AmericasMart Previews New Garden Space

AmericasMart Atlanta gave summer market visitors a first look at its new building, set to house garden retail vendors beginning with the January market. Garden exhibitors will move from floors 14 and 15 of Building One to floors nine and 10 of Building Two West Wing. Renamed “Living. Outdoor/Indoor,” the garden segment will cover 170,000 square feet, and will feature a two-story fiber optic waterfall that anchors and unifies the floors. Floor nine will take on a Tuscan look, with wrought iron railings, carved wood, murals, stone molding, fountains and Italian cypress. Floor 10 will be designed in a Southern garden district theme, with wrought iron balconies, old brick, crown and baseboard molding and white wainscouting on the walls. AmericasMart reports more than 80 percent of the 100-plus showrooms are booked.

ECGC Award Recognizes IGC Vendors for Distinctive Product, Service

ECGC Distributors announced the winners of its first annual Award of Excellence, Garden Supply, recognizing IGC vendors for distinctive product and service in 2007. Commerce Corporation, The Espoma Company and Simple Pleasures will accept the honor during a ceremony, Tuesday, August 19, at The Independent Garden Center Show, Navy Pier, Chicago. The winners were selected based on a survey of preferred vendors among ECGC garden centers. The evaluation considered the quality of product and customer service. Under the ECGC limited liability company, noncompeting IGCs combine their resources for purchasing, marketing and professional development. Members include Al’s Garden Center, OR; Armstrong Garden Centers, CA; English Gardens, MI; Green View Companies, IL; Homestead Gardens, MD; Mahoney’s Garden Center, MA; Martin Viette Nurseries, NY; McDonald Garden Center, VA; Molbak’s, WA; Pike Family Nurseries, GA; and Southern Homes & Gardens, AL.

Fire Damages Calloway’s Nursery Store in Houston

Fire damaged Cornelius Nursery, a Calloway’s Nursery store in Houston, yesterday. No one was hurt in the four-alarm blaze, which remains under investigation. “We are working to temporarily place as many as possible of the Cornelius employees ... at our other locations until we reopen,” says John Peters, VP, Operations and Customer Service. Ranked No. 6 in Nursery Retailer’s IGC 100 report with $46.4 million in sales, Calloway’s operates 18 locations in the Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston markets.

Enesco Buys Plush Toymaker Gund

Enesco has acquired the assets of Gund, adding the plush toy offerings to its portfolio of brands, which include Heartwood Creek and other garden decor lines. The deal is part of Enesco’s ongoing growth strategy, which it says includes plans for “the addition of more great artists and brands ... in the future.”

Achla Parent Co. Acquires Fireplace Division of The Adams Co.

Achla Designs’ parent company, Minuteman International, a designer and marketer of fireplace accessories, has acquired The Adams Co.’s fireplace tools and accessories division. Currently based in Dubuque, IA, the Adams business unit will move to Fitchburg, MA, by the end of the month, and will operate as a division of Minuteman.

Independent Garden Center Show Expo Floor Sold Out

Organizers of The Independent Garden Center Show report the exhibit hall is completely sold out, filled to capacity with more than 860 IGC vendor booths. The expo, which returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier August 19-21, is 160 percent the size of last year’s inaugural event. In addition to the expo, a full agenda of educational workshops and seminars is planned, with information and insights from 40-plus speakers on IGC marketing, merchandising, business management, consumer trends and more. “Vendors and retailers alike have really embraced the independent-only focus of the show,” says Jeff Morey, Publisher of Nursery Retailer and a producer of the show. “Booking the expo floor to capacity – in our second year of the event – speaks to the vitality of the independent sector. We’re thrilled.” For more information or to register, visit IGCShow.com.

11th Annual Tomato Contest at Hicks Nurseries

Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, NY, ranked No.33 in Nursery Retailer’s IGC 100 report with $14.6 million in sales, will hold their 11th Annual Tomato Contest on Saturday, September 6. Gardeners are invited to bring their homegrown tomatoes to the nursery between 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. to enter the competition. Prizes will be awarded at 11 a.m. for the heaviest tomato, the tomato with the largest circumference, the tomato most unusual in appearance and the tiniest red tomato. Tomatoes must be ripe - frozen or previously frozen tomatoes will not be accepted. Every child under 12 that brings in their "own-grown" tomato will receive a special certificate. Children may also enter the contest.

Dick Wedel, Wedel’s Nursery, Passes

Richard “Dick” Wedel, Co-owner of Wedel’s Nursery, Florist & Garden Center in Kalamazoo, MI, died last Tuesday from a sudden aneurysm at age 72. Along with his two brothers and other family members, he ran the garden center, started 62 years ago by his father, Harley. Dick remained active in the business up to his passing, serving as manager of the nursery growing operation.

1 - 8 of 8, total 1 page(s)