September/October 2017
Moving Inside By Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

Moving is always quite a process. On one hand it’s the stress of finding a new place and packing and unpacking dozens of boxes, but on the other hand it’s an opportunity to purge unwanted items and start fresh.

I’m a couple weeks from moving after 4 1⁄2 years in my current apartment, and the one downside is that I’m trading in my sunny balcony full of containers and railing planters for a small outdoor space that’s completely shaded.

My main goal for the new abode is to amp up my indoor growing.

According to Garden Media Group’s 2017 Garden Trends Report, the indoor gardening market has grown 8.2 percent in the last five years, and growing under lights is forecasted to grow 6.3 percent each year through 2021.

These are numbers that as a garden center you can’t ignore, and for me personally, it’s meant the start to my hunt for new products that may come in handy.

As a consumer, I’ve got some ideas from the Indoor Gardening product section on page 27 and the 2018 Visual Purchasing Guide, which starts on page 28. As a retailer, here you’ll find dozens of products that might be worth adding to your lineup.

My search for unique items also made me realize how much I appreciate the story behind a company.

I discovered Modern Sprout, started by Nick Behr and Sarah Burrows, in 2013.

They live in an apartment in the city of Chicago (i.e., me) and wanted stylish planter options that created what they called “a victory garden, not planters full of defeat.”

Their journey is relatable, and for that reason, I want to own one of their 3 Pot Hydro Planter Chalkboards for my dining table.

I was also drawn to the Pollinator Push Garden from Modern Sprout, which contains wild flower seeds, coconut fiber and recycled glass grow media all in a cute package resembling that of the ice cream treat you loved as a kid.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Pollinator Partnership, and I know this is just one of many ways our industry is helping foster pollinator-friendly gardens.

As I’m writing this letter, 336,806 pollinator sites have been registered for the Million Pollinator Challenge. Looking at the map, that’s a lot of people who care.

And the Winner Is …

Lawn & Garden Retailer’s 2017 Merchandiser of the Year took pollinator displays to a whole new level.

From butterflies to bees, this garden center worked together to connect customers with one of the industry’s hottest topics, and show them how the plants they purchase can make a difference.

Flip to page 10 to see which retailer earns bragging rights for the year.

I’d also like to take a little space to thank the competition sponsors Braun Horticulture and Dramm for their support and wonderful prizes for our winner.



Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

Abby (Kleckler) McGarry is the managing editor of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Contact her at [email protected].