Through a new lens

If any of you have seen me at trade shows or garden center tours, you know that I’m the one always taking photos, crouching down or climbing up to find the best angle, getting up close and personal with plants and am notoriously the last person on the bus because I just want to get “one last photo” of something interesting.

At California Spring Trials this year, as I photographed some of the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees you can see starting on page 34, I was reminiscing about taking pictures at last year’s International Garden Centre Congress in Ireland. The event photographer had a macro lens perfect for capturing the details of the pollinators flitting about, and let me borrow it for a few minutes to try my hand at it. All of a sudden, I — quite literally — saw the situation from a new angle, and all it took was looking through a different lens.

This spring, take a few moments out of your busy schedule and think about what other “lenses” you could look through to get a new perspective on your business. We’re calling this issue of Garden Center our ideas issue, and for good reason. Throughout the issue, you’ll be able to look through the lens of other retailers who are doing things differently to get ideas to improve your own store. (Look for the idea issue icons at the top of pages.) Are you looking to revamp your website? Improve your social media presence? Offer workshops that will bring in crowds? Spruce up your holiday festivities? Check out our cover story starting on page 18 for those ideas and more from 20 independent garden centers.

While you’re at it, take a look at this year’s additions to Garden Center Success starting on page 47 for more inspiration. These retailers stand out from the crowd with their innovation and work ethic.

Are you doing something to stand out from the rest, too? We want to hear about it. Drop me a line at kvarga@gie.net and tell me what you’re up to.

kvarga@gie.net