FROM THE BOARD 



weather-resistant labels. Some busi- 

 nesses use laminators that can be 

 purchased at office supply stores to 

 protect signs they made themselves 

 from watering and weather. Some 

 companies had signs they use from 

 year to year; they didn't have 

 prices on them, but offered price 

 lists as you walked in the door. 

 One place gave me a catalog with 

 cultural information and prices on 

 the perennials they offered. This I 

 thought would be handy to keep as 

 a reference (and would remind 

 me — the consumer — of where 1 

 could go to get what I needed). An- 

 other place 1 visited had a series of 

 mailboxes mounted on a telephone 

 pole. Each box contained xerox 

 copies about different perennial 

 topics — plants for wet areas, for 

 shade, color, etc. The more that is 

 done to help answer a customer's 

 questions, the happier I, the cus- 

 tomer, will be. 



At several places I visited, I en- 

 countered one of my pet peeves: 

 greenhouses offering new introduc- 

 tions or something special for the 

 year, but without giving any indica- 

 tion of the fact. Experienced gar- 

 deners like myself get excited over 

 new plants. I want to try them, but 

 first you have to let me know you 

 have them and then tell me how to 

 grow them. Don't mix them in with 

 everything else — showcase them. 

 One place I visited had Supertunias 

 in four-inch pots for about $2.50 

 setting right next to regular old pe- 

 tunias in 6-pacs for $1.95. Which 

 would you buy? A couple places 

 grew oddball annuals you can't buy 

 tags for. So what is it? It was a 

 busy day at one place and I 

 couldn't get my question answered. 

 1 was disappointed and didn't buy 

 the plant and this probably ex- 

 plained why it looked like no one 

 else had either. 



Another area of customer service 

 that I found very important was 

 having a way to carry the things 1 

 wanted to buy Make sure you pro- 

 vide plenty of boxes or trays where 

 customers can easily find them. 

 Carts or wagons are also a must — 

 especially at big places. I might not 

 give in to that impulse to buy if I 

 can't carry it. 



I also like the idea of plastic 

 trunk liners, in our business, water 

 and soil make mud. Most folks 

 don't want it in their car and usu- 

 ally aren't prepared for it (espe- 

 cially people like me who buy 

 more than they can get in their 

 trunks and have to put things on 

 the back seat). 



One area that many businesses 

 don't address — and which I hap- 

 pened to have found important — is 

 that of restrooms. If you've got to 

 go and the business doesn't have a 

 public one, you're going to go — 



M. 



Membership Drive! 



'■H^'' We are looking for a few good new members. 



WHO DO YOU KNOW? Pass this on to someone who'd benefit from membership. The more mem- 

 bers we have, the more we can do for you and our industry. 



WHY JOIN? Twilight Meetings. Visit horticultural operations around the state, talk with your col- 

 leagues, and see how another business solves the same problems you have. Summer Trade Show. 

 Our big event! Meet directly with your suppliers, make new contacts, and enjoy a great barbecue. 

 Tfie Plantsman. The best horticultural association publication in the Northeast. Free with every paid 

 membership. Legislative Issues. More members means more clout on the political front in Concord. 



Nursery 

 Wholesale 



Greenhouse 



Garden Center 



Other 



Florist 

 Retail Would you be willing to serve on a NHPGA Committee? Yes No 



MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES (please check one) 



MEMBER: Someone actively engaged in the horticulture industry or allied professional. Annual dues $35.00. 



STUDENT MEMBER: Full-time student of horticulture-related studies. Annual dues $15.00. 



EMPLOYEE MEMBER: Employee of member firm in good standing. Annual dues $15.00 



Please send application and check to: New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association 56 Leavitt Rd. Hampton, NH 03842 



THE PLANTSMAN 



