The interest in gardening has never been more intense, yet we see more and more wholesale and retail nurseries closing. What’s up? I don’t think the interest in gardening overall is growing, just certain aspects or gardening. Our sales this year indicate the change. The interest in our “little neck of the woods” is in consumables, and color spots. Just try selling Japanese Maples or ornamental conifers and you’ll see what I mean. Sod sales are non-existent. Operations that catered to the landscape crowd are doing poorly, while nurseries that cater to the “home grown” group are doing better. Just ask my shrub and tree suppliers. Our sales are way down with these folks.
We’re happy with the change. I enjoy helping people become more self-reliant. People will pay for vegetables, fruit trees, and the assorted items that help them succeed. The younger crowd is especially interested in self-reliance. Generation y and z will spend money on gardening, but not so much the ornamental type of gardening. They are rightly concerned with their futures, and many see the answer in growing their own. This is reflected in magazines where gardening is discussed but not the center of attention. Backwoods Home Magazine, Mother Earth News, Backyard Poultry Magazine, Maximum Yield, etc. It’s more about creating a self-reliant lifestyle than creating a “outdoor room.”
As our country seems at times to be rudderless, people naturally want to steer their own course. The smaller garden center as a huge opportunity to be the place to help people reach their goals. My sales this year indicate that vegetables, color spots, soils, seeds, and fertilizers are where peoples interests are. People will pay a premium for local, expert information. It’s been great to see first time gardeners coming back this year. They we’re successful in their gardens last year and want to continue the trend. They do want to support locally owned businesses if you can supply them with their needs, and be there when they need help. The information part is so important. People want to connect with someone they can come to and know they will be steered in the right direction.
What a great time to be a small, locally owned nursery. Small, because you can change course quickly to suit your customers needs. Locally owned, because people want to know that the nursery they shop at has a vested interest in the community.
[…] Embracing change […]
Pingback by The Blogging Nurseryman by Trey Pitsenberger » More on embracing change… | The future of gardening and garden related businesses. — July 8, 2010 @ 9:43 am
Keep nourishing those young minds… If I hadn’t had the help and assistance of a great number of people — I would not be enjoying the success that I’m having today. I would also highly encourage your customers to join specific groups or chat rooms that are dedicated to growing all types of vegetables like heirloom tomatoes, melons or even tablegrapes. These are places where you can get answers to multiple questions. A little bit of advice goes a long way. And finally? Never be afraid to experiment a little bit. Treat the garden as a science lab. Some things work better than others. We only grow as gardeners from making mistakes. Lord knows, I’ve made enough of them. If killing heirloom tomatoes was a crime — I’d be serving 25-to-life right about now….
Comment by Bill — July 8, 2010 @ 10:24 am
I understand that Burchell Nursery in oakdale is now selling bareroot and contanier fruit trees to retail chains. MY family has purchased trees from them for thier farm for years and has been happy with thier quality and service. Does anyone know if this is true? If so this would be great news!
Comment by linda — July 13, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
Linda, it is true about Burchell Nursery. We have been growing fruit trees for over 67 years and until just recently, we have just sold to commercial farmers. We now have a division dedicated to growing bareroot and containerized fruit trees for sale to independent garden centers as well as to growers that sevice the independent nurseries across the country. You can contact our office in Oakdale if you want more information 1-800-828 TREE.
Comment by Richard Kline — July 15, 2010 @ 8:58 am