Get behind the scenes with ANLA’s Retail Roadshow! Our host sites are ready to answer your questions about hiring, training, POS systems, signage, product mix, pricing and merchandising. We provide you with host site profiles containing info about staffing, sales and profitability so you can get the most out of each visit!

 

 

 

 

 

Gary's Garden Center

Gary Blondell purchased Gary's Gardens in January, 2001 after having worked at the garden center for five years. Since then, he and his wife Mary, winners of the ANLA Retail Rising Star Award, have applied lessons from ANLA's Garden Center University and their ANLA peers to successfully grow their company.

Always innovating, discover what has earned Homestead Gardens the 2004 Garden Center of the Year Award, the 2008 Nursery Retailer of the Year Award and owner, Don Riddle, the Jack Schneider Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Centerville, Maryland location was developed in 1988 as an additional growing area to supplement inventory at the mainPennsylvania location sixty three miles north in West Grove. The site was selected for its more temperate climate and stable water resources. By 1996, the Maryland location began shipping the full Conard-Pyle mix directly to the company’s customer base in the mid-Atlantic and mid-Western United States.

Their landscape distribution yard at this location offers a full selection of landscape size material.

Conard-Pyle works with a small bio-tech (breeding) company called NovaFlora to develop new and innovative plants. Their breeding operation and lab are located at the Pennsylvania location. In their no-spray zone test field, Conard-Pyle trials and evaluates roses, perennials and woodies.

Conard-Pyle has 55-75 full time employees that work on 230 acres of land (110 of which are developed). They grow more than 750 different varieties of plants, with average inventory levels in excess of 1.5 million units.

In the summer of 1975, Donald and Irene Willey pulled an old airline baggage cart laden with fresh vegetables from the family farm to the end of their lane. The following year, the cart was replaced by a small pole building. Donald and Irene's then six young children, along with several nieces and nephews were employed throughout the summer months in the fields and as salesmen at the roadside stand.

The roadside market and wholesale business expanded rapidly. The first building was replaced by a second; and the second by a third. The third "stand" as most people referred to it, is part of the existing building today. It has had, however, at least four major additions, greenhouses attached. Product offerings multiplied as fast as the structure itself. First came spring and fall flowers, pumpkins, Christmas trees and pointsettias. Then came a basket and gift area. Nursery stock was quickly added to the mix. Next came a candy, jams, jellies and dairy products. A deli followed, and the most recent addition has been a selection of natural foods and frozen meat.

Since 1985, Gasper has evolved from a one man operation into an award-winning landscaping design and installation firm. Gasper also features the Gasper Home & Garden Showplace, a full service, Garden Center & Nursery located in Bucks County. The garden center is known for the high end garden accents and furniture; a carry-over from their landscape design clientele. Their site, which houses both the landscape design center and the garden center features mature landscapes and extensive stone work.

This 48 year old business operates both a full service garden center and landscape design/build department. They doubled their interior space in 1999 which hosts a successful, and growing, year-round gift and holiday department.

This third generation family business was started in 1952 as a landscape company with an onsite nursery. The garden center was added in the 70’s. The business was purchased by the current, second-generation owners in 1993, who have made significant changes to the business. County Line Nursery serves a small, conservative community that has grown from farming to a bedroom community for Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Marketing efforts focus on roadside appeal and an email newsletter. 70% of the customer base draws from a 5 mile area and repeat customers visit up to 48 times a year.

Learning opportunities County Line has consistently operated at a 9 -14% net profit. They review key metrics frequently and review “what if” scenarios as part of their budgeting process. Using the POS system for placing orders based on historical data has created disciplined open-to-buys and sells through times.

Challenges Physical limitations of the site have slowed growth. A slope of 30’ from one end of the site to the other, coupled with poorly sited existing buildings, presents major traffic flow challenges. Using the advice of three different consultants to determine the best return on investment, last year County Line added additional structures and changed traffic patterns to improve the customer experience.

One year in, discover what the corporate backing and talent of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters has made possible, and what challenges remain. Outstanding merchandizing and a sophisticated gift selection enhance this ground-breaking garden center.

Steve Castorani opened a design/build landscape company in 1977. At that time, Hockessin, DE was evolving from a rural farm community into a thriving suburb for Wilmington and Philadelphia. In 1986 they developed a small commercial lot (1.5 acres) as a garden center to support the landscape business, as well as provide plant materials to the growing suburbs. The Garden Center is located on a main route that now accommodates over 20,000 vehicles daily. Specializing in unusual plant material, including a broad selection of natives, Gateway benefits from their association with North Creek Nurseries. Steve is owner of North Creek Nurseries, a grower of perennial plugs. This allows them access to garden tested, new introductions ahead of their competition.

Learning Opportunity
Gateway partners with two local not-for-profit organizations, with whom they share common goals. The Delaware Nature Society and the Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) both embrace native plants and habitat creation. Gateway offers a 10% member discount on plants throughout the season. They also host an annual Water Garden Tour and donate the proceeds to the DCH.

This family-owned, regional chain of eight garden centers and grocery stores has recently completed a successful rebranding effort. We’ll visit their newly renovated store in Lancaster.

This 60 year-old family business is one of the top ten highest grossing garden centers in the United States. They operate three locations including a stand alone casual furniture store.

2009 Retail Roadshow Sponsor Master Nursery Garden Centers will hold a meeting of its Board of Directors in conjunction with the Retail Roadshow. The meeting will take place Friday, June 19 from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing. ANLA greatly appreciates MNGC's support of the Retail Roadshow.