Merchandising

Country Mile Gardens, in Morristown, New Jersey, COVID tshirt

July 2020
Garden Centers’ Response to COVID Outbreak

Wellington Gardens’ spacious property and posted signs helped with customer and employee safety. “We have the advantage of plenty of room to spread our customers out, says Christine Wellington, owner of Wellington Gardens in Brentwood,... more »

July 2020 Dirty Secrets stock Two Sales Trends on the Rise in the Age of Coronavirus

July 2020
Two Sales Trends on the Rise in the Age of Coronavirus

In these crazy Tiger King, grandmas on Zoom, masks as a fashion statement new world we find ourselves in today, change is coming at a dizzying pace, despite our population never being more physically distant.... more »

Selling More Pots & Planters Big Grass Living

June 2020
Selling More Pots & Planters

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has reported a growth surge in the garden center industry since early March, likely due to travel restrictions throughout the country. Garden centers are often exempted from local closure orders,... more »

June 2020
A Training Map for Uncharted Territory

Up is down, out is in, and gray is the new black and white in our unique business. Obviously, I’m not saying something you’re not already feeling. We’re all trying to read “Moby Dick” during... more »

May 2020
One Bite at a Time

Plants with benefits are not hidden away in “the garden” behind the fence anymore; they’re front and center. Beautifully productive plants are prized more than ever, and selling them for their stylish qualities is also... more »

While apps, websites, podcasts and videos give customers instant advice, it’s up to us to make sure they’re getting the right information.

April 2020
Battling Bad Information

We don’t just sell plants; we sell advice, expertise, experience, years and years of trial and error, and dreams. However, let’s get real, we all know there is a TON of really bad gardening advice... more »

March 2020
Celebrating, Marketing and Merchandising a Milestone

Last summer, when it was time to select a name for our newest spreading petunia, the launch team behind the Wave brand decided to engage its very-active social media community. We asked Wave Fans on... more »

. But a growing trend across garden centers might not be what customers put in their garden — but rather items kept in the pantry.

March 2020
It’s in the Pantry

As with any industry, garden centers are looking for new ways to generate revenue. And despite a projection of $51 billion in revenue to kick off the new decade (IBISWorld, 2020), now more than ever... more »

March 2020
Sensory Selling Makes More Sales

It feels like 100 years ago now, but in another lifetime, I thought for sure I was going to go into a career in fashion. I was studying design, fashion history, merchandising and marketing so... more »

February 2020
Goal Stacking

Let’s just put it out there: we are NOT going to get to ALL of those New Year’s goals, no matter how much you grind it out day after day; we’re all just trying to... more »

Dirty Secrets Never Underestimate THE POWER OF a Simple Idea

January 2020
Never Underestimate the Power of a Simple Idea

In my job as The Personal Garden Coach, I feel like I have heard it all since I opened this business — and if you add in my 20 plus years in retail garden centers,... more »