(Garden) Help Wanted   Lawn & Garden Retailer July 2008   By Lawn & Garden Retailer
Gardeners will always have questions about perfecting their plants and outdoor displays. This month, we asked our panelists where they go to get their gardening questions answered.

Pets: Your Garden Center’s Best Friend   Lawn & Garden Retailer June 2008   By Christa Reynolds
Today’s pet owners are looking for more ways to include their pets in their lives, and what better way than through their gardens? Many garden centers have latched onto the current pet-pampering trend in the United States; read on to learn how you can profit from this lucrative category.

What’s Hot, What’s Not?   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2008   By Bridget K. Behe
In 2008, it pays to be green and R.E.D. at the same time: Be successful by showing environmental leadership and offering your customers fulfillment of their relaxation, entertaining and decorating needs.
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Catering to a Changing Customer Base   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2008   By P. Allen Smith
Q: I understand you were an independent garden center owner for several years and currently work closely with local nurseries in your design business. From your experience as an owner, consumer and gardening spokesman, how would you say the customer base has changed through the years, and what can independent garden centers do to keep their businesses vital and growing?

It’s A Girls’ World   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2008   By Darhiana Mateo
“Girls Night Out” events have soared in popularity in recent years across many industries. And now, some garden centers are catching on to this unique marketing trend. The goal: Draw a more diverse clientele, maintain a fresh image and bond with their female customers.

Just What the Doctor Ordered   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2008   By Jasmina Radjevic
Creating an efficient garden pharmacy department can be challenging. There are so many products to choose from, and a limited amount of space to house them. Plus, keeping the customer in mind, you have to do your best to make decision making easier on the buyer.

The Impact Of Display Structures On Consumer Purchasing Behavior   Lawn & Garden Retailer August 2007   By Emily Stefanski and James Gibson
You want consumers in your store. A new study on how consumers make their gardening purchases from display structures might help you find new ways to increase sales.
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It’s the Time of the Season   Lawn & Garden Retailer August 2007   By Catherine Evans
Once again, ANLA and GCA put on great summer tours this year. Learn more about the tours, and check out the trend-filled picture gallery.
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Visualizing Christmas   Lawn & Garden Retailer August 2007   By Joseph Weishar
Learn what other retailers outside of the industry are doing to spice up their holiday seasons.
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Seductive Sensory Surroundings   Lawn & Garden Retailer July 2007   By Joseph Weishar
Using the five senses in your garden center can help set a sensory environment that just may lead to more sales at the register.
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Trends At Every Stop   Lawn & Garden Retailer July 2007   By Meghan Boyer and Catherine Evans
There was a lot of information for retailers and growers alike at the 2007 California Pack Trials. From marketing ideas to variety trends, there was plenty for everyone to take in this past April.
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Personalizing The Experience   Lawn & Garden Retailer July 2007   By Meghan Boyer
Curves, the international fitness franchise for women, attributes much of its success to its community of loyal clients. Each one receives a personalized experience when she walks into a club.
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The Landscape-Enhanced Home   Lawn & Garden Retailer May 2007   By Bridget Behe
Good landscaping enhances home value from the consumer’s perspective according to a recent consumer landscaping study by Michigan State University.
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The Changing Face Of A Maturing Industry: Turning Challenges Into Opportunities   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2007   By Kip Creel
Learn the latest information on how consumers are spending their gardening time and how the job is getting done in the second of this 2-part series.
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Fashion In Flowers And Plants Marketing   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2007   By Veronica Richardson
One thing this industry should pay close attention to is the current fashion trends and how they can impact sales. Learn what the businesses in the United Kingdom are doing with fashion trends and flowers to appeal to consumers.
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Introducing Consumers To IPM   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2007   By Meghan Boyer
While integrated pest management is not a new idea in the green industry, most of your customers are probably unfamiliar with it. Introduce your employees and, through them, your customers to the idea for complete, sustainable control.
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Offering Everything Consumers Need   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2007   By Meghan Boyer
At PetSmart, business has gone to the dogs (as well as other pets) and that’s a good thing. PetSmart is a 1-stop shop for all the products and services pet owners need. The company’s goal is to offer customers lifetime care for their pets (and gain lifetime customers in the process).
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A Maturing Industry’s Changing Face   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2007   By Kip Creel
What is next for the garden center industry? What can you do to understand the current customer base? See what this new research from StandPoint has to say about all of that in the first article in a 2-part series.
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Previewing The National Hardware Show   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2007   By Jasmina Radjevic
The industry’s must-attend annual event is quickly approaching; have you registered yet? Here are some reasons why you won’t want to miss this year’s show.
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Visiting the Industry’s Winter Shows   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2007   By Catherine Evans, Tim Hodson and Meghan Boyer
We spent the better part of January traveling from show to show. Here are some highlights from three shows we visited.
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Just Add Water   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2007   By Val Cunningham
More and more customers want it all: A beautiful garden that’s also a magnet for birds. It’s easy to serve both interests with products that dish up what birds need most: water.
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Getting to Know Mulch   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2007   By Meghan Boyer
Your customers may not know a lot about mulch, let alone the different options available and their effects on a garden, which means it’s up to you to teach them the dos and don’ts of mulch.
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Healthful Gardening   Lawn & Garden Retailer February 2007   By Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Gardens can do a lot more than just look pretty. Learn what other benefits gardening has to offer.
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Winter Holidays 101   Lawn & Garden Retailer February 2007   By Jean Starr
In this melting pot of a country we live in, people in the United States celebrate many interesting winter holidays other than Christmas. See what you can do to bring them into your store and make your winter holiday season more than just ornaments and wreaths.

Budding Markets   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2007   By Kip Creel
As this new generation of consumers comes into their peak purchasing years, it will become critical for you to fully understand how to service this important segment of your customer base.
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Less is More In Garden Design   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2007   By Nicholas Staddon
Minimalist gardens are growing in popularity. See what you can do to keep this interesting trend on the rise for your customers.
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Feeling The Winds of Change   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2007   Compiled by Catherine Evans
See what some garden center industry leaders have to say about what they think will take place in 2007 and how it may help improve your business.
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Tapping The Organic Trend   Lawn & Garden Retailer August 2006   By Bridget White
How much potential is there in the organic trend, and how can it help your business?
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Organizing Holiday Classes   Lawn & Garden Retailer August 2006   By Clare Adrian
There are many factors to consider when planning holiday classes at your garden center, but the benefits — happy customers, increased foot traffic and increased sales — are worth the effort.
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Becoming A Christmas Wonderland   Lawn & Garden Retailer August 2006   By Ralph Gaudio
Successfully converting your garden center into a profitable Christmas Wonderland requires astute planning and forethought.
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Soil Basics   Lawn & Garden Retailer June 2006   By Bob Steinkamp
Knowing the basics about soil products and what is right for different applications helps simplify the selection process for you and your customers.
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The Winter Shows   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2006   By Catherine Evans and Bridget White
We hit trade shows and conferences across the country in January. Here’s just a taste of what we saw and learned.
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A Gift Market Overview   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2006   Compiled by Meghan Boyer
This informative guide to the gift markets can help you choose which ones are the best fit for your needs.
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Recipe For Success   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2006   By Jack Williams
Recipes for mixed containers help create successful and attractive plant combinations. Read on to learn more about the many benefits of container recipes.
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Does It Pay To Have A Web Site?   Lawn & Garden Retailer February 2006   By Jim Matya
Though treacherous, the electronic world can be very beneficial to even the smallest garden retailer…as long as you know what you’re getting into.
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Industry Leader Forecast   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2006   Compiled by Bridget White
We put five of your peers to the test to see what they predict will be the biggest opportunities and challenges for independent garden centers in 2006.
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First Impressions: Costly Impressions   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2006   By Carrie Burns
What do you see when you walk into your garden center? Does it affect your customers’ purchasing decisions?
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Energy-Efficient Landscaping   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2006   By Catherine Evans
Heating and cooling bills can get astronomical during certain times of the year. Teach your customers what to buy, so they can keep costs down at home but spend more at your store.
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Happenings in Holland   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2006   By Bridget White
Our annual trip to Horti Fair produced some great new products and interesting industry trends that are easily applicable to the U.S. market.
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Creating Relationships And Revenue   Lawn & Garden Retailer November 2005   By Kip Creel
Learn how preferred customer programs can improve both your customer relationships and your bottom line.
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Winner’s Circle   Lawn & Garden Retailer August 2005   By Meghan Boyer
no matter the criteria used or number of test gardens evaluated, consumers and retailers alike can be assured that they are receiving quality when they choose any of the 2005-2006 Winner’s Circle.
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Dead armadillos…   Lawn & Garden Retailer June 2005   By Stan Pohmer
Play your game, not your competitors’. It’s as important to know who you are not as it is to know who you are.
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Sorting Through the Gifts   Lawn & Garden Retailer June 2005   By Carrie Burns
So now you know you have to fill up that display, but what should it look like. Garden center owners often find ideas from lots of different places. For example, Alden Lane finds ideas from other retail outlets.
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Lawn & Garden Retailer Headlines   Lawn & Garden Retailer June 2005   Compiled by Catherine Evans
The latest news from inside the lawn and garden industry.
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Hands-on For Happier Customers   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2005   By Carrie Burns
I think you can see where I’m taking you with this story, so I’ll just spit it out — demos!
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Trade Shows of the Gift Market   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2005   By Mackenzie Gaffney
There are six shows listed; but please remember this is not a complete listing of the shows dedicated to the gift market. These are some just to get you started.
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Keeping Up   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2005   By Carrie Burns
Trade shows, magazines, suppliers… there are many ways to keep up on the trends. Which is most popular, and how can you step it up a notch?
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Weights and Measures Update   Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2005   By Jonathan Bardzik
Weights and measures laws exist to protect consumers. The goal is to allow consumers to make price and quantity comparisons between similar products.
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