Management
Inventory… An Asset or a Liability?
It has been said many times before that what you are really selling is intangible: solutions to a consumers needs, desires, dreams and expectations. But it takes tangible products to deliver these solutions. Managing Inventory... more »Putting Employees First
Happy employees are good for business, and since most companies need them to operate successfully, it stands to reason that treating employees well should be a top priority for every company. Unfortunately, in an age... more »Getting the Most Out of Vendors and Trade Shows
One of the main reasons why a gardener shops an independent garden center (IGC) is the perception of a more knowledgeable and experienced staff along with a diverse inventory of high quality plants. This is... more »Previewing The National Hardware Show
The National Hardware Show (NHS), one of the largest events focused on home enhancement, is just around the corner with many new features for retailers to check out. The show is scheduled for May 8-10,... more »The Retailer and the Taxman
"If it regards the Internal Revenue Service and if it makes you smile, it must be illegal." We refer to this as Mitchell's Rule #1, named after David J. Mitchell, CPA, who was the first... more »Browsing the Gift Markets
At Lawn & Garden Retailer, we know there are numerous gift shows during the year that you would like to attend, but you just can't go to all of them. So we asked representatives from... more »Learn To Buy In Bulk
Most consumers know buying in bulk has its perks. With the growth of warehouse stores, like Sam's Club and Costco, it is no secret people like to buy more so they can save money in... more »Is The Customer Always Right?
The age-old expression "the customer is always right" means different things to different people. Some customers expect you to bend over backwards to meet their expectations no matter how grandeur. They believe they are right... more »Keeping It In The Family
Last month, I talked about some of the reasons businesses fail when they are passed down to the second or third generation. Specifically, such businesses lack pre-planning, lack sufficient training for the new kids in... more »How Safe Is Your Garden Center?
We see it all of the time hoses sprawled across the walkways of the store, wet aisles with no safety cones or signage, employees lifting heavy items without assistance, chairs or boxes being used... more »Return Policy Power
Crafting a good return policy is a challenge for any retailer, but for those in the lawn and garden industry (whose products are mostly perishable), that task is even more difficult. From retail fraud to... more »The Not-So-Big Garden Center: Being Right About Demographics
The January 2006 issue of Lawn & Garden Retailer included the annual "Industry Leader Forecast" article, and I was flattered to be included in the forecasting group. As 2006 draws to a close, I revisited... more »
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