Looking at the biggest influence

Kristy J. O'Hara

As we wrap up another year and prepare for the 2013 growing season, it’s a good time to take a step back and look at what will be driving sales next year.

But we’re not talking about sales to your customers — unless you’re in the nearly half of our readership that has its own retail operations as well. Instead, we’re talking about what will drive consumer purchases in 2013.

Sometimes it can be hard to get out of our grind and look at something with another perspective, but that’s exactly what you have to do as a business owner in order to make the best possible decisions to grow your organization and steer it on the best path. As such, this month, Greenhouse Management frequent contributor Bridget Behe explores the consumer trends that you, as growers, need be on top of so you can cater your growing to these types of sales opportunities. If you want to have the most relevant products for your customers to sell to the end-consumer, or for your own consumers to purchase, be sure to check out this month’s cover story.

We’ve got a lot of other great features for you this month too, including our final piece in the All-America Selections series. Throughout 2012 we’ve been partnering with AAS to talk to a different trial judge each month about the business challenges he or she faces as well as how AAS has impacted them personally. I’ve learned a lot just by doing these interviews each month, but I hope you’ve been able to find take-aways for your own business too and also been able to learn more about the important role AAS plays in the industry. Be sure to check out the final piece in this 11-part series this month.

Lastly, as we wrap up this year, we also wrap up celebrating Greenhouse Management’s 30th anniversary, so I wanted to say thank you for reading and making us so successful. You’re the reason why our magazine continues to evolve, thrive, and be a leader in the marketplace, so be sure to drop us a line and let us know what you like, what you don’t and what we need to cover in 2013. Here’s to another 30 years of supporting and helping your businesses grow.

kohara@gie.net
Twitter: @GMmagEditor