The consumer has endured a year of pandemic induced changes to the workplace that have impacted our industry in a positive way. Working from home has helped drive home improvements, new patio construction, landscape additions, and spawned a renewed interest in lawn care. Families are also getting on board with wild bird watching and choosing to explore fun entertainment around the home. Remote learning relies on teaching our children to explore science, nature, and even conservation efforts away from the classroom. Parents are motivated to find new methods of safe, local exploration to keep young minds healthy. Are you ready for more selling opportunities?
New Construction in Your Yard
March signals the month for consumers in most states to install their nesting boxes, bird houses, martin houses, and ensure a water source like a bird bath for both migrating and regional birds. The retail run at the register shouldn’t be a surprise for these unique products. Many of these nesting boxes were sold and installed in the fall to be used for shelter in winter. It’s time to restock while consumers seek out these products. Take the time to inspect and repair (re-install) those boxes now before the onslaught on birds searching for their spring home. If installing on a tree, be careful to use appropriate nails or screws that won’t injure or girdle the tree. If suspending the bird house, be mindful of its surroundings to protect against predators. The best bird houses offer a clean-out door or passage to ensure you can start each season without insect problems.
The Birds and the Bees
I don’t think the schools are teaching what first comes to mind with that sentence, but they are addressing bee pollination and environmental impacts that impact our lives. While the news provides “shock and awe” in reporting murder hornets, the educators are calming children that bees are a necessity for fruits, vegetables, and honey. Agriculture revolves around this precious creature. Protecting that necessity of nature is important to us all. The increase of beehives and various bee houses is a positive influence on telling this story to our next generation. There are other tell-tale signs in the garden center like bee-friendly plants, problem solving chemistry that is safe around bees, and seed packs that are pre-mixed to provide nectar or pollen. It is our best interest to promote these items to your biggest audience (and clients) the women shopper.
Want to promote color? Introduce bird watching as a great form of home entertainment. Spring weather marks the return of songbirds, purple martins, and hummingbirds. The colors and sounds are endless if you provide the environment appropriate to attract and retain. Start this quest by adding bird feeders at different heights that are filled with Nyjer, finch food, or sunflower seed. If you have pets, you may need to position these feeders further away from windows to provide a comfort zone and reduce reflective surfaces that may startle birds.
Having a Garden Party
The return of warm weather will drive families outside onto the deck and backyard patio. Colorful plantings, bird feeders, perennials, yard décor, kinetic spinners, and much more should provide enjoyment for the entire family. First, get ready this month for nature to return. It won’t be much longer before your friends and extended family will begin to visit you, too! The popularity of deck boxes and large planters has never been higher. Plant these up intially with spring pansies for explosive color! Retailers have found new ways to entice the customer to buy new planters by offering their customer a flat rate replanting fee for bringing them back to the store for replanting for any season. Never underestimate the value of extending services to your customers, if possible. Anything to make it easier for your customer or better yet, contactless, is a win for everybody and here to stay. Good selling!
