Marketing

April 2005

Adding the Feminine Touch

Within the past several years, green industry experts have been drilling it into your heads that your main customers are women, and you need to cater to them specifically because they are the main purchasers... more »

April 2005

Looking for Linens

The linen market is like no other we have covered thus far in "Developing Markets." For this one, there should be a sign that reads "Caution: Use baby steps." The reason I say baby steps... more »

March 2005

Set the Table

Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Williams-So-noma — you'd have to have been living under a rock the last five years or so not to know who these companies are. Stores like these have really made... more »

March 2005

Going for the Gusto

Remember that person on your block who always had an extravagant garden full of big blooming flowers; garden flags hanging from the porch; fancy trellises and containers placed here and there; garden ornaments all over... more »

March 2005

In the Bag

When it is time for a customer who has just spent a fair amount of money in your store to check out, what kind of bag or box should you give them? Something that small... more »

February 2005

Your Community – Your Business

I know what you're probably thinking: "Here's this editor telling me to give, give, give — that it's the right thing to do, that it will make me feel good about myself, that in the... more »

February 2005

The Gardening Gourmet

Traveling around the country (with an occasional international expedition) within the past few years, I have noticed the explosion of gourmet foods in the garden center. Everything from jellies and coffees to dessert mixes and... more »

January 2005

Profiting from Pets

Take a minute to absorb the following statistics. Sixty-two percent, approximately 64.2 million, U.S. households own a pet. There are approximately 377.8 million pets in the United States. An estimated $34.3 billion was spent on... more »

January 2005

Just One

In an effort to start the new year in the right frame of mind, I just finished reading Paco Underhill's Why We Buy. I've been putting off actually reading the book for a while now... more »

July 2004

Larger Than Life

Within the past month, I have been traveling to a number of garden centers around the country (for more information on the travels, see Headlines) learning what is hot and what is not right now.... more »

July 2004

Is Floriculture Relevant?… You bet it is!

Understanding the Consumer: Is Floriculture Relevant? was the topic of the week at the recent Seeley Conference conducted at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. This conference is an industry think tank, drawing in leaders from all... more »

July 2004

Artistic Flare

Handmade, hand-painted, artsy — do those words seem to be coming out of your customers' mouths a lot lately? More and more consumers are looking into items for their gardens that are artistically based, including... more »