Merchandising

Closed for Profit

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 »

April 2005

Building Birding Success

Niche, niche, niche — are you sick of hearing that word yet? It seems like all we have been hearing lately is that you need a niche to stay in "competition" with the big boxes.... more »

March 2005

Prioritizing Profit

For most garden centers, green goods is the largest single department. It stocks the most products and takes up the most square footage. But what about profit? How do green goods compare to other departments... 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 »

Pots, Planters & Statuary: What’s Next in Containers

Pots, Planters & Statuary: What’s Next in Containers

From what I can gather, making a decision between the lighter weight materials and the heavier ceramic, plaster and such is not really the main concern when it comes to consumers choosing pots, planters and... more »

January 2005

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 »

January 2005

Fresh from the Garden Center

Many garden center owners, managers and other employees have produce to thank for their beginnings. Most of us have heard the story, "Grandpa set up a seasonal produce stand and later brought in some flowers,... more »

July 2004

Point of sale software: A Few Pointers

Point of sale (POS) and office software is only important to a business owner or manager who wants to be in control of the business and not blind. If properly used it shows the health... more »

July 2004

Making the Most of Mixed Containers

We all know that mixed containers are among the hottest and best-priced item selling at retail today! One factor driving demand for containers is the amount of exposure featuring mixed containers in consumer media. Television... more »

Plant Profit in an Instant

Plant Profit in an Instant

I was telling a salesperson at my local garden center about my recent change of landscaping plans, and they directed me to some All-American Selections (AAS) winners. The salesperson gave me a brief overview of... more »