Comments for OpenHort http://www.openhort.com/photos A place to share green industry marketing. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:46:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 Comment on Necessity Not Luxury by social media marketing agency http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-594 social media marketing agency Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:46:10 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=492#comment-594 if only I had found your blog earlier today if only I had found your blog earlier today

]]> Comment on Sizzle or Steak? by Dorene Lawlis http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=918&cpage=1#comment-593 Dorene Lawlis Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:48:25 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=918#comment-593 Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of enjoyment. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps prevent the "diseases of affluence" such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity^ Find out more about our personal online site as well <.http://www.foodsupplementcenter.com/best-otc-sleep-aid/ Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of enjoyment. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps prevent the “diseases of affluence” such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity^

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]]> Comment on 3 Ideas to Change the Nursery Industry by http://tinyurl.com/cleablake24421 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=723&cpage=1#comment-586 http://tinyurl.com/cleablake24421 Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:00:28 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=723#comment-586 This really is the fourth blog, of your site I personally browsed. However I like this one, “3 Ideas to Change the Nursery Industry This really is the fourth blog, of your site I personally browsed.
However I like this one, “3 Ideas to Change the Nursery Industry

]]> Comment on To change the world, get off the couch. by http://trackthatphone.com/ http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=332&cpage=1#comment-585 http://trackthatphone.com/ Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:36:21 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=332#comment-585 Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and all. However think of if you added some great graphics or videos to give your posts more, "pop"! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this site could certainly be one of the best in its field. Superb blog! Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just
your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and all.
However think of if you added some great graphics or videos to give your posts more,
“pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this
site could certainly be one of the best in its field.

Superb blog!

]]> Comment on Where’s the trees? | What Nobody’s Saying Amidst the Lorax Marketing Fiasco by the of and a to in is you that it he for was on are as with his they at be this from I have or by one had not but what all were when we there can an your which their said if do will each about how up out them then she many some so these would other into h http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=883&cpage=1#comment-582 the of and a to in is you that it he for was on are as with his they at be this from I have or by one had not but what all were when we there can an your which their said if do will each about how up out them then she many some so these would other into h Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:16:09 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=883#comment-582 What's up to all, it’s genuinely a fastidious for me to pay a visit this website, it includes priceless Information. What’s up to all, it’s genuinely a fastidious for me to pay a visit this website, it includes priceless Information.

]]> Comment on Forget the Bench by Jon Reelhorn http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023&cpage=1#comment-567 Jon Reelhorn Sun, 19 Aug 2012 07:07:45 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023#comment-567 Art, I"m not sure I buy the 'attention to display is hurting our industry in the long run' idea, but I do buy into the garden coach. Per your advice we've implemented the idea into our program in a small way and it's been very successful. Home consultations and personalized attention in the nursery have been a hit with our customer base, and it is encouraging how many referrals we have received from satisfied customers. I envision taking it to the next level via social networking, personalized service (which our customers are willing to pay for) and promotion. While it's not new, I do like the idea of bringing the plants to the masses via the garden mart, the entrance of the grocery store or hardware store rather than waiting for them to come to us. So many of our plants are impulse items...the masses would buy if only they could see them...touch them...smell them. Sure, there are peak seasons when they would sell better than others, but isn't it especially important to get our plants out during slow seasons in order to capture sales and even out our crazy cash flow. John Stanley...very interesting vision on the virtual garden center. It seems inevitable. Kellee...I love the idea of visiting the customer's backyard as a garden coach with a truckload of plants in hand! Art,

I”m not sure I buy the ‘attention to display is hurting our industry in the long run’ idea, but I do buy into the garden coach. Per your advice we’ve implemented the idea into our program in a small way and it’s been very successful. Home consultations and personalized attention in the nursery have been a hit with our customer base, and it is encouraging how many referrals we have received from satisfied customers. I envision taking it to the next level via social networking, personalized service (which our customers are willing to pay for) and promotion.

While it’s not new, I do like the idea of bringing the plants to the masses via the garden mart, the entrance of the grocery store or hardware store rather than waiting for them to come to us. So many of our plants are impulse items…the masses would buy if only they could see them…touch them…smell them. Sure, there are peak seasons when they would sell better than others, but isn’t it especially important to get our plants out during slow seasons in order to capture sales and even out our crazy cash flow.

John Stanley…very interesting vision on the virtual garden center. It seems inevitable.

Kellee…I love the idea of visiting the customer’s backyard as a garden coach with a truckload of plants in hand!

]]> Comment on Forget the Bench by Nancy Moore http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023&cpage=1#comment-566 Nancy Moore Fri, 17 Aug 2012 23:33:56 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023#comment-566 We are a wholesale grower and the retailers' problems are our problems. From our experience consumers may try an indoor plants from a big box in their first apartment, depending on their haphazard choice they either think plants are easy or they decide they aren't worth the money. I believe it is time to push those first time buyers toward the lowest maintenance, most durable plant for a first purchase. Problem is those are often the most expensive choices and the big box doesn't explain the difference. I agree with the convience suggestion above. Tell the consumer what they want today and then what they need to come back for next month. Begin with back to school season, If retailers could give a "rebate" on interior plants like agloneamas and ZZ for a first-time buyer those consumers would enjoy immediate positive reinforcement. Then tie the rebate to the next season's special, i.e. mumms or poinsettia, or Norfolk Island pine, to get them back in a few months to try something else. Don't want the responsibility of watering, get a ZZ or orchid, even a sansevera. No natural light in the apartment, get an agloneama. What something flowering try a bromeliad. If it grows slow it will be more expensive but it will also survive much longer. Sell success on the first one and tie the extra cost to the sale of a seasonal item later. If it is a seasonal plant then chances are that they won't feel cheated on if it fails after a month or two in inhospitable conditions. Then when spring comes do the workshops. But make them affordable, let them bring their own container or even by giving them something later. They will quickly learn that it is much easier to do plants outside and maybe, even in the ground. The biggest complaint I hear from our 30 something friends is that garden centers are "too expensive". They need to be taught that quality and advice count. These folks spend money. They patronize the same movie theaters, coffee shops, and expensive ice cream shops for the points they accumulate, they want something extra for their money so give them extra. Tropical plants are big and readily available in August and September when it may well be too hot to garden, perhaps that is a way to get them back "inside" at your garden center. And if you are near a new subdivision why aren't you offering free design plans with a minimum purchase? If you do then is there a big sign out front that says so?? We are a wholesale grower and the retailers’ problems are our problems. From our experience consumers may try an indoor plants from a big box in their first apartment, depending on their haphazard choice they either think plants are easy or they decide they aren’t worth the money. I believe it is time to push those first time buyers toward the lowest maintenance, most durable plant for a first purchase. Problem is those are often the most expensive choices and the big box doesn’t explain the difference.

I agree with the convience suggestion above. Tell the consumer what they want today and then what they need to come back for next month. Begin with back to school season, If retailers could give a “rebate” on interior plants like agloneamas and ZZ for a first-time buyer those consumers would enjoy immediate positive reinforcement. Then tie the rebate to the next season’s special, i.e. mumms or poinsettia, or Norfolk Island pine, to get them back in a few months to try something else. Don’t want the responsibility of watering, get a ZZ or orchid, even a sansevera. No natural light in the apartment, get an agloneama. What something flowering try a bromeliad. If it grows slow it will be more expensive but it will also survive much longer. Sell success on the first one and tie the extra cost to the sale of a seasonal item later. If it is a seasonal plant then chances are that they won’t feel cheated on if it fails after a month or two in inhospitable conditions. Then when spring comes do the workshops. But make them affordable, let them bring their own container or even by giving them something later. They will quickly learn that it is much easier to do plants outside and maybe, even in the ground.

The biggest complaint I hear from our 30 something friends is that garden centers are “too expensive”. They need to be taught that quality and advice count. These folks spend money. They patronize the same movie theaters, coffee shops, and expensive ice cream shops for the points they accumulate, they want something extra for their money so give them extra. Tropical plants are big and readily available in August and September when it may well be too hot to garden, perhaps that is a way to get them back “inside” at your garden center. And if you are near a new subdivision why aren’t you offering free design plans with a minimum purchase? If you do then is there a big sign out front that says so??

]]> Comment on Forget the Bench by Kellee Magee O'Reilly http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023&cpage=1#comment-563 Kellee Magee O'Reilly Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:19:40 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023#comment-563 I agree completely with your observations here, Art. The exponential increase in 'private party' industries (well beyond Tupperware!) in recent years has been fascinating to watch. Candles, jewelry (& more jewelry), purses & monogrammed items, full clothing lines with seasonal launches (!!!), lingerie & intimate products, sheets/towels, makeup. What do all these products have in common? Their target customer. That and for the most part they're discretionary dollars being spent: (these aren't "bread & milk" parties!) Bring in a garden coach to a backyard near you with a truckload o' plants, pour some wine, plant up some combos, get questions answered, hang out with your friends, tally up your bill at the end. Seems like this is a natural fit/extension for bricks & mortar stores! I agree completely with your observations here, Art. The exponential increase in ‘private party’ industries (well beyond Tupperware!) in recent years has been fascinating to watch. Candles, jewelry (& more jewelry), purses & monogrammed items, full clothing lines with seasonal launches (!!!), lingerie & intimate products, sheets/towels, makeup. What do all these products have in common? Their target customer. That and for the most part they’re discretionary dollars being spent: (these aren’t “bread & milk” parties!) Bring in a garden coach to a backyard near you with a truckload o’ plants, pour some wine, plant up some combos, get questions answered, hang out with your friends, tally up your bill at the end. Seems like this is a natural fit/extension for bricks & mortar stores!

]]> Comment on Forget the Bench by John Stanley http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023&cpage=1#comment-560 John Stanley Thu, 16 Aug 2012 00:50:48 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023#comment-560 Great article.We now have a weekday convenience and a weekend experience consumer and this is changing the retail model.Hence the emergence of the virtual garden centre.This concept is now being franchised and I believe will be a critical part of the future.A traditional garden centre in the future has to have a "Clicks" and "Bricks" strategy if it is going to survive,but having said that in Perth in Australia our most successful garden retail model is a virtual garden centre. They are now in discussions to licence this in New Zealand,UK,Canada,USA ,Holland and other countries.It will be one of the future models. Merchandising in garden centres is an area where consumers should get inspired ,but they want to buy using a convenience model. Great article.We now have a weekday convenience and a weekend experience consumer and this is changing the retail model.Hence the emergence of the virtual garden centre.This concept is now being franchised and I believe will be a critical part of the future.A traditional garden centre in the future has to have a “Clicks” and “Bricks” strategy if it is going to survive,but having said that in Perth in Australia our most successful garden retail model is a virtual garden centre. They are now in discussions to licence this in New Zealand,UK,Canada,USA ,Holland and other countries.It will be one of the future models.
Merchandising in garden centres is an area where consumers should get inspired ,but they want to buy using a convenience model.

]]> Comment on Forget the Bench by Edward Knapton http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023&cpage=1#comment-559 Edward Knapton Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:15:23 +0000 http://www.openhort.com/photos/?p=1023#comment-559 Are we talking about personal shopper with plant knowledge? Oh by the way farmers markets are not profitable unless the owner is doing the growing and selling. Please be kind enough to explain more in detail how you would envision a garden coach system would work for a garden center. Could you have enough garden coaches that would sell enough product that the bills would get paid for the office. Are we talking about personal shopper with plant knowledge? Oh by the way farmers markets are not profitable unless the owner is doing the growing and selling.

Please be kind enough to explain more in detail how you would envision a garden coach system would work for a garden center. Could you have enough garden coaches that would sell enough product that the bills would get paid for the office.

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