Articles

Return Policy Power

Crafting a good return policy is a challenge for any retailer, but for those in the lawn and garden industry (whose products are mostly perishable), that task is even more difficult. From retail fraud to... more »

Planting Outside Prime Time

Merchandising in prime time is a no-brainer. When late spring is bright and blooming, the primal urge to plant afflicts everyone. But as the heat rises, traffic slows and so does the bottom line. Every... more »

Explore Home Décor

Decorating a house has become more than simply hanging a few framed pictures on a wall and putting down an area rug; it is now a $270 billion industry that includes kitchen items, housewares, furniture,... more »

The Not-So-Big Garden Center: Being Right About Demographics

The January 2006 issue of Lawn & Garden Retailer included the annual "Industry Leader Forecast" article, and I was flattered to be included in the forecasting group. As 2006 draws to a close, I revisited... more »

Dollars & Sense: Do You Have True Grit?

Usually, garden centers try to get rid of grit. However, true grit, as demonstrated in the 1969 John Wayne movie of the same name, is what separates failed operations from those that continue on and... more »

Changing Customer Habits

The single most consistent factor in the entire retail equation is "The Customer." Everything may change. Cycles come and go. Prices and geography have less to do with customer habit than an innate and intuitive... more »

What Are We Really Selling?

I can remember when my parents gardened for the sheer joy of it, something they inherited from their parents. After work, my dad used to go out and tend to his vegetables, and my mom... more »

Gardening For Everyone

Gardening is for everyone, or at least we would like to believe that. After all, it is America's number-one hobby. Some of the people who are not able to participate in all that nature has... more »

2006-2007 Visual Sourcebook: Products By Category

Welcome to the fifth annual Lawn & Garden Retailer Visual Sourcebook. This guide is designed to help you locate sources for green goods, hard goods, nursery supplies, services, holiday products and pretty much anything else... more »

2006-2007 Visual Sourcebook: Vendor Directory

Shop ‘Til You drop!

Welcome to the fifth annual Lawn & Garden Retailer Visual Sourcebook. You'll notice that our Sourcebook continues to grow every year as we add more companies to the listings and more products to the "Marketplace."... more »

Pohmer On…Shopability…

Okay, you've invested in POS systems to ensure you have the right level of inventory on hand, worked with your suppliers to streamline distribution, allocated shelf space based on sales histories and developed the logistics... more »