In 2020, as the world slowed down and people spent more time at home during the COVID lockdown, Long and his wife, Giang, noticed a growing desire to create more comforting and beautiful living spaces. Seeing an opportunity to bring joy and tranquility into people’s homes, the husband-and-wife team opened Plantify in downtown Champaign, Illinois.

Located near the corner of Washington and Neil Streets, Plantify quickly became a welcoming destination for indoor greenery. Every plant is hand-selected by Long and Giang, who take great care to ensure each one is healthy and ready for its new home. They offer free repotting and personalized plant-care advice, a reflection of their commitment to building meaningful, lasting relationships with their customers.

Plantify’s story is deeply rooted in Long and Giang’s upbringing in Vietnam, where they grew up surrounded by lush tropical plants. Their shared belief in the “life-enhancing qualities of plants” guides everything they do. Research supports what they’ve long known - interacting with plants reduces stress, improves mood, and transforms homes into more positive, productive environments.

Both graduates of the University of Illinois, Long earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2016 and Giang graduated with her Ph.D. in Communications in 2022. Though Long’s path began in the lab, his passion for plant life and his joy in helping customers find the perfect plant made the transition feel natural. Today, Plantify continues to focus on what Long and Giang call “growing happiness” - offering beautiful plants, thoughtful design, and a genuine connection to the people they serve.

In late 2022, Long brought Plantify to the Pacific Northwest, relocating from Champaign, Illinois, to the Seattle area while Giang pursued her career as a UX researcher. Since 2024, Plantify has evolved beyond retail and shifted its focus toward plant design and full-service plant care for both residential and commercial clients. This transition has allowed Long to combine his scientific background, design sensibility, and passion for plant wellbeing to create thoughtful, custom environments that enhance how people live and work.