Articles

What happens when there’s no pipe and drape?

You know what pipe and drape is -- the rows of pipe poles with some 2-color combination of worn drapery fabric that is the signature look of every green goods trade show you've ever been... more »

Consumer Buying Habits

This past crop year (September 2000-August 2001) was a relatively good year for garden centers. Consumers spent 10 percent more on floral purchases at these locations than they did in the year prior. That lift... more »

Keeping your quality

Postproduction care and handling of bedding plants and other crops presents a challenge for retail garden centers. Plants must not only look great in retail displays but also grow and flower in the landscape throughout... more »

Teaching Your Team to Think

All around the country, on the same day of the week, at the same time of day, successful, progressive garden centers are gathering their entire teams together to train. The topic that everyone is training... more »

Weeding Out the Right Ingredients

A customer approaches you: "Excuse me, I've got this awful weed in my yard that I can't seem to get rid of -- it's almost like a vine, and has started twining itself around some... more »

Clean Up Your Merchandising

Many garden centers have a rolled-up shirtsleeves look about them. Carts piled with plants in various stages of transit, garden tools scattered here and there, a bit of dirt on the floor. Who's to care?... more »

Raising Bulb Margins in Pots

What are the most commonly asked questions about bulbs? How deep to plant? Which ones are deer-resistant? What about the ever popular, "How late can I plant x bulb?"Everyone loves bulbs, especially after a long,... more »

The Lifetime Value Philosophy

How many of you are in the business of selling products to consumers? Now that sounds like a pretty stupid question, doesn't it? Of course your answer would be an overwhelming, probably even a unanimous,... more »

Mind-Reading 101

In this article, I want to show you what your customers may really be looking for in your store. You may think you know the answers, but let me give you some solid evidence of... more »

A Hint of Things to Come

Well, it's over -- Christmas, that is. And with the 2001 season behind us, retailers are adding up numbers and evaluating sell-through on what is for many the second most important selling season of the... more »

What I Learned In Retail

Six years ago, Josh Schneider built his own garden center, Morning Dove Farms, in Mahomet, Ill. But a passion for new plants took him westward, where he is now director of sales and marketing for... more »

Turning Water into Dollars

Retailers of the relatively new field of water gardening are wondering if it's just a fad, or if it's here to stay. Should the water garden sales area be expanded or left alone? What new... more »