A Simple Idea That Simply Works!

by Danny Summers

Last week, we had a very active group of Garden Center Owners and Managers participate in the Retailers' Choice Awards™ search at Cultivate'25. The show is always a haven for new plants, and this year was no different. The Retailers had no problem spotting many deserving plants and products – 53 were nominated and 15 were awarded.

What Began 20 Years Ago
As I begin to recap the Retailers' Choice Awards Winners presented at Cultivate'25, I thought I would share how the idea for this effort began. It was 2005, and Karen and I were managing the Southern Nursery Association (SNA) and its large trade show in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. It was our 17th SNA Show to produce. That year, SNA 2005 was in its 3rd year of a new expanded floor plan, and one section was dedicated to everything Retail.

After asking Robert Hendrickson, founder of The Garden Center Group, to organize a search by retailers for the best new plants and products for Retail in both 2003 and 2004, and in 2005, we formalized the name for this effort... and the Retailers' Choice Awards officially began.

Although the SNA trade show, like most others, awarded exhibitors for their general display efforts, I felt it was time to nominate and recognize specific plants and products from a retailer's point of view.

The following is the introduction of the awards in an SNA 2005 press release:

Fourteen Companies Receive SNA 2005 Retailers' Choice Awards

Atlanta, GA, August 13, 2005 – Buyers who attended SNA 2005 were allowed to share their opinions and expertise on products and plants they found to be outstanding.

Robert Hendrickson of The Garden Center Group, Ellicott City, MD, met with this group of industry professionals at 8:00 AM on Thursday, August 11, 2005, and challenged them, as buyers, to find a product, plant, or service displayed at the trade show that deserved special recognition. These companies were then presented a Retailers' Choice Award that afternoon at a presentation on the SNA WorldStage where they were presented with a ribbon and given an opportunity to further describe their product. Fourteen companies were recognized for fifteen items, ranging from new plant varieties to display racks to banner material.

It was a simple idea: Invite Garden Retailers to work the trade show floor as they normally would and nominate new plants and products they are excited about, and then ask them to vote for the very best. It was an idea that was easy to understand, it made an impression, and just worked.

Reviewing the rest of the press release from 2005, it is interesting that two familiar names were awarded back then...

GrowTech Solutions, Nashville, NC, New Banner Material – Sam Burks of GrowTech Solutions explained that "besides being able to print signs in full-color, the new banner rolls allow for producing bench wraps and larger signs without laminating."

Henri Studio, Inc., Wauconda, IL, New Relic Stain Selection – Bob Borta of Henri Studio made the presentation on the WorldStage to describe the unique characteristics of their Relic Stains, a distinctive group of finishes that lend a rich, aged appearance to their cast stone fountains and statuary. He described their natural look and wonderful design, and the Retailers' Choice Award judges were impressed with the old-world style given to these new products.

Not every year since 2005 has seen Retailers' Choice Awards, but certainly since 2012, when I became involved with The Group, we have done so at major shows. Today, awards are presented at Cultivate, Farwest and TPIE (Cool Product Awards). And a similar sharing is also done at MANTS during The Group Gathering, although no awards are presented.

As you see the 15 winners from Cultivate'25 below, I ask for your help to express our appreciation to every Retailer who has been our expert judges every year and every show, as they have introduced us to the most amazing new plants and products for Garden Retail! We all benefit from their efforts.

Garden Retailers, nominating new plants and products they want to sell or use in their own Garden Center in the coming seasons... It's a Simple Idea that Simply Works!

DOWNLOAD the Retailers' Choice Awards at Cultivate'25 HERE.

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!