May 2022
Retail Inspiration at Spring Trials: Part 1 By Stephen Kloosterman

Put these ideas from plant breeders at CAST into your own retail displays.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the team at Lawn & Garden Retailer hit the road in late March to attend California Spring Trials (CAST).

Not only did we witness some breathtaking plants in the pipeline for 2023, we also were inspired by the displays put together by the plant-breeding companies. Here are photos of some of those displays and marketing concepts — we hope they serve as a muse for your own retail displays.

Selfie Stations

A few places we visited were ready and waiting for photo opportunities. Danziger had a backdrop of a 1960s minibus complete with hippie headgear, colorful pins and snarky signs, under the tagline “California Dreamin’.”

Up to the Chapel

Benary created all of the ingredients for a wedding to showcase the potential of its latest ptilotus, ‘Matilda’, for use in cut-flower arrangements. Not only did it make the flowers look good, the wedding altar/drinks bar was a great place for a toast and a photo.

Hanging 10 … or 20

Several companies made unique use of hanging baskets. Ball Horticultural hung a bunch of its Beacon Impatiens in the shape of a heart.

Dümmen Orange hung a few dozen from a circular metal frame, creating sort of an arbor where attendees were surrounded by the company’s colorful innovations.

Find more retail ideas from CAST in Part 2 of this article in the June issue.