More archives: Interviews & Advice Features Plants & Flowers Past News . David Kuack, GMPRO editor, says the sustainability train is gaining momentum and you don't want to miss it. 10/22/07 David Kuack says the floral industry needs to do a better job of telling its story. The result: create more excitement — and more profit. 09/24/07 David Kuack tells about the benefits of Lean manufacturing. For example, one grower said implementing Lean saved his company $77,000 in distribution costs alone. 08/27/07 David Kuack urges growers to use water-thrifty plants when designing combination containers. 06/25/07 David Kuack hits the highlights of SAF's Pest and Disease Management for Ornamentals Conference. 05/21/07 David Kuack introduces readers to GMPRO's fresh new content and design. 04/23/07 David Kuack talks about the need to find -- and retain -- top-notch employees. 03/26/07 David Kuack says small business should be in favor of wage increases, regardless of political affiliation. 02/26/07 David Kuack reminds growers to be diligent in inspecting plant material from offshore producers. 01/22/07 David Kuack says that wholesale and retail growers see clear issues ahead for 2007. 12/25/06 David Kuack says a full-scale national advertising campaign would go a long way in promoting the emotional benefits of flowers. 11/20/06 David Kuack says that growers should know that their retail customers' future focus will be on "building trust, every day" with consumers. 10/23/06 David Kuack recaps this year's 21st Seeley Conference, which undertook the task of determining whether floriculture would prosper under globalization. 09/25/06 David Kuack recaps news and notes from this year's OFA Short Course. 08/21/06 David Kuack salutes the proactive approach taken by our industry to identify and control the Q-biotype whitefly. 05/22/06 David Kuack urges marketers to bring out the emotional aspects by showing what plants will do for the consumer and for her life. 04/24/06 David Kuack says it's time to change consumers' attitudes about flowers and the way they make people feel. 03/20/06 David Kuack wonders if the United States will run out of workers. 02/20/06 David Kuack tells how a lack of job security and communication can weigh on your workers. 01/23/06 David Kuack recounts the National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association's visit to Washington, D.C. 11/21/05 David Kuack wonders how important is it for children to see their parents buying and using flowers and plants. A lot, according to a recent study. 10/24/05 David Kuack says maybe we should be doing more to ensure consumers are successful with the plants they're choosing. 09/26/05 David Kuack sees the opportunity to sell more product. But how will our industry respond? 08/22/05 David Kuack says community-supported agriculture might be an option to keep a grower operating and making a profit. 07/25/05 David Kuack says higher fuel prices may hurt close to home, but may help you boost prices and increase demand among consumers. 06/27/05 David Kuack says the pack trials are about much more than plant selection these days. They're a lesson in marketing. 05/23/05 David Kuack says that for an industry that continually says more needs to be done to market to consumers and increase floral consumption, we sure talk a good game. 04/25/05 David Kuack says that to keep your sanity in these pesty times, you'd better sanitize and scout! 03/21/05 David Kuack reports on what it takes to keep good employees motivated and not wondering if the plants and salaries are greener at the greenhouse down the road. 02/21/05 David Kuack rings in the new year with an eye on the rungs of the technology ladder. 11/22/04 David Kuack says there may be light at the end of the economic tunnel. Are you ready to see the light? 10/25/04 David Kuack reports a sad conclusion from the Seeley Conference: Our industry has learned how to grow plants much faster than we've learned how to market them. 09/27/04 David Kuack says it's time to help consumers fall in love with what you sell. 08/23/04 David Kuack reports on a group of governors who want to create a national drought policy. 07/26/04 David Kuack says that the opportunity to cross-brand flowers with other industry products is only in its infancy. 06/21/04 David Kuack says today may be time to catch up on your pricing. 05/24/04 David Kuack wonders how well Martha Stewart ("the brand") will hold up in the court of public opinion. 04/26/04 David Kuack came back from SAF's Pest Conference with a few questions - and answers - about measures you can take to protect yourself from foreign starter material problems. 03/22/04 David Kuack says profit is not a dirty word. 02/23/04 David Kuack submits that an increasing loss of leisure time could have a major impact on the floriculture industry. 01/26/04 David Kuack says that differentiating your product is just the first step. Now it's time to make those benefits apparent to consumers. 11/24/03 David Kuack says that energy woes won't go away anytime soon. 11/24/03 David Kuack takes a look at the highs (productivity) and lows (morale) in the labor force. 10/27/03 David Kuack notes that the U.S. is achieving a competitive edge through increased productivity. What's it going to cost you? 09/22/03 David Kuack observes that big-box retailers are making big demands of suppliers -- and sometimes shaping us up in the process. 08/25/03 David Kuack takes a good look at what water restrictions may mean for plant selections. 07/21/03 David Kuack says that plant water requirements are going to come to the forefront in the breeder and grower communities. 05/26/03 David Kuack says that mounting disease problems this year suggest that plants could be dangerous to the health of your business. 04/21/03 David Kuack warns that state budget deficits will impact grower services. 03/24/03 David Kuack wonders when the floral industry will be ready to cash in on the customization craze. 02/24/03 David Kuack points to a mounting trend you'll want to avoid following in 2003: personal crankiness. 01/27/03 David Kuack mulls the future of Kmart. Are lower prices enough? 12/23/02 David Kuack meditates on the qualities that make for a great company. 11/25/02 David Kuack says it's time to pay attention to raising employee confidence. 10/21/02 David Kuack explores trust in troubled times. What can you do for customers? 09/23/02 David Kuack says establishing a national brand is costly -- and we're seeing more of it in the floral industry. 08/26/02 David Kuack discusses some good news from the U.S. Labor Department. 07/22/02 David Kuack is seeing a lot more buzz about "profitability" than he used to. It's about time! 06/24/02 David Kuack says that growers and retailers need to work together to educate consumers and government officials about planting in a drought. 04/22/02 David Kuack says he's pulling for Kmart - his former lawn and garden employer. 03/25/02 David Kuack says weather forecasters are talking about another El Nino this spring. 02/25/02 David Kuack sees the big boxes increasingly looking for exclusivity. Hopefully it won't be at the expense of too many of our industry's growers. 01/21/02 David Kuack observes that the spring outlook depends on which analyst you're watching. The economy is either down the tubes or we're well on our way to realizing better financial times. 12/19/01 David Kuack says the floral industry is in a unique position to help improve the psychological well-being of U.S. consumers and workers. 11/26/01 David Kuack says that with low levels of loyalty, increased rate of layoffs and mounting sense of job insecurity, it's not surprising that more employees are feeling some type of stress on the job. 10/22/01 David Kuack says that without the recently-dissolved BPI organization, many growers and some allied trade companies would have never reached the level of business success they've attained. Now it's time to support a good thing BPI left to us, the America in Bloom initiative. 09/24/01 David Kuack wonders how you can keep consumers interested in buying your product during the current economic slow down. The answer is emotional appeal. 08/27/01 David Kuack sees a message on the Western horizon worth heeding: With energy, so goes the economy. 07/23/01 David Kuack is back from the California pack trials with a challenge. If the average consumer has a difficult time identifying and growing common bedding plants, how about those plants she knows nothing about? 6/25/01 David Kuack says you shouldn't let today's economy lull you into a sense of employee security. Holding on to good staff will still require maintaining a workplace that nurtures a sense of loyalty. 05/21/01 David Kuack notes that today's high employee turnover rate makes it especially difficult to provide new hires with proper worker protection training in a timely manner. 04/23/01 David Kuack says growers with pansy plug problems late last year need more information about the crop they're receiving. 03/26/01 David Kuack ponders the affect of today's natural gas market on tomorrow's green industry. 02/12/01 David Kuack sees continued industry growth reflected in the results of a grower survey conducted by National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association. 01/22/01 David Kuack noticed we got a taste of drought this year. What's that mean for flower sales? 11/27/00 David Kuack sees good news: People have more to spend. Now for the bad news: They're working longer hours, cutting into their time for leisure and household activities. 10/02/00 David Kuack says that some Americans expect to have more free time in the future. Can you find them? 08/07/00 David Kuack says "big box" retailers are benefitting from recent economic trends -- increased consumer confidence and spending. 07/10/00 David Kuack saw more retail buyers and consumer garden magazine writers at this year's pack trials. What will that mean for you? 06/12/00 David Kuack laments society's decline in physical activity. When people won't even participate in sports, what's the outlook for gardening? 05/15/00 David Kuack gives a good-scouting salute to growers who take their scouting seriously. 04/17/00 David Kuack wants to know what you're doing now to ensure your business growth continues, even if the current rate of consumer spending takes a nosedive. 03/20/00 David Kuack has a question you may have to answer soon: If you had the opportunity to grow bioengineered plants, would you? 02/21/00 David Kuack says get a grip. And when you do, make sure it fits. 01/24/00 David Kuack sees changes behind, changes ahead, and changes right now. So what'll you do about it? 12/27/99 David Kuack says now is a good time to contemplate what your labor and equipment needs will be for the coming year. 11/01/99 David Kuack wonders if you can cut it as a coach. 10/04/99 David Kuack preaches on the peculiarities of propagation. 09/06/99 David Kuack heard plenty of talk about consolidation at this year's Seeley Conference. Good or bad? You be the judge. 08/09/99 David Kuack notices how marketing materials and programs are becoming more important at the spring pack trials. 07/12/99 David Kuack wonders how profitable your growing season was. Some growers may be surprised. 06/14/99 David Kuack wonders how long the U.S. economy can hum along at its current rate of growth. 05/17/99 David Kuack meditates on the politics of pest control. 03/22/99 David Kuack points to a benchmark in the greenhouse industry -- the 40th anniversary of NGMA. 02/22/99 David Kuack considers an interesting trend on the retail side -- the big are getting smaller. 01/25/99 David Kuack looks at OSHA's new interest in ergonomic working conditions. 12/28/99 David Kuack talks about the importance of participating in the U.S. Census of Agriculture. 11/30/99 David Kuack questions what consumers really want when they shop for plants. 11/02/99 David Kuack ponders the history and the future of new crop development. 10/05/99 David Kuack has a special Labor Day program for you. He analyzes how increased home sales are affecting flower sales. 09/07/99 David Kuack reviews the onslaught of brands and how consumers are forced to sort through them. 08/10/99 David Kuack questions a retailer's responsibility for maintaining plant quality in the store. 07/13/99 David Kuack wonders if your business will fall victim to the Y2K computer bug. 06/15/99 David Kuack reviews changes in employment rates, employees' attitudes and employers' efforts to attract and keep quality workers. 05/18/99 David Kuack reviews wonders whether we are trusting consumers too much to learn on their own what they need to know about plants. 04/20/99 David Kuack analyzes the value of customizing products to offer exactly what customers want. 03/23/99 David Kuack examines issues that affect the way greenhouse operators do business. 02/23/99 David Kuack reviews the impact of the state of the economy on the greenhouse industry. 01/26/99 Jyme Mariani says if you decide to take a risk and name a plant after a person, make sure that plant is a real winner. 10/29/07 . Todd Davis says Lady Bird Johnson was the first American first lady to take a cause by the horns and do something about it. Thankfully, that cause was ours. 09/10/07 Despite the failure of immigration reform, Todd Davis says most Americans stand behind sensible reform that allows constructive illegal aliens to stay and gain citizenship. 08/13/07 Todd Davis says immigration reform is under way, but nobody is popping champagne corks until they see the fine print. 06/11/07 Todd Davis believes in the value of our industry. We just need to convince the populace how much a good landscape increases a home's value. 05/07/07 Todd Davis says we're reaching the point that a supplier's environmental practices will be a major purchase factor. 04/02/07 Todd Davis debunks myths about the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. 03/12/07 Todd Davis warns about the newest angle in the immigration battle: municipal immigration laws. 02/12/07 Todd Davis asks what happens when Wal-Mart starts promoting its pro-green policies. 01/08/07 Todd Davis, aka Mr. Silver Lining, makes some bold predictions for 2007. 12/11/06 Todd Davis says nursery owners will face tougher enforcement, no matter what immigration-related compromise Congress comes up with. 09/11/06 Todd Davis analyzes ANLA and PLANET's decision not to merge. 08/07/06 Todd Davis urges the industry to come up with a plan to ensure a reliable work force for the next 50 years. 06/12/06 Todd Davis says our industry has come full circle, and the market is ripe for smaller growers to take advantage of. 05/08/06 Todd Davis is doubtful about a root certification program for plants grown in high-tech pots. 03/06/06 Todd Davis says the only way to get in the good graces of an angry neighbor is to tell your immigrant worker story. 02/06/06 Todd Davis says the deciding factor in landscape worthiness of a new cultivar too often comes down to size. 01/09/06 As we head into the holiday season, Todd Davis, NMPRO editor, does his best to play the role of Mr. Silver Lining. 12/12/05 Todd Davis says that the ANLA, PLANET merger raises issues worth exploring. 10/10/05 Todd Davis says that activist groups need a better understanding of the complex illegal aliens situation. 09/12/05 Todd Davis shows you how to find good news, even in bad numbers. 08/08/05 Todd Davis questions whether the ANLA-PLANET merger will serve growers well. 07/11/05 Call Todd Davis crazy, but what he sees thinly veiled under a cloak of homeland security concerns is racism against Latinos. 06/13/05 Todd Davis wonders if you see the warning signs: Buyers are getting picky. 05/09/05 Todd Davis says the good nurseries are getting better. Are you with them, or getting farther behind? 04/11/05 Todd Davis turns a questioning eye to SOD rules. Do they really make sense? 03/07/05 Todd Davis says immigration has become an issue so hot that few elected officials would touch it with their taxpayer-funded 10-foot poles. 02/07/05 Todd Davis stews over California's latest regulatory goonery: a ban on hand-weeding. 12/13/04 Todd Davis shares the space with Bill Turk of Martin's Nursery in Semmes, Ala., who's still weathering the storm. 11/29/04 Todd Davis says the constant discovery of new insect pests and diseases is inevitable. So how about giving HRI a hand? 10/11/04 Todd Davis says no matter how you measure them, these container laws pack some potential challenges. 09/13/04 Todd Davis says it's a whole new world out there, where bad decisions will have more of an impact on your business now than in years past. 08/09/04 Todd Davis sees a place for making sure we alert our industry to real dangers, but also a place for reason to reign. 07/12/04 Todd Davis says we finally have a good Zone Map -- almost! 06/07/04 Todd Davis says weed wackos on our own side are hurting our chances of winning the war on regulating invasives. 05/10/04 Todd Davis urges state Departments of Agriculture to take a deep breath and count to 10 before they act on issues like the recent SOD discovery. 04/12/04 Todd Davis says it's time to arm yourself for alien debates - with facts, not emotions. 03/08/04 Todd Davis ponders a possible future headline: "Nursery growers paid for crops removing carbon dioxide from atmosphere." Believe it? 02/09/04 Todd Davis introduces a must-read opportunity for progressive nursery operators. 01/12/04 Todd Davis poses a troubling question: Will newcomers make us stronger, or put us out of business? 12/08/03 Todd Davis says the turf and chemical industries are teaming up for some industry promotion. Guess what? You'll benefit from riding along. 11/10/03 Todd Davis has the crystal ball out, and what he sees is shortages. 10/13/03 Todd Davis says that somewhere between the breeder and the end consumer, the new plant highway is jammed. 09/08/03 Todd Davis says that cash-for-xeriscape programs may offer as much false hope for a jackpot as a Vegas slot machine. 08/11/03 Todd Davis says that with genetic mapping it may soon be possible for breeders to outflank companies who play fast and loose with plants. 07/07/03 Todd Davis digs into the subject of planting depth. Who's right? Who's wrong? 05/12/03 Todd Davis bets you worry more about your 401(k) than your NPK. That may change. 04/07/03 Todd Davis explores the Tale of the Tag Farmer. Maybe you're one, too. 03/10/03 Todd Davis wonders if you're ready for state estate taxes. 02/10/03 Todd Davis says treating your plant problems is like treating your children ... kind of. 01/13/03 Todd Davis says we need to get the attention of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. 12/09/02 Todd Davis thinks we should make it a badge of honor to discover, identify and eradicate foreign exotic pests at our facilities. 11/11/02 Todd Davis says landscape distribution is the fastest-growing segment of the nursery industry. 10/28/02 Todd Davis says a few industry members are hinting at the need for a national advertising campaign such as "Got Milk?" 10/07/02 Todd Davis considers the future for water regulation. How soon before "smart" irrigation controllers become a part of the commonplace (and required)? 09/09/02 Todd Davis knows what's wrong with election years: Incumbents who strive to appease people who don't agree with them politically, don't like them personally and wouldn't vote for them in 100 years. 08/12/02 Todd Davis observes that 2002 is turning out pretty well, despite previous talk about drought, bankruptcies, and overexpansion. 07/08/02 Todd Davis, has some issues with the USDA's new Hardiness Zone Map. See if you agree. 06/10/02 Todd Davis may sound like a heretic when he says it, but here goes: Drought is good for our industry. 05/20/02 Todd Davis has noticed pot-in-pot production becoming more common. But is that meeting the needs of all your customers? 04/08/02 Todd Davis reports that one of the most significant occurrences on the invasive species front is happening at this very moment. 03/11/02 Todd Davis thinks we have more than enough bright minds in our industry to overcome any challenges we might face. 01/07/02 Todd Davis personally thinks the odds of someone targeting your nursery as a source of terrorist tools are extremely low. But you never know, so take some precautions. 12/10/01 Todd Davis says that like the United States, the nursery industry will rise above its current terrorist-stricken situation. 11/12/01 Todd Davis warns that plant growth regulators and perennials are a bad mix. 10/08/01 Todd Davis takes a stand for the American farmer. 09/10/01 Todd Davis observes that the death tax is still alive and kicking. So what are you going to do about it? 08/13/01 Todd Davis invites you to sit down, fry an egg on the sidewalk and have a brief chat about heat stress. 07/09/01 Todd Davis sees something a little too generic in America's new choice of a national tree. 06/11/01 If you read Todd Davis' March column, you may have been led to believe all is well in the plant patent world. He now wishes he could say this were true. 05/07/01 Todd Davis says the nursery industry won a big one when Congress and President Bush overturned OSHA's new ergonomics standards. 04/09/01 Todd Davis says we just dodged a bullet from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, thanks to quick action by our trade associations. 03/12/01 Todd Davis says that your customer's attempt to do business with another company just might actually be good for your business. 02/05/01 Todd Davis urges First Lady Laura Bush to focus her "education" initiative on educating the public on the benefits of planting trees. 01/08/01 Todd Davis believes we can make our cities safer for people, birds, squirrels and earthworms without having to resort to chemical bans. 12/11/00 Todd Davis believes nursery sales will continue to be strong in the coming years because of boomers' buying habits. But what about Generation X? 11/13/00 Todd Davis turns his gaze to the horticultural horizon. Here's what he sees. 10/16/00 Todd Davis roams the countryside. Now you can check out what he's found. 10/30/00 09/18/00 02/07/00 11/22/99 05/31/99 04/19/99 03/29/99 03/15/99 11/22/99 David Morgan says it's cathartic to discuss what we won't do; it's more difficult to admit to what we must do. 07/24/00 David Morgan isn't all that old, but is old enough to create a special list: Things he doesn't do anymore. 06/26/00 David Morgan reports that growers who want strong support from their universities need to divvy up. It's just the way things work these days. 05/29/00 David Morgan observes that it's good work to plant a tree on behalf of someone you want to remember. 05/01/00 David Morgan wonders what he -- and you -- will be remembered for. 04/03/00 David Morgan observes that the latest way to stay in shape is the first exercise you ever tried. 03/06/00 David Morgan says you made a good decision by going into horticulture professions. 01/10/00 David Morgan finds out what’s ahead in 2000, by talking to some of your nursery friends. 12/13/99 David Morgan has some ideas about the perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season. 11/15/99 David Morgan has a new tool every nursery grower should run right out and acquire -- a Thankful Journal. 10/18/99 David Morgan knows Tom Saywer had one. So did Jed Clampitt and Tom Mix. If Teddy Roosevelt didn't, he should have. Look sharp now -- it's time to compare pocketknives! 09/20/99 David Morgan knows a good boss when he sees one. They look like a scoutmaster. 08/23/99 David Morgan has high regard for irises, so a Saturday session ripping them out pained him deeply. 07/26/99 David Morgan takes a stroll through the garden center, wondering why we don't give better advice to home gardeners. 06/28/99 David Morgan thinks the world of a good horticulture reference book, including these favorites. 05/03/99 David Morgan provides tips for working productively with the Hispanic community. 04/05/99 David Morgan gives the big pitch for turning losers into winners. 03/08/99 David Morgan says it's high time we encouraged more good teachers, because the industry's future is in their hands. 02/08/99 David Morgan finds himself taking the heat for using a bad word in print: stuff. 01/11/99 David Morgan bravely tosses out a few unguaranteed predictions for nursery life in '99. 12/14/99 David Morgan embraces the spirit of the season with this reflection on angels in our lives. 11/16/99 David Morgan suggests a slightly different list of things to be thankful for as we near Thanksgiving. 10/19/99 David Morgan is critical of the way the Clinton Administration is developing its executive order on invasive plants. 09/21/99 David Morgan takes a close look at Texas water shortages and the conflicts it's causing in the industry. 08/24/99 David Morgan examines plasticulture and how research in this field affects business at the nursery. 07/27/99 David Morgan, the food maven, has a little gastronomic advice for employers. 06/29/99 David Morgan sniffles about the real problems that allergies can cause in the nursery and what you can do about it. 06/01/99 David Morgan confesses his love for Bean -- L.L. Bean and their wonderful customer service, that is. 05/04/99 David Morgan has some friendly reminders about when and how to be nice to customers. 04/06/99 David Morgan laments the loss of nap time in America and offers tips for helping employees beat drowsiness and stay alert. 03/09/99 David Morgan ponders the passage of time and looks at what a great employee resource aging baby boomers can be. 02/09/99 David Morgan takes a swing at poor examples of landscaping. 01/12/99 . Carol Miller says the more stores she visits, the more she's convinced that most retailers aren't very good bosses. 10/15/07 Carol Miller says a good coach will turn newbie gardeners into hobbyists, a true investment in your future success. 09/17/07 Carol Miller says the eminent-domain caseof Eisley's Nursery shows that small businesses need to pay close attention to any local authority that has power over them. 08/20/07 Carol Miller says that with today's POS advancements, there's no reason your customer service can't exceed expectations. 06/18/07 Call the category what you will — Earth friendly, organic, sustainability — this is a topic you will stumble across time and again, Carol Miller says. 05/14/07 Carol Miller asks if you're ready for a Whole Foods-type garden center to approach our industry. 04/16/07 Chances are you have an ethnic neighborhood in your market. Carol Miller asks what you're doing to connect with these often-overlooked consumers. 03/19/07 Carol Miller says there's nothing you can do to avoid major foul ups. But there is a lot you can do in how you handle it. 12/18/06 Carol Miller introduces us to Garden Center Design School, a 12-part series beginning in January. 12/18/06 Carol Miller says customer service, at its most basic level, is about providing solutions to questions customers haven't asked yet. 11/13/06 Carol Miller cautions retailers to keep the core focus of their store in mind at all times. 10/16/06 Yale Youngblood says that with today's technology, customers may know more than you do if you're not careful. 10/02/06 Carol Miller says running a garden center is tough enough. But bringing in family members adds a lot of complications. 09/18/06 Carol Miller says one retailer's hurricane experience will help you prepare for the worst. 08/14/06 Carol Miller asks how you are helping customers relax. 07/17/06 Carol Miller unveils the design changes that keep the magazine looking fresh. 06/19/06 Carol Miller urges retailers to begin using their talented employees to their full capacity. 04/17/06 Carol Miller believes each service you offer establishes closer ties with your customer. 03/13/06 Carol Miller laments that today's tiny yards present so many challenges. 02/13/06 Carol Miller says sales or promotional items with low margins do not need to make a store look trashy. 01/16/06 Carol Miller urges retailers to meet the facts of aging by taking a page from Target's marketing and buying strategy. 11/14/05 Carol Miller says the holiday season can be a tough one for garden retailers, perhaps because we're still in the learning process. 10/17/05 Carol Miller says when it comes to prices, simpler is better. 09/19/05 Carol Miller turns a learning eye to IKEA's merchandising techniques. 08/15/05 Carol Miller sees great value in working in the family business. 07/18/05 Carol Miller rounds up advice from two top retailers: Pay attention to the details. 06/20/05 Carol Miller says many retailers don't know their customers as well as they think they do. 05/16/05 Carol Miller wonders how you'd respond if you were approached by investors. Are you ready to swap independence for accountability? 04/18/05 Carol Miller suggests it's time to engineer a rebellion against the "tyranny of the expected." 03/14/05 Carol Miller says sour-minded retailers need to take time away to rejuvenate their minds before they pout their way out of a living. 02/14/05 Carol Miller wonders how you would fare if your state and national associations imposed a call to excellence. 12/20/04 Yale Youngblood lists eight things to avoid at your trade show booth. 12/06/04 Carol Miller looks back on a year when the publication provided plenty of exclusive new data for independent garden centers to use. 11/15/04 Yale Youngblood hears opportunity knocking. It may be feldspar. 11/01/04 Carol Miller spotted a goldmine for garden centers, when she watched her parents overhaul their backyard last summer. 10/18/04 Yale Youngblood presents the Top 10 lead-getters for August, plus a dash of philosophy to prime your pump. 10/04/04 Carol Miller says she's finding more people asking, "What's life like after garden center ownership? And how do I get there?" 09/20/04 Carol Miller sees a gajillion inexpensive things you can do to liven up your store. All you need is a little creativity. 08/16/04 Yale Youngblood says you're but a mere eight weeks and 30 degrees from your best autumn season yet. 08/02/04 Carol Miller suggests you use your employee benefits as a marketing tool to promote your products and your store. Give employees something they can try at home! 07/19/04 Carol Miller says point-of-sale systems are a good indicator of the future. If you don't have one, your future's dim. 06/14/04 Carol Miller suggests you use your employees' nightmare stories as a training tool. It might be just what the doctor ordered. 05/17/04 Yale Youngblood reminds us that you can't score without a goal. 05/03/04 Carol Miller shares some good ideas that you -- or people less honest than you -- could steal. 04/19/04 Yale Youngblood says April is National Gardening Month. 04/05/04 Carol Miller has some advice for how to get your next press release noticed. 03/15/04 Carol Miller cautions retailers on the grow: Don't let the joy of schematics spoil your focus on retailing. 02/16/04 Yale Youngblood realizes it's the Spring Eve. Are you ready? 02/02/04 Carol Miller ponders the power of the tease. Would it work for you? 01/19/04 Yale Youngblood announces the 10th anniversary for this groundbreaking publication. 01/05/04 Carol Miller is pleased to introduce some new enhancements to the magazine, each of which focuses on a special retail need. 12/15/03 Yale Youngblood is making sure his running shoes still fit, to make sure a Christmas wish doesn't pass him by. 12/01/03 Carol Miller says that independents committed some excellent strategies when the big boxes moved in. Now, don't let your guard down. 11/17/03 Yale Youngblood has the list what's "in" for 2004, from the Garden Writers Association symposium in Chicago. Read it here! 11/03/03 Carol Miller says Colorado has a lot to teach us about ways a united green industry can usher in dramatic change. 10/20/03 Yale Youngblood says that "reasonably priced" isn't the same as cheap. Just ask his wife. 10/06/03 Carol Miller sees some businesses shedding their non-core products in response to an anemic economy. But is that the best approach? 09/15/03 Carol Miller asks "What do your signs tell customers -- about you?" 08/18/03 Yale Youngblood finds three great things to celebrate about August! OK, make that two things. 08/04/03 Carol Miller lists three ways to run a whopping business, even in tough times. 07/14/03 Yale Youngblood lists the Top 10 requested items from our May issue of Garden Center Products & Supplies. 06/03/03 Carol Miller points out the pathway you can follow to be an Innovator award winner. 05/19/03 Yale Youngblood shares his 2 cents worth, plus Conference in a Box. 05/05/03 Carol Miller holds out hope for a troubled year. Nothing makes a worried family feel more grounded than putting its home and yard to rights. 04/14/03 Yale Youngblood loves April. Here's why you should, too. 03/31/03 Carol Miller suggests a cost-effective, personal way you can reach your market. 03/17/03 Yale Youngblood prompts you to consider a few non-hort shows and sources to prepare you for the spring season. 03/03/03 Carol Miller observes that the best thing you might learn from some stores is what to not do. 02/17/03 Yale Youngblood reports that a new breed of home improvement garden centers soon may be gunning for your business. 02/03/03 Carol Miller says Lowe's is going after the same audience independents do -- financially secure women. And if her friends and family are anything to judge by, the campaign is working. 01/20/03 Yale Youngblood tells you what's new for the new year. 01/06/03 Carol Miller offers some points to consider as you plan for a budget-conscious 2003. 12/16/02 Yale Youngblood has a few prize-winning hints for 2003 to slip into your Christmas stocking. 12/02/02 Carol Miller considers the giant power of helping customers use individual items as part of larger projects. 11/18/02 Yale Youngblood offers his four "Best Bets" for the next major selling season. 11/04/02 Carol Miller says profit-making in the holidays may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. 10/14/02 Yale Youngblood has the most recent picks from All-America Rose Selections ... and more. 09/30/02 Carol Miller says that national trends often have little to do with what is happening in a particular city or store. So maybe you should do more to know your customer. 09/16/02 Carol Miller ponders that fragile relationship between family and and multi-generation business. 08/19/02 Yale Youngblood reconsiders the what's what and hue's hue of pot color preference. 08/05/02 Carol Miller offers some hints on how to hit the bull's-eye with your next promotion. 07/15/02 Yale Youngblood is on a quest. We'll let you figure out for what. (BTW: Gazing globes are still hot sellers.) 07/01/02 Carol Miller says businesses can learn something from the military's approach to developing the Joint Strike Fighter. 06/17/02 Yale Youngblood, lists the top 10 lead-getters among our offerings of garden center merchandise. 06/03/02 Yale Youngblood hates Walmart - about three times a week, on average. 05/06/02 Carol Miller asks, "What would you do if someone wanted to buy your garden center today?" 04/15/02 Yale Youngblood shares the three words that are most important to your bottom line in the next decade. 04/01/02 Carol Miller wonders what story your store can turn into a fairy tale. 03/18/02 Yale Youngblood announces a new feature in his leading magazine for garden and gift retailers. 03/04/02 Carol Miller can tell the spring rush is starting. It's all in the type of phone calls she gets. 02/18/02 Yale Youngblood says that baseball is closely akin to what you do when you sell your plants. 02/04/02 Carol Miller has been shopping for groceries in a store that caused lines on the freeway. If groceries can go from boring to thrilling, surely garden centers can do even better. 01/14/02 Yale Youngblood provides four important ways to tell whether 2002 holds great things for you. 12/31/01 Carol Miller says our industry has always been a little out of step with the rest of the country, economically speaking. And this year, that's a good thing. 12/17/01 Yale Youngblood notes that manufacturers walk a fine line between "patriotic," "tacky" and "exploitive." 12/03/01 Carol Miller ponders a retailer's dilemma. How will a war against terrorism affect the gardening public, if at all? 11/19/01 Yale Youngblood notes that even during hard times there are things to be thankful for. 11/05/01 Carol Miller wonders if you've noticed a group that can make (or break) gardening in your community: Homeowner associations. 10/15/01 Yale Youngblood reports on a product that's gotten more popular with each passing year. 10/01/01 Carol Miller says that when it comes to new ideas, no retailer is an island. At least, he shouldn't be! 09/17/01 Carol Miller thinks you could benefit from a new way of thinking: Shoestring luxury. 08/20/01 Yale Youngblood lets you pick a color. Any color. As long as it's coral, white and orange. 08/06/01 Carol Miller has a message for extremists in the green industry -- get lost! 07/16/01 Yale Youngblood has learned a lot about life: The better prepared you are to adapt, the more likely you’ll be to succeed. 07/02/01 Carol Miller reports that, by most accounts, the weather lured spring shoppers to the garden center in the nick of time. 06/18/01 Yale Youngblood finds the story of healing hearts in one particular supplier's merchandi