Articles
The Gift Basket Wrap
Candy Spelling (Tori's mom) has a special "wrapping" room in her 100-room mansion devoted to them. On the Sopranos last season, a character mugged Lauren Bacall for the swanky contents of hers. But gift baskets... more »Merchandiser Of the Year Finalist – Churchill’s
If you have ever been to New England in, well, any time of the year, you will realize how surreal it all seems. There is nothing that isn't beautiful or breathtaking to look at, and... more »Profitable Or Not: A Guide to Evaluating Garden Centers
Consumer expenditures for lawn and garden activities have experienced strong growth over the past 15 years and were estimated to be about $35 billion in 2005, according to the National Gardening Association. Others estimate even... more »Market Watch: Feeling Inspired
Inspiration: stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. That is one of the many definitions of inspiration, however, in the garden center world it goes much deeper than... more »A Call to Action
As we all know, the U.S. government is powerful: Bills, laws, acts, etc. are proposed, passed and vetoed almost every day, and there is a proposal, law, bill or act for everything.In my off-garden center... more »Consumer Talk: Secret Shopping
Lori, 50 Fargo, N.D. "I visited Lowe's, and because it was March in Fargo, N.D., the garden center did not have any bedding plants for sale. A sales associate immediately asked me if I needed... more »Choose To Differentiate
As independent retailers, you know what it's like to be locked in a David-versus-Goliath-like battle with your big box competitors: They have the size and breadth while you have the expertise and customer service. But... more »Independents: Setting Themselves Apart
Retailing horticultural products has come a long way in a short time. Do you remember when you produced handwritten signage? Now we have educational, brand-oriented, vibrant, professionally made signs. Do you remember when we sold... more »Pohmer On: Alphabet Soup…Time to Go Back to School?
In Marketing 101, the basic tenets of marketing success are the Four P's: Product, Price, Place and Promotion. Product refers to the physical merchandise assortment, the breadth of what is offered to the consumer, the... more »Creating A Unique Look With Stone
Aside from its natural elements, what really brings a garden to life is how a gardener personalizes it. By mixing stone and sculpture in a variety of ways, your customers can create unique looks for... more »Be A Lean, Money-Making Machine
This month I've invited a very smart guy to "guest host" the "Dollars and Sense" column. If you were one of the lucky few to hear Andy Rogish speak at last year's OFA Short Course,... more »Using Internet Avian Resources
Our fine-feathered bird friends add so much to nature and to life: Their beautiful plumage, the melodies they sing, the bugs, pests and rodents they dispose of! Birds are one of the great links in... more »
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