Cart talk

“We use four different types of shopping carts because we recognize that customers have their own preferences. They should be concentrating on product and not on how comfortable or uncomfortable they are pushing or pulling a cart around. By our Gift Shop and Farmers Market, we have small Euro Carts available. These are small bi-level carts that fit small shopping baskets on the frame. Customers using these carts can also opt to carry the baskets. They are ideal for shopping gifts, food and herb/vegetable plants. Then we have a more traditional shopping cart (bi-level folding green carts). These are stackable and the most preferred by customers, so we have about 40 of these. We tuck some under our plant tables, keep a few by the entrance, and have them available along our main aisles. Then we have two metal flat cart types that are more traditional “nursery” carts for heavy pots, bigger plants and bulk items. One works best pulling it around and the other is for pushing. These clunky carts we keep out where we sell larger plants and statuary/pottery. The one thing I have noticed is that customers do not want to pull a cart around. I think we are all accustomed to pushing carts in supermarkets. There was a time I thought we had too many types of carts and might look like we are just indecisive. But over the last year of watching customers, I think the types we have are perfect [for our needs].”

— Erik Dietl-Friedli, garden center manager and buyer/merchandiser at Flamingo Road Nursery & Farmers Market in Davie, Florida

“We use green wagons. They start the day at the entrance. By the end [of the day], they are everywhere”

— Eric Hill, Autumn Hill Nursery, two locations in Georgia.

“We have flat, green wagons in three separate areas of the garden center and three-tiered carts at the entrance of the annual greenhouse. The wagons are at the front entrance and in front of a shading Cravo roof structure and our perennial greenhouse. It seems to work well for us as long as we can keep them stocked in those areas.”

– Amy Draiss, Office Manager at Dayton Nursery in Norton, Ohio.