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OFA Bulletin 2009 Jan/Feb : Page 1January/February 2009 • Number 913 Know Where Your Business is Going Through Benchmark Analysis By Paul a. Thomas, forrest Stegelin, Brian Whipker, and Charlie Hall I n the spring of the year 2000, Forrest Stegelin published an article in Southeastern Floriculture Magazine titled “Benchmarking, the Economics of Employee Productivity.” It dealt with sizing up your labor costs compared to industry standards and doing something about them. No one ever said a word about the article. Times were good in 2000, and money flowed. By 2001, things had changed dramatically. September 11, 2001 signified the beginning of difficult financial times. By the end of 2001, Stegelin, Charlie Hall, Brian Whipker, myself, and several other industry professionals began giving talks to growers around the country about production cost analysis and benchmarking … usually to very small audiences. However, economic conditions have gotten progressively worse since then. Lately, the number of folks in the room has been increasing, signifying that the subject is finally on the radar screen. Given the number of economic challenges facing growers and garden center owners going into 2009, it is imperative Continued on page 6 Raising the Bar by Lowering the Intimidation Factor By Pam Bennett I s your garden center intimidating? Most likely it’s not to you or your employees but what about that first-time or new gardener? One definition of intimidation is to overawe or cow. Cow implies reducing to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost. Okay, that’s a little bit harsh, but does your garden center intimidate or prevent people from entering easily, shopping, spending money, and taking home lots of goodies they can be successful with in the garden? The non-techie geek is intimidated by an electronic store. I was scared to death to purchase my first car; the whole car buying process is very intimidating to me so I let my husband handle this process. Husbands asked to pick up a pair of pantyhose for their wife will cow upon finding out that there Inside this Edition... Know Where Your Business is Going Through Benchmark Analysis Raising the Bar by Lowering the Intimidation Factor Touching Base - Change Twenty Varieties That Attract Landscapers 1 1 2 3 Sustainability: Sour Lemons or Sweet Lemonade? 10 Order Gatherers Legal Blocks 12 13 Why Should You Implement A Scouting Program? 16 Ask the Doctor Doing Business With Landscapers ofa Bulletin 19 21 Perennial Genera – Baptisia Make It Your Business to Attend the OFA Short Course How to Keep the Family Tree From Falling on the Greenhouse … and You OFA News 23 26 27 31 are too many varieties of pantyhose to even begin finding the right pair. In fact, just the mere request is intimidating. The point is, what is intimidating to some may not be to others. For example, Master Gardeners, seasoned or veteran gardeners, plant geeks, or experts aren’t usually intimidated by a garden center. However, think about that new homeowner who has never planted a flowerpot, let alone a garden. They can easily be intimidated by a garden center. Being a horticulturist and avid garden center shopper, I had to look through someone else’s goggles to gain a better understanding of what might be intimidating to potential Continued on page 7 1 Know Where Your Business is Going Through Benchmark AnalysisPaul A. Thomas, Forrest Stegelin, Brian Whipker, and Charlie HallRaising the Bar by Lowering the Intimidation FactorPam BennettPublication List |
