Southern Nursery Association Current Events Calendar

The National Gardening Survey is the comprehensive market research report that leaders in the lawn and garden business count on each year to track the market and help them make strategic marketing decisions. Conducted annually since 1973 by the Gallup Organization, Inc. for the National Gardening Association, the Survey provides in-depth and up-to-date marketing information on industry trends, household participation, consumer profiles and retail sales. Ordering and price information is available at the bottom of the web-page.

Garden Center Solutions specializes in advertising and marketing solutions for the Green Industry. Garden Center Solutions works with you to find ways to market your business by using the most affordable, professional programs and methods available.

The Garden Center Group is an alliance of garden centers, consultants, service providers and preferred vendors who work together creating a community of professionals with one goal in mind…helping each other build successful companies. When you join The Group you’ll have access to some of the industry’s leading experts on business management issues along with dozens of garden center owners from across the country; centers facing the same business concerns as you on a daily basis.

Establishing and Operating a Garden Center 2002. Multi-state Regional Research Project and published by NRAES (Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service). The objective of this publication is to estimate establishment and operating costs for garden centers at two levels of sales and to specify the general set of financial, marketing and business principles that should be available to the owner/manager of a garden center. Capital budgets, including investment and operations costs for each firm, are developed. A merchandising program (layout, pricing, advertising, cost structure and diversification) is also outlined.

Garden Center Critique & Merchandising Guide – Packed with information and photographs from 12 of New England’s successful garden centers, The Garden Center Critique & Merchandising Guide will help you analyze your marketing practices, scrutinize your operation through the eyes of your customers, improve efficiencies and develop innovative marketing strategies that will differentiate you from your competitors.

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension releases Master Gardener Annual Report yearly. Current report 2012.

The U.S. Lawn & Garden Market. Now in its 6th edition, this study by Packaged Facts features numerous tables detailing sales patterns for L&G equipment, supplies, and services, with projections offered to 2009. It also contains profiles of major marketers such as MTD, Toro, Electrolux, Deere, Ames True Temper, Fiskars, Scotts, TruGreen-Chemlawn, and now Briggs & Stratton and Rayovac; provides compete coverage of new product trends; engages in a thorough analysis of distribution and retail sectors; and surveys consumer purchasing patterns for numerous lawn and garden products and services.

Software for the Green Industry – One of the questions most often asked is “What software alternatives are out there for the green industry?” While the list below is not meant to be all-inclusive, it is a good point from which to start in analyzing which software may be best suited for your firm:

E-commerce applications in the green industry. Although e-commerce performance in the green industry has been mixed to date, opportunities do exist to apply information technologies to the marketing of green industry products and services. While appropriate B2C models are still being evaluated, B2B models/portals have been highly touted as useful tools for e-procurement and online exchange. A few of the most popular B2B green industry sites (provided only as examples of this latest trend – not an endorsement) include Plant and Supply Locator, and PlantAmerica.com.

Spectrum Net Designs offers services to the Green Industry including internet access, website registration, website hosting, website design, and website marketing.

Focal Point Communications has been producing creative brochures, newsletters and sales aids for the green industry since 1987. Landscape companies, lawn care companies, trade associations and suppliers use Focal Point for solutions to their marketing challenges.

Conversion Table reference : Conversion Tables, Formulas, and Suggested Guidelines for Horticultural Use published by the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service.

Associations are a vital part of the development and growth of businesses and the ornamental horticulture industry as a whole. The following are links to national, state, and regional associations.

Greenhouse and Nursery Industry Trade Magazines (and other commercial publications):
Many of the industry trade magazines are available free of charge to commercial operations. They provide a wealth of applied information.

Tax Information for Businesses. This website, provided by the IRS, is a good source of information for tax rules and regulations.

The Small Business/Self-Employed webpage, also provided by the IRS, offers information and links for starting a business, employee records, employer id numbers, and many other aspects of owning and operating a small business.