Marketplace News

Recall issued for 2 million containers of fuel gel for firepots
Check your shelves, folks. The Consumer Products Safety Commission announced last month the recall of 2 million containers of gel-based fuels used in firepots. The pourable fuel can unexpectedly ignite and splash onto users when poured into already-lit firepots, posing a risk of burning the user. This recall involves gel fuels packaged in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs and sold in scented and non-scented formulations. They were sold at various outlets, including garden centers, since 2008 for between $5 and $20. Contact the manufacturers for refunds and information on how to return unused bottles of the fuel.

Tom Courtright wins Jack Schneider Award
Tom Courtright, owner of Orchard Nursery in Lafayette, Calif., received the prestigious Jack Schneider Award for a lifetime of achievement in garden retail from Garden Centers of America during the IGC Show in Chicago. Throughout his career, Courtright has been heavily involved in local and national industry organizations, including the California Association of Nurseries & Garden Centers, the American Nursery & Landscape Association and the International Garden Centre Association, among others. The award is particularly meaningful because its namesake—Jack Schneider—was the founder of Orchard Nursery and sold the operation to a young Tom Courtright in 1972.

 

HGTV to launch plant brand Brand-new news: Cable network HGTV is working with Agricola Management Group (www.agricolamanagement.com) to launch a branded-plant program. Set to debut in 2012, the “HGTV HOME Plant Collection” will include perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees and seeds. According to this initiative’s website, the program will be “backed by the media power of HGTV and its own high impact marketing program, supported by hgtv.com.” The HGTV HOME Plant Collection will join other HGTV HOME product lines, including paint from HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, HGTV HOME Flooring by Shaw. Hines Nurseries creates Bloomtastic! brand More brand-new news: Hines Growers LLC is introducing the Bloomtastic! Brand to bring together its “star performers” under one label, according to a statement issued by the nursery. The brand is one of the first in the industry to combine new genetics with overlooked plants previously introduced. Plants will be available in branded 4-inch, 8-inch and 3-gallon sizes. The initial rollout includes new Bambino Bougainvillea, buddleia, agapanthus, Lonicera and new Bahama Bay Hibiscus. For more information, visit www.hineshort.com.

Garden Centers of America announces Best Bathrooms Award recipients
Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston, United Kingdom, can proclaim it has the best "thrones" in the business. The store took home top honors in Garden Centers of America's inaugural GCA Bathroom Awards, which recognizes independent garden center restrooms that are clean, fresh and well-designed. The awards were presented at the IGC Show in Chicago held in August. Barton Grange Garden Centre took home the Best Of The Best Award for its spectacularly designed men's and women's restrooms, which include flower-shaped urinals, original flower artwork painted on the walls, no-touch technology for flushing toilets and turning on taps, two separate disabled bathrooms and two separate baby changing rooms with toilets, and a large waiting area with room for carts and wheelchairs.
 

All-America Selections unveils new logo
All-America Selections recently unveiled a new logo. This winter, AAS will replace signs at 40-plus trial gardens with new signs that incorporate the new logo and a freshened look. In January, AAS will introduce a revamped website using the new look and logo. Early next year, the organization will begin replacing signage at the almost 200 AAS Display Gardens throughout North America. "The words 'All-America Selections' encircling the acronym symbolizes how the organization embraces not only seed annual flowers and vegetables but how we plan to embrace vegetatively propagated annuals and perennials in the future," said Diane Blazek, AAS executive director. "We thank the entire Board of Directors for the time they've given to breathe new life into an organization that plays a vital role in a holistic marketing approach for breeders."