Nursery and Greenhouse - Challenges and Opportunities III

This is a continuation of the series on challenges and opportunities for greenhouse and nursery businesses during the current economic downturn and in the near future.

• Creative production is a key. Look for voids in the marketplace and trends that will drive markets in the future
• Customer profiling will become even more important. The more you know about your customers, the better you will be able to plan production and market to those customers.
• Know your cost structure. Pricing needs to based on production costs plus overhead and then adding desired profit. If costs are not know, pricing becomes a guessing game.
• Look to the sustainable landscapes movement for opportunities – Urban stormwater mitigation, green roofs, tree planting campaigns, projects using native plants, and much more. Team up with foundations and other organizations promoting plants for the benefit of the environment.
• Take note of suburban to urban shifts – institutional and governmental policies are influencing spending on plants in urban settings. Take time to understand these policies and the potentials they offer your business.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County