Growing plants for a fast-growing start-up
Founded in 2021, Home From College is a job searching and hiring platform built with Gen Z firmly in mind.
By making work more accessible for young people and allowing brands to easily connect with emerging talent, H\FC helps fill the gaps in professional experience that many students have upon graduating university.
Users can create a free resume online and begin applying for internships, gig work, and short-term roles in minutes. The flexibility of part-time, often remote, and always paid positions provides young people with the opportunity to try out different industries and collect varied skills before embarking on their careers.
What applicants may lack in work experience, they certainly make up for in their knowledge of modern technology and social media trends, as well as a unique access to other members of Gen Z.
Brands such as Poppi, HBO, Beyond Meat, Claire’s, Steve Madden, and many more, have utilized H\FC for filling content creation, digital marketing, and campus ambassador roles.
H\FC’s marketing presence (the company has racked up over 50k followers on both TikTok and Instagram) and rapid growth (thousands of positions have been filled via the platform) has not gone unnoticed.
Over $5 million was recently raised by the company in a seed round led by Google Ventures, the capital earmarked for breaking into further industries and to target a broader range of job seekers under 30 years old.
Reaping the benefits of plants in the workplace
The H\FC team is growing quickly, and the company recognizes the importance of nurturing a comfortable, productive environment for their employees.
Plants are playing a key role in creating such a space.
The presence of greenery in offices goes beyond aesthetic appeal; it plays a crucial role in boosting energy, reducing stress, and improving overall employee happiness levels.
Studies have shown that office plants can help purify air, lower anxiety, and even enhance cognitive function, contributing to a more dynamic and healthy workplace.
H\FC’s Brand Partnerships Coordinator, Kristina Johnson, had this to say about the impact of plants on her and her team.
"Plants make our office feel alive and super welcoming, whilst also bringing a sense of calm to the space. Incorporating greenery into our office design is part of our commitment to creating a healthy and vibrant workplace.
It's amazing to see how such a simple addition can lead to improvements in air quality and staff wellbeing!"
"The feedback from our staff has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have expressed that the plants and planters help with productivity and are something that they look forward to seeing on the days they are working in-office!"
Offering a custom, in-office, plant service
Acknowledging the importance of flora in the workplace is one thing, but sourcing and caring for plants is another.
Fortunately, Marly was on hand to collaborate and provide expert assistance.
We worked closely with H\FC’s founders to learn more about their team’s requirements. They were keen to keep their office a fun and vibrant place to work in for their young team.
We suggested a combination of Marly’s small and large planters, giving the option to stack and create combinations of plants to suit the mood.
It’s clear that the team is extremely busy, with big plans on the horizon. And with a hybrid approach to in-person and remote work, keeping the plants thriving could be a problem.
Marly’s self-watering system is the perfect solution.
Staff only need to fill each Marly water reservoir around once per month before letting the plants take care of themselves.
A simple water level indicator means it’s easy to know when it’s time to top up.
Kristina told us that the results have been extremely beneficial.
"The feedback from our staff has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have expressed that the plants and planters help with productivity and are something that they look forward to seeing on the days they are working in-office!"
"Marly makes it super easy to care for our plants. They're thriving and remind us of growth and renewal, which perfectly echoes the values we hold as a company dedicated to professional development and learning."
We’re proud to see H\FC's plants doing so well in their Marly planters, and we’re looking forward to seeing the company continue to grow alongside them!
And we may just be making our next company hires through the platform. Marly's Campus Plant Crew has a nice ring to it...
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Check out the Home From College platform here.
And shop the Marly self-watering planter collection here.