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RE: [GWL]: Green Fingers


During the month of December there were lots of messages regarding Martha,
Garden column readership, and large department store garden centers and I
was too busy (thank goodness) with our retail to put in my comments.  Since
then I have been thinking about all three topics and have a few comments.

I do not consider myself a gardenwriter although I do have one book under
my belt and I do lots of gardening lectures on my speciality but I do think
that you ( the real gardenwriters) do have a great deal of influence on
gardening trends and gardening education in general.  I am not a great fan
of Martha but what she says is "how it is" regarding market trends.  I hear
this everyday in my shop.  "I saw topiary on Martha's show ............."
I am grateful for her marketing help even if I do have to sometimes
re-educate my customers about my subject.

As a small speciality business I do suffer from the mass marketing of
lesser quality topiary and much cheaper topiary in the large department
stores.  The small speciality nurseries in my area suffer the same trouble.
 They can afford to sell topiary cheaper than I can make it.  They are in
the win-win position.  They buy in large quantities and sell cheap --- what
does not sell or dies on the shelve is returned to the poor grower who is
also waiting for his money 90 days.  They have the power.  This holiday
season, I went into Costco and found ivy topiary selling for 25% of what I
charge and I am not that expensive.  However, their plants are half dead,
no care while in the store and the quality is not there from the beginning.

Our business in general has been in a slump since last spring due to the
economy but it really dropped off after 9-11.  Our local income is made up
of tourism and military.  When these two things are impacted it effects all
businesses in the area and small businesses really hurt.  Since my business
is a luxury, we are really worried.

Perhaps there is a way to help out "us little guys" and the gardening
public by starting a media campaign about turning to gardening for comfort
and entertainment.  At the same time articles could talk about supporting
the small local and speciality growers.  I don't think that gardenwriters
need to talk down the large department stores but I do think they could
point out the finer qualities of local growers and the uniqueness of
speciality growers.  There are so many subjects that would be helpful to
the general homeowner/backyard gardener when they are making purchases and
the only way they will learn this information is through gardenwriters and
educational programs. Every customer who comes into my shop wants to be
successful with their "living" purchase.  We spend lots of one on one time
with our customers.  They also want to know that we are qualified to tell
them about their purchase and  they want us to be here when they have a
problem.  Most of all, my customers want to be recognized and appreciated
when they come in and that only happens in small local nurseries.

Presently,  the American public is in a turmoil about what has happened
recently and they are looking for comforting activities.  We need to remind
them that gardening is the very best way to feel secure and comforted.  We
need to set the garden trend into high gear.  This would be good for your
readers and it would certainly save many small local greenhouse and nursery
businesses that have seen such drastic drop in sales this fall.  We need to
promote --- "Victory Gardens", "Plant A Row", Gardening with Kids, and
garden crafts.

Sorry to run on--- I'll get off my soapbox but my last comment is that we
really do need gardenwriters--- both the small business and the consumer.

Pat 

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