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.
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