Proven Winners Announces Winners of Destination Contest
Proven Winners announced the winners of the 2007 Destination Contest this month.
Each of the winners, employees at garden centers, nurseries or greenhouses in varying U.S. states, received $1000 for their creativity and resourcefulness.
Mariemont Garden Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, won the Division A (10 employees or less) category. Mariemont tried Proven Winners point-of-purchase materials for the first time. The cost of the P.O.P. paid for itself in just one weekend when Traci Shinkle decided to place all of the plants together along with the poster. “The plants were flying off the shelves”¦we had the best May we have ever had.”
Donahue’s Greenhouse in Faribault, Minn., won the Division B category (11-25 employees). The folks had fun at Donahue’s by creating this mannequin planted with Proven Winners’ Supertunias. They also use employee testimonials throughout the store to let customers know which plants they have had personal experiences with in their own homes. Donahue’s also tried to show finished containers with the plants for sale close at hand. Employees stated “our customers feel confident in their plant choices because they can see the success.”
Valley Nursery, Poulsbo, Wash., won the Division C (26-75 employees) category. The nursery has enjoyed great success with the spring and Fall Magic programs, saying that satisfied customers keep returning to the store for more. Ray Wiegland’s Nursery, Macomb, Mich., won the Division D (more than 75 employees) category. The garden center incorporated the Proven Winners potting soil and fertilizer in the displays and advertised on The Weather Channel with Proven Winners while carrying a broad variety of Proven Winners plants.
More than just the $1000 prizes, each of the winning retailers said their garden centers experienced an increase in sales of Proven Winners products and plants, thanks to innovative ideas they were exposed to through the Destination Contest. For more information about Proven Winners, go to www.provenwinners.com.
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