OFA Short Course: All My Photos

Just back from OFA Short Course...that show gets more fun every year. I think this is every single photo I took at Short Course 2010.

It was so cool to see the Twitter and Facebook logos popping up everywhere around the show -- on signs and catalogs. It's the ultimate in opt-in digital marketing, and I can't wait to see more of you there.

If you'd like to hear more about the show, read Greenhouse Grower's Short Course coverage and Today's Garden Center's Short Course coverage. Enjoy!

Blogger Of The Week: Steppin' Out With The Stepables Lady

Steppin' Out With The Stepables Lady is showing the industry how blogging is done. Frances Hopkins of Stepables is the blogger and is the perfect personality for blogging -- fun, interesting and upbeat. She tells us about her philosophy on plants ("I took some drawing classes in college. I was decent, but horticulture came calling and I guess I turned in the charcoal for a pair of pruning shears") and shares a little about herself ("I wanted to train wild animals too…but got bit by a lion".) And photos!

I just heard in a lecture on managment the other day that the number one factor that clouds employees' feelings about a job isn't the work, but their co-workers. I think the same can be said about the supplier/customer relationship. If your customers feel like they know and like you, they'll stay your customers. A blog is the perfect way to keep that relationship strong.

See Steppin' Out With The Stepables Lady at http://www.stepables.com/blogs/fran/

Spring has sprung at Lowe's

There's something big going on over at Lowe's Web site. A new section called Welcome Back Spring takes the visitor to a fictional town called Sunnyville, where we meet neighbors who are all about outdoor living.

The Web animation begins with a sweeping look at flowers blooming, koi swimming and burgers sizzling on the grill.

Moe is the neighborhood guy obsessed with his lawn. Mike is the party animal, a bear who knows everything about patio furniture. And Iris is the local gardener. Each character shares tips about their area of expertise. Iris shares when and what to plant based on a planting Zone chart, as well as suggestions on gardening tools.

Even though this is the same information packaged in a slightly different way, I think this is so much more effective marketing than ad circulars. It's a story...and it's online. I can relate to these people and I feel like I'm hearing something from a friend. And a bear! A bear who knows everything about outdoor entertaining. If you make me laugh, I'm probably a customer for life.

Nice Broquet

I was really into the man-friendly mixed containers the NFL Network used to gussy up its SuperBowl XLII set on Sunday (see video of it, and Plaxico Burress, here)

This probably caught my eye even more because I noticed these containers right after hearing about Banana Florist. The florist’s arrangements are lovely, but what sets the company apart from others is their attitude. Using humor that seriously reaches out to grab readers, I’m sure this new company will give others in its area a run for their money. C’mon try to beat this description of a foliage dish garden:

So, Pat from Accounting bailed you out of a jam. Naturally, you'd like to show your gratitude. Let's steer clear of red roses, unless you want a Disclosure Form from HR. (And lots of unexpected attention from Pat.) The Unmixed Signal safely conveys your appreciation for co-workers and other folks you know professionally.

And the Broquet is the solution for sending a man flowers. Quirky humor is definitely in. Even more than that, they incorporate links to pop culture Web sites like YouTube and Gawker, connecting themselves to the world young people inhabit.

Grow While You Type -- Desktop Greenhouse

I hope all you growers don't consider me competing with you if I get one of these.

It's a USB Greenhouse...that is, it plugs into your computer. I smell a new market segment.