Embracing a Pack Mentality
“Never before have so many done so much for so little.”
That simple quotation, if I had to choose, is the line that will stick with me most from my first trip to the California Pack Trials.
I heard it on my last night on the West Coast, during a dinner at Goldsmith Seeds in Gilroy, Calif. One of the men seated at my table was relaying his father’s thoughts on people who make careers in this industry. Working in the horticultural field in any capacity is a labor of love; you all know that. And the elbow grease and ingenuity that goes into every event at Pack Trials is astounding all those beautiful displays and vignettes, not to mention delicious food and drinks, in hopes that visitors will take notice of a few varieties and be impressed enough to give them a try!
But as retailers in this industry, your challenge and risk are twofold. Not only do you gamble daily with temperamental plants amid unpredictable climate conditions; you also have to anticipate the ever-shifting whims of your customers in an even less predictable economic climate.
Well, after attending Pack Trials, I believe I have some good news: This year more than ever before, I’d say businesses on the breeding and growing end of things are focusing more on the consumer. Three trends I noticed at this year’s Pack Trials showed a real commitment to making your jobs as retailers easier, and the changes ahead will benefit the industry as a whole. Take a look.
Sustainability
It’s almost an automatic assumption that sustainability would be among the hottest topics for the 2008 trials. At every stop along our journey, this concept was incorporated somehow. From plants that can be grown with fewer or no plant growth regulator applications to heat- and drought- tolerant succulents to biodegradable containers, tags and signs, nearly every company was armed with its own solution to this unique challenge.
The Lifestyle Trend
The idea of incorporating gardening into everyday life was interpreted in several different ways during Pack Trials. There were efforts to make packaging sleeker and plant labels more readable and customer friendly before the material even hits retail which should make your job easier and aesthetically pleasing signage attracted attendees directly to the types of plants they were looking for: “Shade Lovers,” “Great in the Landscape” and “Pet Friendly,” for example. All these concepts could translate into better marketing to consumers, boosting sales for you and making your customers’ lives easier. This is key, especially as consumers look to beautify their backyards but take some of the work out of gardening.
Cream of the Crop
And in light of today’s tight schedules and even tighter budgets, breeders focused more of this year’s research and development resources on improving the colors and habits of their already winning varieties, saving the coveted “new introduction” tag for real standout varieties that got everyone talking. Plants that were already bestsellers were played up for their eco-friendly qualities or other popular selling points that might make them more attractive to consumers. So although ours is an industry made up of so many people who do so much for so little, this year’s Pack Trials were all about highlighting the best of the best for attendees and making their visit to California worthwhile.
Keep an eye out for new offerings from your suppliers in the coming year, and watch for the July issue of Lawn & Garden Retailer, which will have more detailed coverage of our trip to California and all the things we saw!
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