Celeste Cook undertaking a nursery walkthrough as part of the GrowConnex extension program (Image: Greenlife Industry Australia)
By Celeste Cook
Biosecurity often sounds like an industry-level issue. But inside a nursery, it usually comes down to much smaller things. Most nursery pest problems start with something small. Often it starts with a shipment of plants that does not look quite right that enters the production space.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
Garden centre operators have many opportunities to improve merchandising and increase sales volumes. As practical demonstrations at the Garden Inspiration Group’s 2026 gathering in Melbourne showed, these improvements need not necessarily be costly.
The Garden Inspiration Group (GIG) invited key staff from independent garden centres to its annual function at The Manningham in Bulleen on 2 March 2026.… Continue reading
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A targeted SMS promotion for a pumpkin-carving event shows how garden centres can use AI-driven marketing platforms to send timely, personalised messages directly to customers’ phones (Image: Supplied by the authors)
By John Stanley, Sid Raisch and Dries Jansen
We were recently talking to a client about trading patterns in 2025 in the different categories. This client has a restaurant. He mentioned that he has operated it for many years as a profitable part of the whole business.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Stanley, Sid Raisch and Dries Jansen
Doubts about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on society are fading as breakthrough after breakthrough becomes reality. What was once speculation is now a demonstrated fact. Technology experts agree on the transformation ahead, differing only on timing and which company announces the next major advancement.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Stanley, Sid Raisch and Dries Jansen
This series of articles aims to look at the future opportunities, changes and challenges that independent garden centres around the globe face in the next few years. Before we look into our crystal ball, we should first look back.… Continue reading
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