Products
Picking Up The Pieces
Damaged merchandise is hard to avoid. Sometimes the product is manhandled during shipment, and other times employees are careless when stocking items. Of course, no matter how cautiously merchandise is packed or stocked, breakage won't... 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 »The Delectable Collectible
Collectibles is a broad category encompassing everything from cards and Christmas ornaments to dolls and dinnerware. It can include contemporary pieces or antiques, first issue or resale. The number of collecting clubs attests to the... more »A Uniform Approach
I've been shopping in stores many times when another customer has asked me a question meant for a store employee to answer. Since I'm not in the habit of wearing store logos, customers are obviously... more »Designing the Outdoors
Ever since September 11, more people are staying home and not venturing out as much. At the same time, no one wants to be cooped up inside. As a result, backyards are becoming more like... 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 »Tools: An Easier Way
Believe it or not, gardening can be a very dangerous activity. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that about 230,000 people each year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries relating to... more »Birding/Nature: Wildlife and Plants
One of the many aspects of gardening is the fact that a garden attracts wildlife. Which animals come to a garden depends on its location and the choice of plants made by your customers. In... more »Maintaining a Sparkling Display
When you walk into any retail store, whether you know it or not, you are affected by the atmosphere; and for most people a clean atmosphere makes them more comfortable, encouraging customers to shop longer... 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 »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 »Hummingbird Heaven
I used to think hummingbirds were peaceful jewels of the garden, much like gentle butterflies that flit flower to flower. I was in for a rude awakening the year my patch of native California fuchsia... more »
Videos
News
July 22, 2026
Arett Sales names Tom Medhurst executive VP
July 22, 2026
June Total Home & Gift Market draws new buyers to Dallas
July 20, 2026
Terra Nova introduces heuchera series at Cultivate’26
July 20, 2026
