Marketplace News

Blackstreet Capital purchases Park Seed for $12.8 million
A federal bankruptcy judge in Columbia, S.C., accepted an offer from Blackstreet Capital, a private equity firm in Chevy Chase, Md., to purchase financially troubled Greenwood, S.C.-based Park Seed Co. As part of the sale, Blackstreet has agreed to maintain the seed company’s 150-person workforce and to remain in Greenwood for at least three years. Blackstreet would have to pay the bankruptcy estate, the state and Greenwood County each a $500,000 penalty if it relocates sooner. The seed company’s creditors, which include Ball Horticultural Co. and C. Raker and Sons, indicated they were pleased with the offer.

Garden Centers of America to visit Minneapolis/St. Paul for 2010 Holiday Tour
GCA announced that the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., will host the 2010 Holiday Tour. The annual event, scheduled for Nov. 14-17, will put the spotlight on some of the area’s finest garden centers while exposing attendees to new ideas, innovative marketing and “old family” secrets. Cost for the tour is $550 for members and $750 for non-members if registered on or before Nov. 4. After Nov. 4, the cost is $600 for members and $800 for non-members. Online registration is available at www.gardencentersofamerica.org.

Dallas Market Center relocates and expands Outdoor Living showroom
Dallas Market Center announced that its Outdoor Living shared showroom is relocating and expanding to more than 31,000 square-feet of garden, patio and outdoor products. The new space will debut during the Total Home & Gift Market, Jan. 19-25, 2011. Outdoor Living was formally located on the 6th floor of the World Trade Center. It will now be in the International Floral & Gift Center (IFGC) on the 1st floor adjacent to registration. The new area offers more space to display items.

Garden Center magazine brings home four Azbee awards
Garden Center received four Azbee Awards of Excellence from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (www.asbpe.org). A national gold was presented to art director Karen Angus for table of contents design. Angus also received two gold awards in the Central-Southeast region competition for work on Survivor Stories (August 2009). The first was for front cover, computer generated; the second for opening page/spread computer generated. Managing editor Sarah Martinez received a bronze in the West region for the September 2009 cover story, Brand Worthy. “We’re thrilled about the many awards Garden Center brought home from this year’s competition,” said Yale Youngblood, publisher. “Our entire team works very hard to deliver top-quality content to independent retailers, and these prestigious awards reinforce that commitment.”