Article Archive

February/March 2010

There’s possibly nothing quite so spectacular in Spring as a bed of bulbs in full flower. But how are bulbs selling now with the supposed move away from ‘cottage’ gardens and swing to easy-care? We asked for comments. David Van Berkel – Van Berkel Distributors & Garden Express, Vic.

We are hearing from around the world that House Plants are making a comeback. How do you market your 'House Plants'? Do your customers know what you are selling to them? Maybe we should just market them as potted plants to 'Green the Great Indoors'. But of course, many of them flower too and there are none better than the magnificent Phalaenopsis Orchids. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on sales and profit.

We wrote briefly about GYO on page 13 of the last Greenworld but felt it was important enough to cover again. Clearly, vegetable seeds and seedlings have seen an enormous surge in sales around the world but are fruit trees and small fruits such as berries etc enjoying sales growth too. Part of this article is from the UK and part from Australia. Leigh Siebler reports…

December 2009

It has been quite remarkable to observe the plants that have prospered and survived the drought in most areas of Australia over the last ten years. There have been a few surprises to me such as camellias.

Debra Templar gave us advice on ‘What Women Want’ from a retail business in Greenworld October/November and now she provides the same helpful information for an online customer. You might or might not sell online but many of the points are pertinent for customer service in any business.

The art, passion and future Plant breeding and discovery is an art, science and talent. It can be achieved through many and varied techniques ranging from simply selecting seedling plants with desirable characteristics, discoveries of a mutation or variegation to more complex breeding practices and genetic engineering.

The seedling punnet or seedling container has been an integral part of the Garden Centre and nursery production over the last few years. Seedling trays of vegetables or flowering plants have been the purpose lines in the retail plant area and often used as a gauge to the overall success of the plant sales area. The category is going through major change and now is a time to question how this category will survive the new retail market.

October 2009

We all know that some plants need a reasonable of water to prosper while others need very little. However, they are all assisted by correct soil preparation and planting in the position they need. We also know that there are products that will help plants prosper but are they all good. Most stores and Garden Centres sell products that claim to save water in gardens. But are these claims justified? Kevin Handreck throws down the gauntlet

John Stanley reports for Greenworld There always seems to be a debate on does size matter. The general consensus in society is that it does, and the bigger the better. As a result marketers tend to promote based on size and I had the impression that size affects the consumer experience and the larger the size the better the experience.

You’ve seen the outdoor room – the basic one has a barbecue or similar cooker, perhaps a sink and surround, table and chairs. But have you seen those with a television, a brilliant sound system, or a movie screen? Some even have a fireplace, making use of the space in all weather.

September 2009

As I see it today, I seem to have been blessed with a bit of luck. With a modest amount of hard work and a real want and need to know everything, I have been fortunate enough to be employed by companies that encourage personal development through involvement and/or attendance at conferences, trade shows and all other types of other events, information nights and meetings.

This coming Christmas, the emphasis is on the home and making it the most festive it can be. With all of Australia returning to the nest, especially during the holidays, the desire to indulge and romance the home grows.

This is a good time of the year to compare some of your sales for the Winter months (let’s say, June, July and August) with past years. How about also comparing the Winter quarter with Autumn (March-May).

August 2009

In August last year I quoted John van der Horst of Acorn Nursery in Victoria as saying: “The seedling area in a nursery is the engine room of the business. Get that right and position everything else around it”. In my opinion that still stands in John’s case and it works. What happens in your business? Clearly state and other factors come into the equation but a great seedling area is essential for a garden centre to prosper. Leigh Siebler reports

In our opinion, the quality and range of Potting Mixes available in 2009 compared with thirty years ago is like chalk and cheese. Consumers seem to be aware that you cannot stint on quality when growing plants in pots. We asked suppliers if they agreed with us and queried what the current trends were.

The Australian mass-media seems to have taken Australian Natives to heart and keep on pushing them forward as a great option for home gardeners in times of drought. But are they the answer and do consumers want them? We set off to ask questions and find out.

June/July 2009

The opening breakfast for MIFGS 2009 saw plenty of emotional people when the Awards were announced. However, the comment that struck me most was when Lord Mayor Robert Doyle announced that we should bring back the slogan, “Victoria The Garden State”. His comment was met with loud applause and I have no doubt our industry would love to see that slogan return. Is anyone about to do any lobbying? Leigh Siebler reports…

Noelle Weatherley covered the topic of ‘organic’ fertilisers extensively around this time in 2008 so we thought we’d get a brief update on how fertilisers are selling around Australia. The southern states have been hot and dry, not really conducive to feeding plants, with NSW and some northern states being so wet that fertiliser could be continually leached out of the soil. Leigh Siebler reports but poses more questions than answers…

Visual impact is a huge component of retail merchandising. Customers entering a store are greatly influenced by the visual information they gather in the first split second. One simple visual element, such as colour, can catch a shopper's attention and also greatly affect their mood. In today's ultra competitive market place it is of paramount importance that retailers understand the basics of visual merchandising. Here are 9 visual merchandising tips to help you maximize your efforts.

April/May 2009

The industry gets excited about new plants and products, consumers do too, but just how important are they for promotion and profit. Leigh Siebler asked some of the key players.

After speaking with a number of rose growers in Victoria after the ‘worst heat wave for perhaps 100 years’, you would think that there would be a lot of negative comments. However, despite some initial negative thoughts I feel they all agreed that the industry will bounce back after the first decent rain. Most were still as positive about rose sales for 2009 as they were when I spoke with them last October. Leigh Siebler reports.

The National Convention Centre in Canberra was the venue for the 2009 NGIA events. A large number of nursery industry people attended both events and heard a host of speakers offering words of advice and encouragement. Leigh Siebler reports

February/March 2009

In this day and age of being conscious of water and the environment, we set out to get thoughts from the industry on this important area. We spoke with garden centre owners and suppliers. Leigh Siebler reports.

The recent years of drought and water shortage has highlighted a shift in focus for Australian gardening. The continued impact of our English heritage however means many Australians continue to live with, prefer, and select ‘English-inspired’ homes, gardens, and plantings. Despite a desire for garden owners to implement a garden that supports low-water-use, the typified ‘low-water-use’ garden with dry-looking, grassy, native, or succulent planting schemes provides a limited a range of style options and therefore restricts its appeal to the broader public.

Sure the world is changing, and I do not recall changes happening so fast as they have in the past three months. But from these changes there are ENORMOUS opportunities, especially for us in the nursery industry. Make the most of them.

Fleming’s Nurseries has long been a family dedicated to growing fruit trees for the commercial orchardists of Australia and fruit and ornamental trees for the retail nursery and landscape industry of Australia.

This is the text of the presentation by Paris Natar at the Gardman new products launch on March 19, 2009. We will probably print it in June/July Greenworld for those not on our E-News data base.

December 2008

It was interesting to read an article from the UK on ‘what sells roses’. I know the situation is the same in Australia so I set out to ask a few questions and qualify some thoughts. Leigh Siebler reports.

In early October 2008, Eden Gardens acquired the trading entity ‘Carseldine Garden World’ located 30 minutes north of Brisbane.

The Home & Giving Fair on 21-24 February 2009 at Sydney Showground will give nurseries ideas and guidance on colour with presentations by America’s leading colour expert from the Pantone Color Institute.

October

On July 6th, a forty foot temperature controlled shipping container left Perth docks bound for Singapore. In it were 1,000 plants and trees to be used to create two Australian Gardens at the Singapore Garden Festival.

What is a House Plant? This was queried with me a few times as I made phone calls so I decided that a House Plant is a plant that can live indoors, in a container, for a period of time without too much of a setback. That’s a bit vague I guess but let’s see what people told me. Leigh Siebler reports.

September 2008

Retail stores festooned with Christmas décor in October make many people groan. Yet retailers must plan for seasonal events 6 months or more before shoppers hear jingle bells. September is a vital time to prepare for Christmas, from keeping shelves stocked with the next sensation to finding staff to handle the rush with enthusiasm and cheer. Use these 7 tips and boost your tales at Christmas any time.

Newtown Station Nursery is a family business established in 1983 at a disused railway station. Brothers Damian and Greg Kerin own and operate the business and have done so since its opening.

August 2008

I feel that many great gardens are enhanced by a lovely lawn but accept that it depends on the style of the garden. Clearly Australia’s water situation has to be considered too and it seems that gardeners planting lawns are conscious of that in selecting their grass type. Some critics will say that lawns are irresponsible in our environment but there are plenty of arguments for lawns and their environmental benefits. We asked some questions and made our own observations on the state of play in the lawn care industry. Leigh Siebler reports.

A record attendance of 160 delegates gathered at the Dural Country Club at this year’s annual NSW and ACT Conference on May 22.

I have long been an advocate of quality Potting Mixes and get annoyed when I see pallets of apparently ‘cheap’ mixes being sold particularly during strong spring and autumn trading times.

June 2008

Central Coast business, Ramm Botanicals, has won three prestigious national awards at the Nursery & Garden Industry Association Awards night held in Adelaide on March 28.

Debra Templar gives us some more wise words.

Despite local resident’s protests, initial lack of Melbourne City Council support and an unprecedented storm that hit Melbourne on the opening day (closing the show for half a day) MIFGS persevered and continued on its merry way. The Victorian Government has now guaranteed MIFGS its rightful home and the organizers, joined by the exhibitors, ensured that MIFGS was successful once again.

April

‘Outdoor’ was born at the Reed Gift Fair in 2007 with the aim of bringing all things ‘Outdoor’ into one area. The idea was to simplify the purchasing process for prospective buyers and save them many hours of wandering through the main halls. ‘Outdoor’ achieved this aim in 2007 but not without some teething problems as you would expect with a show of this size. So how did they go in 2008? We asked some exhibitors, several key retailers and the organizers for their comments.

With NextGen groups growing in size and stature all across Australia and a group now established in every state, it’s important your business is represented at this level.

This year is my 25th year in the industry and the 50th year for the business since the first invoice was raised for potted plants. Our business focus is now being a provider of Greenlife Solutions™ as opposed to the traditional business being a producer of commodities. During that period there has been a lot of evolution and advances in the systems for production of greenlife, new product development, establishment of NIASA and ecoHort and marketing of the product.

February

Maggie Jacka from GA Expo organiser, Expertise Events, interviewed Sophie Thomson*, ABC TV Gardening Australia’s SA presenter, about how she feels the inaugural Adelaide Gardening Australia Expo will support the South Australian nursery industry.

The inaugural meeting of NextGen in Queensland was held at Cedar Glen Nursery on Saturday 10th November. A group of enthusiastic young people met to hear guest speaker Jerry Coleby-Williams.

Sales in pets in the UK are strong and I see no reason why they won’t be strong here too - all we need is time.

December

Wow! My visit to Glee at Birmingham this northern autumn really got this ex-retailer's juices flowing again! I had the fortune to be in the UK when this prestigious event was on, 16-18 September, and had the very pleasurable duty to give a report to Greenworld.

Question: If you own a local nursery, what good is the Internet to you?

Three years ago I convinced Jeff Morey, the editor of Nursery Retailer in the USA, to visit GLEE in the UK. He was awe inspired and told me that the USA needed such a show.

October

Christmas comes but once a year and it brings with it the biggest and best ready-made marketing opportunity for retailers, especially those who prepare early and carry appropriate stock to inspire customers, writes Noelle Weatherley.

For over 30 years as the leading manufacturer of premium quality growing media and garden care products for commercial growers and home gardeners, Debco has seen the market transform and continually change along with the demographics that now form our market. No longer is the nursery industry seen as an unprofessional group who used to put a bunch of plants together with hand-written prices stuck to them out the front of their nursery. An enormous amount of focus has been placed on merchandising and today, more than ever, can be the difference between success and failure.

A big thank you to everyone who helped celebrate the Launch of the NextGen Nursery Group in WA. To those that could not attend - you missed out on an inspirational and fun evening!!

September

The Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM) is becoming increasingly well known throughout Australia as the place to find a landscape designer who can design site-specific, environmentally-sensitive beautiful gardens and landscapes.

Held at the Grange Golf Club and attended by 84 delegates, including several Industry life members, the 2007 Nursery and Garden Industry SA State Conference was a day of interesting and controversial presentations ranging from water and weeds, to marketing and finance.

It's great to see a specialist retail nursery win an award. Kuranga Native Nursery in Mt Evelyn, Victoria is a shining example of what can be achieved with hard work and dedication.

August

As we flew out of Melbourne on May 4, nearly a year down the track from the beginning of the Chelsea journey, I felt ready for it. The plans were finished and our three containers were waiting for us in London. Our team oozed commitment and competence.

NGIT's leadership and environmental and partnership initiatives are a leading model. Never before has it been more important that we and our partners work together better and focus our future efforts to build strong working relationships across all sectors. Working together is what we are doing well in Tasmania and it is our aim to: “Build a great future for our Industry, the community and Tasmania together”.

This years Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland Conference was held at the Southbank Conference Centre in Townsville from 13th – 15th June.

June

“Shopping is no longer fun”. “I am so tired of look-alike shops with robotic staff, all saying the same things, trying to sell me the same product as every other shop!” “Where are the eccentrics? Why is shopping so bland now?” “What's wrong with everybody? I swear if I go into another shop and watch the staff run away rather than risk talking to me as a person, I'm going to scream…”

Five pavilions will house up to 700 gift, homewares and jewellery/fashion exhibitors at Melbourne Showgrounds 3-8 August 2007, when Gift & Homewares Association (GHA) and Reed Gift Fairs join together to provide industry buyers with their most extensive purchasing opportunity of the year.

The spectacular Sydney Gardening Expo will bring to life and showcase the talents of ABC TV's popular Gardening Australia TV program.

April

Garden centre owners and managers are working much harder to keep sales bubbling along during what would once have been thought of as the ‘tail end' of the season. This is evident in the diversity of product on offer to customers including merchandise such as garden furniture and increasingly, outdoor heaters.

For some time now, industry people have theorised about the possibility of gardeners of the future losing the art of gardening, simply because the fundamental skills are not being passed down by the traditional methods. In days gone by, parents educated their children about gardening by having them help around the home and out in the garden.

The shift in Australia's age structure means the ratio of people 65 years of age and over, to those in the workforce aged 15-64) will increase significantly over the next 40 years. This report is from the Australian Safety and Compensation Council…

February

The controversial pot levy … - to me it's a case of ‘put up or shut up‘!

The Rentokil Tropical Plants people have just introduced containers that glow! While this might seem like something from your worst nightmare, for trend-setters and those seeking a point of difference, the new lunar pots may be just the go. Energy saving low voltage fluorescent globes inside the double-walled lunar pots light up and create a dramatic effect. The globes are long-life with 8,000 hours expected. The pots are made from lightweight, high grade recyclable plastic and are available in a range of colours. The Lunar pot is available separately or can be included with other ranges where specified. Rentokil Tropical Plants, tel (02) 9370 9300.

December

You could think of garden trends like a series of waves. At the peaks you get the absolute moment where a certain look is `it'. Then you dip into the trough between the waves, and this is where another type of gardening takes place, where parts of the latest trend are brought down off the crest and whipped in with a longer-term mix. According to the following people (who you'd hope would know what they're talking about), right now we're in a post-peak trough, and it's a real mix! Anthony Tesselaar Let's start with Anthony Tesselaar (Anthony Tesselaar International) who points out what we all know - that fashions do come around, often with a slightly tweaked look and a different name. This time he describes it as the 'no-rules look'.

Leigh Siebler reports The heading above could be challenged by some people but after chatting with growers and gardeners I am convinced that it is correct. Once you get them through the first summer, given proper care, roses are hard to kill and will perform in all sorts of areas. Naturally correct plant selection, careful soil preparation and ongoing maintenance are all important. What really counts though, from a garden centre perspective, is the fact that potted roses are distinctly saleable and profitable if you just present them well in your centre. Yes, winter sales have been up and down but again those who have been prepared to display good stock at a reasonable price have been rewarded.

Leigh Siebler reports.. Spring in Victoria sees gardeners, keen and not so keen alike, out in the garden and making the most of our beautiful weather. And the gardeners certainly visited the Gardening Australia Expo (GA) at Caulfield. GA seems to attract a different crowd to some degree to MIFGS and certainly the Expo is very different. There are plenty of small, specialised businesses selling products ranging from unusual plants through to all sorts of super products to cure many ailments and help plants prosper.

November 2006

Gardening Australia Expo in Sydney blossomed again for spring 2006, complete with a new name and under new organisers, Expertise Events. There was a good mix of exhibitors and one could feel the relaxed, casual atmosphere. In quite a radical departure from previous presentations, the feature gardens were all laid out in an uninterrupted line straight down the middle of a more compact exhibition area. Greenlife and floral exhibits were interspersed with allied products.

Noelle Weatherley reviews the market for Greenworld More and more Australians are going to pot each year - gardening in pots, that is!

Peter Whitehead joins us once again with some positive 'Waterwise' advice for retailers. With a few exceptions - Darwin comes to mind, most of the continent has been forced to come to terms with some form of water restrictions of which several are draconian, while some others are moderate. This is something that we are going to have to live with in some form or another, even if prolonged rainfall eventually does fill up the nation's dams.

October/November 2006

This issue is due out on Friday 13th, October.

September 2006

Over the last 10 years I've kept hearing how lawn sales are declining. The recurring message is gardens are getting smaller, lawns use too much water, people are putting in instant turf etc.

A special article by Ian Chivers, CEO, Native Seeds Pty. Ltd.

- some more inspiration from Leigh Siebler..

August 2006

Frightened by the way time hurtles forward? Then brace yourself, because it's been three years since we last took a look around the seedling industry.

In a more genteel era before technology and the `information super highway' swamped us, catalogues were considered vital by manufacturers, growers, wholesalers and distributors as the prime resource for their customers.

Leigh Siebler follows up on a recent article he wrote after his South African trip early this year, with some thoughts on challenges facing garden centres today. He also offers some possible solutions.

June/July 2006

The Landscape Industries Association of Victoria's Awards of Excellence were presented on April 1, at a gala event held at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne.

Leigh Siebler journeyed across the Indian Ocean and filed this report for Greenworld

I was seated at my computer merrily tapping out a glowing report on the recent Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) presentation last April when I received an extremely disturbing letter...

The August issue of Greenworld Magazine is due out on Tuesday 15th.

April/May 2006

The heading at the top of this page is probably a little misleading as my story goes much further than originally intended.

Tired, cliched phrases are not only boring to say, they can damage your business. The training team at the Australian Retailers Association provides some tips on how to avoid the pitfalls.

February/March 2006

Although it seemed to have fewer landscaped gardens than in previous shows, New Zealand's 2005 Ellerslie Flower Show remained true to its established tradition of mounting a horticultural extravaganza that delighted thousands of visitors.

Speaking with garden centre operators from all around Australia is a great way to find out just where it's at, in terms of the true situation in national garden centre retailing.

December/January 2005/2006

I knew it was going to be a memorable seven days when I was privileged to be invited to join a group of 19 people on ‘John Stanley's Glee/Horticultural Industry Tour' which commenced in Chester UK on September 14.

It has been interesting to visit the Gardening Australia Festivals (GAF) in NSW and Victoria this spring and to look at the differences.

October/November 2005

John and Melissa van der Horst also attended Congress and John said in summary, "The 47th Congress in France was sensational from start to finish."

Leigh Siebler makes it easy for you to get ideas with some of his local photos on these pages plus a few more from overseas by courtesy of Chris Sargent from Plants Management Australia.

In response to the effects of last year's hard pruning by the organisers, ABC/Haymarket Events, we are pleased to report that this show has truly blossomed.

September 2005

Our series of `idea photos' continues with more inspirational overseas pics courtesy of Chris Sargent from Plants Management Australia.

Horticulture in general has changed dramatically over the last five to ten years and I think it's fair to say that landscape has emerged as the fastest growing industry sector and by far the largest overall consumer of greenlife.

Does a retail recipe exist? Absolutely! However this does not consist of a set of generic rules, rather the need to be proactive about change and stay one step ahead of tomorrow.

August 2005

Judging by the way the better garden centres operate, planning and organising for the Christmas season should be well underway by now.

Did you know that the number of professionally qualified nurserypersons as defined by the ABS, has decreased from 3000 nationally in 1996 to just over 2000 in 2003 and continues to fall?

Leigh Siebler chatted with David over the phone for this fascinating story…..

June/July 2005

Inspire your customers to encourage the next generation of gardeners with a range of accessories that reflect the excitement and the magic of gardening. It's all on show in the heart of the gardening world at Glee 2005, the home of international garden and leisure.

There can be little doubt that the famed Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (no wonder we use the MIFGS acronym), is at the very heart of the gardening calendar in Australia.

The LIAV is the peak industry body in Victoria and its annual awards set the standards for the quality of work expected from a landscape professional.

April/May 2005

In consideration of the 2005 NGIA National Conference in WA, it is hard to imagine a more pleasant and relaxing venue than the historically significant...

Lea-Anne Brighton, founder and director of Solutions Management, has some sound advice on how to make the internet work for your business…

February/March 2005

Greenworld contacted some leading garden centre operators to get their views on how 2004 had gone and what the YTD figures were like for December.

A reader's poll in Gardening Australia Magazine last year revealed that roses still top the charts as the most popular flower in the world. And why not?

Eden Gardens & Garden Centre is an innovative new gardening complex in Sydney's North Ryde which opened its doors in November.

December/January 2005

With more display gardens, Sydney in Bloom's second year in the Sydney Domain certainly made an impact.

If it's twenty years to an overnight success, then Perrott's Nursery at Deception Bay is well on the way...

Adelaide, the unchallenged 'Rose Capital' of Australia, has a brand new garden festival called Adelaide's Festival of Garden Living...

October/November 2004

The sale of pottery products in garden centres has undergone a startling transformation in recent years.

After being asked to attend yet another meeting about how best to 'increase sales' and 'promote plants', it occurred to me...

Wherever I travel among those involved in the privately owned retail industry, I come across mention of the dreaded words 'chain garden centres'.

September 2004

An emphasis on foliage colour has become a major trend in the landscape world. We no longer rely solely on flowers to add interest to our gardens.

Efficiency! Efficiency! Efficiency! It's a term that will occupy a prominent position in the landscape and irrigation industries from now on. But what does it actually mean? and how can it be achieved?

Researching this topic, I immediately thought of The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, thinking what an excellent lead-in a little bit of history would be! How naive to think that they were actually 'hanging gardens'.

August 2004

Neil Williams covered the Chelsea story for Greenworld and in this article he examines the 'Australian Inspiration'...

Those readers who have never been to a Chelsea Flower Show travelled and visited gardens or garden centres in the peak of the English high spring may...

June/July 2004

Speaking as one who has been an outspoken critic of some past conferences for their lack of plants, colour and genuine 'feel-good' atmosphere, this was the conference the industry needed to have...

Visiting UK garden centre owner and guest judge for The Australian Garden Industry wards, Sue Allen, has provided Greenworld with a summary of the address she gave at Gold Coast conference.

April/May 2004

It was with great interest that I read Bill Brett's article in the Dec/Jan (2003/2004) issue of Greenworld on the subject of Customer Loyalty Programs.

Robert Bateman, Industry Communications Officer with the Queensland Association of Landscape Industry, reports ....

February/March 2004

Greenworld feature writer Elizabeth DeFriest examines the burgeoning market in garden mulches.

The benefits of mulch are well known and its virtues are being extolled by everyone from water companies to governments and gardeners as we become...

The LIAV Awards of Excellence are the highlight of the year for Victorian landscapers and their staff...

Gold Coast-based landscape construction company, Scape Shapes, has won the coveted 2003 Queensland Landscape Construction of the Year Award.

December/January 2003/2004

It wasn't long ago when there were no major event garden shows in Sydney. But now...

With the ever increasing pace and pressure of Australian life, people are relying more and more on their homes as private sanctuaries in which they can feel secure, calm and relaxed.

Switzerland hosted the 2003 Congress from August 25 to 30 incl. There were delegates from 15 countries.

October/November 2003

Andrew's advice goes to the heart of just one of the many issues confronting garden centre operators who are thinking of investing in gift lines...

Design, design, design was the order of the show at this year's Gardening Australia LIVE...

The title of this article says it all, and is directed to all the sectors of our horticultural industry.

Through wonderful initiatives such as National Tree Day, Australians are now more aware than ever of the valuable role that trees play within the environment.

September 2003

In many garden centres green-life sales are falling as a proportion of total turnover.

As many Greenworld readers will be well aware, Stage 2 water restrictions have now been introduced in Victoria with, what some might say, a little trepidation by members of the industry.

It used to be much simpler. Earth, wind and fire, people living within small groups, much closer to nature.

GREAT NEWS FOR RETAILERS OF WATER FEATURES!

August 2003

Advertised as "The Best Garden & Flower Show in Town"...

This year's Conference Trade Show attracted more than 3,000 attendees...

The theme was inviting, as was the thought of GreenGold's legendary hospitality...

Taking a look at the bedding plant - or seedling industry, there's talk of the drought, but it's certainly not the biggest topic of interest.

June/July 2003

In April, following two successful shows in New South Wales, the ABC Gardening Australia LIVE people took their concept to Queensland...

Indeed the crowds never stopped streaming in from the opening Wednesday right through until the final Sunday evening...

In March 2003, Garden Affair was announced National winner in the 2002/3 Australian Garden Industry Awards...

April 2003

Where once the notion of garden lighting made you think of a floodlight at a BBQ (no ambience and everyone looking a little tired), time and technology have given us options....

When I first heard about the conference switch from Manly to Homebush, (perhaps to escape the rain), I was more than a little surprised...

February 2003

Sonja Cameron of Cameron's Nursery, Arcadia NSW covered the event for 'Greenworld' and filed this report.

There is no doubt that the rose department in a garden centre is challenging. There's also no doubt in my mind, that the rose department can be highly profitable if you plan, merchandise, stock and maintain it correctly.

December 2002

Noelle Weatherley takes a look at the bulb scene and discusses how retailers can make the most out of selling promises.

Gardening Australia LIVE NSW organisers, Haymarket IMPG Events, have seriously set about creating a distinctive style of their own.

Adelaide has had a number of titles over the years... I believe Adelaide should forthwith be proclaimed the unchallenged 'Rose Capital' of Australia.'

October 2002

The average consumer appears to have taken on board the message that water-wise gardening is important, but do they know where to go from here?

Always a company on the move, the Danks' team discovered a `Winning Formula' at its Fourth Annual Group Conference on the Gold Coast...

Architectural plants, also referred to as plants with great textural attributes

September 2002

"If you get the mix right, you can do exceptionally well."

During recent years, Australians have been transfixed by home and garden makeover shows.

Block sizes are getting smaller while the houses on them are getting larger.

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