Ian Baldwin

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.

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.

In March, Baldwin wrote a blog advising grower-retailers to consider raising their prices this spring. The post inspired a number of creative suggestions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The garden industry consultant reads the mid-spring tea leaves and sees several trends emerging.

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.

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.

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.

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 […]

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.

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 […]