TODAY Show Celebrates Earth Day with American Beauties

Yesterday American Beauties Native Plants was highlighted on the weekend edition of NBC's TODAY Show! The Earth Day segment featured David Mizejewski from the National Wildlife Federation and how to Garden for Wildlife! Watch it below or click here!



-Karen
Garden Media Group

GMG Monday Espresso: Celebrate the 'Little Victories' in Social Media ROI

PR News interviewed Danielle Brigida, social media manager for the National Wildlife Federation, about measuring the ROI of social media.

Danielle says it can be a complicated process—but it doesn't have to be. She is not only a believer in the absolute importance of gaining expertise in PR measurement. She claims, instead, that the process itself is about having fun and being social.

Here is the interview:

PR News: What are the first few steps PR pros can take in tying social media metrics to outcomes?

Danielle Brigida: Pick both quantitative and qualitative key performance indicators to measure. Stick with a few of the most important metrics and pay attention to the outcomes both in real time and over time. Some people like the view from above and others want to get incredibly specific. I think creating a consistent report is helpful because you then stick to it.

PR News: What advice can you share with other nonprofits or small businesses about proving ROI to senior management?


Brigida: Increasing the communication is key. Document little victories and make sure the expectations of your leaders are realistic. My experience with social media leads me to believe that what you invest in social media is what you get out of it.


PR News: What should be taken under consideration when choosing social media measurement tools?


Brigida: The biggest question you should ask yourself is what capacity you have to manage the tools. Also, if you stick to the rule that you’re spending about 15-20% of your time measuring, you can identify what will make things easy for you. Budget is also incredibly important. There is a huge price range for social media measurement tools—balancing your budget with free tools and paid tools can be a good solution.

Brigida promises those who attend her talk at the PR Measurement Conference next Wednesday, April 18 in DC will learn to have fun measuring social media!

Suzi
Garden Media Group

What's trending now? Conscious Consumption.

Here at the Garden Media Group, we're always on the lookout for cool garden and green living trends. Since the release of our GMG 2012 Garden Trends Report: Cultivate the New Good Life with the Power of Plants, we're focusing on each one for your feedback and providing a forum to share your thoughts.

Case in point: The trend toward Conscious Consumption.

According to the 2010 Cone Survey, 83% of consumers still want to see more brands. American Beauties Native Plants' partnership with the National Wildlife Federation is a great example of this mindshift.  

 

When you buy an American Beauties' native plant, a donation is made to NWF's Certified Wildlife Habitat Program. It's a great way to make a conscious decision to grow plants that attract butterflies, bees, birds and beneficial insects and enjoy the beauty that native plants provide- right in our own backyards.

If we each do our part, together we can make a difference in the world and give back to Mother Nature.

Let us know how your buying habits are influenced by the Conscious Consumption trend-- or are they?? And add your comments to the conversation. We'd love to hear from you!

Cheers!

Lynne

GMG

Using Nature to Heal

Biophilia.  You've heard about it.  It's hard to ignore.  And, it's catching on.  Coined by biologist Edward O. Wilson, biophilia suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and nature.

And, most recently, The National Wildlife Federation released a Whole Child Report on the physical and mental health benefits of nature.

Their report indicates that nature experiences buoy our mental and emotional well-being.  

Why else would people watch a sunset on the beach, spend weekends gardening or take long walks?  Being in nature is calming for our mind, body and spirit.  


We encourage you to get out of the house or out from behind your computer screen and be one with nature!  GO!

Katie

Gift idea #2 for your favorite Gardener

Last Friday we released the Top 10 gifts for Gardeners Under $25.

Gift idea #2 is for the gardener who takes serious pride in their backyard.  Certify their Wildlife Garden for them. 

 

To certify a yard, you need to provide the following:

 

Examples of food sources: native plants like American beauties, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries and/or nectar

 

Examples of water sources: birdbath, pond, water garden and/or a stream

 

Examples of cover: thicket, rockpile and/or a birdhouse

 

Examples of places to raise young: dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box and/or a pond

American Beauties Unveils Profit Planner

Karen and I spent a most pleasant evening with the American Beauties Native Plant growers at the Black Olive in Baltimore. Some 30 people were there, including American Beauties growers Pride's Corner Farms, North Creek Nurseries, MidWest Groundcovers, Spring Meadow Nursery, Quality Greenhouses, Willoway Nurseries and Fisher Farms.

Karen and Tim Kane, of Pride's Corner, had been working over the holidays on the presentation of the new American Beauties Profit Planner. Based on the success of several garden centers, the down loadable tool helps garden centers "educate, entertain and engage" customers and their community to inspire them to plant more native plants.

Gateway Gardens' natives hero, Nancy Bell, shared lots of secrets on how she drives demand for AB plants. From finding your "native hero" to brochures, banners and event ideas with local non-profits, it is an awesome program filled with great ideas to help everyone be more profitable.

And the folks from the National Wildlife Federation talked about the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, which benefits from the sale of all American Beauties plants, and how they are going to rally their ambassadors to join with local garden centers to stimulate usage for native plants and creating wildlife habitats. For $15, it's one of the best deals going for the environment.

Since "gardening with a purpose" is the major garden trend, planting natives fits right in and makes us all part of the solution.

Go native,

Suzi, Garden Media Group

American Beauties a Hit at MANTS

American Beauties native plant program was a hit at the 2010 MANTS Show. Looks as if the native plant program stood out for The Garden Center Group, too. Just saw this from Robert Hendrickson in his January Newletter:

"The timing couldn't be better for garden centers to add a program to the plant mix that focuses on native plants.

The program is a perfect tie-in to the "local is good" movement as well as being supportive of the backyard wildlife campaign thru the National Wildlife Federation.

Now there's merchandising tools like pots, bench wraps and tags available for retail growers as well as through suppliers of finished products.This is an easy, attractive and effective way to create a native plant department within your current perennial sales area."

Garden Media Group