Right Around The Corner: The Farwest Show

If you’re headed to the Farwest Show in Portland this week, be sure to set aside time Friday for the greenhouse track of educational sessions. Greenhouse Grower is hosting this year’s program, with three sessions from 9 a.m. to noon.

9 a.m.–Breaking Out Of The Commodity Trap

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Increase revenues by offering high-quality plants your competitors aren’t. Differentiation begins with production inputs from variety selection to the plant size you choose to grow and market.
Ransom Nichols, grower and columnist, will present on the annuals side. Dan Heims from Terra Nova Nurseries will present on the perennials side.

10 a.m.–Shrink Your Shrink

Unmarketable plants are a drain on every grower’s bottom line but you can minimize the impact by paying attention to details. Dömmen’s Dr. Allen Hammer shares simple production techniques that will help you take more of your crop all the way to the finish line.

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11 a.m.–Grower Panel Discussion

Greenhouse Grower Editor Delilah Onofrey leads a panel of top greenhouse growers in a discussion on best practices for profitability. They will talk about the steps they’re taking in their own operations to increase revenues, manage expenses and drive dollars to their bottom lines. Growers scheduled for the panel include Steve Ussery of Iwasaki Brothers, Grace Dinsdale of Blooming Nursery, Jack Bigej of Al’s Garden Center and Ransom Nichols, grower and columnist.

Greenhouse Grower’s sister publication, Today’s Garden Center, will be hosting the retailer track on Saturday morning, also from 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday sessions include:

9 a.m.–Today’s Garden Center’s Retail Trends for 2010

We’ll share the results from Today’s Garden Center’s Industry Pulse Surveys and this year’s Revolutionary 100 Roundtable. From buying to products to merchandising ideas, we’ll talk about the trends retailers need to now to finish strong in 2010 and be ready for a successful spring.

10 a.m.–Revolutionary 100 Panel Discussion

A panel of independent retailers from TGC’s 2010 Revolutionary 100–Brian Bauman from Bauman Farms, Lee Powell from Garland Nursery, and Ted Farthing from Shorty’s Garden & Home–will talk about how they’re approaching these trends in their own operations. They will share real-world examples of strategies that have worked for them and maybe some that haven’t.

11 a.m.–Steal This Idea

Today’s Garden Center’s second annual Steal This Idea issue is just around the corner. We’ll provide a preview of some of the great ideas independent retailers across the country have developed for their businesses and attendees can put into action in their own garden centers.

For more information on the show, visit FarWestShow.com.

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