5 Minutes With … Tina Lee
Tina Lee is co-owner of DeWayne’s destination garden center in Selma, North Carolina, with husband, DeWayne.
Could you share a little about your background?
DeWayne started his business as a roadside stand in 1991. We met about six months later, and I began working alongside him, including through college while earning my degree in mathematics from Campbell University. Over the years, we grew the business together, learning as we went and adapting along the way. What started as a small roadside stand has grown into a true retail destination, featuring a garden center, gift shop, ladies’ boutique, men’s shop, sweet shop, pet boutique and our Christmas Land experience.
As a family business, what measures do you take to separate the family part from the business part?
That’s always been a challenge, because owning a business is very demanding, and the clock doesn’t really stop when you leave for the day. We’re often still in “business mode,” even at home. Over the years, we’ve learned how important it is to be intentional about setting boundaries and giving ourselves time away from work when we can. Our kids used to tease us about talking about the business too much; now it’s funny that our 23-year-old daughter, who works with us, is the one who keeps bringing up work at home. It’s a good reminder of how the roles change, but also how much pride we all take in what we’ve built together.
What is your biggest goal for the next year?
Our biggest goal for the next year is to continue growing in a smart and steady way while staying true to who we are. We want to keep improving the experience for our customers, fine-tuning our departments and making sure everything we do reflects the level of quality people expect from us. A big focus will also be on our team, making sure they feel supported, confident and set up for success. Growth is important, but doing it thoughtfully and without losing our personal touch matters most to us.
What’s the best part about your job?
The best part of my job is the people, both our customers and our team. I love creating an environment where people feel welcome, inspired and excited to come back. Seeing customers enjoy what we’ve built — whether they’re shopping for plants, gifts, clothing or Christmas décor — makes all the hard work worth it. I also love watching our employees grow and take pride in what they do. Being able to create something that brings joy to others every day is incredibly rewarding. Our vision statement is “A happy place to work and shop,” and we strive to be just that!
What keeps you up at night?
Like most business owners, it’s the responsibility that comes with it all. Making sure we’re making the right decisions for our employees, our customers and our family is always on my mind. Staffing is probably one of the biggest things that keeps me up at night, especially knowing how important each team member is and wondering who would step in if someone key were to leave. We don’t always have a backup plan for every position, and that can be stressful at times. But it also reminds us how valuable our people are and how important it is to continue building a strong, dependable team.
Favorite plant to grow? Why?
This may sound funny coming from someone in the garden center business, but I’ve never really been the one out planting flats of annuals or tending a perennial garden. I love color and instant gratification, but I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the one out there doing the planting. What I do love is how flowers make people feel. Seeing the color, the excitement and the way customers light up when they find just what they’re looking for is what I enjoy most. I may not be the one with dirt under my nails, but I love being part of creating something beautiful for others to enjoy.
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