The nature factor. Name a kid who doesn't love to chase after butterflies or spy on squirrels. (Or chipmunks or whatever quasi-cute rodent haunts your area.) Cultivating outdoor appreciation is the first step toward gardening. As a retailer, it might behoove you to carry stuff that plays off that natural inclination.

There are an abundance of wildlife kits on the market. Here's a quick way to sort through all the options. Take a trip to your local natural history or science museum and peruse the gift shop. (Inform your cohorts that this is a legitimate work-related field trip. And, yes, a stop at the dinosaur display is totally necessary.) A little reconnaissance will help you pinpoint merchandise with real-life applications. And you'll find stuff mass merchants aren't likely to carry.

The ick factor. Kids, for the most part, like gross stuff. Bugs, worms, dirt — it's all part of ankle-biter paradise. When you're selecting garden or nature kits for kiddos, look for ones that play up the gross-out factor. Bug collecting kits with artificial creepy-crawlers could certainly be a hit. (And a source of in-office entertainment. I'm sure the bookkeeper would LOVE to find a couple of plastic beetles tucked among the payables.)

Other successful retailers have ramped up their kid selections by offering stuff beyond growing kits and tools. To read about these innovative folks — or offer your own insightful comments — visit our blog.