Independent Garden Center Convention - 2013 Product Highlights

  Interesting, Informative and Inspiring. That was the  IGC Convention in Chicago.

 Here are some highlights.

Air Plants, also called Tillandsias are perfect for the
college student, the brown thumb club and many
other no gardening persons.
These unique ones are from Plantaflor USA, Inc.http://plantaflor.com

Cards don't usually do it for me, but these
are really unique and have a botanical themes
as well as tiny seed packets - nice.
Take look at jumpingcrackerbeans.com

Yes, fairy gardens aren't new, but the miniature aspect
of them, brings more people into the design. These
were just so creative and natural.

This product has been around for  while,
but it is tried and true and will last a lifetime, really.
The HOD by Maine Garden Products

Still sitting on the bench...Chosen last.

It's the popular plant syndrome. Spring and early summer perennials are past their prime. They looked great and were sassy, bold, colorful and popular. Then popularity shifts and they are pushed to the side, still healthy and vibrant, but just out of the limelight.

It is like that with plants. The popular blooming ones get chosen, just like in high school sports and the old perennials sit on the bench and often don't get chosen again.

You know how vigorous  these plants are, but the customer needs a visual education to "see" them at their best.

If you don't do something soon, they may just end in the trash.

You already know that it doesn't pay to overwinter them, right? (Unless you are a grower) I've tried it way too many times and then I get my first shipment from my perennial grower and again, mine look sickly.

Yes, you can put them on sale, but piling them in a corner with a sale sign can also be pathetic and look like you are selling out.

Here are two clever ideas that will help empty that bench. Create a sale that is thematic, focused and will give those benchwarmers some new homes.

Enter the 

"Just Missed My Bloom Sale" or the "Next Year's Color Sale" (NYC).  

Create some stickers, a poster and a designated a space for it, rather than having them scattered around the nursery. Make the space look inviting. Show your customers these players still have some life in the game.

Announce it on your newsletter. (Hopefully you have one and it is easy to use) Make it a big game changer. Really ANNOUNCE IT. Don't do a one shot thing; remind people about it often.  

Trim your plants so they are at least presentable. Start with maybe two to three varieties that look healthy. (Be sure to include the signs)

Be sure to tell customers that it is restocked regularly, so that they will come back.

30-40% off is a good place to start for the discount.

Get the word out, at the cash register, on any social media - anywhere.

Remember just because you are past prime, doesn't mean you won’t bloom again.

Stop, Drop and Role in August?

Your children learn that in school, with an emergency. Stop, drop and roll. At the Garden Center, we don't have to learn it, it just happens.

They just stop.  Sales, customers, ideas, motivation. Yes, almost everything about the Garden Center drops too, if you let it.

Ways to Start Rolling.  That's our learning for August. ( It does not mean rolling your eyes, either.)

Recharge - The best way to roll is to take a pause, then go. So, remember your family vacation and make those memories. The fall will be here soon enough.

Regroup & Reevaluate - Time to do those staff evaluations that you dread so much. Re frame it for yourself as a way to reward, retrain and regroup. Create a self evaluation form for your staff to fill out first, then you have a mutual form of communication with some input from them.

Keep an Eye on the Payroll - With little income coming in, shorten the hours, decrease the staff and get lean. Payroll can eat  you up this time of year.

Clean up - Even if it is slow, keep it neat. First impressions, last impressions, always neat.

Create a Spark - Maybe a one time event. A charity, a fundraiser. Brainstorm it for next year. Align with a group who may need a space and host their event.  I know one garden center who hosts a "Gallery in the Garden" event every Friday in August. Great idea.

Get Inspired - The Independent Garden Center Show http://igcshow.com/igc2013/public/enter.aspx  in Chicago is  a stellar event with loads of inspiration.  See you there! 

Is it Bugging You?

Hello Garden Center Owners

It's bugging you, right? The Internet and how everyone can just order inventory, check pricing and even quote the Internet as the almighty source.  How about those people who say, "Just Google it", any time you ask a question.  I heard that quote from a garden center employee last week and cringed.  No, we are supposed to know that information and that is why they come to us, especially when it comes to bugs.

Bugs and the Internet. Yes, there are apps that identify them and there are also sites that will tell you, just what to do about them. But really  - the customer wants to come to you with the sample (hopefully in a zip lock bag), complain a bit, while you listen and then buy something, anything and walk away with the problem correctly identified and solved. 

You become the hero, if you do it right.

Doing it right means

1. Having knowledgeable staff on hand daily or at certain advertized times who know not only know how to answer bug and disease related questions, but also how to eradicate them.

2. Advertize that you are the source for accurate information concerning bugs, insects and diseases.

3. Get some press about the fact that due to the weather, the bugs have been really bugging people and you know how to help.

They can't get this on the Internet. Someone listening, accurately identifying and getting their problem solved - right away.

Promote this - NOW is the time.

The Bug Doctor is in.

Marketing Workshop

The down and dirty marketing workshop for landscape contractors was a great success. It was a very brief overview of how they could market their new storm water management knowledge and products. We had fun, notice the pirate in the top right of the picture.

I will be happy to send  you  the marketing worksheet, I used which can help you get into action in less that 20 minutes.  It  is made to be simple and easy, because none of us have extra time.  I can also help you with any marketing needs you have.