IN 1896, Carrie Lippincott started a seed business in Minneapolis at the age of 33. Notable for its personal and feminine touch, the company grew rapidly and became the world’s largest seed supplier specializing in flowers. According to Barbara Wells Sarudy at Early American Gardens:

In 1891, Carrie Lippincott began calling herself  “The Pioneer Seedswoman of America.”  Unique among seed companies, she specialized in flower seeds, & targeted female clientele.  Her greatest contribution to the seed trade industry was her gift for marketing. In the 1880’s, most seed packets from most seedhouses looked the same. The packets were printed on medium bond manilla paper with the text in black ink, perhaps with a little color on the vegetable or flower illustration. The farm-oriented catalogs appeared with big 8×10 illustrations featuring fruits & vegetables on their covers & in interior illustrations.  Lippencott’s seed catalogs & advertisements revolutionized how garden seeds were sold. Her catalogs featured images of children, women & flowers giving her an edge with women customers among her competition.

It’s an interesting story. Sarudy features illustrations of the famous Lippincott seed packets. The blog calls Lippincott, who never married, a feminist. However, there is nothing in the post to suggest she was feminist. (One doesn’t have to be a feminist to be a successful businesswoman.)

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