Being on top of (and in front of) upcoming trends will ensure your garden and lawn business will be a success.

At Garden Media Group, we began doing annual trends report in 2001. Since then, we’ve predicted the rise of container gardening, vegetable gardening, and the buy local movement—all before they happened.

Garden trends allow you and your garden business to stay to stay afoot of customer demand. Customers will begin to see you as a trendsetter in the industry and will come to your website to see the next, newest hot item.

Yet, to truly become a trend setter, you also need to know the upcoming PR trends as well. The digital world is evolving at a faster speed than ever before! 

Keep ahead of PR trends with our helpful insights below, and then, download our 2013 Garden Trends Report: Finding Your Bliss!

Topics: trends, garden industry public relations, Garden Trends

Recently, our fearless leader was interviewed by CEOIntroNet at ABC6 studios in Philadelphia.  Last week we shared the video, here is the Q&A. 

Topics: Public relations, garden marketing, marketing communications, lawn & garden public relations, Garden Media Group, garden industry public relations

The Lawn and garden industry knows how to work social media; it’s free and a fantastic way to get the word out about new products and to foster a conversation with both new and loyal customers. Yet, there’s a major split on how garden businesses use social media.

A new study shows that garden and lawn businesses fall into one of two categories when using social media. Which one are you, a social butterfly or hyperconnector?  

Learn more about each type to see where you and your garden business fit best!

Topics: lawn and garden public relations, garden industry public relations, social media

From Clint Eastwood’s now infamous chair speech to Bill Clinton’s awe-inspiring delivery, both parties’ conventions have been dominating the prime media spot for the past two weeks.

Now that’s some good PR...but mistakes have been made as well.

We, at Garden Media, know we can learn much from the blunders and triumphs of the most planned, carefully calculated events of the year.

Topics: garden marketing, garden industry public relations

Here at Garden Media we talk a lot about garden marketing and public relations.  We hope it helps clients, potential clients and anyone looking for a PR firm understand the science and technique behind what we do.

I recently came across this post from Henson Consulting about five qualities that make a potential firm a great fit for your lawn and garden business.

 

Topics: lawn and garden public relations, hiring a public relations person, lawn & garden public relations, horticultural marketing communications, Garden Media Group, garden industry public relations

If you are looking to hire a PR firm, you should get proposals from a few contenders. But, how do you differentiate among public relations firms?

Topics: lawn and garden public relations, lawn & garden public relations, horticultural marketing communications, garden industry public relations

Topics: garden marketing, trade show public relations, Garden Media Group, garden industry public relations

Every year the American Society of Landscape Architects surveys its members who specialize in residential design and asks them to “rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements”. These popular trends are important to know for any garden marketing executive who wants to get ahead of the curve. Not surprisingly, the category of gardens and landscape spaces was at the top of the list with a 96.6% rating it somewhat or very popular. It was followed closely by kitchen and entertainment outdoor livings spaces at 91.5 percent. Surprisingly, across all categories grills rated higher – 97.4% than the demand for low maintenance landscapes which scored a close 96.6%, followed by fireplaces/fire pits - 95.8% and dining areas 95.7%.  Which leads ASLA to conclude Americans want outdoor spaces for lots of entertaining that are not demanding on their time? This easy living at home in backyards for entertaining has been a trend since we first saw it emerging in 2001, and this love affair with the backyard shows no sign of slowing down. According to the 2012 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey, consumers still want kitchens and dining options, comfortable seating, and water features. Lighting remains popular with a score of 93.1% “as Americans plan to take more of their lives outside once the sun sets.” The economic recovery and bad real estate market continues to drive Americans to stay home and turn their yards into a paradise. The staycation is still alive and well. The survey showed that Americans still love their pools (79.2%), but love their spas a little more (80.4%). But other decorative water elements such as waterfalls or bubblers top even those scoring almost 90%. The good news for gardening companies is that Americans are being more practical and sustainable in their gardening practices.  Some 86.3% say their customers want native plants -- yeah! -- 85.4% drought-tolerant plants and 81.2 % are planting food/vegetable gardens. And more than half of them prefer to be organic 61.2%. There is hope. Additional information on residential landscape architecture can be found at www.asla.org/residentialinfo. Want to know more trends? Download our 2013 Garden Trends Report hot off the presses from the OFA Short Course.

Topics: lawn and garden public relations, garden marketing, horticultural marketing communications, Garden Media Group, garden industry public relations, Garden Trends

Listen to this anecdote by Sheldon Baker, Senior Partner
at Baker Dillon Group, and see if you can determine what this company could have done better:

Recently, I met with a retired business executive (we'll call him Tom), I hadn't seen for over 15 years. During our visit, Tom and I talked about the many public relations strategies that were developed for his company. He originally hired me to help orchestrate the public relations strategy of his firm that was merging with another company. One of initial projects included developing a new corporate brochure that required design, photography and copywriting.

Topics: lawn and garden public relations, hiring a public relations person, garden PR consultant, lawn & garden public relations, garden industry public relations

People like to buy from friends.

That's a fact. I'm not talking about virtual friends either. I'm referring to real professional relationships with people where you work and live.

But how do you "make friends"? By getting involved. The more involved you are, the more people you'll know and the more who will know you and want to do business with you, their "friend."

Involvement in the community takes many forms--joining the local Chamber, sponsoring a Little League or bowling team, or getting "locked up" for a cause. Whatever your involvement, make a good impression. It is not advisable, however, to get involved simply for the business contacts. This could backfire and give you the reputation of being unreliable or indifferent to the community.

Topics: Public relations, garden industry public relations, marketing