Garden, Health or Nature Center?

by Danny Summers

Logically thinking, we identify our Garden Retail operations as Garden Centers. For instance, just look at our name for The Garden Center Group. Your actual business name may include Garden Center (more frequently today is the word Gardens), or certainly Nursery, Nurseries, or even Greenhouse is common.

But there are some important trends that suggest there may be something more...

I recently read an article from McKinsey & Company, one of the world's leading consumer research firms, that said one of the strongest current consumer trends is...

Health & Wellness

The McKinsey article is titled and begins as, "Health is wealth, for all of us—and increasingly, for organizations that operate in the wellness space. The business of health is thriving."

The article also said, "Eighty-two percent of US consumers now consider wellness a top or important priority in their everyday lives" and McKinsey defines wellness along six dimensions: better health, fitness, sleep, mindfulness, appearance, and nutrition.

As we consider how we engage with Plants and the activity of Gardening, consider how it contributes to McKinsey's six dimensions above. I believe it contributes to all of them.

OK, maybe not so much for appearance?

But wait, a nice suntan is considered appealing because it is typically associated with a healthy, youthful glow, and the sun is a primary source of vitamin D, an essential nutrient for bone health (but be sure to use a high SPF sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays). So maybe we can say YES to all six!

Doing a quick online search for the terms "Gardening and Health" can yield some amazingly positive support for these ideas. Here's just a couple and I will include links so you can read more on your own:

Cleveland Clinic says:
"How Gardening Can Improve Your Health - Yes, digging in the dirt is actually good for you! When it comes to warm-weather activities that are good for your health, you probably think of walking, hiking or running. But there’s another beloved pastime that holds a lot of benefits with a bonus to boot: Gardening.

Even if you don’t have the greenest of thumbs, there are many health benefits — both physical and mental — that come with digging into the soil and doing some planting. And that bonus? You get exercise and yield a basket of tomatoes, peppers or any number of other fruits, veggies or decorative plants.

But some fear that gardening could be harmful to your body, like to your spine. But don’t worry. To get the low-down on how gardening does you good and tips to get you started, we spoke to neurosurgeon and spine specialist Deborah Benzil, MD. The health benefits of gardening cover a wide range, according to Dr. Benzil, and they work in tandem toward one essential goal: preventing osteoporosis." The artcle goes on to show gardening also offers benefits in Vitamin D (exposure to sunlight), Weight-Bearing Exercise, Brain Health, Mental Health, and more. Read this entire article HERE.

Mayo Clinic says:
Dig into the Benefits of Gardening: "Increased exercise-A busy day in the garden can be a good form of exercise. Improved diet-Growing and eating your own fruits and vegetables can have a positive impact on your diet. Time in nature-Getting outdoors is good for your physical and mental health. Reduced stress levels-Nearly all forms of exercise can reduce stress including gardening. Social connection-Gardening brings people together and strengthens social connections." Read this entire article HERE.

Henry Ford Health says:
Can Gardening Count As Exercise? "The benefits of gardening go far beyond connecting to nature and creating a beautiful yard. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gardening qualifies as exercise. In fact, getting out in the yard for just 30-45 minutes can burn up to 300 calories.

Routine gardening activities, such as raking, weeding and trimming, engage multiple muscle groups at once, improving your overall fitness level." Read this entire article HERE. You will easily find many more respected sources on how what you offer provides great benefits.

With all of the trends and overwhelming stats showing that Health & Wellness is important to a large portion of the public (and your audience), shouldn't we be emphasing the benefits of Plants and Gardening as an activity to promote Health and Wellness?

I believe you should be thinking you are more than a Garden Center... much more! Otherwise, you are missing out on a trend that can be very profitable to grow your audience and your business.

I close with the way I began this message... Garden, Health or Nature Center?

The answer may be ... all of the above!

Danny Summers
[email protected]
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!