Articles
Floating Gardens
Water gardens, as well as various water garden features, are becoming more popular with consumers each passing year. Making sure you have the right water garden products and knowing how to package them can make... more »Trading on Trends
Milan, Paris, New York the powerhouses of fashion. Twice each year, these cities become the center of the fashion world, as designers show off their newest creations for the coming season. The trends that... more »Finding the Time to Train
I like to compare the workload at garden centers to summer thunderstorms; when the action happens, it arrives fast and furious, and it's usually more than we can handle. This is where the time crunch... more »GAUGING POINSETTIA PREFERENCE
There is always considerable discussion over which poinsettia cultivars independent garden centers should carry and which cultivars consumers prefer. The new cultivars and their success at retail have changed the industry's mindset of what a... more »Keeping Your Best Employees
Quality employees are not a luxury; they are essential to achieve sales, customer service and financial and growth goals. The challenge for garden centers is to provide permanent jobs that are attractive to people whom... more »SELL ROOMS, NOT COMMODITIES
The "outdoor living room" is now an integral part of many consumers' homes. It is an area where they relax and entertain, and hence, one where they are prepared to spend their money to create... more »Talking Signs
With spring upon us, your nursery is probably stocked to capacity. Bedding and flowering plants arrive several times each week; seasonal favorites come at least monthly; and landscape staples are at capacity. But what about... more »The Mystery of Bird Attraction
You want every bird-loving customer to walk out of your store with the right purchases so they are able to go directly to their backyard, put them in place and immediately attract birds, right? Well,... more »Innovation…A Competitve Advantage
Most companies, whether they are suppliers or retailers, have a very narrow view of innovation, usually focusing on just products and services, and they devote much more energy to optimizing what they are currently doing... more »National Wildflower Week
Mother's Day doesn't have to be the only big money-making holiday for you in May. National Wildflower Week is May 4-10, and it's a great time to promote some of the products and green goods... more »LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER HEADLINES
From OFA to You OFA reports the latest in the industry. By Joe Boarini and John Holmes What is OFA? Simply put, OFA is an association of floriculture professionals. Our mission is to support and... more »The Kmart Saga Re-visited
In this column one year ago, March 2002, I reviewed the January 2002 Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing by Kmart, the largest retail bankruptcy in U.S. history. I reviewed what I believed were the causes... more »
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