{"id":6341,"date":"2011-10-01T06:15:05","date_gmt":"2011-10-01T06:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.upshoothort.com\/?p=6341"},"modified":"2011-10-01T06:15:05","modified_gmt":"2011-10-01T06:15:05","slug":"nursery-insight-decade-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upshoothort.com\/nursery-insight-decade-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Nursery Insight: A Decade of Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Maria Zampini<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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September 11, 2001.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is the day in my lifetime that will live in infamy. I happened to be attending the ANLA Legislative Leadership Conference<\/a> in Washington, D.C., when terrorism struck our country hard and fast. My green industry colleagues and I were awaiting our assignments so we could head over to Capitol Hill to lobby our Congressmen.<\/p>\n

Word came that a plane had flown in to one of the World Trade Center towers. Then the next tower was hit and we, like many, realized this was no accident or coincidence. Jim Berry of J. Berry Nursery had stepped out of the room to take a phone call. He quickly walked back in the room holding the phone, turned and said to me, “They’ve bombed the Pentagon.”<\/p>\n

I could continue reflecting upon events I experienced in our nation’s capital, but I won’t. We all have our memories of where we were and what we were doing on that fateful day. What I will tell you is how I think it relates to where we are 10 years down the road.<\/p>\n

In some ways, I think 9\/11 was the beginning of the end of an era for the nursery industry. Up until that time we were pretty much in the “if you grow it, they will come” mode. Sure, there were times when things were tough. There would be a drought and sales would dry up, too. However, if your product line was diverse enough and your geographic sales area broad, you could fairly easily switch your sales and marketing efforts to compensate.<\/p>\n

It is however, harder to adjust when consumer confidence is shattered. Homeowners have been on a roller coaster ride since 2001. Each time the dip becomes a little deeper and the peak a little less high. Many factors have played into the economic scenario we face today. Yep, if only we all coulda, shoulda, woulda seen it coming.<\/p>\n

But, that is in the past and there is nothing we can do to alter it except hopefully learn, remember and move forward. While it may be hard to see in this very moment, most clouds have a silver lining. I call to mind one of my favorite old sayings, “Things must change to stay the same.” I know from first-hand experience that with change can come unexpected opportunity.<\/p>\n

During the summer, I talked with individuals and companies who are going outside their comfort zone to do whatever is necessary to survive. For instance, creating long-range strategic and\/or marketing plans to find a new niche or confirm their current market. Yes, these can be almost painful to write. But once you have, you’ll at least have a concrete direction to follow. The path you take won’t be just a stab in the dark but the result of a solid, educated guess. If you’ve never written a plan before, let me recommend the book “Alpha Teach Yourself Business Plans in 24 Hours<\/a>” as a good starting point.<\/p>\n

A few examples of those who are looking beyond the stormy clouds include:<\/p>\n