North America's Resource for Garden Retailing - Since 2001 |
|
Your Monday Morning Wake Up Call... |
|
|
Good Morning!
I know what you're thinking... and you are right! You did get this earlier this morning. But in the area below covering The Group's Annual Awards, some weird background covered up the introduction to the Centers receiving awards this year. So, if you have already read the earlier email... just scroll down to catch up on some of our awards.
Sorry for the duplication but our award-winning Centers deserve it!
|
|
Of Course WE ARE ESSENTIAL!
|
|
es·sen·tial
/əˈsen(t)SHəl/
noun
plural noun: essentials
a thing that is absolutely necessary.
This past spring has taught us all something very important... gardening is essential! The power of plants and gardening is recognized more today than ever before. But we are just getting started. What lies ahead can be much bigger than what is behind us. How should you position your center to be assured you are recognized as "essential" in the future?
Whether your center is located in a state that followed the Federal CISA Guidelines that considered Garden Centers as a part of agriculture, and therefore essential, or located in one of the few states which consi dered Garden Centers as non-essential, you need to consider how you will position your business in the future. We all know agriculture is essential and the entire supply chain should be as well. Garden Centers are the final link in that supply chain for the consumer.
I believe it should be your choice whether to be open or closed during any specific time period. But, make no mistake about it... what you offer is very important to the health and welfare of your community and the choices you make for the product and services you offer can make a big difference in whether you even have the option! I encourage you to include an "essential" study in your planning for 2021 and beyond.
|
|
Group Owners: Did You Get It?
Latest Seawright & Associates Advisory
All Group Owners should have received the latest Seawright & Associates Advisory last week through our Owners-Only eList. The latest advisory was titled:
"Politics in the Workplace, New DOL FFCRA Regulation, and Employer Mandated Vaccines."
If you are a Group Owner and have not received this important advisory, let me know... call, text, or email!
A Special THANK YOU to Seawright & Associates for all of their support of The Garden Center Group!
|
|
New NGB and AAS Resources - Now Ready for You!
Special Access for Group Centers
Early this month I shared details how we are working on new resources for you as Group Centers. As a Client of The Garden Center Group, you will be recognized as a member of both National Garden Bureau (NGB) and All America Selections (AAS) and be listed on their upcoming local retailer lists and (most importantly) have exclusive access to resources (online content for download) for your communications (blog posts, enews, newsletters, website, etc). With the huge number of AAS Winners available, we're sure almost everyone will carry a few of them, but there is no required minimum in order to be listed. Hhaving access to the great garden content and wonderful pro-gardening ideas that both of these organizations produce is a big benefit.
This is a result of The Group and NGB/AAS working together to help co-promote one other. As we promote NGB and AAS as new sponsors of our GROUPtalk LIVE Series, you receive the benefit!
The staff of AAS and NGB has created a special Dropbox link just for you to access all of this wonderful content. Currently, it contains: AAS Winner content and videos, Blog posts and newsletter content, NGB New Varieties content, and Social Media Graphics. All of this is designed to be used in any form that can fit your center's messaging. And more is coming. Diane Blazek, AAS and NGB's Executive Director, has created an introduction to the Dropbox content to welcome you and invite you to make use of any of these materials. Here's a few examples and how to get started...
Your Introduction from Diane Blazek HERE!
What is All-America Selections? Check out a quick video HERE!
What is National Garden Bureau? Check out a quick video HERE!
|
|
Watch Your eMailbox today: Make sure whomever is creating your messaging has access to these materials. Watch for a GroupEs eList message coming later today with the link to the new Dropbox... just for you!
A Special Thank You to both NGB and AAS for their support of The Garden Center Group!
|
|
Coming in October!
The GROUPtalk LIVE Series October's morning session will feature a special presentation by Sid Raisch. Here's details:
|
|
Building on Your Successes in 2021… and Beyond
Moving forward from an outstanding 2020 into an even better 2021 should be a minimum expectation for every Group Client. Sid will present a Hyper-Focus on the Basics and Fundamental Tactics for moving from where you’ve arrived to an even better future place, without undue risk or leaving opportunities unnecessarily on the table.
Watch for more details about our Breakout Sessions scheduled later that day! Don't miss the October 8th Session!
|
|
Is Your Center Registered Yet?
If you missed the August or September Sessions or Break Outs, you can catch up and view all the recordings (and supporting handouts). Sign up today and you will receive details on how to view these first sessions, as well as future all sessions as we build the GROUPtalk LIVE Resource Center. It's never too late!
Mark your calendar for the future sessions:
|
|
- October 8, 2020
- November 12, 2020
- December 10, 2020
|
|
- January 14, 2021
- February 11, 2021
- March 11, 2021
- April 8, 2021
|
|
- May 13, 2021
- June 10, 2021
- July 8, 2021
|
|
If you're registered for the GROUPtalk LIVE Series, you can now see any of the previous sessions again or share it with your staff along with the recorded Breakout Sessions in the new GROUPtalk LIVE Resource Center. You received an email with a link of how to access them.
If you have not yet registered for the GROUPtalk LIVE Series, that's OK as we are just getting started and you can see the recordings of the previous sessions and breakouts today. Simply click on the register button above to get started.
|
|
All of Our Sponsor Messages... Just for You!
If you have not yet seen all the great videos our sponsors and partners have for you as they support the GROUPtalk LIVE Series, I encourage you to visit the special page we have set up for you. Check all of them out HERE. |
|
The Group's Annual Awards
During the GROUPtalk LIVE Series September Session, Steve Bailey and Tim Quebedeaux announced this year's award recipients for both the Annual P&L Study's Best Practices and High Achievers groups and the Weekly Department Review's 100% Club. Watch for a special presentation page to be shared soon. In the meantime, here's just a few of the great photos we have to share - watch for more coming soon!
|
|
Best Practices Award
Berns Garden Center
Middletown, OH
|
|
Best Practices Award
Four Seasons Greenhouse
Delores, CO
|
|
Best Practices Award
Hunters Garden Centre
Vancouver, BC
|
|
Best Practices Award
Rolling Green Nursery
Greenland, NH
|
|
Best Practices Award
Sunnypoint Gardens
Egg Harbor, WI
|
|
Best Practices Award
Watters Garden Center
Prescott, AZ
|
|
Make it a great week!
Danny
|
|
|
|
“The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are: Hard work,
|
|
Want to Revisit a Past GROUPtalk Article?
Anytime you want to read a past blog article featured in GROUPtalk, you can find all of them in the blog section of our websystem. The main blog page features the title, lead graphic and a short lead-in text so it is quick and easy to scroll down to find the article you might be thinking of. Each blog article listed has a READ MORE to access the entire article.
All recent Group Blog articles are available on The Group Blog index page: CLICK HERE!
|
|
|
|
American Beauty/
North Creek Nurseries
|
|
|
Ball Publishing /
greenPROFIT magazine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Garden Center Magazine
GIE Media
|
|
|
|
Master Nursery
Garden Centers
|
|
|
Proven Winners/
Color Choice®
|
|
Saunders Brothers
Nursery
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tropical Plant
International Expo 2021
Jan 20-22-Tampa, FL
|
|
The Group Partnership with Constant Contact
Saves You 10 to 25% Off!
It is pretty easy to tell, we really like Constant Contact. 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 2020 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!
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Bailey Nurseries
Growing What’s Next™
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
EPICOR®
Meet Epicor Retail Cloud. Easy-to-use tools that seamlessly connect your business-from POS and inventory to purchasing and pricing. So, you can focus on the big things-like creating customers for life.
- Grow revenue, while cutting costs
- Serve customers whenever and wherever they are
- Build loyalty with flexible rewards programs
- Manage seasonal inventory more effectively
- Drive faster, smarter decisions with powerful analytics
|
|
|
|
The Espoma Company
A natural in the garden since 1929.
|
|
|
|
Monrovia®
Monrovia - Passion for Plants: Our expert craftsmen pour their hearts and souls into their work, and share our knowledge and love of plants with gardeners of every skill level.
Plantt was founded to provide a turnkey e-commerce solution for independent nurseries. We strive to attract new shoppers to local nurseries while increasing value to their current customers. We do this by allowing nurseries to sell their unique inventory online, coupled with the information, tools, and resources that help consumers succeed.
|
|
|
|
Prides Corner Farms
Our goal is to be your best business partner, a partner that helps you grow, helps you sell and helps you to be more profitable.
|
|
|
|
Proven Winners®
Proven Winners is proud to support the members of The Garden Center Group. We are here to help your business grow with great new plants and programs to increase your sales.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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. As a subscriber to The Garden Center Group e-publications, you are included in this distribution. 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 The Garden Center Group, LLC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
