Cover Story

A Healthy Business

Despite decreased sales, Rockledge Gardens in Rockledge, Fla., experienced an increase in profitability, and hopes to continue the trend in 2010 with a focus on gardening as a healthy lifestyle.

Slideshow: Rockledge Gardens

Displays and behind the scenes at Rockledge Gardens with Theresa and Kevin Riley. 

Features

5 Questions With Wallace's Garden Center

Nursery Manager Kate Terrell explains how a new approach to the birding department led to a significant bump in revenues in 2009.

Retailer Perspective: The Second Wave Of The Recession

Garden center co-owner Gail Vanik discusses the 2009 recession and its impact on wholesalers, particularly during the holiday season.

Harbor Garden Center: Recovering From Flooding

Back-to-back springs had Harbor Garden Center up to its knees with one problem – water. Persistent owner Tim Lamprey turned to the helping hands of others to get his business dried off in no time.

Slideshow: Wading Through It

The springs of 2006 and 2007 weren’t particularly kind to Tim Lamprey and his Harbor Garden Center. 

Counting Inventory

Do you dread the inventory count? Technology columnist J. Lombardi gives some practical tips for making the process a little less painful.

What's In Store For Statuary?

Consumers opted for smaller statuary pieces and lower price points in 2009. Will 2010 be a repeat of the same?

Signs Sell: Making Visual Merchandising Pop

Need some help with visual merchandising? Here are some guidelines for stopping customers in their tracks. 

Pesticides, Fertilizers And Mulches: In The Bag

Garden center managers explain why their stores saw 2009 sales increases in
pesticides, fertilizers and mulches when many others experienced quite the opposite.

Slideshow: Merchandising Bagged Goods

Looking for new ways to merchandise your mulch and other bagged goods? Check out our slideshow of displays from around the country.

Variety Central: Perennials That Pop

Perennials and roses are always the workhorse of the garden. We run down the latest in these categories. 

Poinsettias Still Solid At The Holidays

We surveyed retailers to get their thoughts on poinsettias this winter to see if they are still tops during the holidays. While they’re not the customer draw they once were, retailers are still satisfied with their performance.

Poinsettia Report: In Their Own Words

Retailers sound off in our 2009 Poinsettia Survey on what they think about poinsettias.

Poinsettia Report: Three Questions With Phyliss Williams of K&W Greenery

This season, big boxes have cheapened poinsettias and turned them into loss leaders. Phyliss Williams of K&W Greenery tells us how they keep this holiday plant special for their customers.

Poinsettia Report: Three Questions With Nola Wagner Of Wagner's Greenhouses

Read more retailer feedback on the state of poinsettias.

Poinsettia Report: The 99-Cent Poinsettia

Today's Garden Center Associate Editor Kevin Yanik responds to the big box stores' Black Friday promotions.

Garden Center Carts By R.W. Rogers' 

R.W. Rogers uses its experience in supermarkets to bring better carts to the garden center.

Steal This Idea: GardenHood Atlanta

GardenHood has big plans for its urban Atlanta neighborhood, and other garden centers can already learn from this creative team of entrepreneurs.

Columns

Touchpoints By Pete Mihalek

It’s All In The Hips

The truth of the matter is timing’s everything, especially when it comes to trade shows.

Strategies And Concepts By Kurt Fromherz

The Yoga Guy

When’s the last time you felt enthusiastic about something you tried? More importantly, when was the last time your customers felt enthusiastic about visiting your business?

End Cap By Jennifer Polanz

Changing Times

2010 will be a journey into uncharted territory.