West County Gardener, a San Francisco-based manufacturer of high-performance gardening gloves, polled more than 200 independent garden center staff members at this year’s Independent Garden Center show in Chicago.
The 2008 Green Market Study found that a majority of those retailers believe consumer concerns about the environment will remain high and that consumers will purchase a green product despite higher costs than standard products. Respondents also think the environment continues to be a concern for consumers despite recent trend data suggesting consumers may be fatigued by green marketing, sales claims and programming.
According to the study, 85 percent of respondents thought consumers perceived green products to be of the same or better quality than similar products constructed of non–environmentally friendly materials. Other notable study insights include:
- 78 percent of respondents believed that consumers were willing to pay slightly more for green products.
- Almost 85 percent of those surveyed said they sell environmentally friendly or recycled content products either within their stores or online.
- Of those respondents whose stores sell green products, the most common environmentally friendly product sold was fertilizer, followed by soil conditioners, pots, and hoses or watering grips.
- Only 33 percent of respondents said they do special promotion or events for Earth Day.
For more information on the West County Gardener 2008 Green Market study, e-mail recycledglove@westcountygardener.com. For more information visit http://www.westcountygardener.com.
