Management

63410

Navigating workforce issues between generations

As a 1985 baby, I fall into two categories: millennial and Generation X. This didn’t seem like much of a concern as I was entering the workforce. I recall being grouped as “entitled and lazy”... more »

63410

Laying the technology foundation for future growth

As a smaller company, it’s difficult to keep up with technology, especially since delivering these experiences seems to require spending big. However, by partnering with the right technology companies and being creative with implementing them... more »

63410

Tips for identifying your staff’s top talents

A few years ago, I worked with a garden center owner on a strategic repositioning and, since it was their fiscal year end, they were in the process of giving annual performance reviews to their... more »

63200

Steps for Improving Your Business

Winters get pretty dang cold in my home state of Minnesota. Whether you’re a transplant to the state as I am, or you're native born, the winters are long, and you have to make a... more »

January 4, 2023

New Nonprofit to Provide Grants and Resources to Independent Retailers

Heart on Main Street is a newly formed non-profit organization focused on four main pillars to help independent retailers thrive: financial grants, education, mentorships, and partnerships.  “Independent retailers are the heart and soul of our... more »

62912

What’s Trending With Home Gardeners

Garden Media Group owner Katie Dubow had been actively avoiding one of the trends featured in her company’s latest Garden Trends Report — but she encourages garden centers not to do so. “The TikTok trend... more »

62912

Preventing Theft in Your Garden Center

When a customer comes into your garden center, they most likely look at, touch, feel, and sometimes smell or taste the products. With customers getting so up close and personal with your merchandise, how do... more »

62912

Trust Makes the World Go Round …

It’s recent enough that I can still see (and hear) very clearly in my rearview mirror the campaigns for the midterm elections that took place on the federal, state, and local levels during one of... more »

62314

Tips for Educating Your Garden Center Customers

Imagine your garden center on a busy weekend next spring. It’s buzzing with life again as gardeners — new or experienced — are anxious to get their hands back into the soil after a drab... more »

62314

Engaging Plant Purchasers

Plant customers are changing. Years ago, when I first started my graduate work, it was immediately after the Great Recession, and horticulture customers indicated that plants were luxury goods. Given the economic environment, this is... more »

62314

Don’t Let Commodities Ruin Your Season

As I write this in mid-September, the economic climate is tense and uncertain and, as a result, retailers are having trouble planning for the fall/winter 2022 holiday and spring 2023 seasons. As Wayne Gretzky would... more »

American Home & Garden Case Study

{Sponsored} American Home & Garden is an Ace Hardware retailer offering hardware and garden products to residents in Manitowoc, Little Chute and Green Bay, Wisconsin. This family-owned... more »