Management
How garden center leaders can build employee ownership and reduce management bottlenecks
One of the biggest patterns I’ve noticed while coaching garden centers is how much pressure owners and managers are carrying right now. Most leadership teams feel stretched thin. Everyone needs answers from them all day... more »
From doing to developing: How garden center leaders build stronger teams
In my many years of working with and advising companies of all sizes and across many industries, I’ve repeatedly encountered people in leadership positions who perfectly illustrate the Peter Principle. First introduced by Laurence J.... more »
What garden retail customers actually want from their shopping experience
Most garden center owners think they know what customers want: better prices, more inventory, convenient hours. And while those things matter, they’re not what creates the kind of loyalty that turns first-time visitors into weekly... more »
The strategy behind the strategy
There are three types of change that can occur, affecting your garden center — and in life: change by crisis, change by drift and change by design. The first, change by crisis, is not what... more »
Weeding out the AI hype
The artificial intelligence (AI) buzz is everywhere, but for most garden center owners, it feels like an invasive species: a fast-moving, confusing and hard-to-manage technology that is potentially disruptive. As a lifelong advocate for smarter... more »
How garden retailers can become a pain reliever
By anticipating customers’ problems and needs, garden retailers can provide solutions and build loyalty. I recently bought new iPhones for my wife and myself — the 17 Pro Max for her and the 17 Pro... more »
Sizing your product assortment strategically
A young couple stands in front of rows and rows of plants, neatly organized by names that mean nothing to them. Do annuals come back every year? I thought there was only one type of... more »
Why good managers leave
Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with garden center owners and senior managers about staffing challenges. We usually start by talking about hiring and how hard it is to find good people, and eventually... more »
Innovative Ideas: Pro tips for attracting the most meaningful hires this spring
For many garden centers, spring hiring is a frantic dash to fill open positions. But what if you could attract a steady stream of highly qualified candidates before the rush even begins? At Watters Garden... more »
Ken Lain to host online presentation on succession planning
Ken Lain, CEO of Garden Outfitters private equity group and second-generation owner of Watters Garden Center, will be presenting "Don't Die with Your Business: Why Waiting to Exit Is Your Biggest Risk" at 9 a.m.... more »
Top 10 most-read feature articles in Lawn & Garden Retailer
Read the top 10 feature articles Lawn & Garden Retailer readers most clicked on. 1. Train for Trust Tips for how to turn staff Into customer experience experts. 2. 5 gardening trends for 2025 From... more »
Retail insights with a focus on technology
Nearly 1,000 retailers and building supply companies gathered Nov. 19-21 in National Harbor, Maryland, for Epicor Insights for Building Supply and Retail 2025. The three-day event focused on business trends and the technology that supports... more »
Videos
News
July 6, 2026
Plantpeddler Variety Day set for Aug. 7
July 6, 2026
Michael Carr rejoins BFG
July 6, 2026
Quality cuttings releases 2026-2027 catalog
June 30, 2026
FNGLA honors industry leaders at 74th annual convention
June 30, 2026
Don Golema added to McHutchison sales team
June 29, 2026
