Articles

Holiday Season Recap

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Beauty Meets Function

Beautiful flowers and dramatic foliage may feed the soul, but when times are tough, we need plants that also feed our bodies. Ornamental edibles — including herbs, salad greens and some flowers — are as... more »

Relishing the Limelight

After more than 15 years in business, Beaver Bark Gift and Garden Center got a much-deserved 15 minutes of fame in the local media as one of three finalists for Lawn & Garden Retailer's Merchandiser... more »

The Write Stuff

I am just old enough not to know how to design a web page. To me, code is something in a spy novel. Java is tasty with a little French vanilla. Oh, and if HTML... more »

Beginning the Spring Thaw Early

Q As a garden center owner, how can I get customers excited about spring while they're still stuck in winter? Late winter is a good time to remind customers that your garden center is a... more »

What’s New?

Early last month, thousands of eager technophiles gathered in San Francisco's Moscone Center, hungry for information and a sneak peek at Apple's newest developments and plans for the next 12 months. This was Macworld Expo... more »

No Hibernation Here!

Jen, 30 Glenwood, Iowa "Next summer, I plan to place perennials in a rock garden off my front porch. We've just started with landscaping around the new house, so many areas are ready for new... more »

A New Playing Field

No one ever said that retail was an easy game, and the current economic meltdown just accentuates the challenges you'll face in 2009. As I write this in mid-November, all indications are that the problems... more »

Good Bugs Versus Bad Bugs

Christmas and poinsettia season have come and gone, and some of you may have seen some poinsettias arriving in your store with some small cards or sachets hanging from the plant or pot. Some of... more »

What Does Your Sign Say About You?

When thinking about small business marketing, the standard means of promotion such as newspaper ads and postcard mailings most often come to mind. While these "tried and true" methods can be effective, they are not... more »

Ripe for Sale

As the "going green" movement continues to gain momentum and the economy lapses into an official recession, a new trend is emerging: edible gardening. Garden centers from coast to coast are reporting heightened consumer interest... more »

Youth Appeal

A garden center trying too hard to project a certain image can feel much like interacting with a person trying too hard to fit a certain style: extremely uncomfortable. "If something is not authentic, people... more »