Wilsonville, Oregon – The 2014 Farwest Trade Show, August 21-23 in Portland, Oregon, is bringing independent garden center consultant, Sid Raisch and his company, Horticultural Advantage to the show. He will conduct a series of three seminars that focus on end-game strategies for retail owners to prime their companies for sale to next generation owners and the online future for retail.
Appearing courtesy of AmericanHort, on Friday, Aug. 22, 9:30am, in a workshop, ‘Get the Ultimate Compliment: Can I Buy Your Company?’, Raisch will tell retail owners ways to build the marketability of their businesses one step at a time, leading to justifi cation for top-dollar offers.
On Sat., Aug. 23, again courtesy of AmericanHort, Raisch will explore the crashing wave of internet retail in two seminars. In the fi rst, at 9-10am, entitled ‘Watch out, Small business. You’re about to be Amazoned!’ warns of complacency in the shadow of the Amazon Age. Raisch will share his ideas for riding the Amazon wave instead of being swept away. At 10-11am, he’ll moderate a ‘So You Want to Launch an Online Store?’ panel of retailers, who will share their successes and challenges in taking their business of selling garden related products and plants from the ground fl oor to an online store.
Raisch has nearly 30 years experience assisting a wide range of green industry companies and formulated it into a systematic program designed to help garden centers make the kind of decisions that drive sales, improve operations, and focus on profi t. He’s created strategies and systems for improving every aspect of garden center operations, and helps industry suppliers improve their service to garden centers.
“Sid Raisch brings the best in strategy and creativity, for not just surviving the challenge of retail but for turning it into opportunity for excellence and profi t,” states Allan Niemi, Director of Events & Education at the Oregon Association of Nurseries, producers of the Farwest Trade Show. “Sid’s presence at Farwest is one example of our efforts to provide retailers with the tools to make the most of the marketplace, today and tomorrow.”
Along with Raisch’s seminars, Farwest has scheduled multiple events and speakers that will focus on what’s in store for the future garden center retail in products, practices, and trends. Farwest will showcase the best and brightest of industry experts, innovative companies, fi rst-time plant releases, new retail products, ideas and education. (See attached)
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The Farwest Trade Show is produced by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN), a trade organization that represents and serves the interests of the ornamental horticulture industry. Any revenue realized by the OAN is reinvested into the industry through education, research, marketing support and government relations.
The Oregon Association of Nurseries, based in Wilsonville, represents more than 800 wholesale growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers. Oregon’s ornamental horticulture industry is among the state’s largest agricultural commodities, with annual sales of $744 million. Oregon’s nursery industry is a traded sector; nearly 75 percent of the nursery plants grown in Oregon are shipped out of state. For information, visit www.oan.org or call 503-682-5089.
Garden Retail Highlights for Farwest 2014
For more information on any or all of these events, contact Farwest media contacts below or visit www.FarwestShow.com
New Vision Forum, Aug. 20-21- Facilitated by industry leaders, John Stanley and Sid Raisch, this round table forum will explore new directions, trends, and technologies in garden retail. Participants will learn about the challenges and possibilities of the new economy. Separate registration is required through AmericanHort.
John Stanley, Keynote Address, Aug. 21- John Stanley, renowned horticulture industry expert, sheds light on an industry that is changing rapidly. What has worked in the past will not work in the future as the whole structure evolves. Stanley focuses on the issues that businesses need to address in the future in order to grow sales. Attendance is free for all show registrants. Stanley also leads a three hour workshop titled ‘Garden Retailing: Getting to 2020’ on Friday, Aug. 22, 9am to noon. The interactive workshop focuses on identifying merchandising categories to grow sales, developing a plant offer that works for the customer, and communicating with the new consumer to create an exceptional customer experience.
New Varieties Showcase- An exclusive assembly of dozens of new market introductions submitted by the industry’s leading green goods producers. Eligible plants include trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses and bamboo, groundcovers, wetland and aquatic plants, vines, bulbs and annuals. Attendees will be able to rank their favorite entries.
Retailer Choice Awards- Selected by The Garden Center Group, the most innovative green and hard goods found on the show . oor. Exhibitors share their winning products in an awards ceremony during the show.
Growers Showcase-Creative presentations and demos of sculpted and manipulated plant forms. Inspiring ideas for more engaging displays in the garden center.
Walk the Floor with the Expert- Opportunities for walking the show .oor with the industry’s leading experts in garden retail–Dr. Michael Dirr (Thurs., Aug. 21), Dr. Allan Armitage (Fri., Aug. 22), and Kelly Norris (Sat., Aug. 23). They’ll share their insights on the best plants displayed up and down the aisles.
The Idea Center-A place to rethink, retool and reinvent yourself and your business. Sample interactive technology, learn best practices, and hear what peers and experts In the industry are up to.
Retail Seminars and Education-Covering the gamut of retail interests from breeding, plant introductions, and operations to merchandising, lifestyle, and trends. Presented by industry experts from education, production, and consulting.
Social Media Marketing Secrets: How to Increase Pro.t by Building Online Relationships, Aug. 22, 10:30am-Noon- Shawna Coronado, author, speaker, and spokesperson, explores how social media has transformed the way we communicate. Learn the secrets to building online relationships that can lead to new customers and more pro.t.
Growing a Nation of Gardeners: A Fusion of Public and Retail Horticulture, Aug. 22, 9-10am- Kelly Norris, Horticulture Manager, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and author, declares as a horticulture industry, we have to grow a nation of gardeners—avid consumers of green goods and services who garden with purpose. Norris looks at where we’ve come from, where we’re going and the opportunities ahead, proposing a fusion of successful strategies for the green industry.
Networking-Farwest is the gathering place for all segments of the green industry. In addition to the show each day, there are numerous planned events, such as the Third Annual Pub Crawl showcasing local craft breweries, offering opportunities to mix and mingle with the shakers and movers of horticulture.
Five+ Acres of Exhibitors- Companies from the world over exhibit each year at Farwest. It’s the gateway to the plants, products, and services important to the retail segment today and tomorrow.
Media Contacts: Tom Kegley tkegley@rev.net 843.991.4366 / Ann Murphy amurphy@oan.org 503.682.5089 / www.FarwestShow.com
Source: The Oregon Association of Nurseries
