Making our presents known

In true Christmas fashion (yes, I said “Christmas!”), we’re devoting this message to gift giving—and not just a mill-running plastic-card good for a cup o’ Venti Caramel Macchiato at Common Grounds.

For starters, we bestow on every retailer in eyeball distance of this issue a heaping helping of the proverbial “(D) None of the above.” In recent years, you’ve battled economic dragons, crazy weather patterns, and a great big yellow light on practically every commercial street corner. For 2011, we’re wishing for none of that.

Wait, there's more...
While we’re thinking globally, how about this as a present for the entire retail market: Lots of customers ... with lots of plans to enhance their homes in 2011 ... and with an eye on finding the best places in town to help them to accomplish the feat.

• In keeping with a trend we established this year, we’re expanding our plant coverage again in 2011. Not only will our readers know what’s hot; we’ll make sure they have the tools they need to sell more of it.
• We are introducing regular, deep-market research reports that focus on tell-tale factors that make or break a business. In May, we'll reveal our new “Top 100,” which will spotlight the more successful garden centers in America. And in November, we’ll put a bow on our annual research efforts by introducing a comprehensive “State of the Industry” report that shows what worked—and what didn’t—in every corner of the independent garden center market.

Yea, Verily, More Highlights:

• We’ll introduce fresh new voices via an expanded columnist package —as well as give our veterans a new one-page format that has been designed to make the retailer smarter and richer quicker than ever.
• We’re also expanding our online coverage, on the website proper and via our heralded news- and product-based e-newsletters, to create constant buzz among our readers, who will have access to pertinent information and analysis as it happens – daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly.

There’s certainly more, but the cursive writing below tells me it’s time to wish you your merriest Christmas yet (yes, I said “Christmas!”). Please revel and enjoy. We’ll see you next year!

yyoungblood@gie.net