Online Only: Complete Industry Pulse Survey Responses
We surveyed readers to create a profile of the typical greenhouse grower in 2009 and to gauge the current state of the market. Here are the complete findings from our 250 respondents.
Which of the following best describes your business?
Wholesale grower, finished plants 32%
Grower/retailer 32%
Wholesale grower, young plants (plugs & liners) 8%
Wholesale grower, finished & young plants 16%
Other 12%
What percent of the plants you grow was sold through each of the following outlets in 2008?
Mass merchandiser (e.g. Wal-Mart,Target) 11.63
Home improvement chains (e.g. The Home Depot, Lowe’s)11.54
Supermarkets 8.92
Independent garden centers 45.83
Own retail operation 57.43
Where is your business located?
Northeastern U.S.20.8%
Midwestern U.S. 29.2%
Southeastern U.S. 20.0%
Southwestern U.S. 6.0%
Western U.S. 16.8%
International 7.2%
How long has your greenhouse operation been in business?
5 years or less 14.0%
6 to 10 years 8.6%
11 to 15 years 6.2%
16 to 20 years 9.9%
21 to 25 years 11.1%
More than 25 years 50.2%
How many square feet did your company have under cover for greenhouse production in 2008?
4,999 square feet or less 15.2%
5,000 to 9,999 square feet 8.4%
10,000 to 24,999 square feet 13.5%
25,000 to 49,999 square feet 9.7%
50,000 to 99,999 square feet 14.3%
100,000 to 249,999 square feet 13.5%
250,000 to 499,999 square feet 8.9%
500,000 to 999,999 square feet 8.4%
1 million square feet or more 8.0%
Which of the following crops did your operation produce in 2008? (Check all that apply)
Seed annuals 63.2%
Vegetative annuals 70.1%
Flowering potted plants 66.7%
Fresh cut flowers 9.4%
Potted foliage 27.8%
Vegetable transplants 44.4%
Perennials 64.5%
Plugs and/or young plants 36.8%
Woody ornamentals 26.5%
viewOther (please specify)
How many retail outlets (total number of stores) did you sell to in 2008?
3 or fewer 40.4%
4 to 6 6.1%
7 to 9 3.3%
10-24 9.4%
25-49 10.8%
50-99 9.4%
100 or more 20.7%
How many retail outlets do you expect to sell to in 2009?
More than in 2008 24.3%
The same as in 2008 65.2%
Fewer than in 2008 10.5%
How many year-round employees does your company have?
5 or fewer 44.6%
6 to 10 13.1%
11 to 15 6.3%
16 to 20 6.3%
21 to 25 4.1%
26 to 50 5.9%
51 to 100 9.5%
More than 100 10.4%
How many seasonal employees does your company have?
5 or fewer 41.8%
6 to 10 12.7%
11 to 15 7.3%
16 to 20 7.7%
21 to 25 5.0%
26 to 50 9.1%
51 to 100 6.8%
More than 100 9.5%
Please estimate your annual sales for 2008.
Less than $25,000 10.2%
$25,000 to $99,999 11.1%
$100,000 to $249,999 9.7%
$250,000 to $499,999 10.6%
$500,000 to $999,999 8.8%
$1 million to $2.9 million 19.4%
$3 million to $4.9 million 7.9%
$5 million or more 22.2%
How did your 2008 sales compare to your 2007 sales?
Increase less than 5% 21.4%
Increase 6 to 10% 18.8%
Increase more than 10% 15.6%
Decrease less than 5% 10.3%
Decrease 6 to 10% 10.7%
Decrease more than 10% 9.8%
Stay the same 13.4%
How do you expect your 2009 sales to compare to your 2008 sales?
Increase less than 5% 26.0%
Increase 6 to 10% 17.0%
Increase more than 10% 13.0%
Decrease less than 5% 9.4%
Decrease 6 to 10% 7.6%
Decrease more than 10% 4.5%
Stay the same 22.4%
What percentage of your revenues come from the following areas?
Mass merchandiser (e.g. Wal-Mart, Target) 47.6%
Home improvement chains (e.g. The Home Depot, Lowe’s) 47.6%
Supermarkets 48.1%
Independent garden centers 74.8%
Own retail operation 60.2%
Contract growing 40.3%
Other (please specify) 37.4%
From the list below, please check the three biggest challenges limiting your company’s ability to grow.
Energy costs 73.9%
Inability to raise prices 49.8%
Competition 46.4%
Weather 43.1%
Finding quality labor 33.2%