Founded in 1989 by James Barr at his parents’ Narre Warren property, Plantex Nursery has grown from a small venture on half an acre to a thriving business with a vast catalogue of plants sold to both retail nurseries and landscapers across the country.
Specialising in vegetable seedlings, petunias, salvias, and drought-resistant ground covers, Plantex has built its reputation over 35 years of dedication and hard work.
"I started this nursery just to see if I could do it, and I proved a lot of people wrong," James shares proudly.
With his wife, Nicole, joining the business to lead administration and accounts in the mid-1990s, James' lifelong passion for horticulture is now spanning generations. Their daughter, Ashlee, is now a full-time employee at Plantex and manages the everyday financial operations via MYOB AccountRight Plus.
The changing landscape of business
Plantex has faced its share of challenges, from the early grind of long workdays to the impact of weather and water restrictions, but James and his family have stayed the course.
One of the most significant turning points for the business came during the COVID-19 pandemic, which boosted demand for plants as more people spent time gardening at home.
“It [the pandemic] was good for our business. Everyone had to stay at home, and you know, got into veggies, got into the garden, and couldn't go anywhere,” James explains about the stay-home orders as part of the Covid-19 restrictions.
“So that was really good for us. It sort of kicked us off from there again,” he says about the regeneration of the business.
While the nursery has reached its physical limits, James and his family have focused on refining what they grow, driven by a commitment to quality and operational efficiency.
“I needed a cloud-based product, that's where MYOB came in. Because it's cloud-based I can work from wherever I am. I can take my laptop on holidays and still run the business. Whereas I just couldn't do that before.”
- Nicole Barr, Plantex Nursery
As they look toward the future, Plantex Nursery is not expanding in size but is adjusting their operations to ensure they continue growing the best quality produce for their customers, while maximising their efficiencies.
Moving to the cloud to drive efficiency
In recent years, the implementation of MYOB Business AccountRight Plus has played a key role in driving that efficiency. Nicole, now Plantex’s Chief Financial Officer, emphasised the importance of moving to a cloud-based system.
"Before MYOB, everything fell on my shoulders, and I needed a solution that could streamline the workload."
- Nicole Barr, Plantex Nursery
With the ability to work remotely and share tasks with other staff members, MYOB AccountRight has transformed how Plantex operates. “Before MYOB, I was really struggling because it was just me who had to do everything,” says Nicole.
Nicole and Ashlee, who handles accounts administration, can now work simultaneously, which has cut invoicing time in half.
Finding savings and streamlining reporting
The benefits of MYOB extend beyond time savings. Ashlee, who joined the business two years ago, highlights the advantages of MYOB's cloud-based reporting system.
"I can pull up reports in seconds and instantly provide the information we need to make decisions," she explains.
This ability to quickly access real-time data has improved decision-making across the board, whether it’s tracking sales or managing accounts receivable.
“The efficiencies MYOB AccountRight have given us has been incredible.”
- Ashlee Barr, Plantex Nursery
For Plantex Nursery, the investment in MYOB Business AccountRight Plus has delivered clear returns. The shift to a cloud-based platform has not only improved operational efficiency but has also allowed the business to scale more effectively.
The seamless integration of payroll, invoicing, and reporting has enabled Nicole and Ashlee to focus on higher-level tasks, ultimately driving growth and helping Plantex reach its business goals, while James can focus on the “non-office” work.
“He sticks to what he’s good at, and I’ll stick to what I’m good at,” laughs Nicole.
New generation taking the business into the future
As Plantex celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2024, James and his family are proud of how far the business has come. With MYOB in their back pocket – both figuratively and literally – they are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of the future while continuing to nurture their passion for plants and providing top-quality products to their customers.
"We’ve been in business for 35 years, and MYOB has made life so much easier for us. I couldn’t recommend it more highly," Nicole smiles.
