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Re: Gardeners vs consumers

Just to interject a different perspective as to who purchases gardening 
products -.

Everyone is a consumer. The knowledge of each individual consumer 
concerning gardening supplies and plants widely varies. I am not aware 
on any correlation between their plant expertise and their ability to 
afford to purchase various gardening products and services.

Individuals who shop at the various home improvement/discount centers 
that sell plants and garden supplies should expect quality in exchange 
for their hard earned dollars. This however is sadly not the case as 
plant producers will unload plant material that is root bound, past its 
prime, and or not suitable for the area. For example snapdragons 18 
inches tall and flowering in a ponypak, Bing cherries in a climate that 
doesn't have enough winter chilling, and packaged rose/fruit trees that 
lack enough roots when dug and packaged to thrive once properly planted.

Consumer education is the key and garden writers, extension 
classes/master gardener classes and gardening clubs and societies should 
be expected to provide objective, unbiased information. Disguising 
gardening sales/promotional information as unbiased articles is fraud 
when not disclosed. The possibility for abuse is so obvious that even 
honestly held views become suspect. Has not the Enron collapse taught 
business leaders a lesson - be honest and avoid all appearances of 
impropriety. Sooner or later poor business practices will cause a melt 
down as observed in the demise of the Michigan Bulb Company. The rash of 
buyouts and mergers just adds additional debt on top of bad management.

Sales people are hired to push products they have in stock. Yes there 
are first class plant and garden supply retailers who will discourage a 
sale when the items don't fit the needs of the customer. These 
organizations depend on repeat sales and word of mouth references rather 
than mass merchandising items based on price. Most consumers learn that 
the best day to shop is the afternoon of the delivery to the retailer or 
early the next day. Quality declines quickly when held at the high 
volume retailer. The staff are usually not trained properly or the 
 business staffed to handle both plant maintenance, answering questions, 
loading customer's  cars with items, and ringing up sales.

Families with children, especially young children, can not be expected 
to have large quantities of disposable income nor the time to garden 
because of job and family related activities. Their goals are to have a 
safe play environment for children and pets to play. This generally 
means more lawn than flower/vegetable gardens, or fruit orchards. As the 
children get older they tend to participate in activities like sports, 
ballet, etc. that require transportation to locations outside of the home.

To be sure there is a relaxation involved with planting and watching our 
efforts flower and fruit. The pleasure in harvesting and consuming fresh 
fruit and vegetables drives people to plant items in containers placed 
on outdoor balconies. In cold climates people grow plants on window 
sills, under lights on floracarts, sunrooms, and in small greenhouses.

The difference in the extent to which we participate is defined by a 
person's health, their financial means, and time constraints. A person 
on a limited budget may start plants from seed rather than purchase 
ponypaks, 4 inch pots or in larger containers (1-5 gallons+).

Empty nesters have more disposable income and retirees have more time to 
garden and participate in garden clubs and organizations.

I understand the need to identify the demographics of a client base, but 
it is not an exact science reflecting the many businesses that introduce 
new pro products each year only to have these products fail, never to be 
seen again.

Those business that are not built on quality and repeat customers exist 
only by attracting new suckers with glossy catalogs and contests.

Magazines that pander to such businesses will find themselves with 
declining circulation and advertising revenue.

There is room for quality information from honest, reputable garden 
writers. Just wait until there is a product defect of an item being 
pushed by a high profile "expert" on the payroll of the manufacture. It 
is no different from the investment advisors pushing stocks in which 
they have financial ties. There is both civil and criminal liability 
associated with such behavior.

Eventually people learn through trial and error that low prices and 
generic information are poor investments when they have wasted several 
years for a plant to flower/fruit and it is not as described in form, 
quantity, or quality.

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA

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