Management

An Unpredictable Spring

An Unpredictable Spring

As many of you can attest to, this spring season has been anything but predictable. From erratic weather, to a slow economy, new consumer purchasing behaviors and unexpected trends, these last few months defy simple... more »

Preparing for Hibernation

Preparing for Hibernation

When it comes to the off-season, the one thing many retailers dread is storage. In a perfect world, you would sell off all your merchandise by the fall and have no need to store anything.... more »

Weeding Out Shoplifters

Weeding Out Shoplifters

Communication with customers — and employees — is the key to preventing theft in garden centers. A 2007 report from the National Retail Security Survey estimated total retail losses in 2006 at $41.6 billion, an... more »

Can Garden Centers Prosper When Customers Pinch Pennies?

Can Garden Centers Prosper When Customers Pinch Pennies?

Q In the light of the state of the economy, how can a garden center give customers "more bang for their buck" and still make a profit? I think we're all feeling the pinch —... more »

May 2008

Web 301: Getting the Word Out

You've got your website designed, built and ready to go. Your web designer has helped you secure a host — or maybe you are technically savvy enough to host your website on your own server... more »

May 2008

Coming Clean — Or Greenwashing?

With all the talk about sustainability and the increased sales of green products, many in our industry are asking, "Why aren't we getting more attention? After all, we are the original green industry!" As consumers... more »

May 2008

Family Matters

In June 1983, the United States sent the first woman into space. Compact-disc players were just hitting the market, and the Police's "Every Breath You Take" was at the top of the pop charts. And... more »

April 2008

Maintaining Relevance

As early as October 2007, I started connecting the dots on various economic indicators and consumer spending behaviors and began issuing some causes for concern to you on a down-trending economy's potential impact on your... more »

April 2008

Take Business Into Your Own Hands

Picture this: It's 10 a.m. on Saturday before Mother's Day, and your parking lot is overflowing, your store is buzzing and the lines at your registers are out the door. Sounds great, right? Well, yes... more »

April 2008

Selling Sustainability

The headlines are starting to read like News of the Weird. Coke just announced a partnership with Wal-Mart to sell T-shirts made of plastic bottles. Hotels no longer change your sheets and towels, Banana Republic... more »

April 2008

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce

Looking for a challenge? Try managing a multigenerational workforce. It's one many business owners and managers face. Employees from Generations X and Y, baby boomers and seniors all contribute to your garden center's population. But... more »

March 2008

Going to the Gift Shows

AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta www.americasmart.com Mission/background: AmericasMart is the largest wholesale marketplace of its kind and is a leading international market source for a wide variety of consumer goods. It hosts 23 wholesale markets and six... more »