4 retailers named finalists for Innovator Award

Four garden centers have made the cut to be finalists for the 2008 Innovator Award, sponsored by Garden Center Magazine and Garden Market Expo. The winner will be announced in the June 2008 issue of Garden Center magazine.

Bowood Farms, St. Louis

Bowood Farms has learned to how to meet the gardening needs of its urban neighborhood, one it helped revitalize. Hip, appealing merchandise mixed with healthy plants reside in a former plastics factory, which is currently gaining a green roof.

For more: Bowood Farms, (314) 454-6868; www.bowoodfarms.com

The Garden Corner, Tualatin, Ore.

Jonn Karsseboom doesn’t let a small lot in a suburban neighborhood and no permanent structures get in the way of classy retail. A temporary wooden path meanders throughout the property, passing vignette display after display. Any time Karsseboom needs to redecorate, its just a matter of rolling up the aisles and placing it into a new pattern.

For more: The Garden Corner, (503) 885-1934; Jckarsseboom@aol.com.

Natural Gardener, Austin, Texas

Natural Gardener is one of the United States’ leading garden centers that specializes in sustainability. For owner John Dromgoole, retailing in a sustainable manner is a passion, not a job. A must-see for any retailer looking for ideas on how to sell green products.

For more: Natural Gardener, (512) 288-6113; www.naturalgardeneraustin.com.

Petitti Garden Center, Avon, Ohio

Petitti’s new store in Avon, Ohio, has a lot of design concepts packed into one location. With the Cleveland area’s infamous weather, Petitti knew it needed covered shopping, but didn’t want to break the bank. Its solution was to have a lower-cost greenhouse covering for the interior, with a higher-priced outer buildings to create the wow factor.

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For more: Petitti Garden Center, (440) 937-0690; www.petitti.com

May 2008