Consumer trends

Green drenching creates peaceful garden spaces

By Emily Hoard — Posted April 21, 2025

Gardeners are tapping green’s soothing nature to create peaceful spaces, and nurseries are following suit.

Loyal legions

By Jon Bell — Posted January 25, 2022

Building repeat business and loyal customers isn’t easy – but it works wonders Brenda Powell’s great-grandparents started Garland Nursery in Corvallis, Oregon, 84 years ago. The retail nursery, which sits on six peaceful acres in the country, has passed down through four generations and is now owned by Powell and her siblings, Lee Powell and […]

More than just plants

By Emily Hoard — Posted January 25, 2022

Hard goods will help build sales, if retailers pay attention to customer needs There is no garden center without plants, but the stock carried shouldn’t necessarily end with green goods. By offering hard goods, retailers can increase the total value of the sale, build profit, and give customers what they want without making them go […]

A green renewal

By Kym Pokorny — Posted January 25, 2022

Trend watchers say green is the hot color, which has implications for garden retailers Whether muted or bright, foliage or flower, color drives the nursery industry, and many trend settlers say green is the Color of the Year for 2022. The first announcement came at last summer’s Cultivate’21 trade show from Garden Media Group, a […]

Satisfying in small spaces

By Tracy Ilene Miller — Posted June 24, 2019

Trees, conifers and weepers that fit the bill with beauty, versatility and easy maintenance Smaller yards haven’t changed homeowners’ need for shade or beauty. But, they have changed what will fit into a yard, which has changed the market and by extension, growers’ business focus. We asked growers to share favorite selections of small trees, […]

Flowers, hearts and decapitations

By Jeff Stone — Posted January 25, 2019

Valentine’s Day is a day to show affection for our loved ones, but it also happens to be one of the most profitable holidays of the year. Although the giving of flowers makes up only a small part of the spending, far behind Christmas or Mother’s Day for our retailers, it still brings in customers […]

Grower guidance vs. customer demand

By Tracy Ilene Miller — Posted September 25, 2018

Sometimes customers want one thing and climate wants another, but this dilemma presents opportunities for the grower If Mick Jagger had been a horticulturist, he might have sung, “You can’t always plant what you want.” Case in point: Sean Hogan, owner of Cistus Nursery (Portland, Oregon), was driving home from work in late August and […]

Amazon will sell Christmas trees this holiday season

By Bill Goloski — Posted September 19, 2018

Amazon is getting into the Christmas tree business, according to a report from the Associated Press. The online megaretailer, recently valued at $1 trillion, will deliver full-size, fresh-cut Christmas trees in large boxes to doorsteps this holiday season. The trees will be eligible for Amazon Prime shipping. Trees will be sent to customers within 10 […]

Where plant demand is headed

By Jon Bell — Posted July 31, 2018

Nurseries navigate a new landscape as consumer demand evolves Americans love their pets. A lot. In 2017, they spent nearly $70 billion on their animal companions, and that number’s expected to rise to $100 million by the end of the decade, according to the American Pet Products Assocation. They also, it seems, love their smartphones, […]

Brand positioning

By Ian Doescher — Posted July 31, 2018

The thing that beats price, quality, or service every time 1. Quality: “We have the best products or services around. No one can beat the things we sell!” 2. Price: “You’ll pay less with us than you will anywhere else. No one can beat our prices!” 3. Service: “We have better service than anyone else. […]