Maximum Yield USA October/November 2019 | Page 12

Behind every product is a team of people, often a very small but dedicated team, working hard to ensure you, the consumer, have what you need to pursue your passion for growing.” from the EDITOR TG Toby Gorman 12 Maximum Yield I magine taking over the business your parents worked their lives to build, only to have it destroyed in mere seconds by one of the most destructive hurricanes in US history. That is exactly what happened to Natalie Baker and Melanie Lyon, the daughters of Bill and Ethel Muskopf, who began Spray-N-Grow in 1982. Back then, Bill and Ethel both had day jobs, and spent their evenings and weekends trying to build Spray-N-Grow into something special. After years of hard work and perseverance, the business got some traction and began to grow. Natalie and Melanie joined their parents in 1987, working alongside friends, neighbors, and even local high school kids to get the business off the ground. It was a team effort for many years. Eventually, Bill retired, leaving Spray-N-Grow to Natalie and Melanie, and in 2014, Ethel passed away. On Aug. 25, 2017, Category 4 storm Hurricane Harvey blew through Rockport, Texas, leveling 80 per cent of the structures in the city, including the Spray-N-Grow offices and warehouse. Natalie and Melanie had a decision to make. “We started planning and figuring out how we could work, serve our customers, and come back — or give up and close the doors,” says Natalie. “But we made it. We did it with grace, laughter, and some tears, but we had a great 2018 season. We are proud that we did not give up and are stronger and closer than ever.” These pages are often reserved for grow tips and the latest indoor growing trends, but behind every product is a team of people, often a very small but dedicated team, working hard to ensure you, the consumer, have what you need to pursue your passion for growing. It’s all about community. If you ask Natalie and Melanie, they would certainly agree. The resurrection of Spray-N-Grow is an inspiring feature that can be found on page 58. As always, thanks for reading Maximum Yield and if you have any questions feel free to contact us at [email protected].