Megan Cain, 35, is the owner and visionary behind The ZEN Succulent, a modern plant shop dedicated to fostering greenery and sustainability. A 2011 graduate of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Cain turned her passion for plants into a business, launching The ZEN Succulent as an Etsy shop in 2012.

Cain expanded Zen Succulent into a brick-and-mortar store in downtown Durham in 2016, offering curated plants, terrariums, and locally made gifts. As consumer shopping habits evolved, Megan realigned her business with her sustainability goals, transitioning The ZEN Succulent to a fully online platform in late 2024. Through her work, she continues to inspire plant lovers and advocate for mindful, sustainable living.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

The Durham Voice: What inspired you to start The ZEN Succulent? Why did you choose Durham as its home?

Megan Cain: After working as an admissions counselor on a contract basis, I returned to the Triangle seeking more growth opportunities. I channeled my energy into launching an Etsy shop, selling terrariums. Within nine months, sales began to grow, eventually reaching tens of thousands of orders. This success led to workshops and new ways to scale the business, all with the strong support of the Durham community.

How does your business maintain genuine sustainability practices rather than merely leveraging sustainability as a marketing strategy?

We are a plant craft business specializing in making and shipping terrariums across the U.S. while promoting hands-on creativity and plant care. Sustainability is at our core. We use recycled materials for shipping, repurpose soil with added nutrients and compost plant clippings to support new growth in our garden. Our mission is to inspire a deeper connection with greenery while minimizing waste.

How do you balance your sustainability initiatives with financial sustainability, especially as a small business that is Black- and woman-owned?

Pivoting to an online storefront and reducing staff allowed us to create a more sustainable business model while staying true to our mission. Seeing major retailers shift focus to e-commerce and social media, we took cues from their strategies, learning from their multimillion-dollar investments to refine our own approach.

I built a website tailored to our needs, offering a seamless shopping experience similar to larger retailers but with our unique focus on plants, terrariums and workshops. Workshops, in particular, became a key part of our business, fostering community engagement and team-building experiences. Ultimately, this transition lowered overhead, expanded our reach nationwide, and created a sustainable path for both the business and my family.

What are your sustainability goals for your business? And how do you plan to evolve to meet them?

A key goal is to continue reusing and upcycling as much glassware and as many containers as possible. Composting is something that we want to incorporate more, but it’s a long process, as it’s not something that can happen instantly. But I’m super excited about that. 

What are the biggest challenges that you’ve experienced being a business owner in Durham?

Durham has always been an incredible place for entrepreneurs, and I knew it would be the right home for my business. It has a rich history with Black Wall Street and the Hayti community, places where Black business owners built banks and thriving enterprises. But the urban renewal of the 1960s and the freeway system disrupted these communities in ways that are still felt today.

When I opened my shop in 2016, downtown Durham looked very different. Organizations like Self-Help made it possible for small businesses like mine to grow by offering affordable rent. But over time, corporations started buying up properties, building high-rise apartments, and raising rents, leaving many storefronts empty. While recent efforts to highlight business owners on social media are promising, they came too late for businesses like mine that played a role in downtown’s resurgence. I hope these efforts help the next generation of entrepreneurs secure their place in Durham’s future.

How do you foster or maintain collaborations with local artists in your business?

The foundation of great collaboration is the willingness to meet people where they are. As someone who started as a maker, I met incredible artists and creators at fairs – booth mates whose work I genuinely loved. Collaboration starts with appreciation but is solidified by support, paying makers what they ask for their products and time.

At The ZEN Succulent, we always paid wholesale prices up front instead of doing consignment. That built trust gave makers creative freedom and ensured they were properly valued. Another key part of collaboration is giving credit. On our Instagram and website, we made sure to highlight the artists we worked with, whether it was Jordan Grace Owens designing exclusive planters or another local maker creating something special. It wasn’t just about selling products; it was about sharing their work with excitement and encouraging others to support them too.

What role do you think entrepreneurs should play in sustainability efforts or like urban sustainability efforts?

Small entrepreneurs can lead sustainability efforts, but real change requires backing from local government. Cities like Durham need to commit to green initiatives and create incentives for small businesses to adopt sustainable practices. That could mean grants, education programs or policies that reward businesses for their efforts. If there were tax incentives or funding opportunities tied to sustainability, more businesses would be encouraged to make lasting changes. At the end of the day, the best way to drive action is through tangible support, whether that’s financial benefits, education, or city-led initiatives that help small businesses thrive while being environmentally responsible.

How have you sustained your enthusiasm for plants and terrariums while balancing the operational and financial demands of running your business?

My passion has evolved as I’ve grown from a young entrepreneur to a wife and mother, but what keeps me excited is knowing I’ve built something that continues to grow. There are ups and downs, but shifting my mindset has made all the difference. Instead of thinking, I have to do this, I remind myself, I get to do this – whether it’s unloading a truck full of plants or answering emails from customers who care about my business. That small shift in perspective keeps me motivated, even as my life and priorities change.

What policies or community initiatives would you like to see that would better support black-owned and women-owned businesses in Durham and sustainable businesses in Durham?

I would love to see the city provide grants for business owners with brick-and-mortar stores or deep roots in Durham. Entrepreneurs have opportunities here, but they need additional support, whether it’s funding for essentials like signage, which I never had due to historical district red tape, or resources to help them stay downtown. Beyond financial backing, free entrepreneurial classes led by experienced local business owners could be invaluable. There are so many knowledgeable entrepreneurs, like Alyssa at The Fillaree, who would gladly share insights on sustainable practices and customer engagement if the city provided the structure and support.

How do you see your role in inspiring and supporting other Black entrepreneurs, Black women entrepreneurs in the sustainability space?

I see my role as both learning and sharing in this journey, knowing there are many ways to implement sustainability, and that’s OK. It’s important to meet people where they are and support them in taking steps, whether big or small. I also try to provide advice when needed and be open to opportunities – like this conversation – to share my efforts. If someone sees my work and learns something new, that in itself is a way to inspire and support others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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