Trends: Knowing the customer
Can you spare some change?... Though trend-watchers suggest that retailers are swapping "Do-It-For-Me" customers for the old guard "Do-It-Yourselfers," my own recent experiences suggest that trends must be in the eye of the beholder. Last week, I took a three-store stop to inquire about the "new wave" of consumer — and consequently received the following responses: "Haven't noticed much of a change here," "We really don't do much differently than we've done in the past decade," and "You must mean Callaway's Nursery. This is Callaway's Pub."

OK. I made that last one up. But the point is this: For all the huffing and puffing I've heard from the purveyors of prospect, the generic suburban garden center in my neck of the woods hasn't had its house blown down by changing expectations.

That's not to say there haven't been changes. Certainly, today's customer is more sophisticated than ever, what with all the technological advances at her disposal. If nothing else, she has learned to EXPECT service/answers/product — all in a timely fashion. Also, because she has more options available by which her varied shopping needs can be met, you've likely had to clear her path to your store by going either very specific or very general. Still, for the suburban garden center operator, the basic customer hasn't changed as dramatically as some have projected...

. . . Yet!

Two inevitable developments will alter your consumer demographics, even if that evolution happens later than sooner. First, the Baby Boomer who has visited regularly or religiously will retire. When she does, she will take her aging body to places less likely to feature a big-scale gardening regimen. Maybe more important to your business is her replacement, the Generation Xer whose list of interests generally doesn't include getting the fingernails dirty. It's not that she won't want a garden, but she's not nearly as likely as her Boomer predecessor to want to garden. In both cases, your customer will be asking for more "Do It For Me" options, and you'll have to decide just what you'll do/offer to see that both of those folks remain regular customers.

For a good read on the changing customer, check out this report from the Blogging Nurseryman. It's an in-the-trenches look, with comments from interested parties.

I'm not a trend-watcher, mind you, but I would suggest that you'll be well served by becoming an interested party, too.

Puzzling pictures
Piece, brother!... One of the pictures below is a puzzle. Select the correct one and then piece the product together again. Should you be caught or killed in the course of this mission, the agency will disavow any knowledge of your actions.

Road report: Pix from the GCA Retail Tour
Check the *BLOG*

Pick 'n Click
Product info, fast!... To help you find pertinent garden/gift items — that's the only kind we market! — we've created this list of links to the suppliers. Please click the company for e-reader service.

Achla Designs Alpine Corporation Bamboo Accents Bartlett Bench & Wire, Inc. Benchmaster by Structural Plastics Bird Brain, Inc. Bowling Enterprises Carruth Studio, Inc. Carson Industries Casual Furniture & Accessories Market Ceramo Co. Clean Air Gardening Collier Metal Specialties, Inc. Color Wheel Country Originals, Inc. Custom Decor Danove Corporation Discount Pond Supplies, Inc. Dorothy Biddle Service DP Foods, LLC (Daniels Plant Food) Dramm Corporation EasyPro Pond Products EbioExpress International Fabriscape Fafard Friendship’s Garden, Inc. Garden Market EXPO/CANGC Garden Works Gardenware Gifts That Bloom

Good Directions, Inc. Hydrofarm Jackson Pottery Jamaica Cottage Shop Kay Berry Little’s Good Gloves Magnet Works Melrose International Michael Gordon LTD Novelty Manufacturing Co. Ohio Wholesale, Inc. Olds Seed Company Outback Chair Co. Outdoor Connection Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Assoc. Par A Sol Parker Davis Company, Inc. Principle Plastics Punxsutawney Glass & Tile Co. Red Carpet Studios Riverside Enterprises Rustic Natural Cedar Furniture Co. SATO Labeling Solutions America, Inc. Sherman Nursery Company Sunlight Supply, Inc. T-Mate-O Tula Hats Vitamin Institute White Cedar Gazebos

 

Road report: Pix from the GCA Retail Tour
Check the *BLOG*

Oh, yeah, the riddle answer...
A stamp

 
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