Jackson & Perkins sold to private investors
Harry & David Holdings Inc. plans to sell its Jackson & Perkins subsidiary for $49 million, according to a statement issued last week. An investment group led by Donald and Glenda Hachenberger will acquire the direct marketing and wholesale business along with the J&P brand, catalog, Web site and inventory. The Hachenbergers own several other horticulture businesses, including Southern Sun, a technology company involved in plant propagation. A separate private investment group will purchase approximately 3,200 acres in Wasco, Calif. as part of the Jackson & Perkins sale. Bill Williams, president and CEO of Harry & David Holdings, said the divesture will allow the company to focus on its core gift and gourmet food businesses.

Syngenta acquires Fischer
Agribusiness giant Syngenta has acquired plant breeder Fischer for $67 million. Fischer is a privately held company headquartered in Germany known for its geranium, poinsettia and New Guinea impatiens varieties. Fischer brand names will be maintained under terms of the deal. Syngenta also operates S&G Flowers, which offers seeds, young plants and cuttings for the horticulture industry.

4-minute waits dampen customer satisfaction
Just how fast should the checkout process be? A study from National In-Store and M/A/R/C Research showed that when the process takes 4 or 5 minutes, customer satisfaction levels fall below 80% for all but club stores, where shoppers are somewhat more tolerant. Waits longer than 5 minutes caused satisfaction levels to plummet to 30%, in some cases. Men are more likely to forego a purchase because of long checkout times, as are adults in the 35-54 age group.

Weston partners with landscape supplier
Weston Nurseries, a retailer/grower in Hopkinton, Mass., has teamed up with Landscape Depot, a local wholesale/retail landscape supplier. This spring, Weston Nurseries will begin carrying Landscape Depot's hardscape materials at the Hopkinton store. A detailed product display will tout the partnership. Landscape Depot staff members will provide hardscape training for Weston Nurseries employees. "It's a good marriage," said Landscape Depot founder John Mullen. "It's good for both of us. They have historically been the leader in their field as we are in ours."

Playshops offer merchandising tips, tours
Terri Coldreck, a consultant with Garden Center Group and merchandising consulting firm Color Results, will host "playshops" June 1-Oct. 15 in Ogunquit, Maine. Visitors will go on private tours with Coldreck to garden centers and other area retailers, such as L.L. Bean and Stonewall Kitchens. Participants will stay in a fully furnished studio apartment close to the beach and tourist attractions. Estimated cost is $2,200 for week-long accommodations and two days of private tours.

Mid-South Conference spotlights new plants
Retailers, growers and landscape professionals will visit Miss. State Univ. trial gardens and hear what's hot at pack trials at Mid-South Conference, June 4-6. Early registration ends April 1. The conference is sponsored by Miss. Nursery & Landscape Assoc., La. Nursery & Landscape Assoc., LSU AgCenter and Univ. of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

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