2007 Regional Winner: Southwest
Watters Garden Center
Prescott, AZ

This 44-year-old operation brings in $2 million on less than 2 acres, and has positioned owner Ken Lain as the expert in the community via weekly garden columns, classes and custom-made POP providing the owner's recommendation on various items.

For that, it has earned TGC's Southwest Regional Retailer Award.

The retailer focuses on gross margin percentage results for SKUs and uses its Windward Software-driven POS system to determine how much volume to order.

"Technology tells you have many units to order, and the buyer decides variety and colors," writes Lain. "It's a blend between technology and personnel."

In buying, Lain and his employees have leaned more toward imports from China and Vietnam, as well as giving more space to higher margin percentage items like perennials, herbs and shrubs.

Lain also has worked with several local associations, as well as national ones, "to take action on the issues that affect our local towns and cities."

The garden center is active in working with the local newspaper to provide gardening columns, as well as with local television and radio. "We have formed two neighborhood garden clubs this season using community centers and club houses as the focal point of each new club," adds Lain.

He also brings in service clubs and encourages them to use the garden center as a location for fundraisers. The garden center gains exposure from free publicity, while the club receives the money from the fundraiser.

Find out more at www.wattersonline.com

Other Revolutionary 100 operations in this region:
Buchanan's Native Plants
Houston, TX

Harlow Gardens
Tucson, AZ

Nicholson-Hardie Nursery & Garden Center
Dallas, TX

North Haven Gardens
Dallas, TX

Ruibal's Plants of Texas Inc.
Dallas, TX

The Great Outdoors Garden Center & Design Studio
Austin, TX

The Natural Gardener
Austin, TX