When you think of the word gardener, it often conjures up images of an older woman in her 60s, wearing a wide-rimmed straw hat picking weeds happily from her flower or vegetable garden. Often referred to as one of the oldest and admired professions in society – a gardener is a person who cultivates a…
Read MorePantone recently announced their Color of the Year for 2020 – Classic Blue – continuing to offer enduring inspiration for the world of trend and design. Some considered their choice somewhat unimaginative this year. But upon further exploration, one can understand and appreciate Pantone’s ultimate decision. “We are living in a time that requires trust…
Read MoreIn June of 2019, Canada announced it would ban single-use plastics as early as the year 2021. With this environmental initiative, Canada now joins a growing list of countries who are trying to make an impact by reducing single-use plastics. Such a monumental decision has spurred countless questions surrounding what is implied by a “single-use”…
Read More“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ― Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass While Lewis…
Read MoreIn today’s competitive marketplace, similar products are frequently offered by multiple organizations. This can make it challenging to set yourself apart from the competition as unique features often proliferate throughout the market over time. Putting product aside, what you need is a new differentiator. What is a marketing differentiator? It’s a marketing strategy whose goal…
Read MoreThe science community has made us all acutely aware that gardening provides countless physical and mental health benefits when practiced regularly. But gardening education seems to be what’s lacking in the process. In an article posted on WebMD, Charlie Nardozzi, horticulturist at the National Gardening Association in South Burlington, Vermont says, “When you’re engrossed in…
Read MoreHave you heard of something called “disruptive marketing”? That’s when a company decides to shake up their marketing strategy by changing customer perceptions. In this post, we’ll give garden centers and nurseries a few ideas of how they can accomplish this. It’s hard to believe that September is already upon us. With autumn 2019 arriving…
Read MoreAbout a year ago, The HC Companies donated planting containers and flats to the Plant Growth Facility at Purdue University – Department of Horticulture and Landscape (HLA). While we here at The HC Companies always strive to help the industry whenever we can (both professional and educational), you rarely think about the impact your helping hand…
Read More“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill In searching for a corporate charity, The HC Companies wanted to partner with a local organization where we’d have the opportunity to see the impacts of our efforts. An organization who understands that giving your…
Read MoreAvid gardeners are well aware of what a “hardiness zone map” is, and most novices are probably at least familiar with the terminology based on the plant tag information found at their local garden center or big box store. Hardiness zone maps were first developed back in 1938 – representing “the average annual extreme minimum…
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