That’s a Wrap
Trade show season is well underway with Cultivate’16 in Columbus, Ohio, wrapping up yesterday at The Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Let’s talk about two sessions, both with a similar message, that stood out to me. The first was the Town Hall Meeting titled “Still Selling a 1980s Message in The 21st Century?” with a panel of experts from all aspects of the industry, and the second was “Retail Relevancy: How Relevant is Your Garden Center” with Leslie Halleck.
Customers want to be able to find what they’re looking for, or discover something new they didn’t know they wanted, but they don’t want to be overwhelmed.
At the Town Hall Meeting one anecdote caught my attention. At Trader Joe’s shoppers can choose between chunky or creamy peanut butter, while at Whole Foods customers can find dozens of choices for the same food.
How do you toe that fine line of offering options but remaining approachable. Let me know at [email protected].
Take Risks
The message running through both sessions was that change can be a good thing and is actually imperative as customers and the landscape of the industry evolve.
Halleck asked, “Where is the rulebook that you can never redesign your logo?” And I couldn’t agree more. This is probably the most visible component of your business, and it’s also one of the easiest ways to signal to customers you have a fresh perspective with a new look.
Other investments Halleck recommended to help you stay relevant were investing in: professional photography, signage updates, website updates, curb appeal and structural facelifts. Are you making any of these changes?
Indoor Gardening
While visiting exhibitors and walking the show floor, I heard a lot about indoor gardening and modern homesteading.
Read about how Homestead Gardens in Maryland has created an entire department focused on the “Modern Homesteader” online here or in the July issue of Lawn & Garden Retailer.
Also, talk to me about if you’re planning to explore this space.
Cheers,
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