PlantCon International

How Parking Lot Meetups of 50 People Became the Nation’s Largest Plant Convention with 10,000 people.

This August 2025, PlantCon is traveling to New York City backed by some of the largest global names in the plant industry, including Kunzo Nishihata, a legend in the rare plant world from Hyogo, Japan; Summer Rayne Oakes, a renown YouTube star who pioneered the trend of bringing greenery into industrial spaces; and even The New York Botanical Garden. But, this grassroots movement didn’t always start with big names or major venues, it began with parking lots, tent weights, passionate hobbyists, and plant cuttings.

In 2020, when the world was shutting down, small online communities were seeing hoards of plant enthusiasts hit the scene. Loss of connection was so tangible that a household hobby like plant care was seeing a rise. Plant enthusiasts would join online marketplaces to meet up, sell plants, and share plant care tips – Kenny Nguyen, founder of PlantCon International, being one of them.

Kenny began to organize local meet ups in a furniture store parking lot for the community to gather, trade plants, and connect. What is usually an isolating indoor hobby, became a space for those who craved connection. Quick parking lot exchanges quickly became full day events. People lingered, laughed, and formed lasting friendships. As mass layoffs began and financial insecurities burdened families, plant sellers began relying on the income from the popups. In the midst of a global crisis, plants brought a sense of stability, comfort, and togetherness.

From there, the Houston Plant Market was born, helping local sellers sustain their businesses year-round. A scrappy team of three began hosting pop-ups in breweries, parks, and creative spaces across the city. Then, in 2022, PlantCon made its official debut, a 60 booth convention with no sponsors, no keynote speakers, and just four staff members. Over 2,000 people showed up. It was clear that this passion project had evolved into a movement.

Today, PlantCon steps into New York City for the very first time and will have over 10,000 people in attendance. The same familiar faces will travel for miles to see the show and new enthusiasts join the PlantCon community each year. From its humble beginnings in Houston, to New York City, and now scoping new cities to expand to next – PlantCon’s story is truly a reminder that with vision, community, and a whole lot of heart, you can grow something small into a movement that touches thousands.

“PlantCon has been such a labor of love,” says Kenny. “Building it up block by block over the years within our local community in Houston to bringing it all the way to Manhattan is unbelievable. I’m so thankful that so many people have found profound value in what we’re doing, and that the reception has been overwhelming no matter where we’ve been.”

Event Details

What: PlantCon International – New York

Where: The Seaport Level 4 at Pier 17 | 89 South St, New York, NY 10038

When: August 30–31, 2025

Tickets: plantcon.org/tickets-purchasenyc

About With Heart Collective

With Heart Collective is a non-profit event and production team focused on creating inclusive spaces and opportunities for small, minority-owned businesses and their customers. Their mission is to provide educational resources and support in areas such as tax compliance, branding, marketing and more, while fostering connections and promoting diversity within the community. Under With Heart Collective, the nonprofit organization includes Houston Plant Market, PlantCon International, Heart of Hou, The Vendor Alliance, and The Little Plant Library. As a proud AAPI, BIPOC, and Queer-led organization, With Heart Collective is dedicated to empowering underrepresented voices and promoting equity in entrepreneurship.

Press Contact

Eli Marcus

motivatea2z@gmail.com
plantcon.org/nyc-home
withheart.co

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nychappenings

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Faith Hope Consolo, talks to Good News about her charitable work.  She was a supporter of the Georges Malaika Foundation, “The Rise of Congo:  Empowering through education”.

Faith Hope is known as the “Queen of Retail”, is the most renowned retail broker and consultant in the country, not only for her knowledge, reputation, and taste, but also for her key role in revitalizing and sculpting retail corridors across the nation and beyond. Plus for her humanitarian efforts she does in many communities.  The volume, size, and distinction of her transactions, combined with her extraordinary experience in the luxury retail and real estate markets, have set a high standard among real estate specialists. She has advised and encouraged many retailers as they emerged as major players nationwide and has helped transform lackluster neighborhoods into sought-after shopping districts. Ms. Consolo’s extensive luxury expertise is based in Manhattan but her reach is worldwide. She has mastered the art of securing leases in locations where companies will maximize their profits while enhancing the neighboring stores and retail landscape. To Find the Best Retail Space – You Need Faith©

As Chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman’s Retail Leasing and Sales Division, a position created especially for her, she is responsible for providing comprehensive retail counsel to an array of tenants and landlords, both nationally and internationally. Since joining the firm in January 2005, she has completed numerous deals totaling multi-millions of dollars for some of the most recognized names in retail. Her team identifies and secures the best locations for prominent international retailers’ United States operations, and represents some of the country’s top landlords in finding high profile retailers for their properties.

As director of retail operations for the 50 Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate Service offices located nationwide, Ms. Consolo has completed deals in every key market across the United States. Her understanding of the market and coast-to-coast experience enables her to strategize with retailers all over the country, from unveiling a national expansion to the debut of a flagship store. Ms. Consolo has demonstrated her prowess in completing deals along main streets and in shopping malls, and continues to develop and expand her reach.

Ms. Consolo stresses that successful retail brokerage is more than just site selection and negotiation; it is also an involvement in transforming communities and “telling America where to shop.” She possesses the ability to envision a smaller stretch of retail space and its potential relationship to the larger surrounding area. As the sole retail consultant to the Economic Development Corporation, she helped revitalize areas such as Times Square and Penn Station. She is recognized as a key player in Fifth Avenue’s return as the “Luxury Walk” and Madison Avenue’s achieving its glitter as the “Golden Mile.” Ms. Consolo has brought many prominent retailers to Manhattan, including: Cartier, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Bruno Magli, Christian Louboutin, Fogal, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bond No. 9, Calypso, Fresh, Lockes, Miguelina, Niwaka, Paul Smith, Sermoneta, Tous, Wempe, Wolford, and Zara.

Faith Hope Consolo authors an online publication bearing her name, “The Faith Report.” In addition, she is a regular contributor to The New York Times, New York Post, Crain’s New York Business, Luxury Briefing, Reuters, Associated Press, Network News programs as well as CNN and NY1, Real Estate Weekly, New York Real Estate Journal, Real Estate New York, Financial Times, Real Estate Forum, Retail Traffic and Shopping Center Business, among others.

Ms. Consolo has an impressive academic background, serving as an instructor at New York University, Wharton Business School, Parsons School of Design, and the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College. She has lectured before numerous prestigious organizations including: The Association of Women on Economic Development, National Association of Business Owners, Women Incorporated, Institute for International Research, American Institute of Architects, Society of Industry Leaders, International Council of Shopping Centers, and the National Association of Business Owners. She has also spoken before the National Association of Appraisers & Planners, The Women’s Economic Roundtable, the New York Association of Realty Managers, The Real Estate Lenders Association, and The Real Estate Academy.

In addition to her academic contributions, Ms. Consolo is often the only broker to be invited to bring her perspective to international forums on real estate. She has been called to speak at the Luxury Institute’s Paris conference, “Conversations with Leaders in Luxury.” She is also a consultant to The Luxury Marketing Council and Luxury Institute.

Ms. Consolo’s portfolio also includes memberships, affiliations, and executive appointments in industry, civic, and philanthropic organizations. She is on the Board of Governors of the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York, Past President of the Association of Real Estate Women, Director of New York Commercial Real Estate Women, and former board member of the AREW Charitable Fund. Ms. Consolo created the AREW Founder’s Award for outstanding achievement in the real estate industry. She also served as an advisor for The Mayor’s Council on The Aging/Related Issues.

Ms. Consolo’s memberships include the Urban Land Institute, the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York, Inc., the Real Estate Board of New York, New York Commercial Real Estate Women Network, and several Chambers of Commerce. She is also a member of Fashion Group International, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and National Realty Club. In addition, she participates in the National Retail Federation and the Retail Marketing Society.

Many honors and awards have been bestowed on Ms. Consolo throughout her career. Prudential Douglas Elliman awarded her the Top Retail and Commercial GCI for 2005 and 2006. In 1992, Crain’s New York Business called her a Rising Star and in 1996, one of New York’s 75 Most Influential Women in Business. Three years later, Crain’s named her one of New York’s 100 Most Influential Women in Business, a distinction she earned again in 2007. In 1999, she was Woman of the Year by the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York, a first-ever for the trade association. In 2000, she received the AREW Founder’s Award, the honor which she originated. Ms. Consolo received another AREW award, that of Outstanding Woman of Achievement, and is a Woman of Valor by the Capuchin Order of St. John the Baptist Friary. The non-profit organization Dress for Success honored Ms. Consolo with a Success at Its Best Award in 2005.

Prior to joining Prudential Douglas Elliman, Ms. Consolo served as Vice Chairman of Garrick-Aug Worldwide, Ltd. for nearly 20 years. She founded the firm’s international division in 1987 and opened the European office, in based in Paris.

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