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ANLA 2011 Legislative Conference scheduled for July 18-20
The American Nursery & Landscape Association (www.anla.org) is urging retailers and growers to mark their calendars and plan to join ANLA in Washington this summer, July 18-20. The 2011 Legislative Conference is a unique opportunity to rebrand the nursery, greenhouse and landscape industry in the eyes of federal policymakers, transforming the long-held perceptions of our industry as merely ornamental. A complete conference schedule and registration details will be posted online in April.
Deadline nears for GIE Media Horticultural Scholarship Program
GIE Media, the leading media company serving the nursery, greenhouse, garden center, lawn and landscape, and golf course markets, has established a fund to support academic scholarships and business internship placements for outstanding college students focused on leading in the green industry. To be eligible for an academic scholarship or an internship program, you must be enrolled at a recognized two-or four-year college or university working toward a degree in horticulture, environmental science or other field related to a segment of the green industry. To obtain more details and an application, e-mail Chuck Bowen: cbowen@gie.net. Applications must be postmarked by April 15.
Social media continues to gain traction in marketing strategies
MerchantCircle’s recent quarterly Merchant Confidence Index survey found that local merchants, who have limited time and money for marketing, are gravitating toward simple, low-cost online marketing methods such as Facebook and other social media, as well as tried-and-true methods such as search and e-mail marketing. The survey, which was taken by more than 8,500 small and local business owners across the United States, also found new marketing services that are generating buzz in the media, such as mobile marketing and group buying, are seen as unproven marketing methods to small businesses. Traditional offline marketing methods continue to decline across the board. Over the course of 2010, use of print advertising dropped by 33 percent (from 40 percent usage to 27 percent); use of print Yellow Pages declined 18 percent (from 45 percent to 37 percent); and use of direct mail decreased 26 percent (from 39 percent to 28 percent).
Sweet orange bell pepper named All-America Selections winner
All-America Selections (AAS) announced another 2011 AAS Winner, ‘Orange Blaze,’ a sweet orange bell pepper that is easy to grow and has a sweet flavor. The new winner, bred by Seminis, joins the seven announced last November and is available for immediate sale and distribution. For a complete list of AAS Winners, AAS Display Gardens and AAS Trial Ground locations, please visit www.all-americaselections.org.
WHO’S NEWS
NEW POSITIONS
Ruth Estrada has joined Terra Nova Nurseries, Canby, Ore., as trial plant administrator.
Weston Nurseries has hired Melissa Oothout as manager of its new garden center location in Chelmsford, Mass. Tom Strangfield has joined the company as landscape designer.
Scott Fulton was named executive director of sales and marketing for EuroAmerican Propagators, Bonsall, Calif.
David Annand was named sales representative for the Pacific Northwest Territory of Bailey Nurseries.
HONORS
The Burpee Foundation awarded $25,000 to The Bridge Urban Farm Horticultural Program.
Dosatron International Inc. will commemorate its 25th anniversary this year.
ASSOCIATIONS
National Garden Bureau members elected Mark Schermer of Fides North America and Jen Calhoun of Ernst Benary of America to its board of directors.
Karen Summers has been named interim executive vice president of Southern Nursery Association.
Steve Castorani and Mark Krautmann were added to Horticulture Research Institute’s Board of Trustees.
BUSINESS CHANGES
McGregor Plant Sales, headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., recently unveiled its new logo.
Jack Shelton recently retired as the president of Pöppelmann Plastics USA. Shelton will continue to serve as a member of the board and on a consulting basis.
For an always up-to-date list of current events, click here.
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