Articles

Sound Garden

More than ever, people are turning their backyards or even balconies into spa-like retreats instead of splurging on one. How do you transform your outdoor space into a rejuvenating oasis of tranquility? A key ingredient... more »

Leading in Tough Economic Times

With all the job losses, depressing forecasts, business closings and gloomy messages that surround us, it might seem as if we're caught up in some sort of economic Twilight Zone. Like many of you, I'm... more »

Embarking on an Uphill Climb

In the Himalayas, hikers who decide to tackle Mt. Everest will often hire sherpas, local men with strong endurance and a good sense of the terrain, to guide them on their treks through unfamiliar, difficult... more »

It’s the Economy!

Q What advice can you offer independent retailers to help us stay afloat in this volatile economy? News has been all over the map about the state of the economy, making it hard to know... more »

What’s In Store?

I'll begin by stating the obvious: 2008 was rough. "Gloom and doom" was the new world order. You dealt with rising shipping costs and slowed overall retail traffic, and you had to work constantly at... more »

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Getting Into the Holiday Spirit

Becky, 49 Dallas, Texas "The big garden centers always sell Christmas trees out front, which is convenient for people like me. Some of the smaller 'boutique' garden shops go all out! I usually see a... more »

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Squeezed at Both Ends

The financial collapse has had a major impact on our consumers — in many different ways. First, there's the higher costs they're experiencing in their necessity purchases such as heating fuel, food, gas in the... more »

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Contain Yourself

Plastic pots: They are a gardener's equivalent to a consumer's plastic shopping bag. We all know we use too many of them, but they're handy and often less expensive than their eco-friendly counterparts. Of course,... more »

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Go for Gold

What an exciting and inspiring summer we had, watching outstanding athletes compete in the summer Olympics. Who didn't cheer at the top of their lungs as Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal and made... more »

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Anger Management

Customers from hell, it turns out, can teach you a lot. As a former manager in the trademark research business, Chuck Dennis' best client had the worst mouth, spelling out every mistake and problem in... more »

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Filling a Void

An increasing number of garden centers are diversifying their offerings, adding land- scaping services for those customers who, instead of "do it yourself," prefer "do it for me." Despite the millions of Americans personally involved... more »

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Child’s Play

Ann Moorhead has been an enthusiastic regular at Al's Garden Center's Sherwood, Ore., location for more than half her life. Ann, 7, and her mother, Liz, have been attending the garden center's Kids Club programs... more »