Feb 13, 2017
Trending UpwardBy Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

There are 34 more days until spring! Recent weather, however, has been all over the place. I’ve talked with a couple garden centers in the South and they’re already seeing some spring color. At the same time, the Northeast is getting hit with massive snowstorms.

Weather aside, how optimistic are you going into this season?

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has some good news for you. Forecasts project retail sales to increase in 2017, 3.7 to 4.2 percent over last year. This number includes both brick-and-mortar as well as online stores.

Let me know how you think the year will go and which areas you expect to see the most growth in at [email protected].

Don’t think I forgot: Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’m sure people have been coming into your store the past few days to pick up a special something for their loved ones, and hopefully you remembered to do the same.

Let’s look at a couple more numbers from the NRF. Total spending for today’s holiday is expected to reach $18.2 billion, with the average U.S. consumers spending $135.57.

Of this total, $2 billion will be spent on flowers.

Plants and Beer

Have you had a chance to read the February issue of the magazine yet? You can find it online here. You’ll find a trio of articles tailored to eco-friendly shoppers, two tech-focused pieces and much more.

You’ll also find a unique retailer profile. The Windsor Gardener in Colorado has opened High Hops Brewery, and the two businesses are closely tied together with positive results for both. Take a look here.

As always, let me know what catches your eye as you’re reading.

Cheers,

Abby


Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

Abby (Kleckler) McGarry is the managing editor of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Contact her at [email protected].