Article Archive

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?