Cha-ching! (1-26)

Most garden centers aren’t techno-driven merchants. But to accommodate the burgeoning ranks of prospective Gen Y shoppers, retailers will need to take on some of the trappings of electronic retailers.

You've probably heard the gospel: Give these customers lots of signage and prototypes to review on their own. You’ll need to get accustomed to a group of consumers who want information immediately—but don’t require it to be delivered face-to-face. For these consumers, a computer kiosk could be more welcoming than an actual salesperson.

Folks like Dave Williams with Williams Nursery in Westfield, N.J., are laying a foundation now to accommodate these customers in the future. And he’s doing it “virtually.” The store has built up a strong social media presence via its website, blog, Facebook page and Twitter feed. When Gen Y becomes a solid customer base for this nursery, it will already be speaking their language.

And, in any language, Cha-ching! is still Cha-ching!

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