May 8, 2013
Photo OpBy pmihalek

The last time I ended up in your inbox, I was looking for a little friendly consumer guidance. Which phone to get — iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S3. While the response wasn’t overwhelming, I did get eight responses and would you believe that the votes were split down the middle? So after some additional research, I went with the Samsung. It was cheaper and I liked the camera A LOT better.

And boy did that camera come in handy during my recent garden center road trip to Tucson, AZ. Two standout stops on my trip were Harlow Gardens and Mesquite Valley Growers. If you’re looking for a way to make cinder blocks look sexy or a way to keep your customers cool when the weather gets hot, check out Lawn & Garden Retailer’s Facebook page for all my photos.

Hey Merchandisers!

We’re ready for your best attempts at merchandising. The call for entries to become the 2013 Merchandiser of the Year is in full swing and we want you to show us what you’ve got. Impressive past winners include : Smith’s Acres, Beaver Bark Nursery, Calloways Nursery, Rutgers Landscape & Nursery and The Great Outdoors.

Need a little motivation? For the 2013 winner, this year’s trending and profit-generating prizes include :a $500 Wholesale Gift credit and a 15% discount for Braun Horticulture’s 2013 catalog offering (1 time); and a fully-stocked and colorful Dramm 60501 Assorted Gardening Display worth SRP $2,864.76. The winner will also be featured in the announcement issue, September 2013.

For more competition details, click here.

May is for Marjoram

Have you had a chance to flip through the pages of our May issue? It’s all about edibles and what you can do with them to keep your customers engaged all season long. Check out our digital version of the May issue here.


pmihalek