October 5, 2023
Networking empowers growth and drives positive change
Expanding your knowledge within the independent garden centre sector helps us all
BY ART VANDEN ENDEN
Through my career in retail horticulture, I have been given countless opportunities to meet and share ideas with leaders and experts in the independent garden centre sector across Canada, the U.S. and around the world. I’ve heard many professionals outside of this industry comment on how special and unique the amount of sharing and brainstorming that occurs on a regular basis in our industry is.
Recently, I attended the Garden Centres Canada (GCC) summit held in Vancouver, B.C. This annual, multi-day event is always an amazing and inspiring opportunity to meet with industry leaders and tour some of the very best garden centres in Canada. I would like to personally thank the host garden centres for generously opening their doors and sharing their visions, plans and even some of their struggles with those who attended, particularly Hunters Garden Centre, Grow & Gather, Amsterdam Greenhouse and Garden Centre, Art’s Nursery, Cedar Rim Nursery, Kato’s Nursery, Dÿkhof Nurseries and GardenWorks.
A full bus load of employees, owners and operators from across the country visited these stores, and thanks to the huge commitment of energy from the owners and operators, we were absolutely inspired at every location.
The openness and sharing of ideas, issues and talent are part of what makes this slice of the green sector so special. Our sector is fortunate to have the opportunity to be members of associations like Landscape Ontario, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association and Garden Centres Canada.
If you’re looking for even more great ways to network and engage between events, Garden Centres Canada also has a private Facebook Group where members share ideas and ask questions to gain insight from one another. Just search for “Garden Centres Canada Peer Group” on Facebook and ask to join this great community.
There is a lot to talk about as we work to ensure independent garden centres thrive.
Establishing the new normal
The business climate has changed with the COVID-19 years behind us. What I’ve learned through the conversations I’ve had is that after going through a period of operational uncertainty, while being fueled for unprecedented demand, garden centre owners and operators are wondering what the future will be like. Supply has stabilized, although everything is considerably more expensive than it was a few years ago.Has your business returned to a 2019 or pre-pandemic level? It is important to compare. The world has changed significantly. Certainly, the prices — both wholesale and retail — have gone up significantly. If you are not at least 20 per cent higher in revenue, chances are your business revenue is down compared to 2019.
A changing clientele
Our customers are also changing. Baby Boomers are retiring and downsizing. The ensuing generations are looking for businesses that suit and support their lifestyles, beliefs and interests. It is more important than ever to stay on the leading edge of change if you want your business to thrive.Working together to mitigate climate change
We are constantly seeing evidence that our climate is changing. Investing in plants and gardening provides some of the solutions and answers needed; however, we need to get more people participating and recognizing that biodiversity is critical to our environment. It is important that we all open our eyes and ears to this message. Independent garden centres have an opportunity to lead the way in expanding the grassroots social movement toward better environmental stewardship and protection.Which leads me back to the learning opportunities I had at the Garden Centre Summit in Vancouver. A highlight was attending a session with Brian Minter, one of Canada’s leading horticultural experts and communicators. In his talk on climate change and being part of the solution, he touched on some leading edge topics and trends, such as:
Gardening for wildlife:
In 2020, at least 67 million households purchased at least one plant because it benefited birds and wildlife. People with children are also more likely to garden for birds.
Benefiting the beneficials:
Adding frog-friendly and native insect-friendly plants and features to a backyard garden can create a more robust ecosystem.
Regenerative gardening:
Promoting best practices that aim to re-build soil organic matter, restore degraded soil, sequester carbon and reduce water runoff.
Hardiness zones:
The theory that United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones are moving north at a pace of about 13 miles (20.9 km) per decade. The next few decades will be critical in reducing the pace of human-driven climate change.
Above-ground gardening:
For gardeners aged 34-45, container gardening continues to be their biggest area of interest and activity.
Insights like these are just one way that networking with open-minded, informed sector experts and peers can greatly help guide a business in a profitable direction and become a catalyst for positive change in our communities.
Networking and attending industry functions also provides the opportunity to compare thoughts and opinions in real time. By embracing our unique position of being part of a highly collaborative sector, we have an opportunity to be true leaders as a resource for our communities. We also share a responsibility to be the best ambassadors possible for great gardening practices.
As a parting thought, I would strongly encourage everyone reading this article to consider attending the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) tour in late summer/early fall of 2024 in Quebec. I know it will be an incredible event with lots of learning and ideas to exchange — and I hope to see you there!
Art Vanden Enden loved every minute of his 44-year garden centre career with Weall and Cullen and Sheridan Nurseries. In retirement, Art enjoys giving back to the profession with Landscape Ontario’s Garden Centre Sector Group, and sharing his experience with Landscape Trades readers in the Art of Gardening column.