Exciting news!
I’m thrilled to share that Lawn & Garden Retailer has partnered with SmartWork Media to produce the 2024 Garden Center Show! Scheduled for Aug. 6-7 in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois, this year’s event promises to bring the industry together for idea sharing, innovation and the latest in garden products and services that you’ll want to include in your garden center. The two-day event will include an expo, keynotes, conference sessions and plenty of chances to network with both other garden centers and industry suppliers.
We’ll also be announcing the winners of our 2024 Innovator Awards! Stay tuned — we’ll be opening up the nominations for the awards on March 1. (To read about the 2023 honorees, visit lgrmag.com/article/innovators.)
The Garden Center Show will once again include a full-day garden center tour the day before the expo — this time exploring several top garden retailers in and around Chicago. Separate registration is required. Find more details here.
Is there a specific topic you’d like to see covered in the conference program? Drop me a line at [email protected] to let me know. And be sure to register for the event and tour at gardencentershow.com.
Also in This Issue
While the winter months typically bring slower foot traffic through your doors, that might not have to be the case. This month, I chatted with Vic Vanik, previous co-owner of Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery with his wife Gail. Like many garden centers, business slowed down for them after the holidays. They started a winter farmers market to keep customers coming in (and their staff employed) through March, when they would start ramping up for springtime. Read more about how they did it here.
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