Re: Flat Plant Sales

**"* B* <g*@OTHERSIDE.COM>**

Thanks Doreen,
    I receive most of the trade journals in the mail, looking to let most of 
them drop. I seem to move by a slightly different drummer. This forecast, or 
something similar, was made at the first of last year. Never farther from 
the truth for us. If everyone subscribes to the same magazines, use the 
pretty much the same suppliers, offer the same merchandise and call yourself 
independent... don't be surprised if gardeners wander off from your place of 
business. Many of the garden centers are no longer much different than the 
big boxes, just charge more.
    I attended a Master Gardener meeting last evening.... that would not 
follow the researchers predictions. There are different levels of economics 
and cultures in this big country. I don't think the researchers are reaching 
the "real" gardeners.
    We did not shut down shipping this winter... normally we are pretty much 
dead in the water December through first of February.. not this year. 
Someone was wanting something every week of the month. Cash flow in the 
winter for a nursery that sells only plants is a welcome surprise.. but no 
down time this year. Perhaps it is a bit like writing. If you have something 
to say, say it well and know where to send it, the rest resolves itself.
    Gene

Gene E. Bush
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, llc
www.munchkinnursery.com
genebush@munchkinnursery.com
Zone 6/5  Southern Indiana

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>
Subject: [GWL] Flat Plant Sales
> This is from today's issue NMPRO, a weekly ezine from Branch-Smith 
> Publications:
> Don't expect huge jumps in retail plant sales
> Standpoint Marketing Research, which has conducted garden-buying surveys 
> since 2000, concludes that retail plant buying will remain flat for years 
> to come. "Retailers must recognize they can no longer expect the same kind 
> of robust growth they experienced as a result of the baby boomers," a 
> Standpoint report stated. Homeowners 25-40 spend less on gardening 
> products than previous generations. Baby Boomers are spending less on 
> garden products at retail sites, and more on lawn-and-garden services.

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