Management
100 years of ‘Growing Beautifully’
As Monrovia Nursery Co. prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2026, it’s demonstrating how a legacy of craftsmanship can power growth and innovation for the future. Like many businesses in this industry, Monrovia began... more »
Train for Trust
In today’s retail world where experience matters just as much as price, your staff is not just a set of hands to restock and water the plants. They’re your front line. They’re the reason someone... more »
Celebrating retail innovation: L&GR’s 2025 Innovators of the Year
I’m excited to introduce this year’s Lawn & Garden Retailer Innovator of the Year honorees. These standout independent garden centers go above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer experiences, stay deeply engaged with their communities... more »
Planning for spring 2026: Lessons from ’25
By now, you’ve gotten all the “new stuff” — the hot new merchandise that’s going to change your business model for the better — and are well-versed in all the promising new social and consumer trends... more »Why creating rapport with lawmakers is essential
In today’s complex political and regulatory climate, building relationships with lawmakers is not only beneficial but essential. Whether you are dealing with local ordinances or federal legislation, establishing rapport with elected officials and their staff... more »
The experience is the product
Garden Center Show speaker Jeff O'Brien shares how your store layout isn’t just about where your products go; it’s about how your customers feel. In a time when big-box stores dominate on price and convenience,... more »
Beyond the brick and mortar — two years later
Two years ago, I was invited to write an article about the growing trend of independent garden centers looking to increase their revenue and relevance within the convenience economy space of e-commerce. I am a... more »Managing with a leadership mentality
In all my many years in retail and then in my consultancy, I thought I had experienced just about all the highs and lows of the economy, politics and social impacts affecting businesses and our... more »
Registration now open for 2025 Garden Center Show and Retail Tour
Registration is now open for the 2025 Garden Center Show, taking place Aug. 12 to 13 in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois. The event kicks off with a pre-show garden center tour on Aug. 11 for an extra fee.... more »
Change of plans
You’ve been there before. You’ve studied the past season’s wins and losses, the successes, failures and missed opportunities, studied the marketplace, analyzed the competition and your customer behavior predictions, read all the economic forecasts and... more »
Cart considerations
While many garden centers have beer boxes, 1020 trays or pull-behind wagons, these shopping tools can limit their sales potential — when customers run out of space, they stop shopping. Let’s look at how we... more »
It’s a numbers game: The data behind staff retention
Years ago, a client stated, “if you torture the numbers long enough, they will confess to anything.” After the statement echoed in my brain for a moment or two, I smiled — because it is... more »
Videos
News
September 18, 2025
AFE launches AI-powered chatbot
September 18, 2025
NRF consumer survey finds Halloween 2025 spending to reach record $13.1B
September 18, 2025
Ball FloraPlant launches online photo contest for ageratum ‘Monarch Magic’
September 16, 2025
Danziger announces top trial varieties for North America
September 16, 2025
Registration now open for 2026 MANTS
September 15, 2025
AmericanHort issues call for speakers for Cultivate’26
September 12, 2025
Dramm promotes Vanzalen to regional sales associate
September 12, 2025
