I recently had the pleasure of co-presenting with Sam Kirkland of Epicor and Jennifer Hatalski of Calloway's about Customer Loyalty. What is it? How do you get it? And what the trends today are (my section... obviously.) 

We learned that with so many competitors, it is tough for small garden brands to get ahead of the curve. Small brands often double up efforts to get recognized against more established brands. Why?

• 82% stopped dealing with businesses with poor customer service.
• It costs 5% more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one satisfied and happy.
• Loyal repetitive customers spend 33% more than new ones.
• 50% of millennials and Gen Zers believe earning rewards is more hassle than it’s worth.

Sam, Jennifer and I described how “Earn and burn,” or pure discount-based programs, are no longer enough. Consumers are looking for something more.

When it comes to loyalty rewards, it’s no longer just about the transaction at point of purchase; it’s about additional experiences and services that create new touchpoints. 

Read more to learn the 5 Trends in Customer Loyalty sure to keep customers coming back.

In the modern digital age, new social media platforms pop up every other day. And as quickly as they come, they often fizzle out faster than you can say YikYak, ClubHouse, or Vine. It’s a whirlwind for anyone trying to create a digital marketing strategy!

When TikTok came to the stage, many assumed it, too, wouldn’t last. Yet it continues to be the number one downloaded app, and users average 80 minutes a day scrolling through endless videos. We predict it is here to stay.

Read more to learn how this “clock” app works and how your garden brand can use it. 

The headlines seem to be everywhere – skyrocketing plant sales, seed shortages, and a cut flower frenzy. On the heels of the pandemic, 2021 has seen a fervor for plants and garden goods that our industry hasn’t experienced in years.

As industry struggles to meet the demands of the massive “plantdemic” gardening trend, many are acutely aware of how limited supplies are this spring.

And this has led to an important question: how much of the “sold out blues” are consumers feeling? 

This spring, many gardeners (including first-timers) arrived at the garden center ready to shop, only to be met with empty shelves and in some cases, unfulfilled wishes. In our visions of worst-case scenarios, we imagine them getting frustrated and giving up – even abandoning the hobby.

Luckily, social media is giving us insight into consumers’ thoughts and feelings…

Read more to find out what they’re posting - it isn’t what you might expect!

Over the past year, millions have sunk their hands into a bag of potting soil and fallen in love with gardening. Whether it was a new indoor plant for the at-home office, or starting vegetable seeds, these new gardeners are here to stay! Getting started can be intimidating and there is no shortage of options of where to find info on gardening.

Read more to find out WHERE these new gardeners are going for tips and tricks.

Sunny days, big smiles, and messy hands… If that’s what springtime means to your child, then it’s time to get outside and get growing! April is national Kids Garden Month, an initiative spearheaded by the youth-focused nonprofit KidsGardening to inspire and encourage kids to get into gardening.

Gardening benefits children in countless ways. From hands-on learning about science and biology to physical fitness and creative play with colors and textures, home gardening helps children steward our natural world while learning – plus it’s a “screen-free” activity!

If you’re stumped on how to get started, never fear! We’ve got three tips for getting your kids excited and inspired to garden!

With many new forms of digital and social media, some might think that press releases are outdated and that there are plenty of better ways to share information.

Well, what do you think WE have to say about that?

While it is true there are many great ways for us to stay connected, press releases are still a great tool for sharing new information with the media. Their purpose and focus have changed over the years, but when done correctly, they remain a powerful tool in public relations.

What is a press release?

At its core, a press release is not used to tell the whole story but instead a resource for more information that is important, timely, and contextual. Typically no longer than a page, it should be chock-full of details and explain the who, what, where, and why of your story.

Press releases typically cover announcements such as a new product or company, a new round of funding, results from a study or a survey, a new hire/promotion, or a new client/partner.

Read more to learn how to craft a contemporary 

press release media will find useful. 

Can you believe that stay-at-home orders went into place almost a whole year ago? The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused quite the ripple in the world of office jobs.

The old rule of thumb with email etiquette (as we’ve heard it) was that if it takes more than three emails to get your point across, then pick up the phone and call.

Now we have to add in the Zoom factor.

Video conferences have become the new way of holding meetings since the stay-at-home orders went into place. Google Meet, AnyMeeting, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Ring Central, Skype… the list goes on and on. These platforms have given companies a way to connect with each other, clients, customers, and colleagues. But what is the proper etiquette for a phone call vs. a video call?

Here are some dos and don’ts of video conference etiquette.

Hi there,

We made it! Good for us. Before putting 2020 to bed, let's reflect and take stock of this long, extraordinary year.

Who thought on January 1 when I took over Garden Media Group from my mom that this was the year we would have? Yes, there were challenges. Closures. Disruptions. Losses. But despite it all, I look back on 2020 with gratitude and look forward with optimism.

Here at Garden Media, we are huge fans of podcasts. From true crime, to pop culture, to self help and advice, we are hooked.

According to Convince and Convert, there is a huge jump in active podcast listeners in 2020. 75% of Americans are now familiar with podcasting; this is approximately 212 million people and an increase of over 10 million in just one year. Could this be due to the stay-at-home orders? I think so.

Today, we are going to dive into our favorite gardening podcasts. And, we want to hear from you, too! What are your favorites podcasts? What are your favorite episodes? Let's hear it!

Read on for our eight favorite gardening podcasts of 2019.

Events, conferences, trade shows, it’s a common tool for buying and selling in the green industry. But it seems like every week we hear of another show cancelling due to COVID-19. Many are choosing to go virtual.

Yes, virtual events can be a headache to attend and plan for, they do offer some unique opportunities to build brand value and trust. The internet can be a strategic resource that can help your business pivot and adapt.

Event marketers agree (97%) — going forward, the most rewarding events will have a virtual component

Read on to discover how you can use online events in your digital marketing campaign and profit from them.