(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to The Big Boys, retail, the independent way on 2008-03-26, 10:08:26

I wanted to comment on Sid’s comment at my Speak up!post I had mentioned that “We don’t start selling tomatoes here in the foothill until the middle of April. Plant them sooner and odds are they will succumb from a late frost or the cold ground. My local Home Depot already is selling tomatoes. We [...]

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to Controversy, The Big Boys, nursery, nurseryperson on 2008-03-24, 07:16:18

My post on “This is what happens when chain stores sell plants” got a lot of interest from people concerned or surprised at whats going on at chain stores when it comes to what they are selling. My most recent comment comes from John Peter Thompson who says “As Chairman of a 78 year old [...]

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to Controversy, The Big Boys on 2008-03-20, 08:35:54

One thing I don’t get a chance to do much is visit other “garden centers” during the spring. I am just too busy, so when I get sent on an errand outside the nursery I tend to take the long way back, just to get out and about. On the way back from Folsom [...]

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to The Big Boys, our backyards on 2008-03-19, 06:45:12

Katie at garden punks sent me a link to another article on the solar vs. tree issue. In this article we have a picture from the solar panel side and its pretty clear that the solar panels will be shaded. Oh well, the courts decided in favor of solar man so the [...]

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to Controversy, The Big Boys, independent, media on 2008-03-11, 08:42:11

About a year ago Scotts Miracle-Gro started a ad campaign in various nursery trade publications, most notably Nursery Retailer Magazine. The campaign called “Jim Loves Independents” is designed to woo independent garden centers with their new line of fertilizers and pest controls designed just for independents. The ad has printed in LARGE letters “Jim Loves [...]

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to The Big Boys, nursery, retail on 2008-02-29, 08:03:07

Here is some good news for the people of the Atlanta area who we’re bemoaning the auction of assets of Pike Nurseries. It looks like 400 of the 700 employees will keep their jobs as the stores change hands, but stay open. Here is the part that really opened my eyes. You have heard how retail [...]

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to California, The Big Boys, independent, nursery, retail on 2008-02-28, 08:00:39

Pike Nurseries which went on the action block, has had various assets bought up by several different people and companies. This one caught my attention. Armstrong Garden Centers of California has bought the Charlotte, NC store for over $5 million. They get the right to use the Pike Name as well as some other retail locations and assets.

Armstrong nurseries have been a southern California staple for years. They have begun moving into northern California with the opening of their store in Dublin, in the Bay Area. Now they are moving into North Carolina. Here is a list of all the Armstrong Stores and their locations.

With over thirty-two stores when does an “independent” cross that divide to “chain store”? Is this move to a completely different environment than California a good one for this organization. I have my doubts, but I haven’t been following Armstrong that closely.

Armstrong does seem to be a lot like Pike Nurseries was, so it may be a good fit. Armstrong Nurseries have a generally good reputation from what I can gather, so it’s nice that where there was a Pike Nursery there will now be an Armstrong (Pike) to shop at. I am just wondering about a move outside of the region they have worked for so many years. While the drought won’t last for ever, what will Armstrong do until then? They have to get the store up and running before spring only to stare straight into the face of water restrictions and negative press. It will be interesting to watch.

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to Blogging, Controversy, The Big Boys on 2008-02-13, 08:23:43

Some posts just keep on giving. Two that have gotten attention well after they day they we’re posted are about two on companies having problems with their business. Aquascapes is the largest supplier of pond related products in the U.S. Greg Wittstock, the CEO started a blog called Pondemonium in which he details his thinking on what is up with the company. Reading the comments from Greg’s supporters as well as his detractors is an excellent lesson for any CEO considering a blog. Greg even mentions here about quitting the blog because of the reactions. He asks, “Here’s the ultimate blog question to all of you in blog heaven or hell. Should I just button up and close this blog down? Or should I continue to reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with running any business? You tell me.”

Another post is about Hines Nurseries, one of the largest wholesale plant growers in the U.S. They have been having financial problems and we’re de-listed on the stock exchange about a half a year ago. Commenter Robert Jones has some of the latest on what’s up with the company. He says, “Hines may be going up on the ‘For Sale’ block soon! Rumor has it that a small financial group lead by a former Hines employee is charging ahead with a offer to purchase the failing dirt pile that today’s upper management has created.”

It’s interesting to see these two one time powerhouse companies as they try to steer a course through the choppy waters of doing business these days. Concerning Hines, I had always thought what Robert stated, “… maybe someone with some intellect will look at the crappy business model that creates the illusion of actually making money by selling lower to box stores than it costs to grow the plants! I could never figure that one out!” I can’t either!

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to The Big Boys, lifestyle, retail on 2008-01-25, 15:57:49

This is interesting yet not un-expected. Langeveld Bulb Co has filed for bankruptcy protection. Check out this quote, “many insiders are speculating that the closing is mostly the result of declining sales of bulbs, which are less popular with younger consumers, who want instant results in the garden.”

Yep, it’s those dang generation X and Y folks that are to blame. It appears that these two generational demographics are almost entirely responsible for the decline in our industry. It’s becoming fashionable for closing businesses to blame the younger generation. After all the older generations still support the garden industry, NOT!

I have noticed a decline in interest in bulbs for a number of years and it’s not just the younger generation. It’s also “Baby Boomers” who have other things to do with their time. It also explains the decline in bare root sales that I have been noticing over the years. Both bulbs and bare root are available in the winter when lots of folks just don’t get out in the garden anymore. Hey, if they want bulbs or fruit trees they figure we should have them in spring when they are doing their shopping.

I think the industry is so caught up in trying to appeal to Gen X and Y they are missing the big picture. Generation X and Y want to garden just as much or little as the other generations. They are the up and coming home owners who with a patch of ground want to see what they can grow on it. Most of the boomer generation is just as fickle with its gardening and would just as soon be skiing or traveling to warmer climates.

I think we need to quit trying to appeal to particular generations. Try instead appealing to people who are interested in gardening regardless of age. What with Urban Outfitters entering the gardening market we are all standing around just waiting to see the magic that they posses with these younger generations. It’s like we have to completely rethink gardening to appeal to these people. I like what the comments at the end of this post said. Don said this, “I read a lot of analysis about what “Gen X” and “Gen Y” wants, and I find a lot of it pretty patronizing.” I think a lot of generation X and Y think it’s a bit patronizing.

When all is said and done I think the decline in bulb sales is a result of all generations having a lot more that they can do with their time. It’s the big companies that have the most to loose since so much of their sales depend on a larger percentage of each generation buying their products. Let Home Depot, Hines Nurseries, and Scotts’ worry about this stuff. They pay people to worry. The smaller nursery can fine tune its message to gardeners of all ages. I only need 10% of each generation to find gardening interesting and jump in. Yes, it’s good to be small.

(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery)

Posted by admin to The Big Boys, independent, nursery, retail on 2008-01-22, 08:24:37

If you think there is a disconnect between wholesale nurseries and retail this will just confirm that. Baileys Nurseries is offering a two-year guarantee for their new “Easy Elegance” Roses. According to their website “Easy Elegance Roses are so easy to grow that we guarantee your success. This limited guarantee covers all residential plantings for two full years from date of purchase and covers the following,
• Guarantee applies to residential use only.
• Limit of $60 or two roses per household.
• Guarantee does not cover damage from animals or roses over-wintered in containers.
• Roses can take some time to grow after a hard winter, so be patient. Guarantees are not accepted until after June 15th.
Just send us you name, address, receipt, plant tag and a photo of the rose in question…”

Baileys seems to think that’s what is keeping younger people from gardening more, a lack of guarantees. They found that Generation X, and Y find roses hard to grow. They equate roses with grandmas garden. Nothing about wanting a guarantee, just old fashioned, and hard to grow. So we are going to solve that by a guarantee. Let me see, I buy a rose and I am suppose to hold on to the receipt for two years, I can’t plant it in a container and over water it(which I guess means container gardening must be hard), but I guess if I over water it in the ground thats O.K. Only two roses? Why? If your going to guarantee the roses shouldn’t someone who has bought ten of them be entitled to the same guarantee?

This is where the disconnect between some wholesale nurseries and retail operations is growing. My customers do not want more guarantees, but the assurance that the plants they buy are in top condition and that we will be here if they need help. Why only guarantee the roses for two years? What about a lifetime guarantee? How about guaranteeing all the roses a home owner buys instead of just two. Why require the homeowner to deal direct from Bailey’s. Shouldn’t I be able to take the rose to the retail center where I purchased them and receive my refund or new roses? Do they guarantee the roses will live, or thrive? If they live, but don’t thrive as I thought they should, do I still get a refund. Why not give the guarantee to the retail nursery that actually bought the roses from the wholesaler?

Small retail garden center business need to understand that this kind of marketing only benefits the chain stores where this type of mentality reigns. We in the small garden center market are trying to get people interested in gardening, with all the risks and personal responsibility that entails. Who said gardening, or anything worthwhile was risk free? Shouldn’t we be encouraging people to make mistakes, learn from them, and jump back in?

Guarantees that have a list of requirements to follow before the guarantee can be enforced just don’t resonate with me. Maybe with the market that Bailey’s is targeting, but not with the customer I am working with. My customers get a lifetime one-conditional guarantee. The condition is they tell us how to prevent their dissatisfaction in the future. That’s it. They also don’t have to contact some grower to get the guarantee. They bought the plant from us, and they will deal with us. I’ll deal with the wholesale grower.