uh I was looking for something you know that I like to do, obviously, which is linked with the nature. I was passionate about the nature. So when I discovered the preserved plants, I said this is something gonna be revolutionary in the market because it doesn't exist, because this is the perfect alternative to the living plants and artificial.

Sid:  

Okay, so we're gonna talk, we're gonna dive into the product in just a few minutes, but I have a couple of questions here. Five languages? Yeah. Jeez, like which ones do you speak? I can barely speak one, obviously.

Sadig:  

So I speak I speak French, English, Russian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani.

Sid:  

Wow. Throw Spanish in there, and then you got the whole world covered up, right? Wow. Yeah, I struggle to speak English sometimes. So as you experienced earlier, is I was totally messing up everything. So five languages, you went to work as a consulting firm, and then you said, Hey, I want to step into my dream and be an entrepreneur. Did you really know what you were getting into when you said that? Like, I want to be an entrepreneur, because that's like the hardest career path ever.

Sadig:  

I I no, to be honest, I don't regret at all to be like to make this decision. Yeah. Because I really love what I do. I think people they should do what they really love. Yes, I 100% agree. This is the most important thing that in the morning you wake up, you go, you do your job, and you need to love your job, to be creative, to be passionate about it. So this is what keeps me really strong and and um and patient.

Sid:  

Yeah, you need all of that to be an entrepreneur. So, Vanessa, I want to come to you for a minute. Tell us a little bit about your background.

Vanessa: 

Oh, I've worked in a multitude of different industries over the course of the last 30 years in sales management. Kind of my wheelhouse has always been uh helping companies at that infant toddler stage uh grow their processes, procedures, business development, marketing strategies. And I've been in the commercial interiors industry for over a decade. And I was introduced to Sadig two years ago and loved everything about the product line. And I think, like Sadig had just mentioned, having passion for what you do day in and day out is really important to me. And I think when I looked at the product line and the offering and having been in our industry for well over a decade, this was really something that I could get my arms around and help grow, build, and develop. And I'm so passionate about our initiatives and what we focus on and the product development that we continue to bring to commercial interiors. So we partnered uh two years ago, and I absolutely love what I do. I'm passionate about our product. I think it shows when I'm when I'm working with our rep networks and presenting our line to our architectural and design community.

Sid:  

That's it's exciting. And let's talk about the product for just

Preserved Plants And Naming Green Mood

Sid: 7:17 

a minute. So, Sadiq, how did you discover preserved plants? So tell us, give us like a little cliff note view of what is what is the organization? What do you do?

Sadig:  

It was really pretty funny because I um I discovered the preserved plants in a very small scale, in a little frame in a flower shop because I was looking for a gift. And I said, What is that? They said, Yeah, this is like preserved uh plants. And I said, What does it mean? And then they explained me, to be honest, the flower, like the salesperson, she didn't even know exactly, you know. So I just I just kept this in my mind, like preserved, and they don't need any maintenance. This is what she said. I said, Oh great, and this is natural. And then I said, like, hmm, this is really interesting. So I started like looking for on Google and searching and searching, keep searching, and I said, This is really like very nice. So this is how I discovered actually preserved plans, and then I decided to to move forward, and that the name Green Mood was born in January 2014, so 2014.

Sid:  

So what does it mean, Green mood, to you anyway?

Sadig:  

I've been looking for many, many, many names, but at the same time, I was looking for a name that is like available, the different domains, domain names, and you know, so it was really challenging for me to find the right name that fits perfectly to my vision. To my vision because I from the beginning, my vision was to build a brand in the market, from a marketing perspective, to be successful and build really um a good awareness in the market, but internationally, not only local in Belgium, because Belgium is a very low, very small market. So from the beginning, my ambition was to build a brand and make it big. Um green mood for me means anything that you can do, you have a, you know, you need to do it with a nice mood. So I said, why not green mood? Because if you have a green at home, so you have a green mood, right? So this is this is how I I invented the name.

Sid:  

I love it. And a lot of people don't understand how difficult it is to actually name a business. And it's really hard because depending on what in the US, what state you're trying to register in, whether that name is available, and you can't name it like really close. If I had Green Mood registered in Texas, somebody couldn't come in and say Green Mood. So let's say Texas would say that's too close, right? So it's just really hard. And then domain names. Oh my gosh. Thank goodness they started adding additional dots. So now we have dot co dot comp.net dot info. That really helped with buying domain names. It can be really, it can be really challenging, especially when you're in the beginning. Now, Vanessa, tell us uh your view. What is Green Mood? What do you guys do?

Vanessa: 

We provide biophilic sustainable solutions to architectural and design interiors. And it truly is about connecting more to nature. As we see the built environment continue to grow around us, we become further removed from nature. So when you look at how we feel when we are looking to escape or relax, we often go to the outside world. We go to the beach, we go to the park, we go outside for a walk. So when you look at our product line, we connect people to nature in the built environment. We bring the elements of nature and sustainability to the indoors. And that truly is an amazing thing that we do. When you when you look at the way that nature impacts our thought process, how we feel, how we react, how we emote, it's a really powerful thing. Yes, it's a good thing. It really is. And I think when you look at the various different products offerings that we do provide, it provides more solutions for commercial interiors to connect us with nature. And that to me is I've always been a plant lover. I've always loved the essence of nature. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where there's nature all around us with mountains and foliage and trees, and it's a way of life in the Pacific Northwest getting outside. So again, for me, it's I'm very passionate about what we do because it really does allow us to connect to nature more in the built environment.

Sid:  

Thank you for sharing that. And as you were talking, I uh had a flashback memory from last week. My wife and I were actually in Costa Rica and we went on an eco-tour into the jungle. And we saw a 400-year-old tree. And I just remember we're there's a group of us, there's like six or eight of us that were in this little group. And, you know, we uh saw uh termite nest on the tree, and the guide was saying you can actually eat them. I'm like, okay, not me, but he did. So you can eat them. And you just see all this beautiful foliage in the forest right or in the jungle in that case. And I said out loud, there's a guy sitting next to me, and I went, you know, nature so spectacular. And you just have a completely different feeling about things when you're in nature. It can totally shift your mindset. If you're having a bad day, go take a walk outside. It can literally change your day. So the connection that you're talking about, I think most people understand. And it does make a difference when it's in the building, in addition to all the other good benefits that it provides.

Defining Biophilic Design And Benefits

Sid:  

And you know, one of the things that we talked about in our pre-call was uh though this is about a pr you what you're telling is a preserved plant. It's really not this is not about plants. This is about people. This is about connecting people to nature and helping people. So when you think of the term biophilic design, because it is a very that term is used a lot in our industry, biophilic design. This is biophilic, this is biophilic. So, Sadiq, I'm gonna start with you. What does biophilic design mean to you? How would you define it? And then Vanessa, I'm gonna ask you the same question. Okay. You get a you get a chance to think about your answer. He does it.

Sadig:  

Biophilic for me means bringing the it is the nature. Biophilia means like nature. Biophilic design, when we are talking about the biophilic design, it means you are bringing the nature in. And the Greenwood mission, and as a brand, we are becoming and we are right now a practical biophilic design tool for interior designers. Because bringing biophilia indoors in any kind of interiors, commercial, public, doesn't matter. When they get familiar with biophilia and with their benefits, then they start considering biophilic design in all the projects that they are doing. Because the the benefits are huge. Reduces stress, improves mood, mental health, mental well-being, boost productivity, for example, and uh focus, increase increasing also creativity. I mean, I can't I I can keep going and going, you know. It's exactly the same, same feeling when you are going to the park, to the nature, when you feel good, right? You feel so so nice, and this is exactly why the designers they should consider biophilic design in all the projects, because people they they they need some comfort and they need some some nature to be to feel better. You know, nowadays everything is becoming so expensive. So people working in the in the in the companies, when they are they feel good, they don't want to go like home because they feel better in the office, because they they live in a very small apartment or they they live, you know, the conditions are not so good. Um so when they come to the office, so they get more in better mood, right? So this is this is the reason why companies they are investing in in acoustics, in uh biophilia. So biophilia means also using the the natural elements, new natural materials. It doesn't mean only plants and trees, it means also acoustics, like comfort. It means also that that all the materials that you the designers that are using are sustainable, they have to be sustainable.

Sid:  

Yeah. So, Vanessa, would you add anything to that definition of biophilic design?

Vanessa: 

I think again, it's about connecting people to nature. Okay. And that is a really important element. We speak to it a lot in our CEU, where there's a lot of facts and data that show postoperative patients tend to have minimal recovery time coming out, and uh, I mean, being around a biophilic element or area, post-operative care, mental fatigue, stress reduction. And as we see the world continue to evolve around us, it becomes more chaotic. There's more influences, there's more stressors. So when we can provide a more calming, welcoming environment into the space, that creates a lot of psychological, mental, and emotional influence that allows us to be more sustainable at work, to have a more enjoyable time at a hotel. When you go to a hotel, the cost of your room escalates if you have a view of nature. That is a biophilic element right there. But yet that's what we crave, that's what we gravitate towards in times of stress and times when when our world is growing and becomes more chaotic. We need those calming factors. So biophilia is a very important element in everything that we do. I just sat on a call yesterday, biophilic women in design, and it was an amazing conversation. There were over 200 participants that were on the call that really understood, shared ideas, had some wonderful speakers that spoke to why biophilic design is definitely a design philosophy and not just a design trend.

Sid:  

But the term trend means that it comes in and then it goes away, and then maybe the trend comes back rather than a as what you just described, a design philosophy that obviously, as we've already been discussing for the last few minutes, a very important design philosophy because of the impact on the human, both mental and physical.

The Glycerin Preservation Process Explained

Sid:  

But Sadiq, I want to go back for a minute. So you discovered the product in a flower shop, you put on your sourcing hat, went to work, like where did this come from? How long did it actually take you to find the products you were looking for?

Sadig:  

Finding was not so challenging. The implementation was challenging. Implementation, the practical side of like starting this business. Because it's not only buying the preserved moss and foliage, it's also getting more familiar with the product and how to use it, how to glue it, what kind of glue, what kind of backing panel. So there are so many, many like, and it took yeah, about six months, I would say.

Sid:  

So once you actually found it, you found the source where you could purchase it, then you had to figure out how to make a product out of it. You had to go through the whole product development, and you're not a product designer, you're a sourcing expert who speaks five languages. So you had to learn product design along the way, which I think is great. And you're bringing up like you have a naturally sustainable product that is chemically treated. So you have to um think about the chemical, right? Because it's preserved.

Vanessa: 

Okay. Then that's an important part because when we talk about biophilic design and the preservation process and sustainable products in the built environment, it is very important that we speak to the natural elements that take place during the preservation process. All of our plants are go through a plant stabilization process that's done through a non-toxic glycerin process. So it's water-based.

Sid:  

Oh, excellent.

Vanessa: 

And that's a very important part because some people think that it's chemically treated and it is not. Again, which re-instills why we are very passionate about what we bring to market being sustainable, 100% natural biophilic products.

Sid:  

Okay. So the term preserved means to most people, the common person like me, means it went through some chemical process to be preserved, right? That's what it means. And I really appreciate the clarification and the correction. It's important to understand what glycerin means? You said it goes through a water-based glycerin process. What does that mean?

Vanessa: 

Glycerin. Glycerin.

Sid:  

What does that mean? Glycerin? What is that? Help me understand it, please.

Sadig:  

Actually, the preservation process of the foliage and moss starts first of all with harvesting. So the harvest, we are harvesting the moss in northern Europe, like Scandinavian countries, and a little bit in in France, and then The foliage mainly comes from Spain and it's an easy process because the sap of the plant actually the and the the water content is replaced by glycerin. And sometimes we also add some dyes in it to keep the color and the glycerin gives gives the to to the plant to keep their freshness, their uh appearance, the flexibility, the touch, right? Exactly as it was a living plant.

Sid:  

Wow.

Sadig:  

And glycerin is used in mainly in in in the medicine industry, in the medical industry. Okay. Yeah. So the the second second way of explaining um the preservation process is like the plants are mummified. So they they don't need and they get like frozen. They get you know, some women say, Can you preserve me?

Sid:  

Okay. That's interesting. But I appreciate the education around this because I think it's important to understand the all-natural approach that you've taken with this, right? Because it just adds to the sustainable story here. Because what I was thinking earlier, like you're starting to look in the product design, you're starting to look for all these different things to build the product. You have to pay attention to all of those because you don't want to take away from that natural, sustainable element that you started with. And then what was the first product that you came to market with? Was it a wall of some sort or a ceiling? What was it?

Sadig:  

So we have started from making green walls, only green walls, so like the vertical garden with preserved plants, moss and foliage. And um and then I said, no, we need something else. We need to diversify, we need to add more sophisticated products into our into our offering. And um in 2016, I met one of the famous designers in Europe and in the US as well, uh, who is Alain Gilles, and he's designing for he's a signature designer, product designer, and he's designing for many famous brands. Yeah, Italian brands, French brands like uh uh Lindroset, uh Bonaldo, uh Buzz Space. Uh so for all this kind of yeah, uh furniture like manufacturers, he designs products. When I introduced Greenwood to him and my vision and the mission of Greenwood to bring like nature in, he loved the idea. He said, I have never designed anything with moss and foliage, so it's gonna be new for him. He said, and uh the first product that he came with was our G-circle, which is a circular circular panel. It comes with different fillings, moss or foliage, even mirror, yeah, and whiteboard as well. So we kept like expanding the same product, and it can be wall application, but also sailing application. So he came with the first, which is our best seller, by the way, the first product.

Sid:  

Oh, that's great.

Sadig:  

Yeah, exactly. But we've we've started from making only green walls, and this is how we got more like create uh we we created actually know-how uh behind the concept, and then Alain came with really good ideas.

Sid:  

So that's great. So you you designed the first, then you hired somebody to come on and help you with the design.

Sponsor:  

We'd like to thank our supporting Silver sponsor, KISP, who helps furniture brands visualize and sell products before specification. Navitas Credit Corp. Navitas makes great workspaces affordable, turning furniture projects into easy monthly payments. Web Configurator Services, the leader in AI-powered online product configuration and quoting.

Sid:  

So, Vanessa, I don't remember exactly what year you came on to Green Mod Mood Mood Green Mood. I can't talk today. What was like, what were you most excited about? Like this opportunity, because I mean when you think about pushing a rock uphill, bringing a brand new product to the United States, as big as the U.S. is, you're an unknown brand at the time. You had no reps at the time. I mean, talk about taking on a big challenge, but in order to do that, you have to be really excited about it. So, what were you most excited about?

Vanessa: 

Well, I think the brand had been around. So they, you know, we started out in Europe and did extremely well. Uh, we were actually one of the, I always refer to us as we were the pioneer that paved the way for green walls in in US. We launched right before COVID hit in the US market, and we all know what happened through COVID. So, really, when I, you know, Sadiq, I'll never forget our first conversation. We had a Zoom meeting, and our Zoom meeting was three and a half hours long. Sadiq's like, I have never spent this much time on a Zoom call, let alone someone with someone from the US market. So it was really intriguing to learn about the history of Green Mood, its success, discussing the areas of improvement. I don't like to refer to things as weaknesses, more of AOIs, areas of improvement. So when I looked at somewhat of the foundation that had been in place, and we talked through strategy and structure that was needed to elevate North America, that was super exciting to me. I love getting in, again, that that toddler stage and helping build. I mean, when you are when you're part of that building process and can help build the brand as I had done previously with other companies, that's exciting. I mean, you see the return in the investment, you see the success, the growth, the development, the increased brand awareness in commercial interiors. That was super exciting to me. And let alone having great passion for the product line. And so all of those things were truly in alignment for what I what I was looking for in my next career path.

Sid:  

That's great.

Vanessa: 

So I came on board and we had 21 multi-line reps across the US. We now have 41. That's great. Congratulations. And we're starting to see amazing growth. I mean, now we're we are. We're building that brand, that awareness, and that comes with not only the product aspect of our line, but also customer service and training and development and making sure that our designers and our contractors like to work with us. They feel that we're a resource, a solution. We can provide the guidance that's needed. All of our product is custom made to order. Nothing sits on the shelf. So that's the other key component is really working with our designers and helping them, helping them with their vision, understanding our product and how our product can play a role in their projects, how we can truly create brand recognition for their customers through our design solutions. So I love it. And it's exciting to be at the stage where we're at right now, where we're starting to see continued growth and development and elevation. And when you look at other competitors in in our space, it's exciting because the more competition means that that design philosophy is tried and true. And that is going to be our future. It's not going away. And so when we're seeing more manufacturers come into the market space, how do you define yourself? You define yourself through superior customer service, continued product development, and sustainability in our product development. And those are all things that it's part of our mission. That's passionate about. And it's a great position to be in right now. And we're starting to see the fruits of the labor into play. We have a designer by trade that's one of our project managers, and that's a real great element to have because she can jump on a call and help navigate. She understands designers and what they're looking for and what they need.

Acoustics Plus Nature Plus Sustainable Cork

Sid:  

So let's talk a little bit more about the product specifically. What's the acoustic value with uh having a biophilic product like yours? Or is there acoustic value to it?

Vanessa: 

There's huge acoustic value to it. We actually have on our website NRC ratings for all of our products. And that's another key element. It's not just an aesthetic product, but it also is an acoustic product. Functional. Yes, functional.

Sid:  

That's a great word, yeah. Yes. So is it is it that you put like acoustic material behind the plants or is the plant itself acoustic? Help me understand it.

Vanessa: 

It's inherent in its in its nature. So bal moss actually has the highest acoustic rating out of any of our foliage and even surpasses a lot of synthetic acoustic products that are on the market today. And it's natural. So again, when you can look at bringing the biophilic elements that are 100% natural, that bring 100% natural acoustic value to the project, and they're aesthetically beautiful, you're hitting all the boxes, you're hitting every box.

Sid:  

We've all been in those environments where it's so noisy you can't think. We've all been there. And you look around and like, why is there nothing soft in this space? Why is there nothing green in this space? Like your favorite coffee shop, who shall go unnamed, is a perfect example of the noise level. And there's so I I mean I walk in these places and I don't sell products anymore, but I work with a lot of brands and a lot of people who do sell products. There are so many easy solutions to often an environment and to make it more inviting and more welcoming. And you're combining nature and acoustics. And you can out guide ceiling panels, but if you didn't want ceiling panels to be necessarily exposed, you've got a solution that looks more like nature that's going to provide the value that some of these could really benefit from. Because noise distracting. I mean, I struggle to work in a coffee shop. I'll just be clear. I can't focus. So I love that you're dipping into these different aspects of our industry that are all very important because I think our listener, especially our dealer community today understand how to sell acoustics because it's become so popular, right? But if I'm a dealer, tell me, Sadiq, tell me how I should position uh Greenmood.

Sadig:  

You should position Green Mood as a company that brings the nature in with acoustical benefits, but not only acoustical benefits, but also sophisticated design. Everything that we develop, we develop with smartness, we develop using natural elements. When I was saying diversifying also green mood from green walls, but by using different natural materials, I was talking about cork, for example. Cork is a natural, sustainable, recycled and recyclable material that we use in our currently in our products for furniture, but also for acoustic panels, uh for sailing panels, anything that we develop, we develop always with a storytelling behind, explaining the the benefits and the functions of the product. So this is how I position Green Mood within the interior design industry. That Green Mood is not only a company that does green, when we are talking about biophilia, we are talking also about lighting, also about acoustics, and also greenery. We have developed also lighting elements hanging from the ceiling, nice, nicely made panel covered with preserved plans and lighting, and they have um very nice acoustical benefici benefits.

Sid:  

Okay. Would you add anything, Vanessa?

Vanessa: 

Yeah, cork is is uh is a very sustainable product. And when we and I think the other component when we think about green mood is green tends to resonate to people as sustainable, right? Green solutions, things that are good for our environment, that are non-toxic, that are 100% natural, that are recycled, recyclable. So when we think about green, it's as as Sadiq mentioned, it's not just foliage, it's also green products. And that's where quark really hits on that component too. Cork is also a very highly acoustic rated product. And so it has significant value in the built environment. And we're seeing again more manufacturers offer quark products. I would agree. So, and now we have an element of cork furniture, also partnered with Alan, who has created, helped curate and develop some of our furniture offerings that are a hundred percent sustainable, made of cork. So, again, when we think about sustainability and green, what does that truly mean? Green mood hits all of those components.

Sid:  

It's a really great question. And we're gonna be sure that we put the website link in the show notes so everybody can go check out your website and see. I've seen the products and they're beautiful. I love what you're doing. I love how you're crossing over into the different categories. What's next? Like what's the product, what ne what's a product you're working on next? It's a secret. The silence, I think, told me that it was a secret. So can you give a little glimpse?

Sadig:  

We are working on new kind of planters made from recycled materials. We are working on a product that for room divider made from cork as well. Modular that you can you can build yourself. That's exactly. Yeah. And then and also some acoustic wall application and ceiling application panels from cork.

Sid:  

So I want to start wrapping up in a minute, but both of you are gonna have to help my memory here, because when we had our conversation, there was something specific about the moss and the name of the moss and why it was called that. Will you tell that story, please?

Vanessa: 

So, lichen, which is the technical term, otherwise known as reindeer moss.

Sid:  

Right.

Vanessa: 

So, reindeer moss is actually grown on the ground in a forest. Reindeer eat the moss as a source of nutrients, hence why it has its name called reindeer moss.

Sid:  

Okay.

Vanessa: 

And the other key component to reindeer moss that I'd like to add, because when we talk about the preservation process, which Sadig mentioned, and it going through its preservation, the other key component is that the color offerings that we have available for our reindeer moss all go through a high level of testing before we bring it to market. Because it is important that reindeer moss hold its color. So those colors that we do offer have gone through tried and true testing before we bring it to market. One, that it's 100% natural, two, that it's sustainable long term. And so those two, those are two very key components when we look at reindeer moss specifically.

Sid:  

So, what is the natural color of rainbow of reindeer moss?

Vanessa: 

White. It's like a white. Yeah, it's white or a cream. Yeah. It's white cream.

Sid:  

So when you asked me this question, because you asked me the question about reindeer moss and said, why do you think it's called reindeer moss? And being an uneducated podcaster on moss, species of moss that grow in Scandinavia, I think I said something along the lines of maybe the shape of it has something to do with the reindeer, antlers, or something to that effect. But that's kind of what I said. But your story is much better than mine, though I thought mine was quite creative. But they it's a source of nutrient, and so it kind of gets its name for that. And it is absolutely beautiful, even in its natural state color. It's really pretty.

Vanessa: 

It really is. And I think that's one of the other key distinct factors with Green Mood, is our foliage offerings are very unique and different versus other manufacturers in our space. When and we're very selective about harvesting and the and the foliage that we do offer. Velvet leaf is probably one of my favorite foliages. It looks and feels like velvet. It's absolutely stunning. Uh, it actually has a scent that resembles green tea. And I always point that out when we're doing the product presentation to our design community. And designers will smell it and they're like, oh my gosh, it does, Vanessa. It smells like green tea. And they get so excited about it. So I think that's the other fun part about what we do is really being passionate about it and helping educate our designers, and they get excited about how it can be used and our product offering, the different foliage types that we offer, the different product categories. And I get, I it it excites me. I get excited when when I when I get to work with designers and see their reaction and help guide them, be a resource and help guide them on how they can use our products in their projects.

What’s Next And How To Connect

Sid:  

That's great. So I have two final questions. So Sadig, I'm gonna come to you on this one. What's one thing that you wish more people understood about the relationship between nature, design, and human well-being? It's a good question.

Vanessa: 

That is a good question.

Sadig:  

I think it's the place where you feel yourself really good. It is very important. People, wherever they go, they need to everyone should feel good. It doesn't matter if it is an office space, public space, or doesn't matter if it's a coffee shop and hotel. The relationship between the nature and human being is very important, I think, because this is where you can you can feel yourself uh comfortable, you can be creative, you can just be in a good mood, like green mood.

Sid:  

Great tie-in there, by the way. All right, Vanessa, how would you respond to that question? What's one thing you wish people had better understood?

Vanessa: 

The value of nature and bringing it indoors. I mean, Sid, you hit it. I mean, you guys went to Costa Rica, you went into the forest. The I mean, you you mentioned it right there, the way that it made you feel, being in nature. Yep. And I think if we can help educate and show the value of what nature can truly do for us in a world that is chaotic, in a world that has so much stress.

Sid:  

That's always on.

Vanessa: 

Yes. Nature is so important. And if we can help create a better space wherever we are and connect us to nature, that's invaluable.

Sid:  

So every morning I start my day outside. I make a cup of coffee, grab the dogs, I sit on my patio. We happen to live on a lake, so I'm overlooking the lake. We have lots of trees around. That was one of my criteria when we bought this house was like, oh, we have to have trees. I've lived for 10, 15 years in a house without no trees. We have to have trees. So I walk outside and I sit my coffee and I just think, wonder, think about my day a little bit, relax. And it's such an amazing way to start the day. I watch the sunrise over the lake, and uh it's just something to fuel my soul and mentally, physically, emotionally, I just feel fulfilled. I'm ready to start my day, right? And so it's such a positive impact that nature can have on you as a person. It just uh astonishes me when you really think back to the history of the workplace why it's taken us this long to understand the importance of bringing the nature, nature inside. It's not in every project. We have to have this, right? So I just why is it taking Us so long to understand this. And so good kudos for to you guys for doing what you're doing, the process been fascinating learning. I certainly have learned a lot today. But I want to know last question, Vanessa. I'll start with you and then we'll wrap up with Sadiq. What excites you most about the future?

Sadig:  

About the future? Yeah. To be honest, what excites me is creating more. Creating more surprising designers, getting this excitement, getting this every time we introduce a new product, this, you know, like big eyes and then excitement of designers, like, oh, I love it. I'm gonna use it in my project. And then when we see this result, this is what gives us energy and passion. So my my dream is to just to keep going and keep creating and expanding Green Mood over everywhere, especially in the US market. Yeah, yeah. And uh by the way, I didn't mention one of the most important information to you, guys, that biophilia right now in the US market from 2024, it was 4.8 billion market, and by 2032, just in eight years, it's going to be almost 13 billion market.

Sid:  

Wow.

Sadig:  

It is so new, it is still new. Designers they get familiar. What is biophilia? So there is still um huge potential, I would say, in an educational perspective, yeah, but also the market grows and people they use more biophilia in their projects. Um, this is how it grows. So from almost five to thirteen in eight years, it's an like it's a big number.

Sid:  

So it definitely shows there's a demand for it. Yeah, there's a demand for it now.

Sadig:  

It there is a demand, definitely.

Sid:  

Vanessa, what excites you about the future?

Vanessa: 

Again, I I I go back to it because I think it's uh so innate to our everyday life. Our world is becoming increasingly chaotic and stressful. So, what excites me is when we can connect with nature, and we as a company at Green Mood can provide additional sustainable solutions to commercial spaces that allow us to connect to nature and come down from that stress and relax and enjoy the elements of a commercial space or a healthcare facility. That is truly impactful on so many levels. And when we can continue to bring products to market that provide that, it's not just about sales are great and we we absolutely need sales, but it's also about how we feel, how we connect when we're looking at commercial interiors. So I get excited about our product development, what's what's on the horizon, and continuing to increase our brand awareness and our product offerings because again, it allows us as humans to connect with nature and more sustainable green products and the built environment. And that's a pretty that's a pretty amazing arena to be in.

Sid:  

So this has been an absolute fascinating conversation. I I have literally, I said it a minute ago, I have learned so much about this process, what you do, the options available. Thank you for enlightening me as well as our audience about all the things that you're doing and the importance of this. If our community would like to get in touch with you, what's the best way for them to do that? Uh Sadiq?

Sadig:  

The best way is to visit greenmood.us.

Sid:  

Perfect. All right, we'll do that. Vanessa?

Vanessa: 

Yes, thank you for having us, Sid. I really appreciate the opportunity. I would encourage anyone and everyone to reach out to greenmood.us and visit our product categories, take a look at our product offerings, our educational piece. We've got, we've really designed our website to be a great resource for our design community. And I think that's also a very helpful tool to our designers is understanding all of the information that is available on our website and the resources that we have that can help on your next project.

Sid:  

Okay. We'll be sure that the website is there as well as email addresses, all that good stuff so they can connect with you if they'd like to. And uh again, thank you both for being here. I really appreciate it very much.

Sponsor: 

We'd like to thank our community bronze sponsors, Catalyst Consulting Group, Prioritas, and RESEAT.

Outro:  

And to those of you listening today, thank you for joining us on the Trend Report, your inside look at the people, products, and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. I hope you got a lot of amazing value, just like I did and learned as much as I did through this process today. Go out there and make today great, and we will see you in the next episode. Take care, everyone.