Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_728x90.png
  • Nursery-Guide-Find-More-Banner-Ad_728x90.png
  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_560x75-04.png
  • MK-bug-728x90-NG.png
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Digger
You are here: Home / Farwest Show / Farwest Show speakers spotlight garden retail

Farwest Show speakers spotlight garden retail

By Curt Kipp — Posted July 5, 2018

Farwest Show 2018 logoThe 2018 Farwest Show, August 22-24, in Portland, Oregon, will put garden retail front and center with industry experts Anne Obarski and Katie Dubow delivering talks on key facets of retail including personality conflict, customer experience, and emerging trends. Obarski, with two seminars, and Dubow, with one seminar, will speak on show opening day, Wednesday, August 22, at the Oregon Convention Center.

Ann Obarski

Ann Obarski

Obarski, the CEO of Merchandise Concepts, is a customer service strategist guiding companies in customer experience and brand recognition. Her first talk, “Dealing with Opposing Personalities: Employees, Customers and More!,” shares strategies to deal with employees or customers who are upset and turn them into word-of-mouth salespersons. The seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22, 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., in Room B110. In her second address, “What’s Your Pink Pig? How to Feed and Nurture Your Competitive Advantage!,” Obarski will discuss how to stand out from the competition by creating and marketing a “contagious experience” for first-time and return customers. This seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22, 9:45 a.m.–10:45 a.m., in Room B110.

Katie Dubow

Katie Dubow

Dubow, the creative director of Garden Media Group, specializes in brand reputation, as well as building and launching new products in the lawn and garden industry. In her seminar, “Introducing the 2019 Garden Trends,” she’ll identify trends that will drive consumer sales next year. Retailers, breeders and growers will learn how to apply new research and information to grow their business and stay relevant. Dubow speaks Wednesday, August 22, 12:30 p.m –1:30 p.m., in Room B110.

Registration is required for the seminars and available online at https://farwestshow.com/register/

Complete details on Farwest 2018 are found at www.FarwestShow.com

Share this:

  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • More
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Filed Under: Farwest Show Tagged With: Farwest, Farwest Show, Marketing, Retail Nurseries

About Curt Kipp

Curt Kipp is the director of publications and communications at the Oregon Association of Nurseries, and the editor of Digger magazine.

NURSERY NEWS

GOP gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan visits Farwest Show

Deciphering Oregon’s plastics recycling law

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. celebrates 80 years as a nursery standout

Monrovia Nursery Company celebrates 100 years of innovation and looks to the future

New AmericanHort CEO introduces himself to OAN

Bailey Nurseries removed dams to build environmental resilience

The new NurseryGuide.com powers up with new features

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

September 2026 Digger

August 2026 Digger: Farwest Show Edition

July 2026

June: The Shrubs Issue

May 2026: the Sustainability Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Box tree moths pose a threat to Oregon nurseries

Managing Phytophthora: timing, temperature and emerging threats

Managing slugs and snails in Pacific Northwest nurseries

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

GOP gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan visits Farwest Show

Sofia® Cherry Laurel and Saturnalia™ American hybrid oak shine at New Varieties Showcase 

Eschenfelder Farms wins Best in Show at Farwest

A sense of excitement in the air at Farwest

Deciphering Oregon’s plastics recycling law

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

ONF scholarships help recipients launch their career in horticulture

New AmericanHort CEO introduces himself to OAN

OAN members see benefits and rewards from serving ag industry organizations

More member stories

​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • President’s Message
  • Digital Growth

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© 2026 Oregon Association of Nurseries

Loading Comments...