BloomaPalooza

06/25/2013

Rock out this Summer afternoon with Kaleido... one of the great acts appearing at BloomaPalooza August 1,2,3... the most fun that horticulture has ever seen!

Produced by: Anthony Columbus and Kyle Martin Director: Nabil Nona (Paradox Films) Director of Photography: Jason Zara Hair/Makeup: Shannon Pleva and Natasha...

06/24/2013

Last chance to save big!

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06/19/2013

Countdown to BloomaPalooza... just a few days left for the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL... $89 buys a $1million dollars worth of fun, information and networking!

To discontinue future BloomaPalooza promotions, unsubscribe at.GIE Media, Inc. • 4020 Kinross Lakes Pkwy, Ste. 201 • Richfield, OH 44286

06/13/2013

A great post from the incomparable Lloyd Traven on why you should be at BloomaPalooza...

"I was trying to verbalize why Bloomapalooza is SO DIFFERENT and why you NEED to get there.This is different. I think the rationale is simple to state. 'If you want to sit in a frigid lecture hall and listen to someone else TELL you how to fix what THEY think is broken, go to ___. If you want to DISCUSS, in a collaborative atmosphere with colleagues and folks who are making it work in real life, and come up with YOUR solutions and enhancements, then change it up and come to Bloomapalooza.’ We need to be relevant!! Listening to ‘suits’ and writing orders for the same stuff you already sell? That’s NOT relevant, that is the old way!! How about listening to something that is NEW, and cool, and resonates with the people who you actually NEED in your store? Meet them on THEIR terms, not reliving the past!!!
The other shows are PASSIVE, you sit there or... walk an aisle and they feed you what they want you to hear and buy. NOT at Bloomapalooza—there, you are face to face with the actual breeders and their companies, almost all of them, in one place, and you can TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE coming to the market, not listening to the wonders of ANOTHER red petunia, another pansy, another daylily, ___another Hydrangea paniculata. YOU drive the bus, and this is your chance to get your side told—instead of seeing something neat and finding out it is a Home Depot exclusive.
THIS is what makes Bloomapalooza different, why you need to make the effort to get there---if all you want is yet another venue to listen to someone tell you how to run your business, go to another show. If you want to begin to take back your market, take control of your future and work together, then come to Bloomapalooza. Join the revolution---and have a good time doing it."- Lloyd Traven

06/13/2013

BloomaPalooza is unique for its music festival atmosphere and providing a vehicle to fix the broken supply chain that we suffer from where the breeder and retailer are disconnected. This is going to create a great buzz in the industry for sure! Another part of BloomaPalooza that needs to be better understood is the FIVE PILLARS of BLOOMAPALOOZA. The idea is to address five big picture ideas that can create change at the local IGC in all facets of the business from marketing to purchasing and sales strategies. The FIVE PILLARS are:

• Get Local – Integrate your garden center into the community and enjoy the benefits of a closer relationship with your customers and other local businesses, including increased sales and customer loyalty.
• Go Green – Learn how to make your business as green as the plants you’re selling through sustainable practices and products.
• Expand Your Expertise – Educate yourself and your employees to turn your garden center into a one-stop, problem-solving shop for customers.
• Differentiate or Die – Stand out from the rest and thrive in the green industry by giving your customers a unique and personalized experience.
• Join the Revolution – Connect and collaborate with other independents to strengthen both your IGC and the industry as a whole.

These concepts are then broken down into more detailed talks in the IGC TALK! Tent and Main Stage presentations where the brightest and best will collaborate with other IGC’s to expand the conversation and get clear, concise information on developing these ideas. As an example, GET LOCAL will feature ideas on how IGCs can get involved in programs like America In Bloom and Grandma's Garden School.

This experiential learning idea will hopefully spread throughout the conversations at BloomaPalooza and build lasting ideas and relationships that will help the IGC!

06/11/2013

The following Breeder Companies will be represented in the RAKER TRIAL GARDENS during BloomaPalooza... not only is this an amazing learning experience but also BEAUTIFUL!

Connecting the BREEDER to the RETAILER... BloomaPalooza!

Pan American Seed
Ball Horticultural Company
Benary
Beekenkamp
Danziger.. Darwin/Kieft
Dummen
Fides-Oro
Floranova
Gerbera Factory
Grimes Horticulture
Hort Couture
HMA
Jelitto Seed
Kiwiflora
Morel
Sakata
Selecta
Seminis
Skagit Gardens
Star Roses and Plants
Suntory
SHS Griffin
Syngenta Flowers

06/11/2013

The quality of the music at BloomaPalooza will be on par with any music festival... some of the hottest acts in America will be performing!

06/10/2013

Hey IGC's- where could you ever find a value like this? BloomaPalooza will change the way you look at "trade shows" forever... and it is gonna be a rockin' good time!

06/05/2013

Updated Schedule... please support this event that will help the IGC channel!

The industry’s most dynamic business event of the year is filled with three days under the big blue Michigan sky with empowering education, top industry vendors, the newest plants and products, brilliant musical talent, and Garden Idol fun — all in the unparalleled setting of the Raker Trial Gardens...

06/02/2013

Fun cover by one of the amazing acts at BloomaPalooza... Jetty Rae! Are you registered yet?

Thank you Shauna for supporting my IndieGoGo campaign! This is a cover of a fun song by Cat Stevens called "Moonshadow". Happy to make this part of my "Front...

05/29/2013

It's not just hanging baskets that are getting prepped for their final destination in the Trial Gardens! These transplant trays are being set up for the field trials, and will be planted outside over the next couple of weeks.

05/28/2013

Things are busy out at C. Raker and Sons! Here's an inside look at the sponsored hanging baskets just after transplant. They'll be placed outside next week.