Mandarin season

It’s Mandarin season is here and this year they are extra good. We had a long spell of dry weather when they we’re ripening and that may have helped in the flavor. The larger trees in the background are Washington Navel Oranges, which will be ripe in another month or so. The mandarins are Owari Satsuma’s, also known as “zipper skin”. The skin will peel off in one fell swoop, plus few if any seeds!

At about 1400 foot elevation its one of the higher elevation citrus groves in the foothills. It’s located at Gold Hill, which I drive by on the way to work each day. Its self-serve, you leave the money in a slot by the door and take your bag of fruit.

Not closed on Mondays

The response for my “Closed on Mondays” post has been great. Hearing from both the consumer as well as industry professionals has been very helpful. We have decided to make some changes based on these recommendations, as well as our own feelings on the subject.

First, we will be open seven days a week during the spring and possibly the summer. I agree with the commenter's that Monday can be a good sales day. We have always found that Saturday or Sunday is our best sales day's with Monday or Friday being the best weekdays for sales. Spring is just so important for our business, with almost half of the years sales coming during that time, that to be closed any day just cuts into the profitability of the business. So, will take good care of our selves and just “go for it” during that time of year. We've done it before!

During spring we will not only be open seven days a week but will stay open till 6 pm, instead of our current 5 pm closing. This will allow people to stop by after work. During the weekend we will likely close at 5, maybe continue with the 4 pm Sunday closing.

Summer is interesting since it usually gets so hot here that most people don't do a lot of gardening, especially from July to September. We are thinking of opening earlier, about 8:30 pm, instead of our current 10 am so folks can get out to the nursery before the heat is on. By 5 pm its often the hottest part of the day and I am tempted to close earlier, but we will see.

So for now we will stick with our decision to be open 7 days a week during the critical spring season as well as staying open until 6 pm. Thanks to everyone who commented. Your advice helped us to make some important decisions. The sharing of ideas with like minded people from across the globe is one of the promises of the Internet that will help small business stay in business.

Closed on Mondays

I came across this post titled “Restaurants and Monday Nights” at “Fishing for Customers”blog. This stuff is likely well known in Restaurant circles but it was news to me. The post deals with why restaurants are not busy on Monday nights. The post talks about how our first instinct is to build Monday business by increasing our advertising, and offering deals to increase traffic flow. The blog author Chuck tells us why this might not be the way to go.

This made me think of our garden center and how hard we try to build business during times of the year when folks just don't want to garden, like now! Remember that I write from California where the tradition is for nurseries to be open all year. I know of garden centers in other parts of the country that close down for winter, since the ground is frozen and absolutely no one would come in anyway. Here there is always the chance that someone will come in since the ground does not freeze and we have warmer winter temps. Yet the time of year from November to February is the land of small sales and little or no profit.

We are also closed on Mondays. We chose that day since it seems everyone else closes on Mondays. Monica and I run the store so we needed to pick a day to have off and Monday worked out. Yet, when I wanted to go shopping at downtown Placerville on Main St. last Monday, lot's of the stores we're closed. Monday seems to be the day lot's of small business close. I wonder if we are making a mistake? One reason we chose Monday was we need to be at the store Tuesdays to place orders with some of our vendors for Wednesday deliveries. In other words we let our suppliers dictate to us when we should be closed. Again I wonder if this is backwards?

I would love to hear your take on this. Sometimes it feels like we are spinning our wheels when it comes to certain times of the year. Why throw a lot of advertising $$$ during a season that people just are not going to garden. Maybe we should open Mondays when everyone else is closed and close down another day. Maybe we should be open 7 days a week during spring and only a couple of days during winter. During winter we could open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and close the other days.

Wishful thinking doesn't pay the bills. Sure it would be nice to have more business this time of year but I wonder if thats just wishful thinking?

Aquascapes problems

Aquascapes is a multi-million dollar organization that has seen an amazing rise in its fortunes over the last couple of years. They we’re featured in Inc.com in an article titled, “And there was happiness in Aqualand.” The article written August of this year describes the amazing perks that the people working at Aquascapes have. The article describes how employees came to owner Greg Wittstock and said, "we have no soccer field. When we play in the parking lot after work, our shins, they get scraped, and we cannot do our sweet moves."

‘If I built you a soccer field, would that make you happy?’ the CEO asked.

‘Almost,’ answered the employees. ‘We could use a hot tub.’

‘I will see what I can do,’ the CEO said.

As he was walking away, the employees added, ‘Oh, and if we could have a place to nap in the afternoons, that would be great. Thanks!’”

Did I say they built everything the employees asked for, including the nap room? The Inc.com article continues with, “Oh, and they did some work too. The company grew to $56 million in annual sales.

And they all lived happily after.” (my italics)

Fast forward to today when I read at Open Register about owner Greg Wittstocks new blog. It would seem that just four months later all is not so well at Aquascapes. As a matter of fact things have gone downhill fast. They have recently laid off 17 employees and Greg has admitted that they are having a serious cash flow problem. If you read the blog check out the comments from some former employees. It must really hurt being the owner and having to read that stuff. Never the less that comes with the territory.

Let’s give Greg credit for starting his blog and laying out the problems for all to see. It is a bit weird that he started the blog one post before admitting all was not well at the company. Better late than never, perhaps.

Hines nurseries, one of the countries largest wholesale nurseries is having something of the same problem. They do not have a blog and as such folks have been finding my post of August detailing Hines de-listing on the stock exchange. The comments continue to trickle in. The problem for Hines is no one at the company is trying to get the organizations point of view out, so there is nowhere to get up to date info and as such people are using my blog post to vent. That’s o.k., but Hines really should be out in front laying its cards on the table concerning its future. It has been and continues to be my belief that a blog is a necessity for a well run company.

Workshops are fun

Chigiy asked about some pictures of the fragrant wreath making class. Eucalyptus, incense cedar, rosemary, California bay, and lavender were some of the fragrant plants that could make up your wreath. The one common denominator was the grape vines used as the frame.

Sean mentioned “Nice area, makes a great day trip for those that live in Sacramento. Trey, do you get a lot of tourist traffic, locals or Sacramento traffic (a combo or all)?” With the wreath class we had a couple of people from Sacramento, most from the immediate area. We seem to get a few people from Sacramento, Davis, or other places that are at least 20 miles away when we have these workshops. I ask why they come up here and the reason they give generally is “no one is doing it there”.

If you live in the metropolitan area of Sacramento and want to do something for your days off it often becomes either “lets go west to San Francisco” or "lets head east up into the foothills." It’s a step back into “old California” and the region is starting to address the tourist trade more every year. We are located just 5.5 miles from The American River and Coloma, which is one of the most visited state parks in the state. There are a number of wineries located nearby as well as other small farms that cater to the individual. We are members of El Dorado County Farm Trails which has maps and information on all the stuff going on. We actively work at attracting people from outside our immediate area to the nursery.

Josh asks “Do you ever reach a point where it seems like workshops that were popular, no longer are? Almost like everyone who wanted to do it, has? Maybe you are in a highly populated enough area that it isn’t an issue, but that has happened here.” The answer is yes, but we just keep trying! I have had workshops where no one came! We look at weather we did something wrong in promoting it and ask “should we try again”? If it just wasn’t well received we try the next idea. Wreath making might be a class that’s been done before but we thought the “fragrant” aspect set it apart. In addition all the material's for the wreaths where gathered locally, which we didn’t but should have promoted. Next time we will.

We are also stepping outside what might be traditional gardening workshops and heading wherever it leads. Generally the workshops have to do with the outside world. I am a bird watcher so we are going to have a bird watching workshop next year. Our Tin punch class was a step "back into time", and well received. How about a B.B.Q. cooking class? We are trying to think fresh. We don't want to let our long time in the business cloud our judgment.

I’ll go one step further and say that the image we want people to have of the nursery is “not a place that sells plants.” Places that "sell plants" are a dime a dozen. We are trying to offer so much more, an “experience” if you will. What is it that we can do that no one else is doing, or doing right? I don’t quite have the answer, but we will keep asking the questions.

Scented wreath workshop

Today is our scented wreath workshop. You never know how people will respond to these workshops until you publicize them and wait for sign ups. We have had workshops where nobody signed up, and we have had workshops where more than expected signed up. Today is one of those days. Over 20 people have signed up to learn how to make a scented wreath to take home. We will have snacks and coffee or tea.

I think this workshop is popular in part because its so timely, but also because its about fragrance. Monica has gathered California bay, Incense cedar, and other fragrant and non-fragrant items to use. The one common theme is they are all from the area, gathered locally. The grape vines that make up the body of the wreath are local as well as the Toyon berries.

We will keep putting on various workshops about every week or two. We are starting to get a handle on which ones are popular and which ones are not. Never the less we will keep trying even if no one signs up. We look at each other and ask why, then move on. I think the most important thing is to keep trying until you figure out which ones work.

Thankful

I have been meme'd by Angela, Billy, and now Eric. I guess three is a charm so I'll play along. The theme is eight things for which you are thankful for.

1. My youngest daughter just moved out of the house. No, I am not thankful she moved out, but thankful she has learned to live on her own like her older sister. While she has a lot to learn she will do just fine.

2. My wife and I are somehow able to work together. I don't know a lot of couples that can live and work together without going crazy. I am already crazy so it just a mater of her keeping her sanity.

3. We got another year under our belt and will be here to open again next year.

4. Living in the foothills of The Sierra Nevada. Having been born in So. Cal and growing up in The San Francisco area I can say that where we are now is the best.

5. The Internet. Despite the negatives the positives have changed my life. I am learning more about things I am interested in faster and more enjoyably than ever. It's true, the Internet changes everything.

6. My families as well as my health.

7. Great credit. I knew it would come in handy someday.

8. That I live in a place and during a time where I have the freedom to do things like this meme. Life is good.

Now I know I should tag some others but I don't follow the rules well so your all off the hook.

Here is one more thing I am thankful for. I just read that Amy has bought herself a used bookstore in Eureka. What a great place for an author to hold court. I am thankful that there are people out there proving that small independent business can make it. Thats why I listed number 5 as The Internet. This medium allows like minded individuals to connect and support one another, despite physical distance. We, who are involved in this medium are changing the world is ways we can't even imagine today. What an exciting time!

Rain, Toyon, and "old" California

It's raining in northern California. That's good since we haven't had rain in weeks! I took the picture of the Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) on the way to work. You can see in the background how dry the hills are. Now with the rain the hills will start to green up.

The Toyon seems to be putting on a great show this year. These native plants occur all through the chaparral and on up into the forest. It is sometimes called Christmas Berry, or California Holly. Some people believe the origin of the name Hollywood was derived from the Toyon growing in the hills.

The second picture is of David Girard Vineyards, well after harvest. They are nice enough to bring their wine to our Creekside festival in summer. I have watched this vineyard from the start, as I drive by it just about every day. Its amazing the amount of time it takes to get a place like this planted and up and running. I am glad to see these wineries going in as it preserves more space for agriculture, with the option being more homes. This is one of the fastest growing areas in the state and land is being swallowed up for subdivisions. Christmas tree farms , vineyards, olive oil production, and other small horticultural endeavors help maintain the agricultural feel that makes the foothills the last example of what old California was.

Blotanical and Edenmakers

I want to congratulate Stuart on his website called Blotanical It is a great resource for people interested in gardening blogs. I don't know where Stuart find the time to do these things. He is surely one of the hardest working bloggers out there.

I noticed that when my blog comes up on his site only part of the home page comes up. I realize that its because my old Blogger address is being used. I have it redirect to my new blog address, but because it redirects strange things happen. If you don't mind could you do me a favor? If you have my old Blogger address on your blog roll could you change it to my new blog address, thegoldengecko.com/blog. It might prevent some blogging mischief from occurring.

I want to welcome Edenmakers Blog to the blog roll. Shirley Bovshow is an “in-demand landscape designer in Los Angeles and the designer/co-host of the television show, “Garden Police” airing on the Discovery Home Channel.” I am so happy Shirley has started a blog. Its hard to get a feel for the people that appear on the garden shows. By starting her blog she has given me an everyone an insight into the person behind the “personality” on the T.V.

We want to start a nursery

I received a comment from Spike Zelenka in southern Iowa. Here is the comment, “My girlfriend and I are looking seriously at 5 acres in Southern Iowa. With minimal bills, our monthly 'nut' is going to be a lot easier to crack. Our idea is lillys in the spring, periennials spring and summer, and pumpkins in the fall. we have also considered trees…and a friend almost had me talked into selling orgainic herbs to resturaunts. Between farmers markets, festivals, and hopefully building up relationships with small stores who could possibly buy seedlings from us, I think it’s a viable future for us. Keep in mind, we’re not looking at getting rich, but again, with minimal money going out in bills, are looking at doing something together, and enjoying life.

any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

I have read alot of your blogs….and although you are much larger than we plan to get, feel you would have some great insight for us.”

Our nursery is a lot smaller than you think. My wife and I get along with a seasonal helper(s) to help run the place. We have just under two acres of land but the business is still small and we have a long way to go to reach our goals.

It sound like you are planning to be more than just a nursery as you want to sell pumpkins in season, herbs to restaurants, etc. This is a good way to look at the potential business as something more than just a nursery. Being new to the business with a fresh perspective is a good thing. Sure its nice to have experience going in but sometimes that can put blinders on that prevent you from seeing the possibilities. That may be a problem for me, who has been doing this so long its hard to know whether I am doing things just because thats how we did them in the past.

The other neat thing is you want to do something with your girlfriend that allows you to enjoy life. A business venture will certainly test your relationship. I have been fortunate that Monica and I are on the same page and work well together. I think its a rarity for mates to run the same business together, but it does happen.

The most important thing I read in your comment is you want to spend time together enjoying life. With my kids now out of the house that is the one thing I keep telling my Monica. I want to enjoy life which includes the occupation we have chosen. There are of course plenty of opportunities to get stressed out, and there are certainly times when I wonder why I stick with this business. You have to remind yourself each and every day to see the big picture and not get overwhelmed by the details. Yes, the details pay the bills, but the overall theme of having fun is what I think life is about. When you stop having fun its a clue to change strategies. I know plenty of stressed out nursery people and just people in general who have stopped having fun.

It great to hear people wanting to start small garden centers. It is a hopeful sign that this type of business will not go the way of the buggy whip factory. It means there is something that is still inspiring about working with plants and the people who like them. The one thing I have never done, but should or should have is come up with a written business plan. Run the potential figures and see if the business makes sense beyond just "I want to start a nursery". Sometimes all the good intentions in the world won't make a profit in a poor location or a market that wont support you. Never the less keep the dream alive and remember the journey, not some mythical "I have arrived" is the most important thing.

Rent a Living Christmas Tree

Here is an interesting concept, the rented Christmas Tree. Dwell Magazine, (one of my favorite reads) had an article on Seattle based company One Earth One Designs Living Christmas Tree Service. Basically you rent a living Christmas tree that is delivered to your door between December 17^th to the 21^st. Going along with the Eco theme of the company they are native trees like Western red cedar, White fir, and Douglas fir. After Christmas, according to Dwell “Once the holidays end, the same folks will pick the tree up again. All you have to do is decide whether you want it planted in your yard or donated to EarthCorps, a non profit committed to reforestation.”

I like the idea and think it could be expanded to other areas, although I would guess urban areas would be most responsive to this. The only stumbling blocks that I can see are the price, $291 per tree. It may seem like a lot but I would guess there are plenty of urbanites that would love to pay extra for the convenience.

The Dwell article prefaces the story with, “At the holiday season’s end, there’s nothing more depressing than the castaway Christmas trees rotting in our streets.” Of course there is no reason for this as the cut trees could be mulched and used in the garden. In addition we talked about the benefits of cut tree farms in reducing urban sprawl. Never the less having lived in The City I know most urbanites just don't know a lot about the natural world and mulching as well as planting a living tree is beyond their skills or interest.

It would appear that this isn't the first time this has been done.

It's hard to wear out your welcome here.

Sid Raisch is a consultant with The Garden Center Group. Sid commented on a post I made back in January on Nursery Trade Shows. Sid gives an impassioned defense of his trade and prefaces his comment with “me here to defend myself as a consultant again. I hope I'm not wearing out my welcome.” No Sid, you are not wearing out your welcome. This is exactly why I started this blog, to speak my mind and facilitate the free exchange of ideas concerning the horticultural world.

While I speak my mind I would certainly expect no less from any of my visitors or commenter’s. I am just one nursery person trying to figure out the magic formula to nursery nirvana. I enjoy the creative side of the business and tend to ignore, for better or worse the “nuts and bolts” of the business. Sid hits it on the head when he say’s “I won't speak for the other consultants or experts but for me, most of the time the real value I bring is helping owners actually do what they already know they need to do but aren't getting done.” So often it’s the kick in the butt by someone outside the organization or family that forces the owners to make the needed changes to stay profitable.

While I have never hired a nursery consultant I have worked with a business consultant before and found the experience a great benefit. If you feel the need to hire a nursery consultant I would have no hesitation to say “do it”. Trying to choose which consultant could be difficult. Sid has taken the time to introduce himself and share his ideas so I would welcome him back anytime and his organization would be one I would check out first.

When I started this blog there were few in the horticultural industry blogging. Things have changed in the years since, and it can only be a good thing. What I like about this blog is that both professional horticulturists as well as avid gardeners can read it and share. I like the fact that Sid feels strongly enough about his business to have commented at this blog. This is my reward for writing the blog. Being able to facilitate conversation that causes us to think about and share ideas.

The shine starts to come off Starbucks

It would appear that some of the shine has come off Starbuck's. Store visits are down 1% (this is the first time store visits have dropped). In addition the stock price is dropping. So what's their solution? Start advertising, which they haven't done on a large scale before.

What I find interesting is that Starbucks has made changes to its stores over the last few years that you might not have noticed. Did you know they use “flavor locked packages” of coffee instead of freshly ground. Now the smell of fresh ground is gone. They also stopped “hand pulling espresso shots” in favor of automated machines. Finally they have streamlined the stores so they all start to look the same. They have lost the “funky”. One more thing, it's now possible to make a cup of coffee at home that competes with the taste of Starbucks. While its still doesn't make cappuccino or espresso that competes, our Tassimo one cup coffee maker makes regular coffee just as good .

While the problems Starbucks is having are one most of us could deal with it serves as a reminder that its still the cutomer experience that makes the difference. They don't seem to realize this or they have just gotten to a point that it doesn't seem relevant to them. Public traded companies must keep those shareholders happy and one way to keep the growth is build more stores and cut costs. Something to consider when we talk about places like Urban Outfitters opening garden shops. They may pull off the corporate “cool” like Starbucks, the question of whether they can really be original and funky remains to be seen.

"Black Friday" wrap-up

I couldn't resist posting once more on the "Black Friday" phenomenon. It turns out it wasn't the slowest day of the year at the nursery like I predicted in my last post. Some people actually came in and Monica and I looked at each other and we're happy we opened. Let me assure you though that its wasn't busy like the malls. Little things that will pay off down the road did happen. Example, a young couple moving here from Berkley stopped in and bought a couple of kiwis and the fertilizer and planting mix for them. What's neat is they we're in a couple of weeks ago looking for grapes when we started talking about the kiwis. Didn't know if anything would come of it but here they we're. As they left they said they will see us soon! Another connection made!

I came across this report at Yahoo Finance. It looks like every report we get every year. Yes, deep discounts brought in people but it must continue through the holidays to be a success. Some people are doing they're part like Tina Dillow of New Richmond, Ohio who said "'I'm really looking for the bargains this year because I'm losing my job; they're moving our plant to Mexico after the first of the year, so I have to be careful.'" She had "camped out at a Best Buy store near Cincinnati at 3 a.m. because of a great deal on a laptop."

Let me see, she is loosing her job but needs a laptop. I guess I just don't get it. If I was loosing my job I think spending money on a laptop is the last thing I would be doing. You know they have free internet access art the library here. I wonder how many people are in the same situation as this women that shopped at these sales. The consumer has been so throughly brainwashed that they believe that spending money at a sale is somehow smart even when you source of income is about to dry up.

This year the goal we have at the nursery and home is to reduce our debt. I am tired of carrying debt, even though much of it is for the business. I tell my kids the same thing, don't get us anything that involves paying for it with credit. If you can't afford it we don't need it!

P.S. The Golden Gecko gladly accepts Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, and Paypal.

P.P.S. We don't want you to use your credit card is it means going broke! We want our customers to be around for the long haul.

Go shopping today? Not me

On this so called “Black Friday” shopping day we will be open. I don't know about other nurseries but this day is traditionally one of our slowest days of the year. It would appear that most people would rather shop the malls with the crowds than shop the nursery. We decided to open because I have to work off yesterdays huge meal, and we just enjoy going to the nursery and enjoying ourselves.

I think if you asked most of the people shopping today if they could honestly afford what they are purchasing they would say no. Its almost like the stores and credit card companies invented today to help everyone get further in debt. I love the holidays but the push to shop for things that could be bought any time of the year simply because its the holidays turns me off.

There are others like me out there. They look at today and just shake their heads. Oh well, it takes all kinds to make the world go around. I prefer more authentic experiences than are available at the mall. I would rather receive a hug and a visit from my kids and granddaughter than have them spend money they don't have (credit) to buy stuff that I really don't need. When you get down to it there is little that I need. I have food, shelter, clothes, and friends and family which is more than most have in the world.

Gardening is going to be coming back strong as more people look to enjoy the simple things that don't require large amounts of debt. I believe that vegetable and fruit tree gardening is going to lead the way. Some people want to re-connect to the earth and the source of their food. Most of all they are discovering the wonderful flavor of home grown as well as the pride that comes with producing your own gourmet food.

You can sense it. There is great change in the air. I don't subscribe to the negativity that some people hold about theses changes. I instead look positively to what the future holds. Some feel the change needs to be mandated and political. I feel the change needs to come from within each of us. We each hold within us the power to change "our" world.

My world today will consist of no shopping. I'll be working in the garden.