Feb 9, 2021
OAN’s Nursery Guide LIVE Announces Keynote Speakers

The Oregon Association of Nurseries recently announced there will be two keynote presentations — one on supply chain logistics and the other on digital marketing — at the Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace event, which takes place Feb. 17-18. Those registered to attend the Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace can attend these keynotes — it’s all free of charge. Paid exhibitors can attend as well.

Monica Hemingway will present “Five Keys to Getting Your Green Industry Business Found Online in 2021,” from 8-9 a.m. PST on Wednesday, Feb. 17.  She will draw on her experience as a small business owner and certified arborist to provide simple, yet effective strategies that can be used to boost online marketing for businesses of any size.

“Nothing happens until your ideal customer knows you exist,” Hemingway said. “But it’s not enough just to be ‘found’ — it’s about being found by the right people, in the right place, at the right time, with the right message. In essence, the ‘selling’ happens before you even talk to them, and in today’s world, that all happens online.”

Hemingway will discuss five tactics every green industry business should be using to distinguish themselves from the competition in a crowded market. The world of online marketing is rapidly shifting, and businesses that aren’t proactive in their digital strategy risk falling behind. Her presentation will provide tools that green industry companies of any size can implement to target their audience and help them grow their business online.

Dave Malenfant will deliver his keynote presentation, “Future Trends in Logistics: Partnering for Success,” from 8-9 a.m. PST on Thursday, Feb. 18.

Malenfant is the director of outreach and partnerships at the Center for Supply Chain Innovation at the Texas Christian University (TCU) Neely School of Business. He has more than 35 years of experience driving change and performance improvements across the supply chain.

The nursery industry faces unique challenges when it comes to logistics and the supply chain. Products are grown rather than manufactured, and they are persishable. These live products require specialized equipment to transport and distribute. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how supply chain logistics can be drastically disrupted by external factors practically overnight. Understanding these factors as they relate to the green industry will help nurseries thrive in 2021 and beyond.

Malenfant’s presentation will cover the trends he has observed in three decades of studying supply chain logistics. He will give businesses in-depth insight on ways to prepare for the future. Complex factors such as advancements in technology, shifts in consumer behavior, and “the Amazon effect” are revolutionizing the industry. Businesses that aren’t considering the trends will be left behind. This shift — called the “transformational digital ecosystem change” — will drastically influence how we buy, sell, and transport products.

Each presentation will also be recorded and rewatchable by registered participants. Register online at www.NurseryGuideLIVE.com.