August 2024 - 41

TECHNOLOGY
Seeing Results
According to Venable, Forest Lake Greenhouses
has grown its revenue by 35%, as well as increased
its operational efficiencies since adopting the Epicor
Propello software.
From a customer's standpoint, checkout is faster and
customer loyalty programs are kept within the software
system, so they don't need to keep track of their loyalty
points themselves. The improved experience helps to
incentivize the customer to return, Venable said.
Operationally, he said the software has revolutionized
how employees can work and keep track of sales goals.
The garden center has been able to move its seasoned
workers to the floor to interact more directly with
customers and share their expertise, while new, less
experienced workers can come on board and quickly learn
the cashiering system without any issue.
" I can't tell you how many times we've had a new
employee, after one day of shadowing a cashier, basically
take over the process, " Venable said. " We've had many
employees who have been a cashier at three places
say, 'This is the best, easiest system I've ever had to
work with.' That meant the world to us. This industry
is not quick to adopt technology, and having that type
of feedback from new cashiers is awesome and makes
everybody less afraid of technology and change. "
Timing was also on Forest Lake Greenhouses' side
as it adopted this system right before the onset of the
pandemic in 2020.
" We were very grateful that we had taken those steps
because COVID was right around the corner and we had
historic volumes, " Venable said. " If we hadn't hadn't taken
those steps, we wouldn't have been able to even keep up. "
Offering Advice
Venable advises other garden centers looking to adopt
new technology to do so at the most strategic time of year.
" Because we're so seasonal, it just pays dividends to be
able to start in the offseason and get geared up before the
peak season hits, " he said.
He also urges them to not shy away from new
technology, especially with a software partner that aims
to meet retailers where they're at.
" All the staff we've interacted with from Epicor were
very knowledgeable, had been with the company for a
long time, and just went above and beyond to make sure
everything was working and that we were comfortable
with the solution, " Venable said. " We've had the solution
for probably 3.5 years now and the continued support
has been fantastic. "
22_0470_FM_GetReadyForFall_QtrVert_US Mod: March 19, 2024 4:56 PM
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August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2024
