Management

November 2007
Keeping (Your) Cash in Your Pocket

"It's not what you bring in, it's what you keep." You've heard that many times before. Are you doing enough to keep what you should? If cash seems to be slipping through your fingers, read... more »

November 2007
The Impact of Display Gardens on Consumer Purchasing Behavior

Retail garden center sales in Florida have rapidly increased in the past few years, and identifying shopper purchasing patterns and generating consumer behavior data are important to the Florida wholesale and retail plant industries. To... more »

November 2007
Celebrate the Customer, the Merchandise, the Seasons

The Chalet Nursery, a 90-year-old nursery, garden center and landscaping business in Wilmette, Ill., "is not really known for its sales," says buyer and merchandising manager John Hoerst. Visitors to the Chalet are not greeted... more »

November 2007
Making Uniforms Work For Your Business

To ensure your operation is successful, it's not enough to stock quality product, understand the needs of your customers and differentiate yourself from the competition. Success also boils down to image. Outfitting employees with the... more »

November 2007
Rethink, Rework, renew, re-energize

As if retail weren't a tough enough game already, new challenges — many of which you have no direct control over — will make your lives even more interesting! There's the negative effect on consumer... more »

November 2007
The Cost of Not Hiring

It's no secret: Lawn and garden centers operate on money and people, and it takes people to turn a profit. Hiring good people to fill your most pressing vacancies is a challenge every business owner... more »

November 2007
Lawn & Garden Retailer and OFA’s First State of the Industry Survey

How has the lawn and garden retail business changed in the past year? What most impacted your bottom line? As retailers, how do you envision your garden center evolving in the near future? Perhaps the... more »

August 2007
Creating An Animated Christmas Fantasyland

Every retailer faces fierce competition in today's Christmas marketplace. Christmas merchandise is now sold through every imaginable outlet. Whether it's drug store chains, home improvement stores or even the local supermarket, everyone wants a piece... more »

August 2007
Getting The Most From Seasonal Employees

It's that time of year again. Many lawn and garden centers are anticipating their busiest holiday season ever! However, the surge in sales and service that is about to take place may create a need... more »

August 2007
Focusing On Service

As retailers, you know providing good service — the kind customers go home and tell their friends about — is no easy task. The devil is in the details, as the cliché goes, and while... more »

August 2007
Loyalty

Sometimes there are lessons to be learned from outside of our industry that can be applied to our businesses. Just because the idea or concept wasn't invented here doesn't mean it won't work in floriculture/horticulture,... more »

August 2007
April Showers Really Do Bring May Flowers

Spring: a time when birds return home, gardens start to grow and your stress level rises. However, from the reports I have received, it seems that spring went pretty well for many garden center retailers.... more »