Saturday, July 04, 2009  12:52:28 AM

Monrovia’s Georgia Nursery Accepted into U.S. Nursery Certification Program

7/1/2009 10:09:24 AM

IGC Show Registration Trending toward 10 Percent Increase in Buyer Attendance

6/26/2009 3:41:00 PM

Anderson’s Home & Garden Showplace Begins Expansion

6/17/2009 4:05:54 PM

Scotts Sees Continued Demand in Consumer Lawn & Garden

6/17/2009 12:59:03 PM

Scotts Opens Retail Store at Site of Original Shop

6/16/2009 3:25:21 PM

Proven Winners Extends Deadline for Display Contest

6/12/2009 4:37:46 PM

Philadelphia Garden Centers ‘Thriving,’ According to Report

6/5/2009 11:20:15 AM

LGMDA Board Dissolves Organization

5/27/2009 4:17:27 PM

Industry Mourns Thomas Hoerr, Founder of Green View Companies

5/26/2009 2:49:27 PM

More News...

Retailers Sign On to Social Networking for Sales

Retailers are all a-twitter about the marketing and sales opportunities popping up with the social networking craze that’s keeping consumers tied to their computers, BlackBerrys and cell phones. There’s money to be made from conversational retailing, which relies on simple discussion and direct dialog to register the sale. From "tweeting" at Twitter to interfacing at Facebook, the strategy can be especially effective with Gen X / Gen Y consumers.

Take the example of a national clothing retailer that used Twitter to move all of its excess seasonal inventory - 3,000 units - within 24 hours. Due to an unusually warm winter, the company had a sizeable backstock of cashmere sweaters. To clear them out, it considered selling the sweaters to discount outlets for $20 each. However, instead, it decided to offer customers in its social network loyalty program a substantial discount - they could buy the sweaters, normally $168 each, for just $30. They sold out in a day.

To learn more about how your garden center can profit from the power of social networking, don’t miss Josh Rubin’s educational session, "Using Internet Social Networking to Grow Your Business," at The Independent Garden Center Show, Thursday, August 20, at 1 p.m.

Source: Karen Leland at retailcustomerexperience.com