Out here in nor Cal it seems that 2010 will be a lot like 2009 when it comes to what people will be buying in the garden center. My guess is fruit trees and other edibles will lead the way with ornamental shrubs and trees lagging. If the economy is improving elsewhere it sure hasn’t shown up here. I do beleive people are getting use to the way things are. Not as much panic as last year, but a resignation that this year won’t see much change from last year.
We will focus again this year on being the place where people can purchase stuff for sustainability in their gardens and lives. The interest in growing your own is strong. Fruit trees, fruiting bushes, and vegetables will lead the way. The stuff we use to maintain these things will also be strong. Sales of soil conditioner’s and fertilizers we’re way up last year and should be again this year. That’s good, as sales of five gallon and larger ornamental shrubs and trees was way down last year. Sustainability is in, ornamentation is out in our area.
I like the trend. We want to be a resource for people who want to take control or their lives and live better. It seems the shop locally trend is starting to take hold. We may get involved in selling canning supplies this year. Monica and I are still enjoying food we canned last year. We beleive that canning your harvest is becoming fashionable. It makes sense for us to show people how to preserve the very fruit we sold them earlier.
Thought I would mention Target buying the Smith and Hawken brand. I think Target has a better chance of making it work than Scott’s Miracle-Gro did. That being said I find it a big yawn. Smith and Hawken started out, much like Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream. A business with a passion. Once Ben and Jerry’s was bought by Unilever it lost it’s cache. Same with Smith and Hawken and Scott’s Miracle-Gro. The passion is gone and it’s now just a commodity taking up some aisle space at your local Target.
Maybe you could teach these companies about maintaining the passion while continuing to grow. Why do they sell out? To follow other passions? Is money the end goal, always?
Comment by frank@nycgarden — January 14, 2010 @ 8:02 am
In the case of both Smith & Hawken and Ben and Jerry’s they we’re sold by their founders. Who can blame them when? After all, when your staring at many millions for selling it’s hard to not do it.
I find Paul Hawken complaining about Scott’s Miracle-Gro’s running of the company a bit odd. Why did he sell then?
Comment by trey — January 14, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Smith and Hawkin sold out….so did Ben and Jerry’s…ditto for Heronswood….
All probably had that one ambition in mind when they started; the almighty dollar reigns supreme. For me, I find the greatest injustice of all time was done when Heronswood was “sold out” by the founders….. all for the almighty dollar!
Frank~ a true gardener will never sell out; that is your passion…. even though Dan continues to write, don’t you think that it is still for the almighty dollar??
Comment by marshall — January 14, 2010 @ 7:52 pm
The highest bidder doesn’t always have the biggest heart!
When they sell out (I mean that in a neutral way) and move on to whatever their interest is, the spirit of the company often is lost. But maybe this opens up opportunity for others. Maybe its the life span of their passion, it simply dies, and often there is nothing to take its place.
In terms of garden furniture, I would look to local producers for passion (and higher cost, unfortunately). I don’t recall what else S&H sold, garden “things” I suppose I can get elsewhere - besides, I don’t need much as long as I can get good tools. B&J ice cream? The biggest thing here in NYC are local producers, ice cream trucks with high quality product. Small is gaining ground in NYC. Heronswood I never knew, maybe because they were west coast (right?) I guess passion is has its limits, gets burned out on things…
Comment by frank@nycgarden — January 16, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
Not only will growing your own food save you money, but, if you’re a good steward, it will be better for the environment also. The economical aspect is a driving force, but I think it’s also the “green” trend in society.
For instance, I’ve been using more organic product, especially when it comes to gardening. I just started using this organic bug spray and also have been watching what other product I use when gardening.
Comment by Jen — February 12, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Not only will growing your own food save you money, but, if you’re a good steward, it will be better for the environment. The economical aspect is a driving force, but I think it’s also the “green” trend in society. For instance, I’ve been using more organic products, especially when it comes to gardening. I heard about the new Safer Brand End All, an organic bug spray, and am thinking about using it. I like how it’s easy-to-use and kills a bunch of insects at all stages of the life cycle.
Comment by Tristin — April 14, 2010 @ 10:21 am