What’s New?
Early last month, thousands of eager technophiles gathered in San Francisco’s Moscone Center, hungry for information and a sneak peek at Apple’s newest developments and plans for the next 12 months. This was Macworld Expo 2009, a yearly conference that has Mac users worldwide buzzing for weeks leading up to and after the event.
The company’s 2009 introductions were nothing major, but attendees still got pumped up about a longer-lasting battery and a few software updates because they were new. And it’s not just the tech savvy who yearn for the freshest goods!
The Big Question
Walk into a booth at the industry’s winter markets and trade shows, from AmericasMart in Atlanta to Mid-Am in Chicago, and the first thing out of many people’s mouths will be, “So, what’s new?” Retailers want to show their customers the latest products on offer. And some manufacturers are getting a little more daring with the products they put out it feels as if I’ve seen everything recently, from vegetable gardens grown out of brown bags to garden-ready beaded sandals that could have been pulled straight off a fashion runway. Are you selling these innovative, new and different products? And if you’re carrying them, are your customers leaving the store with them?
Fear Factor
Newness can be scary. There’s a chance of failure with any new venture, especially during an economic downturn when it’s so tempting (and comforting) to stick with the tried and true. But fresh ideas and a sense of adventure can often pay off: I met an employee recently from Terrain at Styer’s, one of the new players in our industry, who told me the store’s nontraditional approach to the garden center is working, and customers love what they’re seeing!
Next month, the Lawn & Garden Retailer and GPN staffs will be heading off to California again for the 2009 Pack Trials, where we’ll see beautiful, brand-new varieties and improvements of existing varieties, the results of pioneering genetic research and curiosity on the part of breeders up and down the coastline. I’m guessing breeders will be aiming, like last year, to show growers how well their products can perform at retail… but will their efforts pay off in the long run?
One More Thing…
Apple CEO Steve Jobs loves to save the best of the new for last. He wasn’t at this year’s Macworld Expo, but in the past, he’s ended his keynote address with a big announcement, such as the rollout of the iMac or iPod. “One more thing… ” he says to lead in. He’s famous for moments like these. Well, I’ve got “one more thing” to share with you and wrap up this letter: Beaver Bark Gift and Garden Center in Richland, Wash., is our new Merchandiser of the Year! They celebrate the opportunity to try new things with their merchandising, and it shows. Check out their profile on page 18.
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