North America's Resource for Garden Retailing - Since 2000 | | Your Monday Morning Wake Up Call... | | | Rise & Shine... It's Day 90 and Week 14 of 2025 | | |
Excitement Ahead!
by Danny Summers
Here we are in Week 15 and that means you are most likely already feeling the excitement of busy Spring Weeks. But at the same time we have some Excitement Ahead here in The Group!
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This Thursday - GROUPtalk LIVE
Rachel Reynolds presents...
Creative Visual Merchandising
Rachel Reynolds is an accomplished visual merchandiser with a passion for creating beautiful, immersive gardens. Formerly a visual merchandiser at Buchanan’s Native Plants—one of Houston’s premier Garden Centers—Rachel now runs a landscaping business, helping clients design stunning, functional gardens. Beyond private landscapes, Rachel is passionate about working with garden centers to refine their store vision, craft engaging displays, and enhance the shopping experience in ways that drive both inspiration and sales.
Creative Visual Merchandising will delve into describing exactly how to take regular merchandising and make it visual merchandising. After nearly 3 years as the sole Visual Merchandiser at an upscale Houston Garden Center, Rachel mastered the techniques necessary to create visually appealing and profitable displays and identified important philosophies around the topic. Learn the difference between a display that just holds merchandise and a display that pulls in and inspires customers and pushes sales.
You won't want to miss this inspirational session! The GROUPtalk LIVE Zoom Invitation will be shared through The Group's GroupEs eList. Are you subscribed to GroupEs? Need help? Send me an email now.
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Do You Remember... A Surprise Inside?
Last September, I shared the blog message, A Surprise Inside. The spark of the idea for the message was a combination of Cracker Jack's "A Surprise Inside" and what Karen and I had been seeing in the Ball FloraPlant New Introductions sample box experience.
We have been on the Ball sample box list for several seasons now and it has been an amazing experience to see some of the very best new plants coming to market in the next few seasons. It gave me a preview of what we were to see at upcoming shows.
At Cultivate'24, Lloyd Traven of Peace Tree Farm approached me with the idea of offering Trial Boxes to some of our very best Garden Centers. Peace Tree has been producing some of the industry's Trial Plants for a number of the genetics companies. Lloyd also attended The Fall Event 2024 and introduced the program concept at one of our breakfast sessions.
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There is no cost to participate for the Garden Center, only a commitment to be willing to: (1) receive the samples upon arrival, (2) care for and plant the new introductions in and around the Garden Center, and (3) promote to both staff and consumers to see and evaluate these new arrivals. And then give feedback in simple, easy ways.
A Premier Garden Center with the Coolest New Plants!
The opportunity for a Garden Center to experience a new variety almost a year before it's on the market and for their audience to see the Garden Center as a leading New Plant location, could be a very unique position!
Can you imagine... customers seeing a WOW new plant months before and maybe even wanting to be on a wait list for when it becomes available? Now that is a Customer Experience!
Introducing Peace Tree Farm's New Trial Box Program!
Lloyd now has the following genetics firms wanting to participate and ready to ship Trial Boxes this spring. A Garden Center will not know which genetics they might receive. That's up to the genetics firm and Peace Tree Farm.
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Ball Horticulture
(Selecta One and Ball FloraPlant)
Dummen Orange (Annuals)
Dummen Orange (Perennials)
Benary Seed
American Takii Seed
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Sakata Seed and Plants
Burpee Seed
Concept Plants
Westhoff
GreenFuse
| | An Example...To give you an idea of what a Trial Box might contain, Stephanie Vincenti, Marketing Manager for Ball FloralPlant and Selecta One, who manages their New Varieties Box Program, told me she projects the Ball Flora-Plant Trial Boxes to contain: (1 plant each) | | |
Ageratum Monarch Magic
Dianthus I Love U
Dianthus Pink Kisses®
Dianthus DiaDeur™ Pink Shades
Dahlia Venti™ FireBurst
Dahlia Venti™ PinkBurst
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Petunia SlingShot™ Purple Fantasy
Calibrachoa Cha-Cha™ Hot Pink Star
Trixi® FunTopia Utopia
MixMaster™ Heavy Petal
Petunia Main Stage™ Merlot Glacier Sky
EnViva™ Pink
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Ready to Participate? SIGN UP NOW
Download the Trail Box Agreement, complete the easy sign up form and return to Peace Tree Farm. I spoke to Lloyd last Friday and he said they may start shipping some boxes as early as week 17 for southern areas and weeks 18-21 for more northern locations!
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Announcing The Fall Event 2025 Sponsors!
This week, we begin our rollout of our Sponsors for The Fall Event 2025. We are blessed with having the support and participation of the very best plant brands, growers, hardgoods, and service producers in the industry. Some may be new to you, and some are recent winners of Cool Product Awards or Retailers' Choice Awards.
Each of these companies understands the vision and purpose of The Garden Center Group and The Fall Event 2025. They will be active in each session at The Fall Event 2025 and will be bringing their newest introductions and ideas to you!
We will have a special Sponsor Showcase at The Fall Event – a time for you to meet them and enjoy some light fare and beverages before the kickoff session.
Be sure to scroll down here in GROUPtalk, just below our Partners for Success, and see each logo. You can click on each logo to visit each website.
Thank You to our Sponsors!!!
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Sharing is at the heart of The Group and your ideas are very important. If you have any trouble logging into The Group WebSystem, please let me know. Are you and your staff all subscribed to our eLists such as GroupEs, Retail-Grower, Retail-Landscape, Owners-Only, and a number of others including one for Marketing and even Tropicals? Need help subscribing? Let me know so I can show you how you can sign up.
Thanks for sharing!
Danny Summers
danny@thegardencentergroup.com
Tel: 678-909-7770, Cell: 678-761-7145
REMEMBER: Your interaction (by phone and email) with Group Service Providers such as Tim Quebedeaux, Sid Raisch, John Kennedy, Jean Seawright, and of course Danny Summers are included in your retainer!
This full article is also available on The Group Blog: CLICK HERE!
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GROUPtalk LIVE Monthly Online Program
The 2nd Thursday of each month at 11:00 am - 12:00 noon Eastern*
Mark Your Calendar for these upcoming sessions:
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Creative Visual Merchandising
with Rachel Reynolds
Rachel Reynolds is an accomplished visual merchandiser with a passion for creating beautiful, immersive gardens. Formerly a visual merchandiser at Buchanan’s Native Plants—one of Houston’s premier garden centers—Rachel now runs a landscaping business, helping clients design stunning, functional gardens. Beyond private landscapes, Rachel is passionate about working with garden centers to refine their store vision, craft engaging displays, and enhance the shopping experience in ways that drive both inspiration and sales.
Creative Visual Merchandising will delve into describing exactly how to take regular merchandising and make it visual merchandising. After nearly 3 years as the sole Visual Merchandiser at an upscale Houston garden center, Rachel mastered the techniques necessary to create visually appealing and profitable displays and identified important philosophies around the topic. Learn the difference between a display that just holds merchandise and a display that pulls in and inspires customers and pushes sales.
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What’s Your Therapy?
with Nicholas Staddon
Staddon Consulting
At The Fall Event 2024 in Dallas,
on more than one occasion, Horticultural Therapy was mentioned by presenters. During breakfast on one of the event mornings, Nicholas Staddon was provided the opportunity to broaden on those comments made by other Speakers pertaining to Horticultural Therapy, “We are on the precipice of opportunity,” he told the group. “People have more stress in their lives than ever before, and we can offer a solution to stress relief, not only on an individual basis but a family one as well.”
Join Nicholas as he opens the door to Horticultural Therapy and what that might look like at your Center. “We have been providing therapy for customers for years without realizing it. Now is the time to start thinking about formalizing a program within our business and our employees.”
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In the coming weeks, watch for more 2025 GROUPtalk LIVE topics and schedule.
GROUPtalk LIVE Recordings
If you missed last Thursday's review of the 2024 P&L Study results with Tim Quebedeaux, you can watch the recording. Simply login to The Group WebSystem and there on your Landing Page you will see the GROUPtalk LIVE Series page link. You can start, stop, and replay, over and over again.
Group Centers can also watch the recordings of the January - December 2023 and 2024 sessions, PLUS 2025 sessions listed below, by logging into The Group WebSystem. You will see the GROUPtalk LIVE image on the Member Landing Page that will lead you to the special GROUPtalk LIVE 2023, 2024 and 2025 Resource pages in the Clients-Only Menu.
2025 GROUPtalk LIVE Recorded Sessions now include:
JAN: 2025 Update: WDR & P&L Changes, with Tim Quebedeaux
FEB: Managing Purchase Orders
MAR: The Results: 2024 P&L Study
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Finally, be sure to scroll down below to see all of our Sponsors for The Fall Event 2025. You can click on each logo to visit each website. Watch for more to be adeed in the coming weeks.
Registration, Full Program and Schedule and Hotel details are coming soon!
Make it a great week!
Danny
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"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living."
~ David Attenborough*
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*Sir David Frederick Attenborough (born May 8, 1926) is a British broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, and writer. He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the nine nature documentary series forming the Life collection, a comprehensive survey of animal and plant life on Earth.
Watch the PBS 30 min. documentary titled "Attenborough’s Life Journey" - An intimate portrait of Sir David Attenborough’s life, from his boyhood days as a fossil hunter, through his early days as a BBC host, to his revered status as the foremost natural history presenter HERE.
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OUR PARTNERS FOR SUCCESS...
Our Partners for Success recognize the unique nature of the independent garden center operation and are interested in developing methods that can help improve retailer/vendor relationships through open dialog, new product introductions and, when possible, special pricing for Group Clients. We encourage you to reach out to these "Partners" and "Harness the Power of The Group." Follow the links below for more information.
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Ball Seed
Partnering with The Garden Center Group to help grow your business and Color the World!
Ball Seed is the leading North American distribution company in annuals, perennials, vegetables, tropicals, potted plants, cut flowers and more. You know us for some of our key products like Wave, Burpee and now WebTrack and WebTrack To Go (mobile version), Ball Seed's industry-leading business management system to place and track orders, manage business online and find images and marketing support tools.
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EPICOR for Retail
Made With Retailers, For Retailers
Get a solution made with retailers, for retailers, packed with the features you need to compete in independent retail. Our industry-leading solutions can help you transform your business from the cash register to the warehouse, accounting to the field, and up and down the supply chain.
With 50 years of experience, Epicor's point of sale and inventory management solutions can save you time and money with comprehensive implementation, a more intuitive user experience, and fewer headaches trying to explain your business and its unique needs. Plus we have features and expertise specific to over 10 retail specialties.
Learn More
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Everde Growers®
Growing Plants for Life
Everde Growers is a leader in the horticulture industry with a national footprint extending from the Pacific Northwest to southern Florida. Our 15 farms encompass over 6,700 acres and grow over 33 million plants per year, with over 5,000 unique varieties. Everde Growers is committed to serving as a trusted partner for our customers, providing innovative solutions and superior quality plants that add value to their business.
Introducing Everde Growers (Video)
Visit our Website
Connect with your Regional Sales Representative
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Greenleaf Nursery Company
Committed to your success.
Rooted deep to our belief that "Predictable Quality" standards are key. We provide a vibrant range that includes broadleaf evergreen, deciduous shrubs, ornamental grasses, and shrub roses, along with a diverse conifer collection, annuals, perennials, tropical plants, and an impressive array of shade and ornamental trees.
Visit Our Website | Sales Information Sales Reps Digital Catalog | Our Brands
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Overdevest Nurseries
Growing exclusively for independent, local garden centers since 1952.
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Star® Roses & Plants
From the revolutionary Knock Out® and Drift® Roses to Bushel and Berry®, Bloomables® and breakthrough trees and shrubs, Star® Roses and Plants is a leading genetics company involved directly in breeding roses, perennials and woody plants, and introducing varieties from other breeders around the world.
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Willoway Nurseries
Growing for Generations – Cultivating Relationships for a Lifetime
Willoway Nurseries, based in Ohio, is a progressive, forward-thinking company. Although we are a third-generation family-owned business, we are known for always being at the forefront of the horticulture industry with technology, marketing, and growing techniques. We pride ourselves on our established roots and vision to grow for generations into the future.
Sales contact page, Crop photos, Dock Walk, and Online ordering and availability portal - all available HERE.
Don’t forget to sign up at the bottom of our website for our weekly newsletter to keep updated on things shipping and new plants.
| | Thank You to all of our Sponsors of The Fall Event 2025. Be sure to click on their logo to visit their webpage to learn more about their products. And don't miss our special Sponsor Showcase on Monday, September 22, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm – just before the Opening Session at 1:00pm. See details below. | | |
Alchemy Greenhouse Solutions | | | American Beauties / NorthCreek Nurseries | | AmericanHort / Cultivate25 | |
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Garden Center Magazine /
GIE Media
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Henri Studio / Stone Casters | | |
JR Peters / Jack's Fertilizers | | Lawn & Garden Retailer Magazine | | Master Nursery Garden Centers | | Master Nursery Garden Centers | | |
| Morning Dew Tropical Plants | | | Plant Development Services PDSI | |
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Proven Winners /
North America
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Proven Winners /
ColorChoice
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Proven Winners /
The Plant Company
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Retail Control Systems (RCS) | | |
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Tropical Plant Industry Expo
JANUARY 21 - 23, 2026 | |
The Group Partnership with Constant Contact
Saves You 10 to 25% Off!
It is pretty easy to tell, we really like Constant It is the only email marketing system we have used for The Group since the beginning and there's good reason for that. It's the best! Now, our connection with Constant Contact is even closer with our partnership with Constant Contact to help Group Clients save 10 to 25%. Just see what you are paying now and check out the possible savings over the entire year.
Already a Constant Contact Customer? You can transfer your account under The Group's Partnership and SAVE! Ask Danny for details!
Complete details are now on The Group's WebSystem - in CLIENTS-ONLY MENU!
| | GROUPtalk is a service of The Garden Center Group and is intended strictly for current Group Client owners, staff members, Group Vendors/Sponsors, and Group Service Providers and Group Staff. You are included in this distribution as a subscriber to The Garden Center Group e-publications. We will be happy to change your subscriptions upon request. Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Garden Center Group, LLC. | | | | |
