ANLA Honors Garden Center University Class of 2004

Washington, D.C.?EUR??,,????'??+The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) recognized the 21 graduates of the Garden Center University (GCU) class of 2004 at the annual Management Clinic in Louisville, KY. GCU, taught and directed by Ian Baldwin, is a training program designed for managers to learn to create a more profitable, efficient and customer friendly garden center. The graduates are business professionals ranging from veteran garden center owners/managers to those relatively new to the industry. ?EUR??,,????'??GCU is sort of a mini-MBA for garden centers,?EUR??,,????'?? explained Mr. Baldwin. GCU is a five-step program, completed over two years that targets retail owners and managers in the sales volume range of $500,000 to $5 million per year, who want to double or triple their size. In addition to class instruction, participants visit and network with owners of super league stores, attend trade shows, and go on buying trips. The key learning areas in the program are strategy, fiscal management, operational management, interpersonal skills, and service and sales expertise. ?EUR??,,????'??GCU is a combination of many invaluable tools that help me make better and smarter business decisions?EUR??,,????'?? said graduate Mike Diacont, of Wildwood Nursery and Garden Center(NC). Graduates identified financial analysis skills development and networking as the greatest benefits of the program. ?EUR??,,????'??It was invaluable learning how to make sense of all the financial numbers generated in our business and what to do with them to grow,?EUR??,,????'?? offered Bryan Foushee of Spring Meadow Greenhouses, North Carolina. ?EUR??,,????'??GCU inspired a group of friends, with common professional interests and goals, to grow into an unbelievably generous, helpful, source of ideas, advice and sound business practices,?EUR??,,????'?? said Tom Tinguely of The Great Outdoors, Texas. The classes of 2005 and 2006 are already underway, each enrolling over 35 students. Garden center owners and management professionals interested in GCU classes of 2006 or 2007 may contact Melissa Strickland at 202-789-2900.