<b>Trees, Ornamental & Bedding Plant:</b> Tag Teaming

Wherever customers want to go with their landscapes, Hoen’s Greenhouse & Garden Center can probably take them there – thanks largely to alliances with fellow service providers.

Photo credit: Stephanie PaxtonHoen’s has the “plant part” of the landscape equation down.

The company grows nursery stock, perennials, annuals, shrubs, roses and more – including home-grown produce. Decorative items, likewise, are in stock aplenty at the retail portion of the business.

But where other companies might see a closed door in pulling all the pieces together, Hoen’s sees an open window – in the form of two partnerships that help the Holland, Ohio-based company turn concepts into landscape realities.

“For the big jobs that we do not have the equipment for, we are collaborating with other local businesses,” said Theresa Hoen, who co-owns the company with her husband, Bob.

“We have partnered with G-Force, a local company that installs hardscapes,” Theresa Hoen said. “They installed a large outdoor living patio area in the garden center to highlight their work at no charge. It really beautifies our store, and we now can recommend a reputable company for the customer who is looking for that kind of service.”

“T” for Teamwork
Hoen’s also has partnered with Nature’s Way Ponds, a local company that installs ponds and waterfalls.

The owner of that company also installed a large pond at no cost on the Hoen’s grounds to highlight his work.
“We’ve been partnering with G-Force for three years; this will be our first season with Nature’s Way Ponds,” Theresa Hoen said.

“The big advantage to this kind of partnership is that we can offer our customer multiple services,” she said. “We are about building relationships. We want to be diversified, but at present do not have the staff, nor the desire to incur inventory costs for these services.”

Theresa Hoen said the company’s ability to build long-term relationships – with customers and with fellow service providers – pays off for everyone.

“We’ve got to think outside the box,” she said. “The ‘buy local’ theme is something that directly affects the purchasing habits of many. Our collaborating efforts allow us the opportunity to keep dollars in our local community.”

Paving the Way
The hardscaping and water garden options via the partnerships put Hoen’s in position to be a primary local resource for landscape customers. The process starts with a meeting with the customer. This year, Hoen’s created a landscape information packet called “We Design, You Dig,” with questions for the customer to answer that will help in the preliminary planning process. Then, the consultations go one of two ways.

“With Option 1 they can bring in a photo of the planting space, and we give free on-site consultations,” Theresa Hoen said. “We work together with them in the selection of the recommended plants that would best suit the design and planting area.”

With Option 2, customers make an appointment for a home consultation. “We then go to their home and spend time with them talking over recommendations, take pictures of the planting space/spaces, and then come up with a design,” Theresa Hoen said. “The majority of our customers will then purchase their plants from us. At present we’re capitalizing on the customers who want to plant themselves but aren’t confident in plant selection or design. Let me tell you, there are lots of folks out there in that position.”

The author is editor of Garden Center.