Posted on May 20, 2009 by sidraisch
First there was Stepables, that brought excitement and expansion to a staple category – groundcover plants.
Now the category is ever-expanding with Nooks & Crannies from Novalis, Rock Stars from Valleybrook, and others including some home-grown brands such as Treadables found only at Knollwood Gardens in Beavercreek (Dayton) OH and Footprints found only at Bern’s Garden Center in Middletown (Dayton) OH. So this is what happens when opportunities are found and expanded upon – as long as consumers really do buy-in to the concept and buy the plants and take them home and get caught up in it. That is what a hobby is all about. This is what real gardening is all about – people who are excited and passionate about their hobby.
Filed under: Change, Consumers, Merchandise, Plants, Product | Tagged: A Proper Garden, Altum's Horticultural Center, Bern's Garden Center, Breezewood Gardens, emotional, Fairy Garden, fantasy, Flickr, Green Roof, hobby, imagination, joy, Knollwood Gardens, Nooks & Crannies, Novalis, plant, Rock Stars, Sara's Green Space, Trough Garden, Valleybrook | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 17, 2009 by sidraisch
I can tell that spring is coming quickly upon the readers of this blog. For the next several weeks we will focus on the here and just-ahead with brief postings of timely thoughts.
In my years enduring the spring surge of the horticulture business I’ve noticed the Phases of Spring that occur as we approach, endure, and emerge from this annual crisis. Regional differences put some of you deeper into spring than others, so adjust for your location.
Filed under: Change, Leadership, Management, Quote | Tagged: annual, battle, blog, calendar, clock, communication, crisis, emotions, fire, fire fighting, focus, habits, horticulture, leading, Phases of Spring, plant, reality, regional, Retail, significance, spring, success, survival | 1 Comment »
Posted on January 27, 2009 by sidraisch
“Times have changed. Today people are more interested in what they will use and enjoy than they are in what they will own and enjoy.” Judy Stapler 11/08
You don’t need me to tell you how stressful it has become to live in this great country. While we serve a broad range of consumers, disposable income is becoming a thing of the past and every purchase can now be a major decision for some of them. Gas up the car? Buy food? Keep the home at a comfortable 70°- 72° or a more efficient 65°? Buy the art object or new car we’ve admired for months (now at a greatly reduced price) or decide to spend for something you can actually use. The net effect of this is that consumers at all income levels make decisions more purposefully. It is my opinion that come spring, we will see more people choose to buy those items they perceive that they actually need and can use and enjoy immediately rather than those they simply look at and enjoy owning over time.
Filed under: Consumers, Marketing, Product | Tagged: afford, better, big-boxes, brands, buying, car, consumables, credibility, disposable income, durable, enjoy, focus, food, functional, gas, Hummer, market, micro-mansion, ornamental, ostentatious, own, perceive, perception, perennials, plant, price, purchase, qualitative, Selling, signage, taste, trading down, trends, use, usefulness, value, veggies | 1 Comment »
