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Featured Companies
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Cheap Tricks: Good Things from The Garden
| Ellen C. Wells
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>> Published Date: 9/26/2011
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 Good Things from The Garden
The GCA Summer Tour through New Jersey stopped at The Garden Greenhouse and Nursery in Clermont, where the Catanoso family has spent five decades building a multi-service business—from full-service florist, nursery and landscaping to a village of shops, an events facility and even a 75-acre campground. What ideas did Green Profit glean from them for your store? Read on to find out.
Super Signage
As you’ll read in “Knowledge Is Power” (page 32), big, bold and beautiful signage helps customers quickly locate products they are looking for, as well as informs them of products they didn’t know you offered. Carry the signage designs and themes across the entire facility for continuity.
 Beautiful Booths
Outdoor information and cashier booths need not look utilitarian and oh-so-very Plain Jane. The Garden Greenhouse and Nursery puts some pizzazz into theirs (located adjacent to the front parking area) with big and beautifully colored baskets and containers. Think they sell pottery? Large annual combos? Look no further than this booth for the answer.
But lest you think all these pots and petals “clutter” the kiosk, you can see that the booth’s opposite side is free and clear to service customers.
It takes a village
Adjacent to The Garden Greenhouse and Nursery’s retail and nursery area—and part of the same complex—is a multi-shop, multi-product retail experience called The Woodland Village. With about a dozen stores, this Village offers a variety of shopping opportunities for both community residents and New Jersey Shore beachgoers. Customers can come in to peruse the toyshop, the potter, the candle store, the bakery and more, and grab some decorative containers while there. The Catanoso family operates some of the storefronts and also rents out several shops to outside businesses.
 The shops are connected via large and meandering paths. Notice how the signage theme is carried over from the garden center to the Village.
Of course, the meandering paths and spacious area surrounding the Village Shops offer plenty of opportunities for The Garden Greenhouse and Nursery to showcase their stock of annuals, perennials and other nursery items and their landscape services. Never miss the chance to sell your garden products!
 Bumble Bee Bakeshop
The Bumble Bee Bakeshop is one of handful of storefronts within the Woodland Village Shops—and a popular stop for many of the tour attendees!
The black, white and yellow color theme noted on the building’s exterior carried over to the shop’s interior signage and décor, as well as to its packaging.
The black, white and yellow theme was even spotted outside. The devil’s in the details!
 Ramp it up
Take a look under your feet. Is there a step or uneven ground inhibiting the smooth movement of people and carts to and fro? A well-placed ramp can mean the difference between someone and a cart full of plants making it to your register—or not. Depending on the material used for the ramp, you may find it necessary to add grippy materials to prevent unintended slips and spills.
 Sprucing up corners
Many garden centers have multiple paths—some often small and tucked away—leading from one retail area to another. Encourage customers to travel down these paths and see more of your products by making these areas attractive. You have colorful annuals and pottery—combine them and put them to work! GP
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