innovator awards

Piedmont Feed & Garden Center supports its local community through a partnership program.

Innovative Ideas: Rounding up to support the community

Piedmont Feed & Garden Center (PFGC) has redefined what it means to be a community-rooted independent garden retailer through its innovative and i... more »

How a garden retailer is building real relationships through podcasting.

Innovative Ideas: Marketing that matters

The problem with marketing today isn’t a lack of effort; it’s a lack of genuine connection. We are all inundated with ads and many consumers tune ... more »

Innovative Ideas Attracting the most meaningful hires this spring

Innovative Ideas: Pro tips for attracting the most meaningful hires this spring

For many garden centers, spring hiring is a frantic dash to fill open positions. But what if you could attract a steady stream of highly qualified can... more »

Gethsemane Garden Center in Chicago cultivated a problematic piece of city land into a beloved community oasis

Innovative Ideas: Cultivating calm in Chicago

Nestled at the intersection of two of Chicago’s busiest streets, “The Island” at Gethsemane Garden Center offers quiet refuge in the midst of a ... more »

McDonald Garden Center turned its houseplant department into an immersive experience.

Innovative Ideas: Growing ‘Plantopia’

Over the 80 years of McDonald Garden Center being in business, our houseplant department has grown to become a year-round destination for houseplant l... more »

Innovative Ideas: Seasonal hiring solutions

Employee shortage is typically a struggle with any business — and even more so in the seasonal landscape industry, with intense physical working con... more »