Page 7 - Griffin Gazette Issue 1 - 2020

RETAILING AT NEW HEIGHTS

Independent growers utilize space to maximize their
greenhouse environment usually by planting as much as
the table benches allows on one level. Some businesses
carry this habit over into their retail sales areas. However,
retail benching that covers multiple levels, has an incredible
influence on how a customer shops for plants. Staging
masses of color, varieties, and compatible plants, opens a
world of purchase options to the consumer. It drives foot
traffic from a distance, especially when combined with
signage. With increased speed of shopping, the consumer
needs to be focused on what is eye-appealing quickly. Block
setting mass colors, staging varieties of contrasting colors
side by side, and displaying plants upon multiple levels does
wonders for imagination purposes.

SAFETY FIRST
Do you regularly inspect the condition of your table benches?
Are benches supported enough to handle the weight of
mature plants (and their containers) that are watered and
at their heaviest in spring? Will your table resist a collapse
if bumped by a patron or shopping cart? A consumer’s
first visual shouldn’t be benching in dire need of repair. This
includes extruding wire, rotted cross beams, and wood
splinters that happen over time. The tell-tale signs of torn
clothing or scratches and cuts from employees should be a need to refresh displays quickly for specific seasons and
giveaway as to the need to repair or replace. Those of you who in-house events. Poly-Tex Inc. has many upright displays,
have upgraded to new benching, were likely surprised on how but one of the most popular is the three-tier display with
quickly their return on this important capital improvement was. hanging basket bar that has owners smiling with growing

TABLE CHOICES plant sales. By taking advantage of perimeter wall space, you
can pitch a vertical explosion of color from a distance. Some
Over the past decade, more owners are opting to convert retailers might opt to use these as a perimeter barrier to block
old hardware wire cloth topped plant tables with resin tops customer passage to unwanted store zones. Contact your
that are extremely rigid, resist temperature swings, and Griffin sales representative for more details about new plant
offer years of no maintenance. With no splinters to worry benching for your store or greenhouse.
about, the main upgrade concern is to provide enough
cross sections and table legs to handle weight needs. One POINT OF DECISION SELLING
company, AV plastic bench tops provides a high quality, UV The final piece of the selling puzzle lies with your ability to
Protected, polypropylene bench top. These grids have many make recommendations for the growth and care of the plants
advantages: installs easily, interlock together, easy to clean that are bought by customers. Today, it is difficult to persuade
and disinfect, and they are lightweight. The table legs and the consumer to walk excessive distances, retreat backwards,
frame are also top-notch quality and provide one of the best or maneuver through traffic to venture into the store to buy
professional looks in the garden center for retailing plants. their fertilizer. It’s almost impossible, if you have an outdoor

One of Griffin’s best sellers is SPC Retail or Benchmaster, checkout register! Find ways to communicate the add on
as it is known in the industry. These displays are easy to sale by placing strategic signs with your plant materials
assemble, made from tough high-density post consumer making your recommended food or soil pitch. When space is
recycled plastic, and holds up to 50% more plant material allocated for product and protected from the elements, you
than wooden fixtures. In a matter of minutes, you may can create additional sales of up to ten times the amount of
convert your retail space into a retail sales area that what is sold at the store shelf.
commands attention. Some of these displays are also Having a store with great display looks, timely product
available with caster wheels. recommendations, and a safe shopping experience, goes
Metal benching continues to find space in retailers where a long way toward creating an atmosphere that consumers
both great looks and mobility are desired. The trend of have come to demand and expect from every brick and
mobility is important to small to medium garden centers that mortar retailer. Good selling!

GRIFFIN GAZETTE 2020 | 7