Management
The many layers of sustainability
Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, according to the UN World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). It... more »Innovative Ideas: Seasonal hiring solutions
Employee shortage is typically a struggle with any business — and even more so in the seasonal landscape industry, with intense physical working conditions through inclement weather. Since 1990, as the founder of Broccolo Garden... more »
Top 10 Garden Retail Articles of 2024
We ran the numbers and here are the results: Following is a list of the top 10 garden retail feature articles that received the most clicks from visitors to the Lawn & Garden Retailer website... more »
A goal without a plan is just a wish
Based on my experience of working with retailers in many different fields and of a multitude of sizes, I’m constantly amazed that, when planning for the upcoming season or year, too many simply look at... more »
Revamp Your Retail Series: Consumer psychology
Consumers have a lot on their minds most days. Horticultural professionals, retailers and growers may be inclined to think they get a lot of “brain time” from their customers, that customers are thoughtful about the... more »Proven Winners schedules 2024 Fall Roadshows
Proven Winners has scheduled two Roadshows this fall, designed for retailers, growers, brokers, landscapers and anyone who works in the green industry. Roadshows are opportunities to learn about upcoming trends, brainstorm with like-minded industry pros... more »
Turning a lifelong education into a houseplant business
I was 16 when I fell in love with plants, 18 when I started my horticulture education and 30 when I started a business that allowed me to share my passion with others. The year... more »
Who packed your parachute?
As I was doing some research to write this column, I was taken back to a time many years ago — one that demonstrates, as much as our industry has changed, it somehow remains the... more »
Leveraging artificial intelligence in your garden center
As chief technology officer of Chalet, my family’s Chicago-based garden center and landscape business, I’ve migrated our software to “the cloud” over the last seven years. This “cloud” is where artificial intelligence (AI) lives — because... more »
Revamp Your Retail Series: Online and in-store plant buyers
While the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 made purchasing through the cellphone a reality, the horticulture industry is still relatively new to online shopping. Prior to COVID-19, a small percentage of sales (approximately 5%)... more »
Knowledge is the new currency
The brain can turn to mush pretty quickly over the summer, and teachers want to avoid summer learning loss by sending kids home with reading assignments or offering summer classes. According to a Brookings Institution... more »
Measuring a customer’s value
Seasonal businesses — like many garden centers — pose some unique “opportunities” that year-round retailers don’t have to handle. Most seasonal stores’ customers shop them once or twice a year, yet almost none of the products... 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
