Your First Spring?

Park Seed has long been an advocate for small growing operations. We believe this is at the heart of what this industry is all about, and its how our company began. There is a certain passion that comes from a small grower. Even businesses who have grown to epic proportions remember the days when overhead was low, and trial and error was how they learned.

 

There are many benefits to starting out small, the biggest being an opportunity to create your own identity, and way of doing things. Thankfully, we are in an industry that has decent room for profit, unlike some others where they are lucky to make 1 or 2 percent on every sale.

 

Some ideas if you are just starting out:

 

• Buy in small perennials (or start from seed), and bump them up to sell next year for better profit.

•  Try putting your eggs in different baskets - don't just declare yourself a garden center, landscaping company, or nursery. Try it all, see what fits, then create a strategy around that.

• Don't be afraid to fail. Obviously, first impressions are lasting impressions, but at this point, you have enough flexibility to bounce back and learn from your mistakes.

• Be different. Don't do what everyone else is doing. Certainly there are staples in the industry, but you can deviate from that, and put your special twist on it. Everyone selling hanging baskets? Sell those, and sell flower pouches.

 

There are so many neat things you can try when you are just beginning. I am always amazed at how innovative and resourceful people are when they have only imagination to work with.

 

Happy Spring! Its almost here!

 

-JK