Customer Connections

by Danny Summers

A lot has changed in the way Garden Centers communicate with their audience. If we travel back to around the time The Group was formed in 2000, we would see Centers using a combination of direct mail, local newspapers, and the emerging use of email, with support from basic, relatively new websites.

Today, websites have certainly morphed into dynamic presentation tools, with more interaction with live inventory and buying options.

The Stars of the 2nd Season

by Danny Summers

The ideas for this message actually began back in June of 2023. Seth Reed, then Sales & Marketing Manager for Ball/Darwin Perennials, asked me to invite some of our best-performing Garden Centers in the Perennials Category to come to the Darwin Perennials Day to share details of how they position Perennials. They did a wonderful job, and it was a great experience.

One of the observations I came away with from their presentations was...

Newton's Third Law of Motion... at Retail?

by Danny Summers

The idea for this message began with the way a clock pendulum swings from one side to the other. Whether you are looking at styles and colors in apparel, paint colors for home decor and furniture, or even cars, next year will they be more square or rounded in the newest styles, one thing that is consistent... is change.

Ever heard someone say, "If you don't like the way [it] is (substitute any topic you like for "it" here), just wait. That too will change." Certainly, styles come and go, and many even return. This is where the reference to How the Pendulum Swings or Newton's Third Law of Motion comes in.

Get Connected at The Fall Event 2026

by Danny Summers

At the very core of The Garden Center Group, Connection is central to what we do, together. Through the numerous forms of sharing in The Group, whether emailing through any of our 16 eLists to connect with peers or all the numbers shared in our Weekly Department Review, or our annual gathering, The Fall Event, the word Connection describes what is happening within our community.

The word Connection is one I have also used often here in GROUPtalk and in blog messages.

The Benefits of Being Consistent

by Danny Summers

What are the REAL BENEFITS of being CONSISTENT?

Years ago, Dan Parsons, a senior CPA who served an association that Karen and I managed for 18 years, made a comment that has stuck with me: "In bookkeeping, if you are wrong, it is best to at least be consistently wrong."

Knowing What's Possible - Part 2

by Danny Summers

In Part 1 last week, we covered the Annual P&L Study for 2025 and the first level of awards, the High Achiever Awards. While Tim Quebedeaux shared the overall benchmarking results from the 2025 study in The Group's March session, we announced the winning Centers for the High Achiever Awards here in GROUPtalk last week. If you missed that, you can catch up HERE.

And now, for the next level of awards, Tim provided this introduction into the Best Practices level...

Knowing What's Possible

by Danny Summers

For Garden Center Owners, it is understandable to wonder and have these thoughts...

• "How are we doing compared to others?"
• "If sales are up (or down), is everyone else similar?"
• "How is our profit compared to others?"
• "Are we as efficient as we can be?"

All of these concerns are typical, but one of the most important questions is...

Displaying Confidence

Rachel's New VM Course is Ready!

A Visual Merchandising Program for Independent Garden Centers
Displaying Confidence is a visual merchandising training + community experience designed specifically for independent garden centers that want their store to feel more inspiring and more shoppable, and be more profitable. Your staff will learn foundational merchandising skills and how to cultivate self leadership in a high-profile role.

Created by Rachel Reynolds of Birds Eye Visual Merchandising (former garden center employee + seasoned nursery visual merchandiser), this program teaches garden center owners and staff how to create intentional, beautiful, high-converting displays that help customers buy more, feel more confident, and stay longer in the store.

The Search for Amazing!

by Danny Summers

Last week, I shared a blog post through our main eList GroupEs featuring Ball Publishing's video coverage of the California Spring Trials 2026 (aka: CAST) as they visited each site and the participating genetics firms.

Each morning after their previous day's tour, they shared what they found in video, how each new introduction was unique and why each new plant impressed them. A special THANK YOU to Chris Beytes, Jen Zurko, and Bill Calkins for guiding us through all the Amazing Plants and Osvaldo Cuevas for his professional videography!

California Trials 2026

Coverage by Ball Publishing's GrowerTalks

Most Garden Centers do not attend the California Trails in-person, but you can see what's coming in new plants through the GrowerTalks coverage. Chris Beytes, Jen Zurko, and Bill Calkins provide your best seat to not only read but to see their video coverage.

This is a preview of what we will see at upcoming trade shows and the exceptional new plants that may be selected by you for the Retailers' Choice Awards or Cool Product Awards!

Who Is the Real Customer of Your Garden Center’s Online Store?

by Souny Kennedy

A recent order inside the E-Commerce Connect network made us stop and think. The order totaled $1,900—all placed in a single transaction with larger quantities of plants. When we first saw it, our initial thought was simple: maybe it’s a homeowner tackling a major landscape project. That certainly happens. Many passionate gardeners will invest heavily when redesigning a yard or installing new beds.

But it also raised a bigger question - Who is the real customer of your garden center’s online store?

Round-Up... for a Cause!

by Danny Summers

Your Garden Center may have local or favorite "causes" that you promote, fundraise for, and get involved in throughout the year. Do you know we actually have one for our industry, including Garden Retailing? It's Seed Your Future.

Most Centers have had challenges filling staff positions over the last few years. Yet, we have a growing audience of consumers who love nature.

Plugged In: The Value of Being Connected

by Danny Summers

Some weeks, things simply come together for this message. It becomes obvious what I should share by what is in my notes for the week.

Events that have happened that we can share results, new programs that are or will be available soon, and even things that have developed from what we have done in the past, all bring important details to share with you here in GROUPtalk and in our blog.

The Right Place at the Right Time

by Danny Summers

You know this is true. I bet you could give me an example of this in your own life or work.
Being in the right place at the right time, and with the right people, can open many opportunities.

This is true for our personal lives, our career and of course, even business. The business element has the potential to make the biggest impact. It can drive your career to a new level and add so much to your life.

What Did You Miss?

by Danny Summers

Three weeks ago, in the February 02 GROUPtalk, the title of my message was: "February - Loaded with Opportunities." It highlighted the many things scheduled that you could be a part of this month, including the three GROUPtalk LIVE sessions.

It's unusual for us to have three scheduled in one month, but we wanted to cover these topics before you get too busy with spring. If you missed any one or more, here's a recap plus more details.

Will You Be Ready?

by Danny Summers

These are the weeks of preparation. For the Garden Center, it's like the late summer practice for the football team just before the first season game. Or, the late weeks of track work for the thoroughbred before the big race.

Years ago, a great friend, Louie Hillenmeyer, took us to Keeneland early one fall morning. Keeneland is Lexington, Kentucky's famous horse racing track, with stables and a training center. In comparison to Louisville's Churchill Downs, you might say Keeneland is the aristocrat. In a quick search I found this amazing description of the two...

The Easy Button!

by John Kennedy

This past week, Souny and I were invited to facilitate the strategic plan for the Northwest Nursery Buyers Association in Vancouver, Washington. Although we have been working on setting the table since September, the heavy lifting of assigning timelines, tasks and talent were the focus of the three-day event, and there were a few familiar faces of The Garden Center Group members in attendance, which made our time there even more amazing.

The event took place at the Heathman Lodge, a rustic, log-cabin like property with a PNW charm and weather that matched (cold and raining upon arrival).

Tell-Tale Tell-Tail Signs

by Danny Summers

A week or so ago, as I was walking into our favorite Pet Supply Store (Petco), I saw an English Pointer walking his owner towards the door. For anyone who is not familiar with the English Pointer, they are a short-haired spotted bird dog.

I was especially attracted to this one since it was a liver and white (dark brown and white), much like one our family had when I was about five years old.

February is Loaded with Opportunities!

by Danny Summers

February is a unique and busy month of the year... it's the shortest month of the year, the coldest month of the year, and the month of the Groundhog Day, Presidents' Day, Valentines Day, the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and the Grammies. But most importantly for you, February is Loaded with Opportunity for you within The Group!

You may have already seen Rachel Reynolds is presenting But is it Shoppable? Creating Displays that Customers Actually Buy From, a new session on Visual Merchandising during our regular GROUPtalk LIVE on Tuesday, February 10th at 2:00 PM Eastern (our new day and time for 2026). Full details on her message is below.

Keep it REAL!

by Danny Summers

Last week many of us were at TPIE in Ft. Lauderdale. It was the largest TPIE ever with their newly expanded show floor and more booths - featuring many more amazing plants!

The General Session Keynote featured on Wednesday morning was Jill Hawkins, born in the UK and now living in Denmark. She says, "I'm a trends and human insight researcher and fashion psychologist, exploring the relationships between fashion, lifestyle, well-being and creativity."