Exhibitors at the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition wowed attendees with their creative displays, innovative research and, of course, beautiful plants. Here are just a few things that caught our eye at the show. Look for more coverage from TPIE on gardencentermag.com
People went all out brainstorming and executing their booth concepts at the show, and many were rewarded for their efforts. Costa Farms built a tiny house, complete with a bed, a glass coffee table with succulents encased underneath, stairs, a bathtub filled with plants, a mailbox and more, and took home the “best of show” booth award. The paparazzi flooded J. Berry Nursery’s glamorous set-up, inspired by its Hollywood Hibiscus series and complete with a red carpet and film reels. They may not have walked away with an Oscar, but they did take home first place in the 10x10 booth award category. United Nursery looked to the other coast for its “Plants in the City” booth, which included a floor-to-ceiling tapestry of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, brick apartments with stoops and plants for all of the main characters of “Sex in the City,” and even a real New York Post newspaper stand, which they scored on Craigslist.
The University of Florida and the National Horticulture Foundation are partnering on a consumer research project, studying the eye movement of shoppers in retail situations to discover what interests them and to help growers and retailers be more strategic about plant selection. They conducted some of their research right on the show floor, and attendees had an opportunity to participate in the study using images of booths. Insights from a different consumer study conducted by Delray Plants were displayed right on their award-winning booth. Consumers surveyed explained why plants are important to them, with responses like “plants as décor,” “plants add personality and atmosphere” and “add color to your living space with plants,” and Delray displayed them on a structure built of reclaimed wood to both reveal results and inspire attendees. Plants that respondents could identify and name were featured around the booth.
Plants hung from ceilings, walls and even necks at the show. Roses in light bulb-shaped vases were suspended over Koen Pack’s booth. Attendees could pick up an “Air Plant Necklace” featuring a tiny potted Tillandsia from LiveTrends. Interior design vignettes showcased at TPIE included a kitchen scene with magenta orchids wrapped by their roots on a fixture above the counter. The serene bathroom vignette featured a green wall behind the tub.
A lighthearted environment can help foster loyalty and produce real results.
Think back to your first day on the job. Were you anxious, excited and ready to prove they made a great hire? Could you see how much work needed to be done? Did you want to be taken seriously? That was me, fresh out of grad school and ready to make my mark as a professor. I put my task goggles on and got straight to work.
As is customary, my students filled out their anonymous opinion surveys at the end of the semester. I was confident mine would be good — I had done my best, poured my heart and soul into them, and they had acquired new knowledge and skills. So imagine my shock as I read comments like, “Really bright. Doesn’t care about students.” Ouch. How could my intentions be so misunderstood and my work so unappreciated?
As I pondered the feedback, I realized that in my haste to hammer knowledge into their brains, I had overlooked the relational component of the job. Unlike a friendship or a peer to peer relationship, I had the power of a grade. You hold the power of a job. My students gutted it out because they had to. Might some of your employees feel equally trapped?
The following semester, I took time to learn about them — their hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses, and the best way to provide critical feedback. My evaluations, and more importantly, student relationships, improved dramatically. Classes became more fun for me and for my students. I spent the following summer in China, building relationships and laughing with the Chinese educators I taught. We worked hard, played hard and got great results. Even though we laughed and joked around daily, they took me seriously.
The relationships that summer were different enough that I began to wonder what would happen if I started having fun with my students in the U.S.? Did I really need to be so serious? Would they perform better if classes were more enjoyable?
What about you? Have you ever wondered what it would be like if work were more fun for those you oversee, especially during the stress of the busy season?
I’m hunching your results will be a lot like mine and other leaders and workplace cultures that recognize that having fun increases productivity and creativity while decreasing stress, sick days, tardiness and turnover. Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher, authors of “The Levity Effect: Why It Pays To Lighten Up” state: “People tend to remain with, stay committed to, and give more energy to an organization where good times are interjected into work.”
If you had asked my first group of students if they were having fun, the vast majority and perhaps all would have said no. Lesson learned. If you were to ask my employees and the people I work with today if they are having fun, the overwhelming majority would say “yes.” Why? Because I’ve lightened up and made sure that fun is an ongoing part of the equation.
What about you? How would your team answer the fun question? I encourage you to ask them. If you’ve created relationships of trust, they will tell you the truth. Otherwise, watch their nonverbals and read between the lines. Unless you request it and ensure they feel safe giving it, you’ll rarely get honest feedback.
Take time this busy season to lighten up and laugh at yourself and the quirky things you do. Then unleash your employees who naturally bring laughter and levity to everything they do and let them start to coordinate fun, low cost activities for your team. While it may feel awkward at first, so did learning to ride a bike, and look how fun that turned out.
Sherene is a widely acclaimed speaker, author and coach who demystifies how to lead, motivate and resolve conflict for optimal results. Learn more at sherenemchenry.com.
Balance professionalism and respect for different body types when implementing and enforcing your dress code.
As an employer, you may sometimes find yourself walking the fine line of needing to counsel an otherwise great employee on various aspects of their appearance, especially regarding the type of clothing they’ve chosen to wear. These conversations are never comfortable. While you might think it’s common sense that certain types of clothing shouldn’t be worn in the workplace, everyone clearly has different definitions of what qualifies as common sense. If you don’t have a clear-cut dress code and appearance policy, you could find yourself talking to your employees as if you’re their parent and not a boss.
I don’t care what the founders of Lululemon or Kate Hudson think are “so cute.” Some clothing, such as leggings and yoga pants, does not make a good impression when worn inappropriately or out of context. It is not workplace clothing unless you are a yoga instructor. Frankly, these types of overly casual clothes have become a modern form of bad manners.
If you’re allowing staff to wear these types of leisure and athletic wear to work, those employees are sending an unwanted message to the rest of your staff that it is acceptable. More importantly, those employees are sending a message to your customers that says “my personal comfort is more important than the experience you’re paying for.”
Instituting dress codes or requiring uniform attire in mainstream retail or other office settings serves many useful objectives. It allows customers to easily find employees. It conveys a team-like, professional presence among the staff. It reinforces your visual branding. It makes customers feel valued and respected. It allows customers to focus on their own purpose for visiting your business. Essentially, a well-executed appearance shows that you care. There are other reasons, but these are the primary ones.
As an employer, you need to make it clear from the get-go what types of clothing are and are not appropriate, especially if you are not providing a full uniform to your employees.
I was at the Denver airport a couple of months ago and, while I was sitting at my gate waiting for my flight, I noticed a woman working at a small sales kiosk. I found myself staring at her for far too long and not for a good reason. You see, this saleswoman had donned a nice blazer that stopped at the top of her waist, but also skintight and unintentionally translucent leggings. She wasn’t hiding anything. Even more distracting, she had a fairly sizeable snag on the back of the leggings that ran from her thigh to her exposed rump. I felt terrible for her. She obviously didn’t know she was putting on more than one kind of display while going about her job.
As someone who was a teenager in the ’80s (and therefore an expert on leggings), I must declare that skin-tight leggings ARE NOT PANTS. Leggings are meant to be topped with a large baggy sweater and a huge belt or some other form of decade-appropriate tunic, like a top or a jacket. Unlike actual pants, the top of leggings should remain covered.
While potentially less form-fitting than leggings, yoga pants are also not professional attire. They are leisure wear designed for doing yoga … or at least wearing at home while stretching to reach the remote control. When worn in a professional setting, such leisure wear screams, “I don’t care about my job and couldn’t be bothered to put on real pants” and “as a customer, you aren’t worth actually getting dressed for.”
Ripped jeans, cargo pants, too small or too tight jeans that put on a show no one wants to see when you sit down or bend over, any type of pants that fall below the rump, and too-short shorts all fall into the category of not-appropriate-at-work attire. The purpose of clothing in a work setting is to convey a professional message. This applies equally to men and women at work.
Based in Dallas, I fly American Airlines most of the time, and noticed how dated and shabby the flight attendant uniforms had become over the past few years. That shabbiness seemed to bleed into staff attitudes, as well. But, while boarding that same flight I’d been waiting for in Denver that I mentioned earlier, I happened to get in line with a couple of the American Airlines flight attendants. The first thing I noticed was their new uniforms. Boy, do they look snappy! The attendants instantly seemed more poised, professional and pleased to be wearing them. I complimented one of the attendants on the new look and she smiled and said, “I know. They are so much nicer, right? These fabrics fit us so much better and we have several style options. I actually like wearing them now.” Well, it certainly showed to this customer.
If your staff already has a uniform mandate but continues to wear inappropriate or too-comfortable leisure wear to work, it may very well be that the uniforms you’ve provided don’t fit them well or make them feel awkward or physically uncomfortable. Men and women need different types of clothing fits, and having more than one uniform option provides for different body types. Please stop forcing your female employees to wear the standard issue horticultural uniform of man-khakis and tucked in polo or golf shirts. Believe me, many of us are really not happy about trying wear that type of men’s clothing.
So, why not give employees a choice? What I really liked about the new AA uniforms was not just the updated designs, better fabric, and splash of color, but that there were several different styles and combinations of uniform clothing for the employees to choose from. Likewise, you might consider offering a few different styles of uniforms that allow different body types and personalities to feel comfortable, yet still coordinate with and represent your visual branding.
Putting together a dress code policy that is clear and specific will help you bypass inappropriate attire problems. Respecting different body types and providing uniform choices will help employees feel and look confident, comfortable and professional.
Leslie (CPH) owns Halleck Horticultural, LLC, through which she provides horticultural consulting, business and marketing strategy, product development and branding, and content creation for green industry companies. lesliehalleck.com
The MFG #4WGC-D cart features a double-tier deck, 4-inch-by-10-inch pneumatic swivel wheels on one end, 16-inch wheels on the other end, metal anti-tip steering, a 2-inch high cargo lip around the deck, a powder-coated finish and a 600-pound capacity. www.millside.ca
The Perfect Plant® is an interactive kiosk for your garden center and now also for your website! Acting as a silent salesman, it categorizes your thousands of plant SKUs into an easy to find fashion. The effort of searching for plants is reduced, and your customer interaction time is more efficient. The Perfect Plant® puts your plant information where you want it, at your customer’s fingertips. To learn more, schedule a demo now! www.themarketinggarden.com
The MFG #03562 cart features high-impact polypropylene material construction, 4-inch-by-10-inch pneumatic wheels with swivel wheels on one end, a 4-inch-high cargo lip around the deck, a black, powder-coated finish on the metal and a 300-pound carrying capacity. www.millside.ca
A 30-cent mat is stronger advertising than a $500 or more newspaper ad or radio spot. Trunk mats serve several functions, keeping trunk mats in your customers’ possession longer and keeping your business’ name in front of your customers longer than a radio ad. “Out of sight, out of mind” is the category for all other advertising. A trunk mat is the most solid, economical way to promote your lawn and garden center. The Trunk Mat Co., 706-694-8855 www.trunkmat.com
Our brand new fire globes are sure to attract your attention. Currently, there are two designs available: a wildlife scene and blowing leaves. We also have two sizes ranging from large to extra large. (Large: 24-inch diameter, extra large: 32-inch diameter). They are laser cut from 3mm thick steel, making them sturdy and long lasting. They are a two-piece design, with the base and globe separating for easy cleanup and transport. www.esschertdesignusa.com
Each item in the fountain line from HomeStone Imports features intricacy and attention to detail. Models include Pebble Pots, Stacked Slate, Slate Tile, and Marble Tile — each hand-made into pieces that would be works of art even without the flowing water. They come in a variety of sizes and price points, too. www.homestoneimports.com
Featherock’s Small Single Hole Planter is now available in a small, half crate of 32 pieces or a regular crate of 64 pieces. Each option has its benefits, with the small crate reducing weight and freight cost, and the regular crate earning an additional 10 percent volume discount. The Small Single Hole Planter is Featherock’s most popular sized pumice planter! Try it as an accent in a fairy garden or as the star of a succulent arrangement workshop. www.featherock.com
Only from The Brookfield Co. can you get the detail, unique quality and fine finish in weather-durable concrete garden accessories. To see the entire collection, visit our website. Contact us for pricing and shipping quotes — email: brookfield@nexband.com, phone: 706-375-8530. All Brookfield products are proudly made in Georgia. www.thebrookfieldco.com
Create a cozy patio setting as you watch the flames dance around the blowing leaves scene from this unique fire globe. They are laser cut from 3mm thick steel, making them sturdy and long lasting. Two-piece design, with the base and globe separating for easy cleanup and transport. 24-inch diameter. www.esschertdesignusa.com
Enjoy the beauty of rooting plants and cut wild flowers at night with Echo Valley’s® new collection of LunaLite™ Solar Vases. Individually produced from hand-blown glass, these lustrous works of art are heavy to the touch and gorgeous to the eye. A depression in the bottom of the vase provides space for a solar cell to be mated to it. The white LED integrated in the solar panel of the module comes on at night and fills the vessel with light, illuminating any plant you have in it. The wire hanger included allows the vase to be hung under a sill so that it can be used indoors in addition to outside. Available in three luminous colors. Call Echo Valley® at 800-592-9678 for more information or visit them on the web. www.echovalley.com
HomeStone Imports is a manufacturer and distributor of high quality and handmade natural stone containers. The company manufactures containers with a variety of pebble, slate, and marble finishes. Shown here is the Stacked Slate finish. Although many containers are used as water features, the PT-048M-SS set was specifically designed as a decorative planter. www.homestoneimports.com
Brookfield’s Large Lion Planter is the largest of the Lion Group of Planters. Exquisite detail and finish, this concrete planter enhances its surroundings! Visit our website to see the entire collection. Contact the company for pricing and shipping info — email: brookfield@nexband.com, phone: 706-375-8530. www.thebrookfieldco.com
Add beauty and protection from the sun to your home with DeWitt’s new Mocha Knitted Shade Cloth. DeWitt’s quality knitted shade cloth is made from 100% UV stabilized polyethylene and holds up under the most extreme solar conditions. www.dewittcompany.com
100% American made wood signs for all seasons. Home & garden selections starting at $3.95. Uniquely handmade and distressed pine signs, perfect for the everyday or seasonal displays. VJ Studio features hundreds of sayings in all genres. Exclusively created for your customers. 973-948-0093 www.vjstudiosigns.com
Treat your miniature garden fairies and their friends to the lap of luxury with Echo Valley’s new Solar Pumpkin Carriage Planter. The vehicle is reminiscent of the lighted chariot from the classic fairy tale Cinderella, with its pulsating micro-LED illuminated stays and wagon wheels. The planter comes complete with a coco liner that can be transformed into a living, breathing miniature oasis by day that can be equally enjoyed at night! The Pumpkin Carriage Planter comes attractively gift boxed and includes a solar rechargeable battery that powers the micro-LED string lights. Contact Echo Valley at 734-347-2597 for more information or visit them online. www.echovalley.com
Easy, convenient and sturdy, the COL-MET self-standing one piece table top sign holder can be used for both indoor and outdoor displays. The galvanized or durable powder-coat finish is available in green, brown, black, red, white or blue colors. Several sizes are also available. American Made. American Strong. 800-829-8225 www.colmet.com
Bring the “wow” to your garden center entrance with our pole displays. Bring the “wow” to your local cities with our Water-and Labor-saving baskets. Bring the “wow” to your retail customers with our Weekender Baskets. All of our baskets have an unheard of 10-year warranty. Our iron fits on any type of pole, round or square, 3 to 8 inches. Beautifying the U.S. and Canada from backyard to main street. www.eckertsgreenhouse.com
Signs educate. Signs persuade. Signs sell. COL-MET is the largest manufacturer of steel galvanized nursery sign holders in the industry. COL-MET Sign Holders are made with prime galvanized steel for indoor or outdoor use. Galvanized sign holders are designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions and are an economical, durable alternative to plastic signs that fade and crack outdoors. COL-MET also manufactures a variety of special purpose sign holders designed specifically for garden centers. American Made. American Strong. 800-829-8225 www.colmet.com
What’s makes a day in the garden better? Easy clean up and comfortable shoes. That is why most gardeners and homesteaders say Sloggers® shoes are their go-to shoes for doing outdoor projects. Sloggers’ All-Day Comfort Waterproof Footwear are available as slip-on shoes, ankle boots and 10-inch boots in many colorful prints. Sloggers are Made In USA. Find Sloggers online or at retailers across North America now here: www.sloggers.com/Store-Locator-s/1898.htm Join their online community at www.facebook.com/sloggers.USA/ www.sloggers.com
Featherock’s 100 percent natural pumice rock is safe in fire features and can be used as an alternative to lava rock. Pumice combines the natural, rugged look of lava rock with the modern style of fire pit glass. Available in ¼-inch gravel to 6-inch cobbles in 5-pound bags or bulk bags. This is the perfect product for both DIY landscapers and professionals alike! www.featherock.com
Hydretain Root Zone Moisture Manager reduces the watering requirements of lawns, landscapes and gardens by up to 50 percent or more. Not a wetting agent or polymer, Hydretain is a blend of hygroscopic humectants that convert soil moisture vapor into water droplets that plants can use. This process improves water and nutrients uptake to help plants thrive, even under heat and drought stress. Easy-to-use hose end sprayer covers 5,000 sq. ft. Kid and pet friendly. Available in 48-piece profit center display. www.ecologel.com
Pro-Bloom provides ingredients to enhance blooming of flowers and fruiting of fruits and vegetables: 3 percent nitrogen, 20 percent phosphorous, 17 percent potassium and chelated micronutrients are available to enhance growth and development. Plants with high levels of phosphorus have an increased tolerance to many stress conditions; phosphorus levels help plants recover from injury more rapidly. There are also reports that phosphorus plays a key role in reducing disease infections. Potassium has many roles in the plant including the opening and closing of stomata; this is particularly important in providing nutrient uptake through the leaves. www.baicor.com
The Quadgrow holds 30 liters of water, releasing it to the roots as the plants need it. Ideal for growing tomatoes, beans, aubergines, peas, peppers and anything else that is a little larger. The Quadgrow can also be moved indoors when desired. www.sunblasterlighting.com
The Salad Box, available exclusively from Hydrofarm, is great for anyone who wants to keep a constant supply of fresh salad greens and herbs handy and ready for harvesting. It can be used outdoors or indoors under grow lights, and fits perfectly under Hydrofarm’s Jump Start 2-foot T5 Grow Light System. Using a passive hydroponics method, the Salad Box requires no electricity and very little maintenance. Featuring 8 plant sites, the Salad Box includes everything needed (except the water) to turn seedlings into salad. Comes with 8 “Root Wraps,” reservoir tray, lid, top-off bottle, net cups, drain plugs and nutrients. www.hydrofarmgc.com
Gothic Arch Greenhouses is a Mobile, Alabama-based business that specializes in nothing but greenhouses and related supplies. Our greenhouse kits are used throughout the country and beyond by homeowners, educational facilities, scientists and commercial growers. We are family-owned and have been since 1946. For over 70 years, our mission has been to design, develop, and manufacture the best environmentally specific conservatories, greenhouses, sun rooms, pool enclosures, and skylights in the world. We analyze our customers’ expectations and combine their ideas with our technology to create the ideal environment. Our architectural innovations have the ultimate goal of creating long-lasting structures, which are the perfect blend of design and purpose. Our commitment to delivering only the highest quality greenhouses at the lowest possible pricing has made us the most trusted name in the industry. www.gothicarchgreenhouses.com
Seed tape is convenient, easy to use and eliminates thinning as seeds are evenly spaced on the paper tape. Countertop display can be merchandised by your seed display and multiple placements on endcaps and register checkout counters. www.oldsgardenseed.com
A unique and advanced slow release fertilizer that is superior to others. Essential nutrients required by plants are infiltrated with this gel. These nutrients are in a specially balanced formula designed for optimum plant growth. This gel can hold up to 200 — 400 times its own weight in water, which helps retain moisture in the soil. Nutra Gel™ provides continuous fertilization for up to 4 to 6 months. Best of all, it is easy to use and it enhances your plants and soils nutrition. This product is great for hanging baskets and containers, and wonderful in the spring for transplanting. www.baicor.com
University-tested and proven through years of use on golf, sports turf and commercial landscapes, Hydretain reduces watering, eliminates dry spots and delays the time to wilt for all types of plants. Use on existing landscapes or new installs. The easy-to-apply Hydretain Granular is on an organic compost carrier, which can be spread, broadcast or top dressed. 15 lb. bag covers up to 6,000 sq. ft. Kid- and pet-friendly. Available in a 30-piece profit center display. www.ecologel.com
Increase your profits and offer your customers a one-stop shop to a more bountiful garden with Arborjet’s Fertilizer & Water Manager Display! The display comes shoppable and pre-stocked with NutriRoot®, ARBORChar™ 5-6-4 All Purpose Grow, and 3-6-4 Root, Flower & Fruit Premium Fertilizer and Biochar Blends. Designed with extra messaging to help you sell these unique products and stocked with a variety of sizes, you’ll meet the growing needs of any home gardener. www.arborjet.com
The Duogrow holds 12 liters of water, releasing it to the roots of the plants in its two pots, as and when the plants need it. This is a great garden for any patio or sundeck. Move your Duogrow indoors with the addition of SunBlaster Lighting and accessories and grow all year round. www.sunblasterlighting.com
Our Kitchen Garden Kit includes Wonder Soil Organic Seedling Mix, which is made from renewable coconut fiber (a sustainable alternative to peat), and is specially formulated for microgreens and baby greens; a perforated growing tray; a solid drip tray; and a clear dome lid to ensure high humidity — the perfect environment for your seedlings. Instruction booklet included for your growing success! www.botanicalinterests.com
Typically, a garden center is a uniquely designed structure for retail selling. Ideally, it is a complete and comprehensive retail facility with areas for living plants, hard good products, storage, shipping and receiving. To develop such a project, our team is at your disposal. After careful evaluation of the technical considerations, we can help design the total project. Within the design, we take all aspects of the project into account, such as equipment, interior layout, security provisions and most importantly, your specific needs. Within our comprehensive range of structures and products, the amount of possibilities are endless. With our flexible design options, structures to meet all criteria are available, whether these are classic or modern. Call us today to begin the process! Toll-Free: 800-531-4769 www.gothicarchgreenhouses.com
Fix-N-Grow is a legume inoculant, a mixture of beneficial bacteria suspended in easy-to-use granules. These bacteria take free atmospheric nitrogen and attach it to the roots of beans, peas and cowpeas, where it is converted and used by plants. www.oldsgardenseed.com
Exclusively available from Hydrofarm, the new Sunburst CMh System combines two extremely popular products — the Sunburst and Phantom CMh systems — into a single unit that brings the benefits of ceramic metal halide lighting to small spaces with the Sunburst’s compact, all-in-one format. The Sunburst CMh has a built-in digital ballast designed specifically to run the 315W ceramic metal halide lamp (included), which in this system operates in the horizontal position. The reflector’s interior is 95 percent hammertone aluminum and offers excellent uniformity and diffusion. Offered in two different lamp color temperature options: 3100K or 4200K and features dual input voltage 120-240V. Carries a 3-year warranty. www.hydrofarmgc.com
The Amaryllis Grand Prix Indoor Growing Kit is built to add beautiful color this winter. The gift kit includes one ceramic planter, one large Amaryllis bulb, growing medium, burlap bag, bow, and gift tag with planting instructions. The ceramic pot is 5 inches by 5¾ inches and comes in three colors: bordeaux, cream and gray. They are available October through December. www.netherlandbulb.com
This calibrachoa offers a unique color pattern of orange, pink and coral tones along with a rounded habit. Look forward to better flower coverage than Superbells Tequila Sunrise and blooms appearing even earlier. The flowers are held well above the foliage, and Tropical Sunrise has been screened specifically for resistance to Thielaviopsis. Grows 6 to 10 inches high with a spread of 12 to 24 inches. Full sun. www.provenwinners.com
Bees love them. Growers love them. These new bee balms are mildew free, covered in flowers, the perfect size and available in colors to bring any outdoor space to life. Imagine a well-behaved, compact, vermillion red version of Jacob Cline and you have ‘Bee-Happy.’ This beauty looks great in combination with chartreuse-leaved grasses and annuals, pale-blue salvias and nepetas; and it attracts so many pollinators, we stopped counting. www.plantsnouveau.com
The Paperwhites Indoor Growing Kit includes one ceramic planter, Paperwhite bulbs, growing medium, burlap bag, bow, and gift tag with planting instructions. The ceramic pot is 5 inches by 5¼ inches and comes in two colors: gold and blue. They are available October through December. www.netherlandbulb.com
The Central Florida Ferns & Foliage Pixie Plants mix is a collection of ferns, foliage and succulents for glass terrarium gardens, container mini-gardens or succulent gardens. Its fern selection includes Pteris, mahogany, maidenhair, bird’s nest, Boston types, Selaginella, Autumn, Korean rock and more; to Ficus, ivy, begonias, Peperomia, Fittonia, Pilea, Hypoestes, palms and baby tears. The 2-inch garden plants give mini gardens variety, texture and interest. www.cfferns.com
‘Picasso in Purple’ extends this line of bicolor blooms to now include a trending color — purple. Expect improved branching, habit and flower coverage over foliage that is darker in color. This is an all-season bloomer with heat and humidity tolerance. Grows 8 to 12 inches high with a spread of 24 to 36 inches. Full sun. www.provenwinners.com
The Weed Dragon® propane torch kit is perfect for naturally controlling weeds around the home, in gardens or in the yard. It also works great to eliminate the freeze/thaw effect on those winter days. When the sidewalk or driveway has been cleared, use the Weed Dragon® to first melt the thin layer of snow, second to sweep the moisture to the side and third, continuing to dry the affected area, eliminating the freeze/thaw effect. www.flameengineering.com
DeWitt’s Leaf & Debris Tarps are made from a permeable, heavy duty-fabric complete with built in loop handles. Leaf & Debris Tarps are great for landscaping and lawn maintenance projects and designed specifically to withstand the weight and sharp edges of any waste material. The simple design makes it easy to transport various materials. 3.2 oz polypropylene, which is resistant to tearing and puncturing Built in loop handles allow for easy maneuvering and transporting Multipurpose fabric great for landscaping and maintenance projects One Company. One Call. Over 600 Products! 800-888-9669 www.dewittcompany.com
Southwest Agri-Plastics is proud to offer Dura-Bench Original and Dura-Bench Ultra plastic bench tops. All Dura-Bench products are engineered to replace wood, wire and expanded metal on greenhouse benches at a comparable price. The non-porous polypropylene plastic material eliminates rot, cracks, splinters, rust and sharp edges that are found on other types of bench tops. www.swapinc.com
The Greenworks Tools 80V Pro Line of battery-powered garden tools include the 80V Pro Lawn Mower, leaf blower, chainsaw, hedge trimmer, string trimmer, snow thrower and more. All tools are powered by an 80-volt battery intended to replace gas-powered equipment with equal performance. The 80V Pro Lawn Mower boasts a 60-minute run time on one 30-minute charge. www.greenworkstools.com
The Mini-Dragon™ offers an opportunity to experience flaming for natural weed control, its effectiveness with extreme convenience and portability in eliminating weeds safely without chemicals. The Mini-Dragon™ is powered by clean burning propane from a small 14-ounce to 1 pound propane cylinder, (not included) providing up to 1 ½ hours of flaming time. Ideal for spot weeding or thawing small, iced up areas. www.flameengineering.com
Deep taproots are no problem for this little powerhouse! The ingenious design allows you to burrow down with laser accuracy and rip out that troublesome weed at its base! The daisy grubber is constructed of ultra-durable polished steel and FSC certified oak, with a contoured handle that’s easy to grip and very comfortable. There’s no substitute for quality, and you will find this to be one of your finest and favorite garden tools! www.josephbentleyus.com
Built upon our best-selling Corinthian Bells® wind chimes, Arabesque are a sophisticated hand-tuned chime that’s dressed to impress. Engraved silver rings sparkle like gemstones. An intricate lacy texture and a glossy finish give Arabesque chimes a sophisticated look and feel. A curved wind sail enhances the chime’s performance, and decorative scallops add elegance to its design. Available in four colors (Onyx, Garnet, Emerald and Sapphire) and five sizes (29, 36, 44, 50 and 59 inches). Made in the USA. www.qmtwindchimes.com
The Nashville®, a Music of the Spheres original composition, encompasses the complexities of the major seventh and ninth intervals of the pedal steel guitar. It evokes the serenity of a peaceful Highland Rim sunset. www.motschimes.com
North Country Wind Bells® designs and creates these original and authentic wind bells on the rugged coast of Maine since 1975. Themes include Nautical, Wilderness, Whimsical and Pets too! There are six collections and over 61 melodies to choose from that fits in any storefront in any part of the country. Retailers tell us all the time that our wind bells are great hits for gift giving for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, weddings and even bereavements. Proudly made in Maine, USA! www.northcountrywindbells.com
Let the wind ring wild with Kromatix wind chimes, new from QMT Windchimes! Kromatix boasts four vibrant colors and an appetite for fun. These bold colors brighten your spirit and will add interest to any décor. Hand-tuned and made in the USA. Kromatix chimes are hand-tuned and centrally pinned for excellent, long lasting sound. www.qmtwindchimes.com
Our chimes are 100 percent hand-made in America. The chimes show up nicely on a patio or in a garden and are sure to enchant those nearby with their delightful tinkling. Give your customers something new this spring! Wholesale prices start at $8. With more than 100 styles to choose from, we have a chime for everyone! www.thebottlebenders.com
The Crystal Fantasy — Tree of Life features a stylized tree with two birds in its branches and a cascade of green and clear crystals, ending in a stunning clear crystal almond-shaped drop. The beauty of the piece and the deep symbolism of the tree of life make it a lovely and meaningful gift. www.woodstockchimes.com
Fresh inspiration to enliven your fruit and vegetable selection this year.
Editor’s Note: This is the third story in a series about edibles. Read the prior two stories at bit.ly/2jvBX9W and bit.ly/2kZYSiT
It’s not news that edibles are hot. Wherever you turn, people are talking about this category. Merchandising and marketing are keys to turning talk into sales and building long-term relationships with budding consumers. These tips and insights can help you inject new life into this category, and keep your IGC’s edible excitement growing.
Don’t leave enthusiasm to chance. Get serious about new ideas and fresh inspiration. Scrutinize venues you frequent and single out what excites you. Then look for ways to recreate it in your edibles space.
When Molbak's Garden + Home supercharged its edibles merchandising in 2015, the Woodinville, Wash., independent garden center drew inspiration from a local icon — Seattle’s Pike Place Market, one of the most famous, oldest markets in the country. Visual design manager Debi Colton and her crew created special signage from galvanized pipe and brought in bright red market lights and other props to frame the story. However, Colton and her team set their sights higher than reproducing this famous farmers market’s look. “We wanted to recreate that energy and that feeling you have when you go to Pike Place Market,” Colton explains.
Molbak’s edibles customers responded to the inspired makeover. “It was huge,” says Kate Domoszlay, one of the IGC’s lead edible buyers. “Sales results were up 20 percent over 2014. 2016 was an additional 17 percent above 2015.” The IGC plans for a 14 percent increase for this year.
Traditional edibles may be mainstays, but today’s consumers relish adventure and experimentation in their gardens and kitchens. Feed their desires and raise your profile with uncommon, nontraditional edible offerings. At Red Barn Garden Center in Austin, Texas, owner Emelie McDaniel and her team work to exceed consumer expectations with their edible selections. A prominent centralized edibles area includes traditional stalwarts, but Red Barn stretches the boundaries with unexpected, nontraditional fruits such as loquats, figs, persimmon and olives alongside peaches, pears, tomatoes and herbs. (For more unique edibles inspiration, read Jolene’s article in the January 2017 issue of Garden Center magazine, “Expanding your edibles,” bit.ly/2jvBX9W.)
Each department in the IGC — annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, and hard goods — also has an edibles section with special signage to highlight items of interest to edibles consumers. Plants such as native peppers, perennial artichokes and fruit trees are cross-merchandised in the main edibles area and in their traditional department to capitalize on sales.
When edibles shoppers visit your IGC, that trek is part of a larger story happening in their lives. Tap into that lifestyle narrative of conscious consumption and edible adventure with a shopping experience that feeds that energy.
Molbak’s edibles went from alphabetical tables and no real home of their own to prime real estate in the front of the store. The first year, a vintage Massey-Harris tractor intensified the pull. “It was so compelling and so fun, you couldn’t help but be drawn into it,” Domoszlay recalls.
“The experience is what people love,” Colton says. “There’s a whole different energy about it. What our veggie area has demonstrated is that a boutiquey feel within a big floorplan is the way to go. All the help and the adjacencies to other products are important. It just feels very inclusive.”
Organic, local, non-GMO — show edibles customers you understand the motivation behind the movements by answering questions before they ask. “It’s about healthy food you can trust,” McDaniel says.
At Red Barn, special tag colors identify organic products. Assistant bedding manager Adam Rainer fashions signage with info customers want. “All our customers are looking for non-GMO, local, fresh and organic,” Rainer says. When possible, signs list local growers by name — a practice common in farm-to-table restaurants.
Virginia-based McDonald Garden Center invites customers to “Bring the farm to your own backyard.” Prominent signage declares veggies and herbs are fresh, local and GMO-free. Vice president of purchasing Bill Kidd notes, “Local is important. Part of this is knowing what happened to that edible you’re producing.” Non-GMO has increasingly grown in importance for the IGC too.
In response to consumer demand, nearly 90 percent of Molbak’s non-woody edibles will be organic this year. “We’re certainly going to be spreading the word that we’re going to have a vast organic selection of vegetables as well as herbs,” Domoszlay says.
Make it easy for edibles customers to find everything they need — together in one place — and get results. Understand many are focused more on the prize than on gardening. Take them from start to finish.
Cross-merchandising is essential to Molbak’s edibles success. “We take anything that would help to make our customer successful. Adjacencies are a big deal for us here,” Colton explains. Their “edibles boutique” includes everything from gloves, watering wands and plant stakes to soil, fertilizers and amendments.
Kidd believes edibles customers want simple solutions that fit into what they’re already doing. “Everybody wants simple, and depending on the level of skill you have, you only want to do so much,” he says.
McDaniel anticipates moving away from seminars to workshops, where attendees take home finished projects, such as mixed edible containers, and the products they’ll need at home. Complete kits and install-to-harvest services support success in reaching the end goals of edibles.
Cultivate your store as an edibles hub through community involvement on different levels. Connect to your local “foodie culture” of chefs, restaurants and growers, and embrace edibles-related opportunities that touch lives in more profound ways.
Planned foodie events at Red Barn include “biggest tomato” competitions and “compost art” contests where participants use food peelings to create artworks that ultimately end up in the compost pile. Veggie swaps allow gardeners to share excess produce with others. The exchange takes place at the IGC, so people bring leave their excess tomatoes, for example, and pick up someone else’s excess peppers. The IGC also supports a local elementary school garden and a church garden that donates its entire harvest to local food banks.
Molbak’s Share Your Harvest program benefits a local organization that operates a food bank and other services for people in need. “Anyone who has extra veggies or fruit from their garden can bring them in and we will deliver them to [the organization],” Domoszlay says. “We actually delivered over two tons of vegetables and fruits last year.”
Recognize that today’s edibles consumers run on different clocks. With healthy food at the forefront, traditional gardening seasons no longer apply. Whether it’s outdoor tomatoes or indoor growing solutions, expectations run 24/7/365.
“Newer consumers don’t have the same rules in place about gardening. They just want it to work for them,” Kidd says. “It’s important to find ways to keep edibles or some part of edibles out in front of people throughout the year, so people think of you and know they can come to you for edibles.”
Domoszlay notes, “I think it’s important for us, especially with the new consumer, to reach them through the experience of growing their own food and feeding their family.” She stresses being there to help them succeed and debunking the myth that it’s difficult. “You have to set it up with the finished product in mind, whether that’s big, beautiful, bodacious tomatoes at the end of the season or lettuce outside their door,” she says.
With new demographics and healthy food fueling growth in this category, McDaniel stresses the moment at hand. “Millennials haven’t jumped on gardening much, except edibles, and they have little gardening experience,” she explains. “We have a big opportunity here, provided we pay attention to what’s driving this movement, and help customers succeed. Fads come and go. This can be a permanent addition to the industry.”
Jolene is a freelance writer and former hort professional based in Madison, Wis. She is a frequent contributor to GIE Media Horticulture Group publications.