Group Connections... in the Palm of Your Hand!

by Danny Summers

It's time for all Group Centers to take the next step in Group Connections designed for your everyday use... The Garden Center Group App. Yes, our new App is now available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you are...

    •    Group Clients... use the App 24/7/365!
    •    Partner for Success, Sponsor, or Guest Retailer attending The Fall Event 2026... use the App during The Fall Event 2026 for the program and engagement throughout the event.

Here's an overview for both everyday use by Group Centers and those attending The Fall Event 2026:

So Much NEW at The Fall Event 2026

by Danny Summers

When I first thought of this message, I asked myself... "Where do I begin?"

Even if you cannot be with us at The Fall Event 2026... this can be of real interest to you. And if you will be with us, this is a preview of what to see, who to connect with and what to dive into learning more about. Back to where to begin...

New for The Fall Event 2026 is on Monday morning, September 28th...

Group Intel Report

The Leadership Connection

by Danny Summers

The spark of The Group's beginnings came from a small group of Garden Retailers talking through "what if" ideas. At its core, it centered on learning from each other.

In the early days, most of that sharing and learning happened at the owner level –– peer-to-peer, but the peers were owners.

The Innovation Continues - Part 2

by Danny Summers

Last week, here in GROUPtalk, we covered three new Group Innovations: The Group Intel Reports, The Group Knowledge Vault (both shared a few weeks earlier), and the news of The Garden Center Group APP, which is in the works and will be ready to download soon. Watch for more details!

This week, we share a glimpse into two more Group Innovations coming...

The Innovation Continues - Part 1

by Danny Summers

Last fall, we introduced a new relationship between The Group and BoomerWrangle, under which we would reimagine both The Group and The Fall Event, starting in 2026. We have been hard at work looking ahead to what can help Group Centers excel into the future. Here are some of the areas we have been working on and introducing to you, our Group Centers.

Earlier this summer, we introduced several new resources to help leverage The Resources & Wisdom of The Group as well as spark creativity and inspiration. Here's a quick recap of these if you missed them:

Lots of Stuff - August/September 2026

by Danny Summers

This is one of those weeks where we have a lot to share, so I will try to keep it brief and to the point. First up...

Awards!
In the last few weeks, Group Centers have been receiving their awards that, for years, we passed out at The Fall Event. But in "reimagining" The Group and The Fall Event, one of the ideas we had for 2026 is to send award plaques ahead of time to allow more time for more sharing at The Fall Event 2026!

Setting the Stage

by Danny Summers

Three years ago, at The Fall Event 2023 in Cincinnati, Maggie Nichols of Eureka! Ranch showed us how important it is to Set the Stage for creative and innovative thinking.

Through both her keynote presentation and the workshop that followed, Maggie emphasized the importance of regularly pulling your team away from the day-to-day demands of the business. By creating an environment free from interruptions and routine distractions, people have the opportunity to think differently, challenge assumptions, and develop the next great ideas for their business.

Super Connections

by Danny Summers

Connections.

It's one of the defining words for The Fall Event 2026 and a perfect reflection of what The Garden Center Group is all about today.

At The Fall Event 2026, Connections will begin with our Keynote presentation featuring Chris Bashinelli...

The Magic of Attracting Attention

by Danny Summers

Are you aware of our July GROUPtalk LIVE Session scheduled for tomorrow? Group Owner, Michael Fiore, Smith's Gardentown, will share how they are attracting large numbers of people to the content they post across social media. The session title is:

Supercharge Your Social Media With Video Content

The magic formula for attracting attention (or some might say... GOING VIRAL) could easily be considered a complex and often moving target.

Retailers' Choice Awards from Cultivate'26

by Danny Summers

Columbus, OH, July 13, 2026: Retailers’ Choice Awards™ were presented to 13 exhibiting firms for 15 products at Cultivate’26 in Columbus, OH on July 13, 2026.

The Garden Center Group’s Danny Summers and Tim Quebedeaux led the search as Garden Retailers selected the best new products to bring excitement and noteworthy interest to their stores in the coming season. Following is a list of firms (presented A-Z) and the products receiving recognition. You may download a full recap below.

DOWNLOAD a full recap HERE.

A Growing Trend: AI is a Tool - Not a Replacement

by Danny Summers

As a follow-up to last week's message, there is growing evidence in the media today that large companies that cut their workforce and replaced workers with AI-based systems are starting to put things in REVERSE. Here's just one news report I have seen over the last few weeks...

AI Layoffs Are Backfiring and Half of Companies Will Start Rehiring
Organizations are starting to come to terms with the limits of AI.

It's an Inc Magazine article. The author notes that most businesses today say they use some form of AI in their operations. It then mentions firms that simultaneously downsize their workforce.