Jan 6, 2016

Looking for Solutions? By Tim Hodson

The early bird deadline to register for the 2016 Big Grower Executive Summit* is just a few weeks away.

The Summit will take place Feb. 21-23, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. The early bird deadline (a $100 savings) for registration is Jan. 29.

The Executive Summit provides attendees with the opportunity to network with some of the nation’s largest growers while learning about how to deal with some of today’s biggest business challenges.

If you and your management team are looking for solutions to the changing dynamics facing our industry, then you are going to want to be in Charlotte next month. The topics we’ll be covering include: selling to the next generation of consumers, working with your bank, succession planning and innovative marketing techniques.

If you’d like to learn more about the 2016 program, just click here.–

*Attendance to the 2016 Big Grower Executive Summit is limited to growers with a minimum of 250,000 square feet of growing space.

Lowe’s Exec Makes Top Retail Innovators List
Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe’s Innovations Labs, was recently named to the National Retail Federation’s 2016 list of People Shaping Retail’s Future. According to Ellen Davis, NRF senior vice president and foundation executive director the list “represents the most innovative and impressive group of professionals impacting the retail industry today.” Nel’s team at Lowe’s is developing new ways to use technology for consumers and retailers.

Wal-Mart Names New U.S. Marketing Head
Tony Rogers has been named Wal-Mart’s new chief marketing officer in the United States. Rogers succeeds Stephen Quinn who is retiring. Prior to this appointment, Rogers served as the retailer’s CMO in China. He will be responsible for Wal-Mart’s marketing initiatives such as program development, customer research, branding and strategy development.

Home Depot Store Goes Hollywood
A suburban Atlanta Home Depot store is ready for “Lights, camera action!” The home improvement retailer has opened The Home Depot Studio Store in Fayetteville, Georgia, to cater to the needs of approximately 40 TV and film projects that are taking place in the area. Located in the Pinewood Studios complex, the store is only open to film and TV professionals – the public is not allowed into the store. The Studio Store is about half the size of a typical Home Depot store. Click here to see photos of the concept store.