Adapting and thriving

As our celebration of Garden Center magazine’s 20th anniversary comes to a close, we have been reflecting on changes in the industry during the past two decades. Independent garden centers have had to quickly adapt to keep pace with the rapid technological changes and consumer shifts over the years. The businesses that survived — YOU! — innovated to serve customers more efficiently and seized opportunities to connect with consumers in different ways. You have not only survived, according to this year’s State of the Industry research on page 23, you are thriving.

The state of our industry is good, according to our report and the dozens of garden center owners we’ve spoken with during the past few months. Sixty-seven percent of garden centers indicated their businesses are growing, and another 18 percent said sales are steady. Additionally, 79 percent of garden centers hired more or the same number of seasonal workers this spring, compared to 72 percent in 2013, and 89 percent of garden centers pre-booked more or the same amount in 2015 compared to 75 percent in 2013.

Running an IGC business is different than it was two decades ago. Owners must monitor emerging trends, competition from online and big-box retailers, government regulations, the latest plant varieties, marketing and social media, not to mention other day-to-day management responsibilities. In addition to growing strong and vibrant plants, garden centers are reinventing retailing, too, helping to grow a new generation of gardeners.

The independent garden center industry hasn’t been the only industry to change over the past several years. Publishing has also seen radical shifts with the rise of the Internet, social media, mobile usage and the launch of the tablet.

Like many of your businesses, GIE Media, Inc., Garden Center’s 35-year-old parent company, is family-owned and continues to be committed to the markets we serve through persistent investments, market leadership and innovation. Our forward-thinking, future-focused approach has helped us grow and build in challenging times, increasing our resources to serve you better year after year.

Here at Garden Center, we continue to adapt and innovate right along with you to ensure that we continue to be relevant and grow in this dynamic marketplace.

Garden Center has led the market in offering advanced technology, including the industry’s first digital edition. We were the first and remain the only industry publication to launch and offer a mobile app. You can hear conversations we have with industry leaders and experts through our podcasts, and we introduced the industry’s first webinar. We are able to deliver the most robust print and digital content in the market thanks to the support of the largest advertising base serving the IGC industry today. We are committed to making investments to be the most valuable publication serving the IGC marketplace.

In speaking of investments, check out our recently redesigned website, gardencentermag.com, which offers an easy-to-use, mobile friendly design, an improved search engine and enhanced news and video coverage — resources to help you boost your business and your bottom line.

We know there will be challenges ahead — every business faces them. We are committed to the independent garden center market and committed to helping you navigate the industry for the next 20 years.

Jim Gilbride, Group Publisher