Columns

Down Cycling

Ellen C. Wells

In general our industry has had a good run of it for the last few years.

Columns

Matching Experience with Pricing

Jennifer Polanz

You’re not paying $2.95 for that Venti iced coffee in a vacuum.

Columns

The People Business

Bill McCurry

Garden center operators often admit that hiring and keeping staff members are their biggest problems.

Columns

We Will Sell No Whine Before Its Time

Amanda Thomsen

In my mind, disappointing customers is the best-case scenario …

Consumer Buzz

A Splashy Sales Approach

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Kohler is taking “try before you buy” to a whole new level with its Experience Center.

Consumer Buzz

Amazon for Everyone

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Amazon is making sure it appeals to shoppers of all income levels.

Consumer Buzz

Brick-And-Mortar Still Rules Grocery Shopping

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Amazon may be gobbling up Whole Foods, but that doesn’t mean consumers are flocking online to buy groceries.

Consumer Buzz

Data Savers

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Despite several major data breaches over the last few years, most Americans are willing to store their credit card info online.

Consumer Buzz

Flying Toilet Paper

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Your toilet paper could soon be delivered to your doorstep via parachute.

Consumer Buzz

Happier Home Improvement Shoppers

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Customer satisfaction with home improvement retailers is rising.

Consumer Buzz

Millennials Find Fashion on Amazon

Ann-Marie Vazzano

When you look at the stats, it’s not surprising so many department stores are closing.

Consumer Buzz

Mobile Addiction

Ann-Marie Vazzano

If you want to get in front of your customers, you’d better reach them via cell phone.

Consumer Buzz

Return, Return, Return

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Nearly half of Millennials say online returns are a hassle.

Consumer Buzz

Shop Anywhere

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Thanks to the Internet, U.S. consumers can shop literally anywhere and more are buying from international retailers.

Consumer Buzz

Shopping Malls’ Savior?

Ann-Marie Vazzano

With anchor stores closing across America, developers are thinking of new ways to fill that space.

Consumer Buzz

The Customer Connection

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Four in 10 check the status of their orders using the self-help section of retailers’ websites.

Consumer Buzz

What Motivates Millennials?

Ann-Marie Vazzano

Nearly half (48%) of Millennials are more likely to buy from a brand if they know the people behind it.

Cover Story

Should You Pay for Pretty?

Jennifer Polanz

Empirical and anecdotal evidence both point to the same answer: yes.

Features

Do Customers Care About State Promotional Campaigns?

Hayk Khachatryan & Alicia Rihn

Studies of the Sunshine State’s “Fresh from Florida” campaign showed promotions like this one help consumers think local.

Features

Helping You Sell

Chris Beytes, Ellen C. Wells & Jennifer Zurko

While the number of Spring Trials exhibitors going all out with retail-ready marketing displays has dwindled, the ones we spotted could get you sketching out new concepts for your nursery yard ASAP.

Features

Personality Plus in the Shade

Christina Salwitz

Don’t let the sun have all the fun—this shade-loving combination can shine, too.

Features

Six Steps to Next Level Retailing

John Johnston

Freshen up your facility, marketing and sales with these ideas.

Features

That New Store Smell

Ellen C. Wells

Is climbing the mountain of new construction worth the view from the top?

Features

The Multi-Channel Retailing Conundrum

Jennifer Polanz

We chatted with The Garden Corner’s Jonn Karsseboom recently about his experience selling online.

Front Lines

Bower & Branch Looking For Retailers

Jennifer Polanz

Bower & Branch kicked off its annual retailer enrollment period in July and it runs through October 31 for independent retailers and growers.

Front Lines

Farwest Lineup for Retail

Jennifer Polanz

If you’re heading to Farwest August 23-25 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, there are a multitude of retail-related sessions and activities to check out.

Front Lines

Handpicked for You Launches Website

Jennifer Polanz

The Handpicked for You “trustmark” program that came out of a collaboration between breeders, growers and independent retailers now has a website.

Front Lines

MGIX Expands

Jennifer Polanz

Midwest Green Industry Experience started this January as a “refreshed and redefined” version of CENTS, the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association’s annual conference and trade show.

Front Lines

More Native Pollinator Habitats Needed

Jennifer Polanz

The USDA recently released a report taking a look at studies conducted over the last 30 years in regards to the effects of land use on pollinator health.

Front Lines

New AAS Winners for 2018

Ellen C. Wells

We are only halfway through 2017 and All-America Selections is already thinking ahead to 2018.

The Friel World

Appropriate Appropriations

John Friel

I’m perpetually impressed by green-industry ingenuity.

The Goods

The Goods

Adriana Heikkila

Abbott-IPCO Inc.; ACHLA Designs; Anamese Garden & Home; Ball FloraPlant; Bloem Living LLC; Concept Plants; Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm; Emerald Coast Growers LLC; Featherock Inc.; Griffin; Growers Supply; J. Berry Nursery; Kitchen Innovations Inc.; LFS Inc.; Ludvig Svensson Inc.; Midwest-CBK; PanAmerican Seed; Pleasant View Gardens Inc.; Sakata Seed America; Studio M; Suntory Flowers Ltd.; Syngenta Flowers LLC; Terra Nova Nurseries Inc.