Ian Baldwin
Ian Baldwin [[email protected]] is a renowned garden industry consultant who has been training garden retailers how to be better business managers for more than 30 years.
April 3, 2018
Ian Baldwin: Why the Roles of Garden Retail Staff May Be Changing
In his latest blog posting, garden retail industry consultant Ian Baldwin says the role of grower-retailers has changed from providing information to validating or correcting what consumers have already learned when browsing online.
September 26, 2017
Gardening Industry Not Recovering as Much From Recent Recession as in Past
In his latest blog posting, garden retail industry consultant Ian Baldwin says changing consumer demographics mean that, unlike past indicators, the garden business hasn’t surged after a recession — and it’s not going to under the current model.
April 24, 2017
Ian Baldwin Offers Examples From Grower-Retailers on Price Increase Strategies
In March, Baldwin wrote a blog advising grower-retailers to consider raising their prices this spring. The post inspired a number of creative suggestions.
March 31, 2017
Ian Baldwin: Aim High With Your Pricing This Spring
In his latest blog posting, the garden retail consultant says consumers are spending more today, which means it’s a good time to consider raising your prices.
February 21, 2017
Ian Baldwin: 2017 is Off to a Strong Start For Plant Retailers
Many garden retailers are telling garden retail consultant Ian Baldwin that sales and the consumer’s attitude toward spending have been very strong the last two months.
October 31, 2016
3 Basics That Will Make Your Store More Welcoming
Many customers shop only once a year. Here are three things you should embrace so your store gives consumers the confidence they need to succeed.
June 27, 2016
Inspiring Summer Customers Without A Word Being Said
Now is the time of year to sell your customers what they like, rather than what they need. According to industry consultant Ian Baldwin, one way to do this is to use silent selling techniques and devices that help validate a purchase.
May 23, 2016
Ian Baldwin Sees Several Garden Trends Developing This Spring
The garden industry consultant reads the mid-spring tea leaves and sees several trends emerging.
May 9, 2016
9 Practical Tips To Turn New Gardener Panic To Confidence
Consultant Ian Baldwin has noticed panicked looks on millennial faces while they shop for plants. They have bought into the concept of outdoor fun with the kids or healthy home-grown food, but matching the dream with reality is another matter.
April 26, 2016
12 Questions To Test If Your Store Is New-Customer Friendly
Consultant Ian Baldwin offers ways to help you look at your store with fresh eyes and how you can make it welcoming for new gardeners.
January 15, 2016
Christmas 2015: Fresh Greens And Personal Gifts Were A Hit For Garden Retailers
Consultant Ian Baldwin reflects on how his network of garden retailers fared over the holiday season and offers advice as buyers head to the winter markets.
December 14, 2015
Ian Baldwin: 19 Questions To Make Sure Your Store Is In Sync With The Rest Of The World
Editors Note: The following is from industry consultant Ian Baldwin’s Bits & Bobs blog. It’s good to know that some things are just like they used to be. In an era of rapid, irreversible change that the digital world has brought us, there are some things in life upon which one can depend. Don’t you sometimes wonder if there are some aspects of shopping which, despite our fears that the online world would have completely turned things upside down, have remained as they were, solid, dependable and seemingly unfazed by 2015? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the auto mall! Yes, for those who worried about car salespeople becoming an endangered species, fear not. They are still very common in auto malls (and with what looks like a good crop of youngsters coming through, too.). Yes, they still operate under that same assumption that everyone wants to deal. Still spouting that […]
November 23, 2015
How Garden Retailers Can Help Kids Get Into Nature
In his latest blog posting, garden retail industry consultant Ian Baldwin says the entire floriculture supply chain should get active in making gardening a rewarding experience for children.
November 16, 2015
Use Displays To Boost Shoppers’ Confidence In Growing Plants
The following is from industry consultant Ian Baldwin’s Bits & Bobs blog. By the end of February 2015, I had already worked with or looked at more than 20 local garden centers (LGCs), helping teams get ready for a strong spring season. One of the greatest challenges facing garden retailers today a changing consumer. We have all heard of the new demographics emerging in the do-it-yourself gardening business: younger customers are tempted but terrified, intrigued but intimidated. Merchandising Has A New Role! The fear of failure is high and not easily overcome, despite strong interest in the end result (like a stylish planter of succulents or luscious home-grown tomatoes). The traditional response from LGCs is to say that they have lots of knowledgeable staff anxious to help the newbies succeed. In fact, LGCs argue that this is their unique, distinguishing competitive feature compared to the bigger and usually cheaper big-box retailers […]
Latest Stories
April 19, 2018
California Spring Trials 2018: New Intros from Syngenta…
Check out the newest 2018 plant introductions from Syngenta Flowers, Hishtil, Jaldety, Cohen Propagators, Nir Nursery, Bailey Nurseries, and Sunset Western/Southern Living Plants.
April 19, 2018
CAST 2018: Dr. A’s Favorites From Syngenta Flowers, Bai…
From an exciting perennial to a new white begonia, Allan Armitage says these showstoppers deserve recognition.
April 19, 2018
Spring Trials Rookie Inspired by Connections
The Allan Armitage Scholarship recipient has added a number of industry connections during his time at California Spring Trials, and discusses what that means to him and his career.
April 18, 2018
At CAST 2018, Sakata Captures Consumer Attention Spans,…
More than halfway through the California Spring Trials, the Greenhouse Grower team had a busy but fantastic day seeing dozens of our friends at American Takii and Benary, and spending time talking about the industry's past and its bright future.
April 18, 2018
California Spring Trials 2018: New Varieties to Watch F…
Check out the newest 2018 plant introductions from American Takii, Hilverdakooijj, Hem Genetics, Thompson & Morgan, Sakata Ornamentals, and Ernst Benary of America.
April 18, 2018
How the Horticulture Industry’s Past Shaped Its P…
Andrew Scheldorf, the winner of Dr. Allan Armitage’s California Spring Trials Scholarship, says the stories of plant origins help ground our industry to the people and places that have changed us.
April 18, 2018
Dr. A Weighs in on His CAST Favorites From American Tak…
Here are some of the top variety introductions for 2019 that have pleased Dr. A during California Spring Trials 2018.
April 17, 2018
Dümmen Orange’s New Gamechanger, Plants for All S…
Greenhouse Grower's California Spring Trials Team headed north on Day 3, with stops at Dümmen Orange in picturesque San Luis Obispo and Floricultura in fertile Salinas.
April 17, 2018
Syngenta Flowers Acquires Netherlands-Based Dahlia Bree…
Syngenta Flowers has reached an agreement with Verwer Dahlia BV to acquire the company’s dahlia assortment and breeding program. Both companies expect to finalize the acquisition in the coming weeks.
April 17, 2018
Armitage Scholarship Winner Weighs in on Plant Breeding…
Andrew Scheldorf, the winner of Dr. Allan Armitage’s California Spring Trials Scholarship, says breeders' persistence in making small and large breeding improvements is a testament to their passion and dedication to excellence.
April 17, 2018
California Spring Trials 2018: Stand-Out New Plants fro…
Check out these new plant introductions from the California Spring Trials 2018 trail featuring breeding from Dümmen Orange , Westhoff, Beekenkamp, and Plug Connection.
April 17, 2018
Allan Armitage’s Noteworthy 2018 Plant Intros fro…
Here are some of the top variety introductions for 2019 that have pleased Dr. A during California Spring Trials 2018.
April 16, 2018
California Spring Trials 2018: New Plant Intros from Gr…
New plants from Suntory Flowers, Terra Nova Nurseries, Prudac, Florist, PlantHaven, Anthura, Kapiteyn, Kientzler, 2 Plant International, and more on day two of California Spring Trials 2018.
April 16, 2018
CAST 2018 Provides Fresh Inspiration for Infusing Marke…
The second day of California Spring Trials took the Greenhouse Grower Team to GroLink in Oxnard, CA, and then up the coast to Windmill Nursery in Buellton. Here are some of the marketing, display, trend, and people highlights we saw at those locations, as well as some beautiful scenery from our evening in Pismo Beach.
April 16, 2018
Allan Armitage’s Spring Trials Favorites From Green Fus…
Here are some of the top variety introductions for 2019 that have pleased Dr. A during California Spring Trials 2018.
April 16, 2018
Terra Nova Nurseries Debuting New Heuchera, Echinacea V…
Terra Nova Nurseries has created profile pages for these new varieties on its website to help growers learn about growing habits, plant characteristics, and other insights provided by the breeding team.
April 16, 2018
Armitage Scholarship Recipient Reflects on Conversation…
Andrew Scheldorf, the winner of Dr. Allan Armitage’s California Spring Trials Scholarship, is realizing the power of networking and building relationships in the floriculture industry.
April 16, 2018
Allan Armitage’s Top Plant Picks From Day One of CAST 2…
The Greenhouse Grower Variety Team at California Spring Trials (CAST) 2018 visited Green Fuse Botanicals, Floranova and Vegetalis, and Ball Horticultural Co. on the first day. Here are Dr. Allan Armitage’s top plant picks of the day.