Proven Winners

Here we go! A new year, a new season of gardening. With this comes new plants, new customers and new forces that influence the future of each. Some of this has to do with what’s new and popular at any given time — what is currently trending. And as an industry, we need to continue focusing on trends, and do our best to stay one step ahead of our customers’ needs and expectations. Here’s a quick recap of several trends we see resonating with consumers in 2017:

Colors that bring nature home

The Pantone Color of the Year is Greenery — how easy is that? This provides a huge growth opportunity not only in foliage and houseplants but also ferns, eucalyptus and other green flowering plants — think ‘Limelight’ or Little Lime® Hydrangea for example. Other top colors also reference what Pantone feels we all need a good dose of — vitality, relaxation and the great outdoors — with names such as Primrose Yellow, Island Paradise and Pale Dogwood. Focus on these colors when ordering outdoor cushions, pottery and point-of-purchase materials.

Think green, inside and out

A great place to discover what’s trending with women is the Pinterest Top 100 list. Over the past 2 years, there has been a huge influx in the use of houseplants on this platform (think fiddle leaf fig, staghorn fern, and orchids). Based on recent searches on Pinterest, the next hottest houseplant category will be climbing vines. Lush greenery and inviting spaces are huge right now, so pair vines with unique containers or macramé, and it’s an instant hit! Expect last year’s air ferns to be replaced with kokedama, which has creative gardeners suddenly trying their hand at moss-encased plants suspended by string. Consider adding a kokedama workshop to your list of events for spring.

3 mini trends to watch for

Farmhouse Style — think of Joanna Gaines and all of the fun designs she’s doing with mixed materials, natural fabrics, etc.

Reclaimed Wood — from barn wood to pallets, this trend continues in force.

Copper Accents — from silver to rose gold and now on to copper. You’ll see containers and fixtures moving to this metallic tone.

Our team works diligently each year to compile design trends, in addition to the feedback and questions we receive from consumers. This is our framework for the next “Gardener’s Idea Book.” Each spring we mail out 700,000 copies across the U.S. and Canada to consumers by request only. This piece is full of inspiration, ideas, photos and container recipes, giving your customers innovative ideas and ways to bring gorgeous plants into their home and garden. We feel this is the #1 resource we offer garden centers to share with their customers.

For more information on how you can share the Gardener’s Idea Book with your customers, please send me a quick e-mail, (jessica@provenwinners.com) or visit our website at www.provenwinners.com