Pohmer

June 2021
Is Zookeeper Part of Your Job Description?

I had a sign that read, “My Office is Not a Zoo!” mounted by the entrance to my office when I worked for many years in retail buying, merchandising and marketing. Most people thought this... more »
PohmerOn_GreenhouseWorkers

May 2021
It’s More Than Just Semantics…

In my 26 years of working in senior positions in retail for both big box and smaller entrepreneurial companies, and then 25 years of helping advise companies and organizations as a consultant (yes, I really... more »
Pohmer kicker image

April 2021
What Is Your Secret Sauce?

As you are about to embark on the most challenging months of your spring selling season, I tried to come up with something motivating and inspiring that could help cheer you on and I stumbled... more »

March 2021
What Are You Marketing?

As I was looking through the ads in Sunday’s paper (in January — too early for lawn and garden ads in the Minneapolis market), it got me thinking about a dilemma that always mystified me... more »
Pohmer kicker A New Way of Thinking and Planning

February 2021
A New Way of Thinking and Planning

The year 2020 brought us a whole new set of variables we hadn’t anticipated or planned for; this got me thinking about some inadequacies in our traditional planning processes. Historically, most business leaders have adopted... more »
Gardener planting flowers

January 2021
Who Coulda Thunk it?

As I sat down to write this column in mid-November 2020 and thought about the 2021 season before us — with all of the challenges and opportunities that we’ll face — it was impossible not... more »
Pohmer Kicker Experiences on So Many Levels…

November/December 2020
Experiences on So Many Levels…

Over the past two years, I’ve talked a lot about the critical importance of providing positive “experiences” to the customers in your stores — experiences that touch all of their senses and emotions that will... more »
Pohmer How Clear Is Your Crystal Ball for 2021?

September/October 2020
How Clear Is Your Crystal Ball for 2021?

Spring 2020 could have been a total disaster for locally owned garden centers; all the external forces were lined up against us — and then what worked against almost every other independent retailer saved the day... more »
Pohmer Krulak’s Law of Leadership

August 2020
Krulak’s Law

Your brand is one of your most important and precious assets. It is synonymous with who and what your business is all about, it helps explain what sets you apart from your competition, and it... more »
Pohmer stock July 2020 Your Corner of the Sphere

July 2020
Your Corner of the Sphere…

We keep hearing the term “value proposition” in the context of identifying and communicating the specific reasons why consumers should be buying our industry’s products at your store. This is especially important not only because... more »

June 2020
A Challenging Journey…

I think it’s safe to say that, in modern history, no individual or business has ever been subjected to such rapid change of almost unfathomable magnitude as we have experienced in the past few months... more »

May 2020
Problem or Opportunity?

There are only a few ways to increase your sales: Increase your customer count by adding new customers, attempting to steal them away from your competitors or appealing to non-gardeners to participate in what you... more »