Brands in Blooms

Garden Retail is Evolving—Are We Keeping Up? A?huge thank you to Jim Connolly from Weston Nurseries?for joining us in this week’s Growth Lab, hosted by Brands in Blooms! His unfiltered take on today’s garden retail landscape sparked some of the best discussions we’ve had. ???Biggest shift??Gardening has become more of an?impulse buy?rather than a planned project. Customers are drawn to?color, fragrance, and sensory experiences—smart merchandising matters more than ever. ???Bestsellers vs. new products??Brand recognition still wins. Even when better options exist, known names (like?Endless Summer Hydrangeas) often outsell newer varieties. ???Can ‘Plant Killers’ Be Saved??This was the?hot?debate. Jim says no. I say yes.?29% of new gardeners give up after their first attempt because their plants died.?(National Gardening Survey, 2023)—and helping them succeed isn’t just possible, it’s?profitable. Retaining them year after year secures the next generation of gardeners and boosts long-term revenue. ???Too Many Choices Are Hurting Sales.?Ever felt overwhelmed by a restaurant menu? Customers do too.?Simplifying choices?helps increase confidence—and conversions. This conversation was packed with insights garden centers can apply?right now.?Catch the full session.?? ???What’s your take—do we save Plant Killer Pam, or move on? Let’s discuss.

Customer habits are shifting—are garden centers keeping up? The way people shop, learn, and engage with plants is changing fast. So how do you: ? Turn a ‘plant killer’ into a loyal customer? ? Get staff to educate, not just sell? ? Balance bestsellers with the next big trend? Next week in our Growth Lab, Jim Connolly from Weston Nurseries is in the hot seat, sharing what’s working right now. Want to be part of the conversation with over 250 garden centers in the Brand Bloom Community—or explore sponsorship opportunities? DM me.

Garden centers are at a turning point. Millennials and Gen Z aren’t just buying plants—they’re looking for brands that?inspire, educate, and align with their values. And AI-driven marketing is the key to making that connection. In my latest article for?Lawn and Garden Retailer, I explore how?AI-powered content marketing?can turn your garden center into a?community hub—not just a store. 3 Ways AI is Changing the Game for Garden Centers: ??Turn Feedback into Action AI helps identify customer trends—like the rising demand for native plants or beginner-friendly workshops—so you can respond?before competitors do. ??Personalize Marketing Like Never Before From?pet-safe plant recommendations?to?eco-conscious product highlights, AI makes it easier to deliver the right message to the right audience—at the right time. ??Automate Without Losing the Human Touch AI streamlines social media, email marketing, and content creation—so your team can?focus on customers, not just content calendars. Bottom line:?AI isn’t replacing relationships—it’s?strengthening them?by helping you engage with the next generation in?authentic, meaningful ways. ???Read the full article below. How is your garden center adapting to changing consumer expectations? Let’s discuss below! ?? #GardenRetail #AIMarketing #NextGenGardeners #CustomerExperience

Unlock Social Media Success for Your Garden Center! Wondering how top-performing garden centers captivate younger audiences on Facebook and Instagram? Our latest blog shares proven strategies to help your garden center stand out online, build a vibrant community, and turn followers into loyal customers. Inside you'll discover: Real-life examples of garden centers that have mastered social media. Actionable tips for creating content Millennials and Gen Z love. Strategies to boost engagement and drive meaningful growth. Transform your social presence today! We’d love to hear from you—what's your most successful social media strategy? #GardenCenter #SocialMediaMarketing #GardenRetail #DigitalMarketing #BrandsInBlooms

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, we’re celebrating our very own Lauren Willms, our Director of Community Engagement! Lauren’s leadership, creativity, and passion for helping garden centers attract and retain the emerging generation of gardeners make her an invaluable part of our team. From fostering meaningful connections to driving innovative strategies, Lauren is dedicated to ensuring that garden centers remain vibrant, welcoming spaces for new and seasoned gardeners alike. Her commitment to growth—both in business and in community—makes a lasting impact every day. Join us in celebrating Lauren and all the incredible women shaping the future of the horticulture industry! #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInHorticulture #GardenCenters #CommunityGrowth #BrandsInBlooms

A New Generation of Gardeners: Is Your Website Keeping Up? https://lnkd.in/dwXQkcxv. Brands in Blooms

Beyond the Basics: How Garden Centres can Truly Connect with Millenials This is something we talk a lot about Brands in Blooms

NEW ITEMS JUST DROPPED ?? ? Canucks CLUB seats vs. Anaheim donated by Van Noort Bulb Co. Ltd. ? Free marketing audit & consultation by Brands in Blooms ? Brewery tour & tasting at Dead Frog Brewery ? JBL pure bass wireless headphones from Heike Designs ? Leather tool belt from Heike Designs and more! Head into the auction now and place your bids! https://lnkd.in/gBK6JCk2

How Do Customers Actually Find Garden Centers Online???? If your garden center isn’t showing up when people search for?"Best garden center near me,"?you’re missing out on real customers. ???93% of all online experiences start with a search engine. (Forrester Research) ?? More than?60% of searches?come from mobile devices. (Statista) ???82% of customers read online reviews before visiting a business.?(BrightLocal) So how do you make sure?your garden center is the one they find—and choose? ??Optimize your Google Business Profile?(and get more reviews!) ??Make sure your website is fast & mobile-friendly ??Use social media to reach new customers ??Post the right keywords so Google ranks you higher This isn’t just about being online—it’s about making it?easy?for customers to find you, trust you, and visit you. We broke it all down in?Session 3 of our NexGen Masterclass, and you can read the highlights in our blog post below. ???Check out the full article and start attracting more customers today! #GardenCenters #SEOForGardenCenters #LocalBusinessMarketing #GrowYourGardenCenter

?? The Bloom Room: Episode 1 – The Hard-Hitting Questions Start Here ??? Every great brand has a story. Ours starts with an ‘s.’ In the?very first episode?of?The Bloom Room, we dive into the deep, existential question:?Why Blooms??Why plural? Why not the grammatically correct?Bloom? What’s the strategy? The vision? The?legacy? …Or did we just lose the domain name and roll with it? Watch the 2-minute video to find out. And if you’re a garden center looking to attract the next generation of customers, well,?we know a thing or two about growth. #BrandsInBlooms #TheBloomRoom #Marketing #GardenRetail #NextGenConsumers #BrandAwareness