
Nicole Fleming
She/Her
Business Owner & Consultant | Simplify Operations & Plan for Growth
Available tomorrow
Starting at 9:00 PM UTC
If you don’t see a time that works for you, please reach out! I’m happy to explore other options and will do my best to accommodate your schedule.
Questions?
You can start chatting with Nicole before you get started.
Work with Nicole
About
I’m an entrepreneur, e-commerce consultant, and educator who enjoys turning creative ideas into practical business opportunities. I founded Garden Outside The Box in 2017, combining my background in horticulture and graphic art with an interest in product development and helping people try something new. Since then, I’ve built a business spanning online retail, original garden products, corporate workshops, holiday decorating, and landscape consulting. Along the way, I’ve gained firsthand experience with the decisions, challenges, and competing priorities that come with running a small business. My coaching style is approachable, honest, and practical. Whether you’re exploring your first idea or growing an existing product or service business, I’ll help you identify opportunities, work through obstacles, and choose manageable next steps that fit your goals and resources.
Nicole also coaches for Small Business, E-Commerce & DTC , Retail & Merchandising, Business Development & Partnerships, and Startup Founders. View all.
Nicole’s Business Operations & Strategy Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Manager
As the founder of Garden Outside The Box, I’ve managed the day-to-day operations and strategic decisions behind a business with more than 33,000 transactions and a catalog of 500+ products. My experience includes pricing, domestic and international sourcing, supplier negotiations, inventory management, fulfillment, and customer service. Running the business as a hands-on owner taught me how to balance growth opportunities with costs, time, and available resources. I help small business owners assess operational challenges, establish priorities, and develop practical plans for improvement. Whether you’re reviewing pricing, working through sourcing or fulfillment issues, or deciding where to focus next, I offer an experienced sounding board and clear guidance. I also consult with landscape business owners on operational performance and growth, bringing a perspective that spans both product- and service-based businesses.
Why do I coach?
I coach because I know how much goes into building a business—and how overwhelming it can feel when every decision rests on you. When I started Garden Outside The Box, I navigated everything from product development and sourcing to pricing, online sales, and customer service. I learned through both successes and mistakes. I enjoy helping others recognize the value in their ideas, work through challenges, and decide what to do next. My goal is to give entrepreneurs practical guidance, an honest sounding board, and the confidence to move forward with a plan that fits their goals and resources.
Work Experience

Founder
Garden Outside The Box
October 2017 - June 2026
Interviewer
I founded Garden Outside The Box in 2017 and built a garden and lifestyle business with more than 33,000 transactions, a 4.9-star average rating, and a catalog of 500+ products, including 50+ proprietary offerings. I grew the business through online sales across multiple marketplaces, virtual workshops, and in-person events. My experience covers the full journey of a product-based business: evaluating ideas, developing products, sourcing domestically and internationally, negotiating with suppliers, setting prices, merchandising online stores, and managing fulfillment and customer service. As a hands-on founder, I understand the challenges of reaching customers, managing growth, and deciding where to focus with limited time and resources. I’ve also developed service offerings, including holiday home decorating and corporate workshops and events. Through landscape business consulting, I help owners assess operational challenges, identify growth opportunities, and develop practical plans to improve performance or scale. Developing and teaching workshops for individuals and corporate groups has strengthened my ability to make unfamiliar concepts approachable and help people build confidence through clear instruction and practical guidance. My coaching focuses on aspiring entrepreneurs and owners of small product- and service-based businesses. I help clients evaluate ideas, define and price their offerings, strengthen their online presence, explore sales channels, and turn an overwhelming list of possibilities into clear, manageable next steps.
Education

Oakland Community College
Associates of Applied Science - Landscape Horticulture, Cum Laude, Landscape Horticulture
2013 - 2015
I earned an Associate of Applied Science in Landscape Horticulture, graduating cum laude, and a Certificate in Landscape Horticulture from Oakland Community College. My education gave me a foundation in plant science, landscape practices, and horticulture that I’ve applied to landscape services, garden product development, and educational workshops through Garden Outside The Box.

Macomb Community College
Certificate of Achievement, Landscape Design
2005 - 2005
My Certificate of Achievement in Landscape Design strengthened my ability to combine plant knowledge with thoughtful design to create functional, attractive outdoor spaces. I apply this foundation to landscape consulting, garden planning, and workshops that help others bring their gardening ideas to life.

Macomb Community College
Associates Degree- General Studies, Graphic Design
2000 - 2002
I earned an Associate Degree in General Studies from Macomb Community College with a focus on graphic design. This background strengthened my visual communication and design skills, which I’ve applied to branding, packaging, product presentation, and marketing for Garden Outside The Box.
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Nicole also coaches for Small Business, E-Commerce & DTC , Retail & Merchandising, Business Development & Partnerships, and Startup Founders. View all.
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