Meet Elizabeth Schenk

We were lucky to catch up with Elizabeth Schenk recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

May 2020 will forever be pivotal for us – the month when a phone call gutted us with news that a friend had passed away unexpectedly. We were left grappling with grief and a profound desire to express our love and support to his family. Conventional sympathy gifts of flowers and food felt inadequate since flowers wither, and food expires. A spark of inspiration came from the memorial trees gracing our own yard. Each one is a living symbol planted as a gentle reminder of someone we love. Excitedly, I shared the idea with my friend group and each person responded enthusiastically. Momentum grew in my search for what I envisioned would be the “1-800-Flowers of memorial trees.” Surely such a service existed in a world where convenience and meaningfulness are in high demand? To my surprise, there was a void in the market for a company offering full-service memorial tree gifts. Witnessing the profound impact our tribute tree gift had on our friend’s grieving family ignited something inside us. We recognized we had given more than a gift; the tree was a living legacy, a tangible expression of our collective love and support. This became the catalyst for Treebute®. The vision was clear – to create a platform where ordering a memorial tree was as seamless as ordering flowers, and where the process from selection to installation was handled with the utmost care and reverence. Treebute emerged not just as a business venture but as a heartfelt response to a deeply personal experience.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
What sets Treebute apart is the fusion of sentiment and sustainability. We are a premium e-commerce service installing hardy-sized memorial trees on personal residential property, typically as a shared gift. The convenience of our ‘TreeGift’ crowdfunding-style solution allows multiple individuals to easily contribute. Any denomination is accepted, so everyone can feel good about giving something extraordinary together. Treebute offers more than just sympathy; we plant living, lasting tributes.

Sustainable full-service tree gifts is our flagship, but Treebute is also the first service offering to safely incorporate cremation ashes with your tree planting to create a living memorial in your own yard – for a person or a pet. We think this is a beautiful solution for those who have chosen cremation, or have ashes stashed in the back of a closet.

What’s most exciting about our business is its growth potential and scalability. We’re developing a national network of trusted landscape and installation partners. Out of state orders range from flowering white Kousa dogwood in Seattle, WA to the fragrant lilac in rural Maine – Treebute is sea to shining sea!

Treebute® is more than a brand; it’s a movement that honors the past, connects the present, and invests in a greener future. As we continue to grow and evolve, we invite you to be a part of the journey. Follow us @TreebuteCo on Instagram and Facebook, or LinkedIn, to stay updated on heartwarming stories, collaborations with amazing charities, and the growth of memorial tree gifts planted with love around the country. We hope you share Treebute with your family and friends, and contact us the next time you are looking for a unique and meaningful gift!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

For me, optimism is nothing short of a superpower. Treebute itself emerged from the crucible of an adverse, heartbreaking situation. Beyond resilience, maintaining a positive mindset and seeking silver linings open up new paths that might otherwise remain hidden. Several years ago, I adopted the practice of regularly replacing “have to” with “get to” in my vocabulary, and highly recommend it. It’s a simple attitude shift that makes life more pleasant and productive and reinforces the idea that every task is an opportunity rather than an obligation.

Persistence is the quiet hero of entrepreneurship. It’s the daily grind and commitment to giving consistent effort. Believe me, there’s nothing glamorous about the uncertainty, sacrifice, and setbacks of building a business brick-by-brick. Until it is built. It’s crucial to recognize that entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint.

It’s not inherently my nature, but with Treebute we found an opportunity to do something bold – revolutionize how we commemorate loved ones and be an environmentally positive solution for cremation ashes. Challenge the status quo is bold. Developing something first of its kind is bold. And the reward of helping someone honor their loved one with a living tree memorial is indescribable.

The qualities of optimism and persistence, complemented by a healthy dose of boldness, remain Treebute’s driving forces. So, give it a try!  Be bold, embrace optimism, and persist with grace – and watch challenges turn into triumphs and setbacks into stepping stones.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

We are eager to cultivate meaningful partnerships and collaborations! There’s immense potential in working together with funeral homes, cremation service providers, hospice care, and veterinary practices. Our vision for Treebute is a meaningful and unique amenity to their existing customer base, creating a valuable extension to a service these organizations already provide.

If you are a professional in the funeral, cremation, hospice, or veterinary industry in the U.S. and share our commitment to providing innovative and heartfelt solutions to those dealing with loss, we would love to explore collaboration opportunities with you. Treebute’s distinctive approach to memorializing loved ones through full-service planting of hardy-sized trees – frequently as a shared gift – in the recipient’s yard. We believe our concept aligns seamlessly with the compassionate services leaders in these industries already offer.

Connecting with us is simple. Feel free to reach out via phone (314) 254-8821 or email: info@treebute.com and let’s initiate a conversation on how we can collaborate to bring the enduring beauty of Treebute to your clientele. Whether through joint initiatives, co-branded offerings, or tailored programs, we are open to exploring creative and mutually beneficial partnerships. Thank you for considering a collaboration with Treebute!

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