Keep Customers Coming Back for More   Lawn & Garden Retailer June 2008   By P. Allen Smith
Q: As summer approaches, what are some surefire ways to encourage customers to keep coming back to the garden center after their initial spring planting?

Eco-Friendly No-Brainers in the Garden Center   Lawn & Garden Retailer May 2008   By P. Allen Smith
Q: Everybody is talking about sustainability and being eco-friendly. What can a garden center operator do to help meet the consumer’s “green” demands?

Merchandising the Outdoor Living Trend   Lawn & Garden Retailer April 2008   By P. Allen Smith
Q: As more consumers are trying to capture the look and feel of indoor living in an outdoor environment, what can a garden center offer to help them achieve that goal?
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Turning Youthful Thumbs Green   Lawn & Garden Retailer March 2008   By P. Allen Smith
Q: I have a strong base of baby boomer customers who seem loyal and connected to gardening. However, as that population ages, I wonder what can be done to interest younger generations to pick up the trowel. Any ideas?
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Settling Into the Lifestyle Trend   Lawn & Garden Retailer February 2008   By P. Allen Smith
Q: I’ve been hearing a lot about how I need to incorporate more “lifestyle” elements into my garden center, but it takes money and time to change up displays and get in more inventory. If I were going to make incremental changes, where should I start?
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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?