The American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and the Garden Centers of America (GCA) have agreed to an introductory exchange of education benefits. Under this agreement, GCA members will be able to attend the February 2009 ANLA Management Clinic at the ANLA member price, and ANLA members will have access to next year’s GCA Holiday Tour at member pricing.
“With the significant challenges facing our industry, both organizations felt that it was important to work together to offer our members additional learning opportunities that could help them succeed,” said ANLA President Greg Schaan of Imperial Nurseries (Conn.).
GCA members may now register for the ANLA Management Clinic, scheduled for Feb. 6 to 9, 2009, in Louisville, Ky., through the clinic’s website. The ANLA Management Clinic is a business education event, featuring nationally and internationally recognized speakers, as well as industry experts.
ANLA Members also will receive information regarding GCA’s 2009 Holiday Tour, scheduled for Nov. 16 to 19, 2009, in Cleveland, Ohio. This tour visits garden centers and other premier retailers to learn about merchandising, product and design trends for the holiday season, a revenue generator of significant importance to independent garden centers.
“This exchange offers garden centers access to both educational opportunities. The GCA tour provides some of the newest and most innovative ideas in holiday merchandising and the ANLA Management Clinic is recognized as one of our industry’s longest standing, proven educational experiences,” said GCA President Ken Long, of L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase (N.C.). “This can only be a win for both of our organizations’ members.”
In addition to this one-year agreement to exchange educational benefits, representatives of ANLA and GCA will meet in 2009 to discuss other opportunities to collaborate. For more information on these organizations, visit www.anla.org or www.gardencentersofamerica.org.
