Marketing
Animated Figures: Moving with the times
A wreath on the door, a brightly lit tree visible through the window and lots of presents tied up with bows. This description typifies a classic Christmas scene, but these "old-fashioned" Christmas decorations are often... more »A Gem of a Market
You already know that any time you can bring people into your store it means more money, but have you thought about using more than plants and fertilizer as bait? Many garden centers now carry... more »Winner’s Circle
Being selected the best plant in a given category is no small accomplishment. Each group that bestows awards from All-American Selections to the American Ivy Society has its own set of criteria to... more »Spring Ahead but Don’t Fall Behind
Spring is over, time to relax, go on vacation and not have to think about plants for another year. You better not be thinking that way; just because spring is over does not mean that... more »Creative Easter Displays Get Sales Hopping
A gray January day in Chicago seems a long way from the bustling energy of April, where hope for increased sales springs anew. It's a slow time for imagination and enthusiasm when the cash registers... more »Pick of the Pack Trials
Even though the California Pack Trials were shortened from two weeks to 10 days, there are more plants to see, people to greet, questions to ask and snacks to eat than you can possibly do.... more »All-Season Container Gardening Department
Container gardening continues to be the most promising product for both profits and branding for the independent garden center. A classic marketing opportunity, container gardening can increase: the number of customers shopping in a garden... more »Green Goods: Bulbs…More than Just Spring
In the American Midwest, Northeast and areas with similar climates, the great majority of tulip, daffodil, crocus and hyacinth bulbs fill the months of April and May with glorious color and sweetness after our long,... more »Lawn & Garden Retailer Headlines
2005 Retail Forecast The National Retail Federation (NRF) recently revised its 2005 sales forecast based on the inclusion of new merchandise categories (food and beverage stores, building materials and garden equipment stores, health and personal... more »Sorting Through the Gifts
We've been to quite a few garden centers around the United States and Europe, and through those trips we've discovered that there are hundreds of product categories that can be considered gifts. Gift departments are... more »Dead armadillos…
Consumers can usually be relied on to "shop 'til they drop." This was one of the primary drivers of the economic recovery we saw in 2003-2004. In fact, the 7-percent surge in sales in 2004... more »Closed for Profit
Spring the sound of registers ringing, customers questioning and shopping carts rolling. And then there's fall and winter for some of you the same sounds can be heard, but for others of you,... more »
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May 6, 2026
UF/IFAS online substrate course begins June 1
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OAN updates NurseryGuide.com
May 4, 2026
