Long Island Reno: Implementing the redesign at Hicks Nurseries

This is the third in a three-part series on Hicks Nurseries' 2023 makeover, designed to embrace the future and renovate with relevance in mind.

Following the research and design phases (overviewed in the first and second parts of this series), implementation of the Hick Nurseries makeover was slated for July and August 2023.

The project missed its mark of a pre-Labor Day completion by just two weeks, but that was due to a few last-minute additions.

Long Island's largest garden center, Hicks has approximately 70,000 square feet under cover and 200,000 square feet of outside selling space. The renovation involved approximately 35,000 square feet of greenhouse and another 7,500 square feet of covered, air-conditioned space.

The store remained open and fully operational for the entire time.

"Throughout the store renovation, we made it a priority to keep our customers informed via email, social and signing both outside and inside the store," says Hicks Director of Marketing Eleni Roselli. "First, we wanted them to know we were open while under construction, and second, we wanted to create excitement around the new store shopping experience they could look forward to."

Detailed, on-site management

Detailed planning and management were crucial to bringing the design to life, says President Stephen Hicks. That included a construction manager on site every day, with daily, weekly and monthly objectives, to answer all questions and keep the project moving forward.

"In our industry, there's only so many windows in which you can get construction done as a seasonal business," he adds. "If you miss that window, there are real costs to missing it. Nothing's perfect, but without a plan, you don't stand a chance."

During construction, the IGC was able to wall off the construction area and provide customers with another entrance, creating new traffic patterns (and learning quite a bit about what was possible with certain categories in July and August).

The team choreographed the construction so the Christmas Gallery and Animated Story areas were finished by Aug. 14, one month before the IGC's popular Fall Festival. While construction elsewhere continued, new fixtures and merchandising in the areas were underway and ready by festival time.

Looking forward and backward

Hicks says a critical part of the planning process is understanding your deadlines and what it takes to meet them.

For example, the store had all new custom fixtures needed onsite by Aug. 15. Meeting that deadline required ordering the fixtures in April — in the heat of spring rush.

"Having that visibility of starting with your end date and working backwards was very helpful, because you may find there are deadlines that are very, very important that you have to decide six or eight months out," Hicks explains.

With summer construction, many of those deadlines may end up falling in spring and easily slip by otherwise.

The store today is a much cleaner, brighter, more welcoming environment, with a much grander front entrance, Hicks says.

"In my opinion, it's just a much better store. We made significant changes to improve the traffic flow and customer navigation, so it's a much easier store to shop," he says. "I think we're giving the customers a fresher, better experience, and hopefully one in which they're going to say, 'Yep, this is the kind of garden center I want to shop at now and into the future.'"

The real challenge ahead

With the renovation complete, Hicks says the easiest part — the construction — is over. Now, the real challenge begins.

"What ultimately determines the success is when you fill it with product. When you fill it with staff, and the customers show up, what's their experience like? That's really what is ultimately the make or break," he explains.

The facility is a starting point, but it’s the people, the organization and the culture that give it life.

"That’s the challenge and the exciting part. That's more difficult than just hiring somebody to tear down a wall or to build a new entrance," he says. "That's the work that's ongoing and never ends."

For IGC owners considering renovations, Hicks offers the following advice.

"Be intentional in terms of your vision and your design. Do your homework on the front end. Then, plan your execution at a detail level. If, at the end of the day, you can match that up with what the customer experiences, we at least stand a chance to be successful. There are no guarantees, but it certainly puts you in a spot to be the best you can be."

Photos of Hicks Nurseries renovation

Check out what Hicks Nurseries looks like today, after the renovation:

Read part 1 of the series: Long Island Reno: Hicks Nurseries starts with research

Read part 2 of the series: Long Island Reno: The Hicks Nurseries design process

Jolene Hansen is an award-winning freelance writer who has covered the commercial horticulture and garden center industries for more than a decade. Reach her at jolene@jolenehansen.com.