Garden Media RevampsTrends YouTube Series for 2017

Video is the future of news consumption, and we're is streaming our way into 2017 and beyond by reviving our  YouTube video series  to deep dive into the top lawn and garden trends for 2017, offering tips for consumers to incorporate each trend into their everyday lives. 

The future of the way we consume news is video based, and we’re excited to continue providing our fans the trends in this format and help teach them how they can grow 365 days-a-year in a modern way.

A new trends video will post the first week of every month on Garden Media’s YouTube channel and social outlets with #LightsCameraGarden and #GardenTrends. The 2017 series premiered this week and looks into the Peak Season trend. It also outlines how beginners can start their own hydroponic garden.

In addition to the videos, Garden Media incorporates the 2017 trends into its #TrendingThursday Grow! Blog series.  Each #TrendingThursday post expands on the month’s video and offers an in-depth look into the trend.

For more information about the 2017 garden trends, subscribe to Garden Media Group’s YouTube channel or visit gardenmediagroup.com. And check our latest video out here! 

2017 Garden Trends Report: Grow 365 highlights eight trends that inspire clean gardening

The backyard and kitchen counter have a lot in common this year; they’re both ideal places to grow.

New changes in indoor gardening technology combined with an ever increasing demand for clean food means it’s easier than ever to garden 365 days-a-year. 

Our annual Garden Trends Report for 2017, Grow 365, introduces eight industry trends that inspire gardening year-round. It reflects consumers’ increasing desire to access healthy food, fresh air and clean medicine no matter the season.

The 2017 report mirrors what modern technology has known for years: Mother Nature doesn’t have jurisdiction indoors.

GWA Atlanta in Pictures

We had a blast attending GWA  Atlanta! Not only did we release our 2017 Garden Trends Report, 

we partied the night away at Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint. Thanks to our hosts, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Espoma Organic, Costa Farms, Sunlight Supply and OPCOM Farm and to all who came out!! We danced the night away!

And a HUGE Congratulations to Katie for receiving the first ever Emergent Communicator award. Well deserved! And congratulations to Garden Writers for a hugely successful event! Here's to many more! 

  

   

 

 

Katie Dubow Named 2016 Emergent Communicator by GWA

Exceptional skill, strong ethics and tireless passion are just some of the defining characteristics of Katie Dubow’s work as creative director at Garden Media Group.

Now, she can add award winner to her list of accomplishments. The Association of Garden Communicators (GWA), the leading professional organizations of green industry communicators, will officially award Dubow with the first-ever Emergent Communicator Honor at the GWA Annual Conference and Expo in Atlanta on September 16-19. 

Awarded by the leading professional organization of green industry communicators, the Emergent Communicator Honor recognizes a professional under the age of 40 who shows exceptional skills, professional ethics and dedication to the GWA mission and values. Dubow will be one of five to receive GWA Honors at its annual awards banquet.

Modern Homesteading Open House at Homestead Gardens Offers Glimpse into the Future of Gardening

Most gardeners have the same wish — to keep growing their favorite plants all year long. Wish granted with indoor gardening systems found in the new Modern Homesteading.

On Friday, August 5 from 10AM – 3PM, Brian Riddle, owner of Homestead Gardens, invites his industry peers to an open house at their Davidsonville location. A quick two-hour drive south from the IGC East show, this must-attend event will tour Modern Homesteading and show how indoor gardening supplies help IGCs connect with new customers and boost traffic.

By implementing the products and education components of Modern Homesteading, independent garden centers will be fast-tracked into the exploding indoor gardening market. Through Modern Homesteading, garden centers can attract a new customer — the year-round gardener.

OPCOM® Farm Introduces Two High-Tech Hydroponic Gardening Systems at Cultivate ‘16

To help people produce healthy plants and save time and money gardening, OPCOM Farm unveiled a set of hydroponic gardening products at Cultivate ’16.

Systems such as the GrowBox and GrowWall are necessities for any modern home, office or classroom. The DIY systems allow consumers to easily grow a wide range of fruits and vegetables while purifying the air.

Eldon Su, general manager for OPCOM Link USA, says anyone can grow organic, healthy herbs, fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants indoors year-round with the new vertical GrowWall and tabletop GrowBox.

“Our systems allow people to grow as if they are outdoors, but without the limitations of weather,” says Su. “We provide sophisticated, yet easy-to-use products that support gardening trends, whether at home, the office or classroom, in any climate or part of the world.”

Bringing Gardening Indoors

It’s amazing what can happen when three forces join together with a mission to inspire people to garden indoors!  

Lawn and Garden Retailer spoke to Brian Riddle, owner of Homestead Gardens near Annapolis, Maryland, about his decision to open the Modern Homesteading department – a yea-round indoor gardening department –in his store.

Jourdan Cole Promoted to Account Manager at Garden Media Group

Social media, blogging, event planning and media outreach were just a few things Jourdan Cole specialized in as an account executive. Now she plans to utilize her refined skillset in her new position as account manager.

Cole will lead The Espoma Organic Company account and spearhead all initiatives ranging from social media expansion to creating digital content. Her promotion comes after she headed Espoma’s monumentally successful National Gardening Month initiative – a month-long campaign that and garnered more than 10,000 new likes to Espoma’s Facebook page. 

Her new position as account manager will enable her to maintain the company’s outreach.

We're helping to Bring Fingertip Farming to Every Home in North America

It's not every day that we get an opportunity to introduce a new product that we think will be a game changer for the industry, which is why we're excited to partner with OPCOM Link USA to  introduce a new line of next generation, smart indoor gardening solutions. 

  

OPCOM Farm, the suite of next generation hydroponic farming systems, merges the ancient skill of farming with new, sensor based, one-touch technology. New products such as the GrowBox, GrowWall, Cell and Cube will allow every home in North America to have access to fresh, healthy food grown in a stylish indoor gardening system controlled from your smart phone or tablet. 

Notice Anything Different? We've Redesigned our Website for Digital Age

Have you seen our fresh, new look? We've revamped our website to better reflect what we do for brands in the garden industry!

The updated site is modern  and accessible— and showcases Garden Media’s services, successes and personality. From vibrant and crisp visuals to informative e-Books and videos, the website highlights the many ways we ignite buzz for clients.

Celebrate World Water Day with New Keyhole Garden Collection

We think the best way to celebrate World Water Day is to honor the brands that are doing their part to reduce consumption and make a difference. 

Vita Gardens is doing just that. The company is on a mission to help gardeners from North America to Africa grow organic, healthy food in less space with less water. This spring, the company expands its line of Keyhole Gardens with four new portable versions.

Originally developed in Africa as a way to grow food in extreme heat and drought conditions, the keyhole gardening technique works by creating a space for both composting and growing in one raised garden bed. Keyhole gardens use up to 70 percent less water than a typical raised bed and produce more vegetables in a shorter amount of time.

Available for pre-order online, the new line expands on the popular Classic 6x6 African Keyhole Garden Bed by offering the same keyhole garden technology in a variety of sizes and styles. The Classic 4x4, 3x5 and Urban keyhole garden beds provide the same benefits of the traditional bed in compact, portable designs. The minimalist Urban garden comes in a sleek, wood finish with a 10- year warranty while the other options are backed by 20-year warranty.

Eddie DeJong, Vita Gardens’ head of business development and design, says the expanded collection meets the needs of gardeners who are looking to utilize small spaces.  

“The new Keyhole Gardens fit in smaller garden spaces allowing gardeners to grow more food efficiently in a tighter space,” says DeJong. “We want to inspire people by giving them options to grow healthy, organic vegetables, fruit and herbs whether they live on a small plot of land in the city or on several acres in the suburbs.”

For more information about Vita Gardens and its new line of water saving products, visit http://www.vitagardens.com/. 

2016 Garden Bloggers Recap

The 6^th annual 2016 Garden and Design Bloggers Conference was held Atlanta last week. This two- day conference packed in amazing speakers, great sponsors (Including The Davey Tree Expert Company) and leaders in the garden and design world. Stacey and Katie attended, took copious amounts of notes and wanted to share their top 3 takeaways. 

New Vibrant Plants & Products for Spring 2016

The best way to reverse those winter blues is to get back in the garden. To get you excited for spring, Garden Media Group has released its 2016 Garden Superstars for Spring. This year’s list features delicious edible plants, safe organic fertilizer and innovative gardening beds.

“This season, let someone else do the work for you. These outstanding products make gardening easier and you more successful,” says Susan McCoy, president of Garden Media.

These superstar plants and products are sure to inspire everyone from the beginner gardener to the seasoned plant professional.

Here is Garden Media’s list of Garden Superstars for Spring 2016. 

'Syncing with Nature' connects the garden industry and its consumers

We released our annual Garden Trends Report for 2016! Syncing with Nature identifies eight consumer trends that will shake up the garden and outdoor living industry this coming year.

The industry trends report finds gardening has transformed into a connected lifestyle in 2016. The rising millennial generation is constantly plugged in.

These eight new trends show ways the gardening and outdoor living industries can lure future consumers – and their digital accessories – outside and connect garden hobbyists with a broader community.

“Consumers are seeking experiences that enhance their wellbeing and support their busy lifestyles,” says Susan McCoy. “When used together, technology can bring people into nature and connect one to the other.”

The report says that consumers are merging technology with nature, not as a distraction, but as a way to explore, educate and entertain. 

Check out our 2016 trends infographic and download our full report here. 

Sunlight Supply Inspires Gardening 52 Weeks a Year

The kitchen counter is just one of the many places plants will pop up in 2016. With a mission to inspire more people to garden 365 days a year, Sunlight Supply is partnering with Garden Media  to introduce its indoor growing systems to new markets. 

“Sunlight Supply is very excited about the exploding indoor gardening trend,” says Craig Hargreaves, founder of Sunlight Supply, one the largest garden wholesalers in the country. “With Garden Media’s reputation and key relationships, we’re introducing our products to new audiences.”

Based in Vancouver, WA, Sunlight Supply is the largest and most experienced manufacturer and supplier of indoor gardening products. The extensive catalog features more than 5,000 horticultural, organic, hydroponic, aquaponic and lighting supplies. They even sell indoor greenhouses under the Sun Hut™ brand.

Susan McCoy says Sunlight Supply’s eye for innovation makes the partnership meaningful, adding that indoor gardening provides another opportunity for people to blend technology and nature.

Hargreaves wants everyone to enjoy the benefits of growing year round. “By making gardening a 365, 24/7 hobby, people are finally able to integrate nature into their everyday lives.”

From hydroponic food production to small space gardening solutions, Sunlight Supply is leading the way in innovation, inspiration and supplies. Products are available online and at your local garden center. For more information, visit www.sunlightsupply.com.

Crown Bees Signs with Garden Media Group for 2015

Garden Media Group is buzzing with excitement as it announces its newest client for 2015, Crown Bees. The gentle bee company partners with Garden Media in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of mason bees to the world’s food supply.

 
This spring, Garden Media will oversee Crown Bees’ dynamic crowdfunding effort to raise awareness about how native bees can supplement the work of our troubled honey bees and solve a key threat to our planet’s food sustainability.

Gardening Spotlighted at the Largest Event for Women in Social Media in the World

As interest in outdoor living and decorating continues to grow, especially in the blogosphere, Garden Media Group once again will introduce new content, plants and garden products to thousands of key bloggers at the 10th annual BlogHer Conference in San Jose, California.

Some 4,000 social media experts in food, parenting, health and wellness, entertainment, style, social change, politics, technology and business are expected to attend the conference.

This year, Garden Media , the top public relations firm in the outdoor living industry, returns with its popular pop-up “Garden Shop” to introduce the world of gardening to even more bloggers. Located at Booth #306, the “Garden Shop” is open from 9 AM to 6 PM July 25-26.

Please Welcome Award-Winning Industry Pro, Wendy Scott

Please join us in welcoming award-winning PR communicator, Wendy Scott, as account executive. Wendy brings extensive horticultural and public relations experience to the table. 

Prior to joining Garden Media, she was public relations and policy advisor at the Delaware Center for Horticulture.

Wendy brings star power to the table. Her award-winning garden communication skills, extensive knowledge of nature and her enthusiasm for conservation offer us vast opportunities to delight our clients in new, innovative ways.

She has been recognized nationally with numerous awards. Her expert writing, communication and PR skills have earned her top honors from the Garden Writers Association, the Hermes Creative Awards, the National Federation of Press Women and the Delaware Press Association.

Wendy is equally enthusiastic about us and our work. She says, “Working to promote environmentally conscious clients is tremendously rewarding, and the company culture reflects that. The collaborative team atmosphere and access to state-of-the-art communication tools are the foundations of our effectiveness.”

Upon completion of her degree in English, sociology and philosophy from Westminster College, she embraced one ideal: “I wanted to believe in what I was doing and make a positive impact on something I cared about”.

Hooked on the outdoors from a young age, Wendy is a self-proclaimed “certified professional tree hugger” who has turned her passion for nature into a career.

In her work at the West Wisconsin Land Trust to The Nature Conservancy to the DCH, Scott has done just that. The passion she was raised with on her family’s tree farm in New Jersey is reflected in everything she does. We are proud to have her on our team.

Contact Wendy at Wendy@gardenmediagroup.com or 610-444-3040 to welcome her yourself!

~Katie

Trends: Fall 2013 Color Report

It's September, which means the leaves are beginning to change, yellowjackets are on the hunt for sweet morsels of food and it's New York Fashion Week!

Yes, gardening and Fashion Week have something in common... Can you guess what it is? 

Trends!

This week, we get a glimpse of what colors and shapes are coming out of New York during Fall 2013's Fashion Week from Pantone, a global authority on color. Check out the seasons' hottest colors below.

The Fall 2013 Pantone Fashion Color Report supports Garden Media’s own research, predicting consumers’ preference for a "structured, sophisticated color palette." 

Green, the Color of the Year, and gardeners' favorite hue, evolves and develops with the changing season. 

Emerald, linden green and deep lichen green rule the Fall 2013 runway, good news for us in the original green industry. 

Garden industry take note: this year's outdoor accessories, furniture and decor will be influenced by the styles, patterns and, of course, colors that we glimpse from the runway.

Here's a peek at what's coming down the color trend pipeline:

• Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate, emulating luxury and elegance.
• Linden Green brings a lightness and brightness to the deeper shades of fall.
• Mykonos Blue, a bold, meditative blue, goes well with green for a classic and relaxed fall look.
• Acai adds mystery and richness to the palette, and can be incorporated with the other colors to create a number of powerful fall combinations.
• Koi, a decorative orange with dazzling and shimmering qualities, is a statement color that serves as a pick-me-up for your wardrobe--and garden.
• Vivacious, an unruly and wildly deep fuchsia, adds an ebullient sensuality .
• Turbulence, a dark mercurial gray, and Carafe, a rich, glamorous brown, provide more interesting and sophisticated alternatives to the black basics usually worn in colder months.

From fashion and food to plants and outdoor décor, color has the power to spark purchasing choices people make everyday for their homes, gardens and outdoor living spaces.

Remember, color is a powerful tool to have in your marketing arsenal, and knowing the trends allows you to provide what customers are looking for. 

Want to learn more about why YOU should care about trends?  Download our GROW! e-Book today!

  

*thanks to Pantone for the images

Discover 2013 Public Relations Trends

Garden Media Group is the premier green gardening PR firm, and it's our job to spot the hottest upcoming trends while keeping our eye on this year's trends - both in PR and gardening.
Recently, I stumbled across a stellar infographic from Monaghan and InkHouse, which details the trends of the public relations world in 2013.

You know the drill: I'll layout the 2013 public relations trends in depth, and then, you can peruse the infographic yourself!

 

Reign of the Bloggers

Up until a few years ago traditional media sources: journalists, newspapers, and magazines had ALL the power - but not anymore.

In 2013 and beyond, our crystal ball is showing that bloggers are gaining more and more traction. In 2011, there were roughly 164 million blogs worldwide, with numbers still ticking upwards. All of these blogs have a very specific, niche audience, which is perfect for your specific, niche product.

Gaining the full attention of your target market is far more important than a second of attention from the masses. Blogs allow you to pinpoint and influence your direct consumer easily, and there are a plethora of well written and well-read blogs to choose from.

 

Death of the Press Conference

Press conferences simply don't make sense in 2013; these conferences are expensive, time-consuming, and irrelevant.

With social media and web tools it's easier than ever to talk to multiple audiences at once. In fact, your garden business has multiple choices of platforms that will work best for your particular business and market. When announcing big news, try engaging your audience via a Twitter Chat, or better yet, invite a Q & A session on Reddit like Obama did!

 

People Have the Power

Long ago, focus groups, customer surveys, and 800-number hotlines were the best ways to get customer feedback, but those days are long gone.

Today, your customers have the power with social media. If a customer has an insight or question about your product, you can be sure they'll be checking your Twitter feed or leaving a comment on your Facebook page. Social media allows brands and businesses to engage their customers in a myriad of ways including receiving feedback, which can be both glorious and terrifying for many businesses!

What public relations trends have you noticed thus far in 2013? Or, what do you see on the horizon for 2014? Let us know in the comments section!

As promised here's the full infographic, which outlines the full array of 2013 public relations trends

Don't Forget to Brush Up On Your 2013 Garden Trends, Too! The Trends Whitepaper Is Below!

Snaps for TechCrunch for the innovative, crystal ball photo!

~Katie

www.gardenmediagroup.com