Gardening products have always been pretty straightforward. One woman I recently spoke to said, “Just give me a shovel, gloves and some dirt, and I will be set for spring.” For years, people only planted some flowers and called it a day once spring passed. People have always just wanted the old standards to bring out some color — the usual plants, landscape lighting and patio furniture suited them just fine.
Well, that way of thinking is quickly fading away. With recent trends catering to the upscale market and Generations X and Y, manufacturers have really been rising to the task as far as jazzing up the old standards! I’m talking about more than just changing the way something looks — these manufacturers are actually making plain products more interesting. Some of the more noticeable transformations have been with simple products like landscape lighting. Manufacturers have been giving lights a more artsy, attractive look that makes them seem more like outdoor art than lights. Another example is taking a simple metal or wooden garden pole that you hang birdhouses or hanging baskets on and giving it a textured look with carved designs or different colors — something to add a little flair. These are just a few examples; there are plenty more products on the market moving in this direction.
Haven’t you heard? People no longer want a yard with just flowers; they want a decorated yard, like an extra room in their house. A recent Washington Post article titled “The Latest Hot Thing,” quoted Jeff Gibson, Ball Horticultural Co.: “We are seeing a shift toward people who view their outside space as places to be decorated. They’re taking their inside outside…”
Consumers want things decorated; they don’t want the plain old bread and butter look anymore. They want spunk, flair; they want their personalities showcased outside the home as well as inside.
It differs for everyone, but that is the beauty of creativity.
Manufacturers have really been hitting the mark in this industry as far as developing products with more style, creativity, color and usage. All this just to get that new wave of Generation X and Y-ers and upscale shoppers interested in their materials.
As far as garden centers housing the products in their stores, well, I must say, you are really doing a great job of it. More and more stores I visit are stocking fancy bird feeders, interesting gardening tools, fun gift items and artsy containers. All we need to do is let these non-Baby Boom generations (well, maybe we can invite the Baby Boomers too: They are our loyal customers) know what you have to offer and how you can make their yards the place all the neighbors want to hang out.
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