Columns

Surviving Spring (and Beyond)

Jennifer Polanz

That’s what this issue is all about: more ways to make money and homing in on the nuances of those plans.

Columns

Tiny Pieces of Stuff

Amanda Thomsen

You know what’s expected of you? To supply the unexpected. A least a little bit.

Columns

Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs

Ellen C. Wells

For a new gardener, everything at your store is pretty much new.

Consumer Buzz

A Happy St. Paddy’s Day

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Americans spent an estimated $5.3 billion on St. Patrick’s Day this year, up from $4.4 billion last year.

Consumer Buzz

A Record-Breaking Easter

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Consumers were expected to spend a record $18.4 billion on Easter this year, a 6% increase over last year.

Consumer Buzz

An Email Conundrum

Ann-Marie Vazzano

If you want customers to open your emails, think carefully about the subject line.

Consumer Buzz

Are Physical Stores Really Dead?

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Gloomy retail news seems to dominate the headlines, but according to RetailNext, brick-and-mortar stores are far from dead, as long as they’re willing to change with the times.

Consumer Buzz

Customer Satisfaction on The Rise

Ann-Marie Vazzano

After two years of decline, customer satisfaction is finally improving.

Consumer Buzz

Evolving Retail

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Six in 10 retailers believe stores will shift their focus from traditional sales to theme-based approaches that work to attract specific customers.

Consumer Buzz

Load-To-Card Coupons Gain Ground

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Digital coupons are finally overtaking paper coupons in terms of redemption rates.

Consumer Buzz

Shoppers Embrace Technology

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Consumers want access to technology that makes their shopping experiences easier, a recent survey from International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) found.

Consumer Buzz

So Much for Showrooming

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Showrooming may seem like a big threat to physical stores, but according to TimeTrade’s recent State of Retail Report, the opposite appears to be true.

Consumer Buzz

UPS Looks Up

Ann-Marie Vazzano

UPS is giving Amazon a run (or flight?) for its money.

Consumer Buzz

Virtual Reality Retail

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Lowe’s is giving customers the opportunity to learn DIY skills through a virtual reality program called Holoroom How To.

Consumer Buzz

Who Knows More?

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Nearly eight in 10 (79%) of consumers say knowledgeable store associates are important or very important.

Consumer Buzz

Wi-Fi’s Little Secrets

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Jo-Ann craft stores across the country are now offering Wi-Fi to customers, which might seem like a nice gesture. But it doesn’t benefit just shoppers.

Cover Story

The Plant of the Hour

Kylee Baumle

Here’s why it’s vital you jump on the milkweed bandwagon and some tips to get started.

Features

Bringing the Sexy Back to Gardening

Heidi Lindberg

Elements of the long-running Philadelphia Flower Show proved gardening isn’t stale. Here are five lessons to learn from the show.

Features

Evolving into a Design-Oriented Industry

Bisser Georgiev

In the first of a multi-part series, we take a look at the trends and innovation leading the décor industry and how to capitalize with consumer-centric design.

Features

Raise Your Rebate IQ

John Johnston

Working with suppliers who offer rebates is a great way to set yourself apart and offer customers savings.

Features

The Colors of Summer

Barbara Wise

Melt the winter blues with this container full of instant summer.

Features

The No-Brainer Moneymaker

Ellen C. Wells

What makes money for you?

Features

Tricks: Inspired by AmericasMart

Jennifer Polanz

AmericasMart in Atlanta isn’t just great for buying products—it’s also great for display ideas.

Front Lines

AFE Gets $100K

Ellen C. Wells

Earlier this month, the American Floral Endowment received a grand gift from Egon and Laina Molbak, the founders of Seattle-area Molbak’s Garden and Home.

Front Lines

An Epic Catalog

Jennifer Polanz

Dayton Nurseries, a garden center in Norton, Ohio, has done something pretty amazing: it created a 240-page, full-color digital catalog of many of its offerings.

Front Lines

Asking Questions, Getting Answers

Ellen C. Wells

One social site aimed specifically at gardeners is hoping to buck the sketchy plant info trend by crowdsourcing the answers to gardening and plant questions.

Front Lines

Cultivate’17 Retail Tour

Ellen C. Wells

AmericanHort will host a Retail Tour, happening on Saturday, July 15, as part of Cultivate’17 (July 16-18).

Front Lines

Doing Good and Giving Back

Ellen C. Wells

In this installment of how industry folks like yourself are giving back to the communities they live in, I give you Beth Simpson and the folks at Rolling Green Nursery in Greenland, New Hampshire.

Front Lines

Instagram and Gramps

Ellen C. Wells

Combing through my inbox of social media e-newsletters, I came across a headline that, I admit, truly surprised me: “Older Users Are Most Influenced by Ads on Instagram.”

Front Lines

New Garden Center Opens on Old Martin Viette Site

Jennifer Polanz

The Dubner family purchased the 42 acres in January that was formerly the site of Martin Viette Nursery in Muttontown on Long Island in New York.

Front Lines

New Infographic Released From NICH

Jennifer Polanz

NICH is in the process of developing a series of infographics to disseminate throughout horticulture disciplines to use as needed to get the message across.

Front Lines

Winner, Winner $1,000 Dinner

Jennifer Polanz

Or $1,000 for whatever Andrew Seemar wishes to spend it on, since he was the big winner in the Container Centralen Rack Distance Traveled Contest.

Profit Planet

Make No Bones About It …

Bill McCurry

Customers don’t want to be overwhelmed with information that doesn’t directly impact their current project.

The Friel World

Steaks and Chops

John Friel

… don’t look at the obstacles you might hit, look where you want to go.

The Goods

Adriana Heikkila

AmericanHort; Bailey Nurseries Inc.; Ball FloraPlant; Couronne Co.; Designer Stone Inc.; Dümmen Orange; Eleven Point; Emerald Coast Growers LLC; Entryways USA; Featherock Inc.; Grafa Artisan Garden Tools; GrowScripts; Hort Couture Plants; Livingthings; McConkey; Monrovia; My Garden Box; PanAmerican Seed; Rancho Tissue Technologies; Studio M; Terra Nova Nurseries Inc.; Veradek Outdoor; Weeks Roses