5 Minutes With … Heather Rollins
Heather Rollins is marketing director at Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
What brought you to the green industry?
My interest started to grow when I took a horticulture elective in high school and got involved in agriculture-related competitions through Future Farmers of America.
Before applying to college, I attended a career fair at North Carolina State and had the chance to speak with professors and students from the horticulture department. At 18, it’s hard to know what path you want to take for the rest of your life, but I decided to give horticulture a try — and I’m so glad I did. The community in this industry is incredible, something I quickly discovered in college. From researchers to nurserymen to landscapers, everyone works together in such a collaborative and supportive way.
A fun twist to my journey: I met my now-husband through the Horticulture Club at NC State — a true plant-nerd love story! After earning my degree in horticultural science and Spanish, I launched into a career in wholesale nursery sales, agritourism and marketing. Today, I have the privilege of working alongside my husband and his family in their third-generation family business.
What’s the best part about your job?
The best part of my job is the opportunity to express my creativity every day. Like many in this industry, I wear several hats. As marketing director, I love collaborating with our team to brainstorm fresh marketing ideas and exciting social media projects. As the merchandiser and buyer for our gift and pottery department, I get my shopping fix by exploring the latest trends and finding unique items for our customers. And as manager of our installation team, I get the joy of getting my hands dirty, overseeing planting jobs and crafting custom container gardens. I truly love every aspect of what I do, and I’m incredibly grateful to be surrounded by family every day.
What’s your biggest goal for 2025?
My biggest goal for 2025 is to strengthen team communication across all departments and streamline our in-store signage and “silent sellers” to create a more cohesive customer experience. Additionally, I’m focused on improving inventory control and increasing product turns to boost GIMROII in our gift department.
We’re also excited to host a large tour group as part of The Garden Center Group Fall Event in 2025. It’s a fantastic opportunity to ensure our facilities are in top shape; while we always prioritize maintaining our space, the prospect of several hundred discerning garden center professionals visiting certainly adds extra motivation.
If your career had gone a different direction, what do you think you would have done?
I’d still be an avid gardener or devoted houseplant parent — that passion runs deep! However, I also have a huge love for travel, and I’m always the go-to planner for family trips, couples’ getaways or girls’ weekends. I think being a travel agent would be a dream job — or maybe it’s a side hustle in the making!
What’s something few people know about you?
I run a custom container garden crew for high-end clients. This team of four amazing women consists of my closest friends and neighbors. Not only do we get to create beautiful gardens for fantastic customers, but we also share life together — carpooling, managing after-school activities and even enjoying family dinners. It’s been such a joy developing this part of our business alongside my friends.
Favorite plant to grow?
It’s tough to pick favorites when you’re surrounded by plants every day! While I don’t have a specific favorite plant to grow, I absolutely love designing custom container gardens. It feels like being an artist with a blank canvas and a paintbrush. Mixing colors and textures to create a unique masterpiece is such a rewarding process — it’s like designing a one-of-a-kind display garden, just on a smaller scale.
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