Marketing
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 »Hands-on For Happier Customers
A few months ago a couple of my friends and I went to a cooking class at a local gourmet retail shop. We decided to pick a night when the retailer was presenting a type... more »Budding Markets
The amount of leisure time people spend gardening has been steadily declining since 1999, but household participation in the lawn and garden market is at an all-time high. "How can this be?" you might be... more »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 »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 »Trade Shows of the Gift Market
To provide the most beneficial information to help develop or keep your gift section fresh and specialty oriented, we asked the sponsors/managers of the gift shows here in the states to provide the five Ws... more »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 »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 »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 »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 »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 »Weights and Measures Update
This industry is now worth over $40 billion in annual revenue, and gardening has become America's number-one outdoor leisure activity. All major network morning shows have gardening segments, there's a separate rack for gardening magazines... more »
Videos
News
August 3, 2026
AFE welcomes new leadership and board appointments
July 29, 2026
The Plant Co. expands leafjoy distribution through EHR
July 28, 2026
NGB releases harvest guide for home gardeners
July 28, 2026
