MARKETING T l Time Three garden tool suppliers share their bestsellers and tips on how garden centers can sell more tools. By Teresa McPherson o o Y our garden center is a destination for customers looking for plant material - but do they also walk out the door with the tools and accessories they need to complete their project? Graham Hill, president of Platt Hill Nursery in Chicagoland, said customers often haven't thought about all they will need. Customers come to the retailer to buy plants, but " getting the tools to them when they're buying the plants leads to higher conversion. What I speculate is happening is that the customer came in, they bought the plants, but they forgot about watering. They've been told about watering, but they forgot that they don't have the actual equipment to do the watering. If they've already left, they're never coming back to buy that from us - they're going to Amazon, they're going to go to Walmart or Home Depot or somewhere closer or more convenient and buying it with whatever else they're buying that week. " Platt Hill Nursery assortment of kids' gardening tools to inspire young gardeners. 40 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | JANUARY 2025 Y 2025