pot-iconFind the Perfect Planter
Close
× Close pot-iconFind the Perfect Planter

HC's Blog - Industry Information and Inspiration

News & Education

Curb Appeal at Retail Garden Centers a Marketing Must

Posted on: January 28th, 2020

Curb appeal is a powerful real estate tool which helps sellers differentiate their home from the competition. From Zillow.com, “The term “curb appeal” derives from real estate sales and home design. For years, buyers have formed their first impressions of homes while standing in the street or sitting inside the car, just beyond the curb”.…

Read More

The Gardener of Today is Younger than You Might Think

Posted on: January 3rd, 2020

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 More

Classic Blue is the Color of the Year for 2020 – how will you implement it?

Posted on: December 30th, 2019

Pantone 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 More

A Grower’s Solution to Canada’s Single-Use Plastics Ban

Posted on: November 4th, 2019

In 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

The Winter of 2020 Sounds Like it Will Certainly be White

Posted on: October 17th, 2019

“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 More

A differentiator in service can help your business rise above the competition

Posted on: September 24th, 2019

In 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 More

Gardening education from the most trusted source

Posted on: September 16th, 2019

The 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 More

Disruptive Marketing by Commemorating Environmental Events

Posted on: August 28th, 2019

Have 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 More

Purdue’s Plant Growth Facility puts our containers to work

Posted on: August 5th, 2019

About 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

Corporate Charity Lends a Helping Hand to Teens with Exceptionalities

Posted on: July 26th, 2019

“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 that understands giving your time…

Read More