B A Y V I E W F A R M & G A R D E N

More best sellers

The product mix carried by Bayview Farm & Garden in Langley, Wash., reflects its community. Located in a scenic, rural area of Whidby Island in the Puget Sound, the garden center serves farm and well-to-do residents, and both groups are passionate about their community and political and charitable causes.

Here is a list of the best-selling non-green goods sold by Bayview, this year's Garden Center Magazine and Western Expo Innovator Award winner.

Pots from The Hunt Collection

Retro Enamel Ware from Compradores

The Moretti's pottery line from Compradores

Pottery
The biggest seller of non-green goods for Bayview is pottery. Two lines in particular perform well for the store. The top performer is the Hunt Collection, made up of glazed Malaysian pottery with trendy and traditional styles and colors. Two main styles from Compradores are performing well. The Moretti's line is hand formed and has simple designs with informal and weathered finishes. The second style is a line of Retro Enamel Ware in old-fashioned country speckled white. One of the most popular items in the line is a 2-gallon lemonade canister with a spigot.
For more: The Hunt Collection, P.O. Box 2191, Tacoma, WA 98401-2191; (253) 593-0933; fax (253) 593-0277; harryhc1@aol.com. Compradores, 132250 S.E. Shawville Blvd., Suite 197, Calgary, Alberta T2Y 2Z7, Canada; (403) 254-9789; fax (403) 254-9814; info@compradores.com; www.compradores.com.

Plush toys
Audubon Birds are plush toys with realistic markings and birdcalls (activated by squeezing). Rowley ordered birds common to the Puget Sound, and they're a hit with customers. "Customers want specific birds," she said. "The loon is really popular, and we keep running out of it." The goldfinch also tends to run out quickly, since it's the Washington state bird. There are 24 birds in the line.
For more: Wild Republic, K&M International, P.O. Box 691237, Cincinnati, OH 45269-1237; (800) 800-9678; www.wildrepublic.com.

All-natural pet food
In addition to selling livestock feed, Bayview has a large pet section in its main store. Rowley said that Precise pet food (for dogs and cats only) is touted by a local radio talk show host and she gets quite a bit of extra traffic from it. She places it in a prime area, facing the main door.
For more: Precise Pet Products, P.O. Box 630009, Nacogdoches, TX 75963; (888) 477-3247; fax (936) 560-8390; www.precisepet.com.

More best sellers

. © 2002 Branch-Smith Publishing