Ideas From California Spring Trials Retailers Can Steal [Slideshow]
California Spring Trials is the biggest event of the year for breeders to show off their new varieties. They pull out all the stops to make their plants look their best, and it can be a gold mine for retailers looking for merchandising ideas. Take a look at the photos and let us know what you think!
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Allan Armitage serving up drinks at Benary's Chill Lounge
The Chill Lounge used black landscape cloth, black lights and as many items the staff could find to glow in the dark -- paint, colored plastic cups, decals and even Dr. Armitage. The lounge had a laid back, nightclub feel (yes, there was a disco ball), but the same concept could easily apply to a Halloween room, which could transition into a holiday lights room.
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PP&L cinder block bench planter
Cinder blocks may be the new craze to replace pallet art. PP&L made this planter bench completely from cider blocks. In addition to the main planter area, the staff pulled out select blocks just far enough to allow for additional plants along the sides, which you can see in the lower left corner. Add big fluffy pillows, and you have a sitting area.
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Cinder blocks as planters at Ball Horticultural Company
And here's more cinder blocks subbing as planters, this time at Ball.
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Using plants as a backdrop
This was one of several displays that used ipomea as a living drape to provide a backdrop for a container garden. This one is ipomea 'SolarPower Black.'
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Benary's graffiti wall a year later
Last year attendees were invited to write on Benary's graffiti wall in its Graffiti pentas display. This year we got the chance to see the results. This could easily be translated to any group project your customers work on.
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A bench sign selling attributes instead of price at Ball Seed.
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Ch. Morel's cut cyclamen bouquet
Let customers know that any bloom can be used as a cut flower with the right vase and setting.
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Floating gardens at Syngenta
Floating gardens always grab attention. The variety of items Syngenta used opens up the possibilities, from ladders to tin buckets.
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HGTV's painted branch
Painting branches is a simple idea that retailers have used extensively around the holidays. Why not use something other than white to give a display a little boost?
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Hort Couture's mini butterfly habitat
Hort Courture is promoting its new milkweed variety and created a mini butterfly habitat with a laundry hamper.
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PP&L shows how to build a display with dimension
PP&L had several displays like this one, which used every inch of space to add dimension. It's an effective way to add drama to a long standing plant display. Retailers would want to take away some of the displays on the ground so all plants are easy to reach for shoppers.
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Pallet display given a polish at PP&L
PP&L steps up again, this time with pallets stacked cleanly, painted black then given a drape to help smooth the edges.This display was free standing, allowing for merchandising in the middle of the greenhouse floor on both sides of the pallet wall.
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Suntory display with a floating planter
Customers crave good ideas. Why not show them different ways to use planters, including suspended above a table like a chandelier? Add a couple candles, and you have some lighting, too.
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Syngenta decision tree for peppers
This decision tree is a great way to engage customers trying to decide which of your vegetable varieties to buy. It can work with any veggie or herb.
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Syngenta's Jeannine Bogard explains tomato sizes
Bogard demonstrates a method she uses to help visualize how large a tomato will grow when it's not in fruit.
View all
Allan Armitage serving up drinks at Benary's Chill Lounge
PP&L cinder block bench planter
Cinder blocks as planters at Ball Horticultural Company
Using plants as a backdrop
Benary's graffiti wall a year later
A bench sign selling attributes instead of price at Ball Seed.
Ch. Morel's cut cyclamen bouquet
Floating gardens at Syngenta
HGTV's painted branch
Hort Couture's mini butterfly habitat
PP&L shows how to build a display with dimension
Pallet display given a polish at PP&L
Suntory display with a floating planter
Syngenta decision tree for peppers
Syngenta's Jeannine Bogard explains tomato sizes
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Carol Miller is editor of Today's Garden Center. You can eMail her at [email protected]. See all author stories here.