Page 10 - Griffin Gazette Issue 3 - 2020

Soaring

Sales

FOR WINTER

By John Johnston, Retail Education Manager Between gardening and birding (watching and feeding), they
are the leading hobbies of Americans for many years. When
The cause and effect of the pandemic is still being assessed by
garden centers across the country. No one saw this coming, new numbers are reported for 2020, it will be a landslide for
as consumers sought to buy anything that would enhance the new participants in both categories.
home experience while quarantined. Gardening aside, there
were tremendous sales growth in outdoor patios, grills, pools, DEMAND UP, SUPPLY DOWN
hot tubs, solar lighting, decorative pots, firepits, and even Supply could be the tip of the iceberg. Winter is coming and
backyard games. These departments were totally sold out in activities will slowly revolve back indoors. New participants
many regions. Oh…and I almost forgot another sell out, bird will continue to restock their feeders, but are we ready for the
seed. Are you kidding me? new business that will surely arrive? Unemployment is still
high along with the unexpected addition of retirees leaving the
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR work force for health, safety, or family care reasons. Birding is
a logical winner and beneficiary of home entertainment for all
This government branch has a lot to do with our great outdoors.
They manage our vast natural and cultural resources from sea to ages. With empty shelves of bird food, it has been difficult to
shining sea. Within it, there are bureaus that employ thousands keep a new customer to return and buy again. Manufacturers
of people including some expert scientists to study and report were shut down, and distributors were out of supply for many
their findings including recommendations. Statistical data is weeks. Now the good news! The harvest is in and production
also collected and used to help predict habitat, trends, and is ramping up. Are you planning to sell more? Have you sold
dictate policies. The US Fish and Wildlife Service impacts our these products in the past with obstacles or difficulty and
industry’s interests in their reporting on wild bird enthusiasts. eliminated from your offerings? Is it time for you to reconsider a
makeover for this fast-paced department for your store?

10 | GRIFFIN GAZETTE 2020