Matthew Bouvy is co-owner of Abele Greenhouse & Garden Center in Saginaw, Michigan, alongside his wife, Jennifer. Matt and Jennifer are both CPAs who traded a little time behind a desk for a whole lot of time in the greenhouse—and today they’re involved in just about every part of the business.
As parents of four, family has always been an important part of their lives and their business. Now they’re beginning to see the next generation get involved, as their son Corbin is just starting to make his way into the family business, learning the ropes, bringing new ideas, and discovering firsthand everything that goes into running a garden center.
Matt’s role at Abele can change by the hour—from finances and planning to production, equipment, facilities, marketing, or solving whatever unexpected problem comes up that day. But through it all, Matt and Jennifer have remained focused on one thing: creating an experience that makes customers want to come back.
They believe a great garden center is about much more than the plants. It’s about the people, the atmosphere, the service, and creating a place customers enjoy visiting. For Matt, the constant challenge—and the fun—is finding new ways to improve that experience while keeping the family-business feel that makes Abele Greenhouse special.