New year, new ways to connect with Garden Center

While it may only be a number, changing to a new year has a profound impact on most people. The new year is a time of reflection and renewal, and an opportunity to symbolically start over. Whether it’s a new coat of paint for your gifts and décor section, or a less visible change like implementing a new point of sale system or improving your employee training, you’re probably also thinking about making changes at your garden center. What are your New Year’s resolutions for your garden center?

Here at GIE Media, Garden Center’s parent company, we’ve also been making some behind-the-scenes changes to better serve you, our valued readers. Our tech-savvy web team has been busy prepping the magazine for the launch of our new interactive native app for iPhone and iPad. In this new app, the cover and all features will be interactive for a more exciting experience for you, our reader. In addition, you’ll be able to access exclusive digital extras like related podcasts, videos, photo slideshows and much more. In order to download and access this free app, visit the Apple App Store and search for “Garden Center.”

Speaking of podcasts, January is also the official launch of our new podcast radio station, Retailer Radio Network. These podcasts are short audio clips in which we ask industry experts about business management, trends, how-to topics, merchandising, marketing, social media and other subjects that will help you improve how you run your business. Is there something you’ve always wanted to ask an expert, but haven’t had the chance? Send me your questions at kvarga@gie.net and we’ll work on getting you the answer. You can find and download The Retailer Radio Network podcast station in the iTunes store by searching for “The Retailer Radio Network.”

You’ll also find a new section this month in Market Buzz called Spotted. Each issue, we’ll share a photo of something innovative, interesting or just plain cool that we’ve seen at a garden center. Since it’s not possible for us to visit every garden center, we welcome your photos as well. Have a display that blows the competition out of the water? Does your curb appeal stand out from the rest? Is your Valentine’s Day celebration one of a kind? Post your photos to Garden Center’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GardenCenterMagazine and mention Spotted to be considered.

Best wishes in this new year,

kvarga@gie.net