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As expected – and hoped – the 2011 AmericasMart Winter Market offered its usual fare of new, tried-and-true and “yahoo!” products for the garden market. We’ll focus our attention on that latter category this month, because we know you’re constantly on the lookout for items that will stop customers in their tracks – and then virtually sell themselves.
These 10 dandies drew huge crowds to the respective showrooms and booths over the show’s run – and then drew orders that confirmed their marketability. If you went to the show, you probably know what we mean. If you couldn’t make it, consider this roster our Editor’s Choice Award winners for 2011. And then, of course, consider stocking your shelves with these stellar items.
 Feeney’s Trellis Collection.
The buzz: The new Feeney division, Feeney Garden Products, hit a home run in its first at bat in Atlanta with these practical and stylish trellises. The trellis systems can be utilitarian, decorative, and even artistic. They can expand a garden space vertically and offer support for vines and vegetables. Freestanding systems with cascading greenery can make beautiful space-dividing screens or privacy barriers, while wall mounted displays can turn a stark wall or fence into a colorful, textured backdrop. The contact info: www.feeneygateway.com
 The Garden Cookies Make & Grow Kit from Strong Marketing.
The buzz: Tabbed as a 2011 holiday product that is ideal for young gardeners, these kits include everything necessary to make real “flowering cookies” for your customers’ children’s gardens. The kits include organic clay, organic soil mixture, a packet of flower seeds, a child-sized rolling pin, flower-shaped cookie cutters, a rolling mat, and a recipe card with instructions. The contact info: www.strongmarketing.com
 The Civil War Locomotive Planter set from The Brookfield Co.
The buzz: This eye-catching decorative item is a great way to show off small plants. It features a variety of cars that double as containers, and the complete set stretches 87 inches in length. The contact info: www.thebrookfieldco.com
 Echo Valley’s Illuminator Solar-Lit Plant Caddy.
The buzz: This company always seems to come up with a winner at AmericasMart. This year’s trophy product has a device that stores the sun’s energy by day, thus allowing LED lights to cast a beautiful glow on a potted plant in evening hours. The caddy also features wheels for easily movability, so consumers can put the featured container anywhere on the patio or porch. The contact info: www.echovalley.com
 Kitras Art Glass’ garden ornaments.
The buzz: This company’s wares weren’t displayed in the garden/outdoor living sections, permanent or temporary, but they definitely have a market in those realms. Each item is hand-blown and unique, and they drew the attention of more than a few savvy garden center operators’ at the show. The contact info: www.kitras.com
 The Fairy Garden Kit from Fairy Gardening.
The buzz: This booth drew great crowds at the show. A Fairy Garden is a miniature garden complete with structures and actual living plants. To fill each garden, the company offers Fairy Flowers, tiny plants designed to flourish in small containers. The contact info: www.fairygardening.com
 The Terracotta Collection from Englishman’s Fine Furnishings. The buzz: This line takes terra cotta to a new level with its intricate designs, versatile range of application and fiberglass-reinforced durability that makes it hold up in any weather. From containers (the one shown here is good for both flower and tree plantings) to fountains and wall hangings, Englishman’s’ new line is set to claim a fair share of the American market. The contact info: www.englishmansfurniture.com
 The fountain line from Homestone Imports.
The buzz: While AmericasMart has long housed some of the market’s best watery wonders, these fountains’ intricacy and attention to detail made them show stoppers. Models include Pebble Pots, Stacked Slate, Slate Tile, and Marble Tile – each hand-made into pieces that would be works of art even without the flowing water. They come in a variety of sizes and price points, too. The contact info: www.homestoneimports.com
 The Awhere Lights line from Exhart.
The buzz: These versatile new illuminators feature muted LED lights that highlight an area without overwhelming it. The lights are effective decorative accessoriess by day but then come to life after dark. Colors include blue, pink, white, and multi color, which make a great Easter decoration. The contact info: www.anywherelighting.com
 The Biodynamic Raised-Bed & Garden Boutique from Farmer D Organics.
The buzz: While garden center operators frequent AmericasMart during the Market, they don’t usually find “Pure D” gardening products very often. The unexpected – and welcome – exception this year came from an Atlanta-based garden center that has been in business two years and that is just now opening its organic doors to the rest of the world. The kits contain everything necessary to create the now-vastly-popular raised bed garden, including all natural products in the housing materials, the compost, the planting mix and the fertilizer. The contact info: www.farmerd.com
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