Yes, I AM definitely talking TO YOU.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I AM definitely talking TO YOU.

When I see clients and readers of my magazine articles, blog, email news, and other printed words people often tell me that what I write makes them feel like I’m talking directly to them. I hope that is true for you. If it is you’re right.

No, YOU may not actually be THE client I’m talking about in any specific article or discussion, but believe it or not, all the mistakes you have made have most likely been made by others before you.I write to the situations I see other clients get into that I wish for you to avoid or take supreme advantage of, depending on the situation.

Difference between PR and Publicity

Everyone who has anything to do with marketing their company needs to think about using PR to build their business. Click to read Seth Godin’s definition of the difference between PR and Publicity. Read it twice, then read it again and let it sink in. Get it?

What Would Happen If You Could . . .

What does it take to get the dramatically higher average transactions shown by the green line on this chart from The Garden Center Group ?

What would happen if you could increase your average transaction dramatically THIS year?

To find out what would happen do the Merchan+ Ma+h™

Is Gardening Addicting?

The Benefits of Gardening Include Better Sex

This is the kind of news we could only hope for.

While it won’t surprise most of us in the horticulture industry, there is now new proof and yet another reason behind our obsession with what we do, and the PASSION, with which we do it!

A recent London Telegraph article by science correspondent Richard Alleyene suggests that gardening boosts men’s sex drive. The story reports on a study by Bremen University in Germany that was published in the European Urology Society’s journal, European Urology.

Why This Business Gets In Our Blood

My colleague, Judy Stapler is an accomplished market researcher, a consumer advocate, and a great addition to our team. Judy recently commented to me that she has observed how exceptionally passionate she has found the people in the horticulture industry to be about what we do (as compared to people working in other industries) . We do not need to get into a deep theological discussion, or raise an argument on the reason why people in horticulture become obsessed with horticulture. Can we just agree that we are?

Should you be a Publicity Hound?

© Milosluz | Dreamstime.com

Yes, it is uncomfortable tooting our own horn. Mom said not to brag and we are all maybe a little too good at not promoting ourselves. However, the art of shameless self-promotion doesn’t have to be shameful. Remember, mom also said to “stand up for yourself if you’ve got something to say.”

The passion in our industry is based on the real benefit of plants to people. There is a physiological need, as well as a financial benefit from what we do. Promoting what we do is not only important, it is essential. One of the saddest things I have witnessed in the past 30 years is the fact that our industry has silently allowed an entire generation of American people to grow up and become adults without much of the required knowledge or the desire and interest to garden.