Merchandising
Walking Through a Promotional Wonderland
Consumers spend more for the winter holidays Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa than any other holiday. In fact, with consumers spending roughly $435 billion, holiday sales crush the nearest competition (back-to-school sales at approximately... more »Is Your Grass Greenest?
For many independent garden centers, lawn care products have become a small part of their product offerings, taking a distant backseat to such things as flowering plants, garden décor and even birding products. Perhaps the... more »Take The Plunge
Creating a water garden department is not hard and offers the opportunity for another significant profit center in the store and substantial cross selling from other departments. The water garden season extends from very early... more »Adding Some Fashionable Flair
Whether they are purely decorative or wholly functional, fashion accessories are now part of everyday life. If you're skeptical, count the different accessories you have used, worn or displayed today. People consciously and unconsciously choose... more »From Trash To Treasure
Broken plates, scratched CDs and tattered screen doors are items usually destined for the junkyard. Yet some inventive individuals use these and other typically discarded products in displays to create unique recycled garden décor. Economic... more »First Impressions: Costly Impressions
It's not a recent discovery that first impressions such as curb appeal, parking lot design and maintenance mean a lot when it comes to customers' perceptions of your store. But, what happens after... more »Is an Onsite Workshop for You?
The story of Bemis Farms Nursery is the story of an industry. Although the garden center is unique in its philosophy, presentation, products and personality, it is representative of the more than 17,000 independent garden... more »Retail Ready Poinsetias
Growers and retailers are continually challenged to maximize quality and profitability of poinsettia crops. This flower is the traditional "living symbol of Christmas" and a must have in retail outlets everywhere. So bottom line, if... more »Profiting from Christmas
Making the most of the holiday season can be easy if you create a plan and follow through with it, including staffing accordingly. Though the window of sales is short, the holiday season can be... more »Inspire New Tradition
The Christmas tree is one of the most popular and cherished traditions of the Christmas season. In fact, each year 35-40 million live trees are purchased and decorated in the United States alone. Why do... 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 »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 »
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