Watters Garden Center, Prescott, Arizona
Year founded:
Watters grew from a small family landscape business that understood how to achieve garden success. In 1962, we opened the first garden center in northern Arizona.
What is your garden center known for?
Watters believes gardeners like to be inspired by the plants they purchase, the beauty they create and their experience while shopping here at the garden center. We want our customers to always feel welcome and confident in their garden success.
How do you stand out from the big boxes?
Learning is a passion. We understand the differences in mountain sun, wind, soil and water so that those new to local gardening experience success. Our knowledge is shared through garden classes, landscape videos, weekly articles and columns. Our commitment to gardeners ensures that the right plant is sold, with the right products and knowledge to ensure their garden’s success.
How do you ensure teamwork among employees?
Watters fosters a positive and supportive work environment. Employees feel valued, respected and safe sharing ideas. We encourage open communication and celebrate successes together.
We also set clear goals and expectations; we ensure everyone understands the team’s objectives and individual roles in achieving them. Regularly communicate progress and address any roadblocks that arise. Full staff meetings that involve our mission, goals, current marketing message, and training to reach our goals are held monthly and more often during the peak season. The team needs to feel involved.
How is your store involved in your local community?
Watters Garden Center is famous for its community involvement. As a small business owner, giving back to the community is essential. However, the needs of nonprofits overwhelm our garden center’s advertising and donation budgets.
Cause marketing is fantastic at supporting our community while promoting the garden center, a win-win for everyone. In a cause marketing campaign, we partner with an organization to raise money and awareness of a community need. The partnerships create priceless goodwill for the company and allow us to compete head-to-head with box store outlets with much larger advertising budgets. Cause marketing increases our brand strength, customer base and employee relationships.
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