A successful accidental business, by Brian Abate

As I walk down Van Brunt St. to get to work each day, I have been intrigued by a store that features bright green moss in the window. This month I spoke to MossBoss NYC’s founder, Adzi Jasari who gave a greater understanding of his business.

“This wasn’t something I always had planned,” Jasari said. “I was actually an MRI technologist for 18 years but I was looking for a side hustle and I tried a few things that just didn’t work out. Then about five years ago I took a trip to Scotland and there was moss everywhere and I couldn’t get it enough of it.”

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After returning to New York, Jasari decided to create various pieces of art using moss.

“It wasn’t even a big idea, it was a crafting project and it was really fun so I made a few small pieces and then a couple of bigger ones, which was even more fun,” Jasari said. “I posted a few pictures on Facebook and suddenly people were saying, ‘Hey, can I get one?’”

At first, Jasari just made pieces for his friends and family but then he started doing craft fairs and getting requests to make custom pieces and it grew from there. The requests played an important role in shaping MossBoss NYC but the COVID-19 Pandemic actually played an important role as well.

“So many terrible things have come from the pandemic but it forced me to go into full-time work with MossBoss,” Jasari said. “The pandemic helped me figure out that this was what I wanted and that I wanted to go from doing this part-time to full-time and I took a risk on myself. I think people wanted something different for their homes and businesses. They were looking for something calming and relaxing, so business really took off. I got really lucky but there was a lot of hard work that went with it. It has been a blessing that everything came together for me.”

Jasari has also come up with some creative ideas to make people feel more comfortable during the pandemic. People are able to set up appointments and go to MossBoss NYC to build terrariums in private events.

“They’re able to go with a few people they know and trust in a situation where they don’t have to worry about being around people they don’t know given what’s going on with the pandemic and Omicron,” Jasari said.

I think the terrariums are really cool and they make a great gift during the holiday season. There are so many different colors and textures of moss that blend really nicely together. It’s also very easy to take care of the moss (just spray it with a little water every few days if it’s in a dry place or do nothing at all if it’s in a place with some humidity in the air.)

“It’s a way to bring the outside in, without the maintenance,” Jasari said. “I hope people see this as something enjoyable and something relaxing at the same time.”

Jasari has also worked on bigger projects in a wide variety of settings, including restaurants, a golf suite, and a veterinary office. He also spoke about what it’s like working in Red Hook. Even though Jasari is from New York City, he didn’t start working in the neighborhood until a few years ago.

“I love being in Red Hook and one of the great things is all the other shop owners have been very, very supportive,” Jasari said. I think we all look out for each other. It’s also been fun to be part of the tight-knit art community down here.”

Jasari also told me that while he’s put in a lot of work at MossBoss NYC, he’s enjoying each day and each of the projects he’s working on.

“I’d love to continue to grow and bring in some more employees but I’m not sure what the future holds,” Jasari said. “I’m enjoying the ride and I’m so grateful for the clients I’ve had and the support I’ve had.”