RE: Frequent Buyers Garden Club

Since I sell perennials & shrubs right here at the ol homestead,  I have had
to be inventive to woo my customers away from the retail garden centers.  I
also have to be practical because I have finite space.  The area for
overwintering pots of plants is limited to 2 beds 5' wide x 30 ft long.  I
fit the pots together as snugly as possible and put large hoops over the top
of the beds.  Then a double layer of garden quilt is laid over the hoops and
pinned to the ground with earth staples.  Air and water go through, and the
fabric lends some frost protection - down to about 24 F - which is about as
cold as it usually gets here in the winter.  Once in every few years, we get
a spell of really cold weather and then all bets are off.
	In order to reduce my stock to the number that will fit on those 2 beds, I
hold an "end of the season" sale on the first or second weekend of October.
All odds and ends, things that didn't sell well, common perennials that are
easy to replace, things that are too tall to fit under the covers easily,
etc are marked down 50% of my usual price. Plants disappear as if by magic
and my customers are very happy.  They come in droves and bring their
friends.  Building goodwill by rewarding loyal customers is (as Martha S.
says)
"A Good Thing" :)

Marilyn Dube'
Natural Designs Nursery
Portland, Oregon


-----Original Message-----
From:	owner-perennials@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
Of Blee811@aol.com
Sent:	Sunday, December 29, 2002 8:22 PM
To:	perennials@hort.net
Subject:	Re: Frequent Buyers Garden Club

In a message dated 12/29/02 8:00:03 PM Eastern Standard Time,
cherylisaak@adelphia.net writes:


> Second, some of the more expensive garden centers (not to be confused
> with the nurseries) have club cards - you get a stamp for every $5 or
> every $10 spent which gives you some amount off a purchase at the end
> of the season.

One of our local nurseries that has three retail outlets issues a Frequent
Buyers Card and gives a small discount whenever you use it. It also entitles
you to a free plant and admission to the annual fall sale at their nursery
grounds.  I'm not aware of any other kinds of promotions in the Cincinnati
area nurseries.
Bill Lee

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