Articles

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Going to the Men

For years, independent garden centers have considered women aged 35-65 with income north of $70,000 their target market, but a new study by the National Gardening Association indicates that this statistic might be on the... more »

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How Do You Know?

How do you know if you're making the best decisions for your company? I mean know, really know — long-term, big-success, no "I thinks" know.I found myself dissecting this seemingly simple question while reading recent... more »

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DISEASE DILEMA

We were putting together the March issue of Lawn & Garden Retailer, the news came about an outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum biovar 3 race 2 (southern bacterial wilt) on geraniums. While this is a pretty... more »

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Year after year, garden centers look for ways to bring more customers into their stores. How do they do it: sales, new merchandise, advertising, or is there something else? Special events are proven to increase... more »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »