The power of plants can be magical, and their ability to create community among people who are passionate about growing and nurturing them is beautiful to behold. Avid gardeners who shop at garden centers seldom feel rushed to buy. They want to look, feel, and smell everything the center offers. Once they arrive, shoppers are more excited about the product selection than the cost of goods.
While it may be convenient to drive to Home Depot to pick up basic plants that are simple to grow, many gardeners want and expect more. Yellowing plants with wilted, insect-eaten leaves are not on their list. Janet Loughrey of Garden Design says, “Independent Garden centers take better care of their plants than big box stores, where plants are not their major focus.”
Every generation enjoys gardening. It’s an activity children and adults can participate in together and see the fruits of their labor. Social media has the most significant influence on educating gardeners about new trends and DIY projects. These online resources give people the confidence to complete projects independently. Gen Z and Gen Y gardeners get tips and ideas from their favorite Influencers to create a plan of action. Since YouTube is so popular with gardeners, why not develop your own YouTube Channel highlighting unusual products, upcoming events, and tips for growing plants? Creating fun experiences for gardeners online 24/7 and at the garden center makes sense.
“Above and Beyond” Shopping Experiences
Independent Garden Centers can offer customers exceptional shopping experiences. Owners understand how important it is to hire employees who know about plants and can speak the language of gardeners. It’s easy for loyal shoppers to build relationships with trained staff who can give them good advice and make helpful recommendations about what items to purchase. Although Spring is the peak selling season for garden centers, those with diversified product assortments and niche businesses are positioned to attract customers throughout the year. There are various reasons why garden centers are so popular with customers, in addition to selling healthy plants.
Expert Advice and Personalized Service
Since many employees are also gardeners, they share their experiences with people eager to learn from them. Practically everyone who purchases a plant has questions related to selection and care. Unlike big box stores, customers can look forward to finding a wide variety of common and unusual plant varieties specific to regions, soil conditions, and gardening abilities.
Affordable plants and purchasing options
Customers sometimes perceive that independent businesses charge higher prices. While this is true in some cases, buying plants at a garden center may be less expensive than those sold at a big box store. Many garden centers grow their plants in greenhouses or nurseries to manage the quality and quantity of their plants. Large garden centers may have wholesale operations that sell plants and supplies to landscapers or other professionals at a discount.
Contributing to the Local Community and Economy
Independent businesses grow the local economy and create jobs for people in the community. Garden centers also source plants from local growers in the larger agricultural community. Some operations also hold workshops and events that build community and promote gardening.
Gardening is more than a trend; it is a way of life for many people. Many families grow edible gardens to put healthy food on their tables. People concerned about the environment may establish natural habitats using native plants to create an eco-friendly environment for insects and butterflies. Avid gardeners shop at garden centers because they can find the plants and products they need for various purposes. Shoppers also appreciate the delightful service, diverse plant selections, and being a member of a growing community that digs plants.
