Page 74 - February2019

oral business
Whether attending industry trade shows around the country or conducting local store checks, products, announcements and displays capture our attention. BY E. SHAUNN ALDERMAN
In Fort Lauderdale, January means TPIE. e Tropi- cal Plant International Expo held at the Broward Coun- ty Convention Center, boasted more than 6,000 attend- ees. e three-day industry trade show — which featured speakers, educational sessions and nearly 400 companies
so they can buy fabulous products, merchandise them to the max and market your store’s oral department as Instagram-worthy.
Always a well-attended show segment, the presentation of the Cool Product Awards was a collaboration between TPIE 19, FNGLA and e Garden Center Group of Acworth, GA. Exhib- itors enhanced their e orts this year, and buyers at TPIE were treated to new plants, sustainable containers, fun planters and many other products for interiorscapes, garden centers, landscapes and supermarket oral departments. Here, we are sharing a few nds.
LIGHT IT UP
When does an under-glass plant garden become magical? When lights are added, of course. is Light Up Terrarium from Flori-De- sign Inc. of Eustis, FL, was a hit at TPIE. Gail Cash is owner and operator of the Central
Florida nursery specializ-
ing in dish gardens, fairy
gardens, carnivorous plants,
terrariums and miniature
gardens. She says the illu-
minated terrariums, which
are packed nine per case,
gained a lot of attention
in her booth. “ e wooden
base has a small string of
battery-operated lights
tted into the wood in the
right position for the lights
to appear magical when the
glass cloche is covering the
little fairy garden. e on/
o switch is on the under-
exhibiting in more than 800 booth spaces — was the ideal place for buyers scouting new products and all things tropical.
Hosted by Florida Nursery Growers, and Landscape Association of Orlando, TPIE is a favorite show of mine where I see business friends I have known for about 36 years. And now I’m seeing adult grandchildren stepping in, answering questions in the booths and taking on the businesses with their own air. Similar to agriculture and typical farming, growers in this industry have endured a lot of challenges in the past 36 years. e list is long especially when all of the damaging hurricanes are recollected. Along with those erce winds is a erce grower resiliency that genuinely is necessary and respected.
Longtime buyers scouting for new and di erent items have seen it all, such as hanging rope or macramé planters and foliage- lled terrariums popular in the 1970s. Technology has played its role with production upgrades, and trends come back around with a healthy level of sophistication. Today’s consumers, many whom are not particularly known as plant-savvy, are leading the way to a house- plant resurgence. ey are claiming their own trends, creating tiny- space gardens and buying plants instead of pets.
is plant popularity explosion is validation for retailers to do a double-take on the value of oral departments as related to the company’s philosophy for o ering healthy products for a healthy life. Houseplants are again adored and sought after by everyday consumers and those in uencers actively posting plant and garden photos on social media. Maybe oral retailers should think like chefs and o er products that tell a story. Support your oral teams
74 / FEBRUARY 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS