Growers Talk Business

Do Two Strong Springs in a Row Make a Trend?

Abe VanWingerden

As you return from well-deserved summer trips after a second crazy spring, it’s probably a good time to take stock about where you are as a business.

Growers Talk Business

Will The NEW Hobby Turn Into THE Hobby?

Abe VanWingerden

Early reports indicate the 15 to 20 million new gardeners we got last year came back, and they brought their friends and neighbors with them.

Growers Talk Business

2021: An Inflection Point Year for the Industry

Abe VanWingerden

How do we make 2020 the springboard to a decade of growth in our industry?

Growers Talk Business

Industry Momentum or Just a Great Spring?

Abe VanWingerden

Rather than bury ourselves in endless daily COVID-19 studies or weekly vaccine progress, it’s actually time for us to bury ourselves in our own sales, regional economy, consumer and anecdotal data to make great calls on what to do next year.

Growers Talk Business

Plan, Don’t Panic

Abe VanWingerden

I think the impact of COVID-19 will remain with us for months, if not years, so it’s good we explore the subject and the impact on our business, our industry and most importantly, how we interact with each other as we move into this new decade.

Growers Talk Business

Another Decade

Abe VanWingerden

The year 2020 can be a great year and 2020-2029 can be a great decade, but what’s your plan of action to navigate through the decade?

Growers Talk Business

The Only Constant is Change

Abe VanWingerden

When a full six of the Top 10 businesses in our industry have either been acquired by another firm or gone bankrupt in the last five years (or both), and we continue to see consolidation and changes, the old adage of “the only constant in life is change” is well-suited for the live goods industry.

Growers Talk Business

It’s a “Process,” Not a “Project”

Abe VanWingerden

We get asked to wear many hats each day and too many times, we take a business problem and too quickly come to a solution.

Growers Talk Business

Rinse & Repeat—Great Instructions

Abe VanWingerden

The things that we do every year to run our businesses really form a set of guiding principles that we can use to motivate our teams.

Growers Talk Business

This is Going to be “THE YEAR” …?

Abe VanWingerden

How do you forecast for “next year” if you had a bad year (or if you had a great year, for that matter)?