Cha-ching! (11-14)

Renee's Garden, a wholesale seed company that deals with both consumers and retailers, has found a great way to engage customers that would translate well to a garden center environment. The company asked customers to submit photos of plants grown from its seeds and selected "Torch Tithonia" (pictured above) from Maggie Ferguson of, Auburn Hills, Mich., as the first place winner.

Consider the marketing possibilities of such a project at your store. Your customers love plants -- even more, they love successfull gardening ventures involving plants. If you hold a Photo Contest at your store, you'll not only find a unique way to bond with your customers, you'll have them checking in regularly at the garden center and onlilne to see what they and others have been able to accomplish with the seeds and plants you sell.

Be sure to make a big deal about the contest, both from a marketing and merchandising standpoint. You could have store merchandise or gift cards set aside as prizes for the winners. But the real winner could be your store, which stands to hear the sound of "Cha-ching!" as a result of your venture. 

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