Gearing for success

A few months back, we quizzed hundreds of garden center operators across the country to find out what products they thought were going to be “hot” this year. Generic apparel items – how can we put this gently? – didn’t win, place or show. They didn’t finish in fourth, fifth or sixth place, for that matter. In fact, the surest bet with regard to things you wear was to make sure they weren’t things you buy, at least not wholesale.

However ...

Most of our respondents noted that there is a place for the right kind of gardening gear, especially if it has a “hook” – that is, something that makes it the envy of all the other gloves, hats, aprons and footwear on the retail block. To wit:

What is it: The insect-repellent gardening hat from Sloggers. Why you’ll want to sell it: Sloggers Garden Outfitters has teamed with Buzz Off Insect Shield to develop a collection of insect-repellent garden accessories. These hats provide UPF 50+ sun protection, meaning that they block more than 98 percent of the sun’s harmful rays. Meanwhile, the odorless insect protection provided by Insect Shield apparel lasts through 70 launderings – the typical lifetime of a garment. Find it

What is it: West County Gardener’s Landscape Glove. Why you’ll want to sell it: This is the company’s most high-tech glove, but that’s just part of the allure. In today’s “green” world, the fact that this sturdy glove is made of recycled materials makes it doubly appealing. Features include a dense padded palm and finger pads reinforced with tacky, Sure-Grip to keep the user from losing a grip on gardening tools. Find it

What is it: Angela’s Garden’s Kids’ Collection apparel. Why you’ll want to sell it: Here is an ideal way to instill a passion for gardening in children. The Kids Collection features gloves, a tote, an apron and a hat, all in nature-based themes. Pictured here is the Honeybee design. Others are Crazy Circle, Pink Floral and Blue Stripe. Find it

What is it: The insect-repelling wristband from BugBand. Why you’ll want to sell it: Vapors from the plastic BugBand wristband form a protective shield around the immediate area, keeping insects a safe distance away. Basically, they mask the scents of humans that attract pesky pests. Bands come in multiple colors (dark green, light green, blue, yellow, red, pink and glow-in-the-dark) and work for up to 120 hours. Find it

What is it: The Gauntlet glove from Foxgloves. Why you’ll want to sell it: This comfortable glove provides great dexterity and superb performance, but the real plus is the extended cuff, which proves invaluable in thorny gardening settings. The glove has a leather palm surrounded by resilient synthetic suede, with a cuff wide enough to fit over long sleeves. Find it