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New Garden Center Stop Just Added To The 2019 GCA Summer Tour Nashville!

Indie garden center retailers from all across the country will get a jolt of retail inspiration on the 2019 GCA Summer Tour, June 23-26, in Nashville. The Music City-bound tour holds a dynamic mix of IGC retailers, eye-opening educational sessions daily and more opportunities for networking with owners and managers at each store than ever before. 

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Not only will the 16th annual tour visit a wide variety of garden retailers, from trendy, urban garden boutiques to country-rustic nurseries and multi-generational, established independents, it will include enlightening Q&A sessions with the leadership at each garden center stop.

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This summer’s GCA Tour will give attendees the opportunity to share their thoughts on the industry’s hot-button issues with their peers during daily facilitated conversations, modeled after the IGC Show’s popular Shop Talk Retail Discussions in the IGC Networking Lounge. Tour-goers can swap strategies with fellow indies in a uniquely focused, collaborative setting, on these topics:

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  • Staffing Symposium - Ideas on hiring, training and retaining great employees; pay and benefits; continuing education and training for staff; and more.

  • Events & Activities - How to plan successful events and workshops that bring in shoppers.

  • Enhancing Your Web Presence - Covering websites, social media, email blasts, online ordering and more.

 

Adding even more educational value this year are daily container-building demos with Sharon Hadden, who wowed audiences at the IGC Show last summer with her energetic workshops. She will reveal her latest recipes for Grab & Go container sales that will turn a fast profit at your store.

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GCA Summer Tour Nashville’s festivities begin with Sunday’s Opening Night Reception at host hotel Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown. Attendees will enjoy networking over two complimentary beverages from the full bar, followed by dinner with a range of choices that include chicken and beef fajitas, an assortment of pastas with a mix of sauces and meats, and fresh tossed-to-order salads.

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Don’t forget to sign up for the Tuesday night pub crawl on Nashville’s famous Music Row, home to many restaurants and bars, including Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar and Florida Georgia Line’s restaurant, FGL House and more.

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Here is the new store stop that has been announced for GCA Summer Tour Nashville:

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Creekside Garden Center & Landscaping, Nashville, TN
Established almost three decades ago by two lifelong friends, Todd Estepp and Phillip Gentry, Creekside Garden Center & Landscaping is a familiar, friendly spot for Nashville residents to buy the highest-quality green goods and supplies at affordable prices. Despite a devastating fire that destroyed a majority of the garden center last September, Creekside is thriving - and the minds behind the garden center have even opened up a new indoor decor shop across the street from their landscaping division and former store. Find out how the owners turned their unfortunate situation into an opportunity to diversify their business, gaining support from the community who rallied around the garden center and

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bought plants while they recovered from the fire. Ask about the IGC’s selection of hard-to-find herbs, which are all organic and grown pesticide-free. Browse through an incredible variety of containers, pots, garden urns and window boxes, available in a range of sizes and colors to satisfy every gardener. The retailer’s custom potting service is a popular request among the store’s clientele, and the store offers a plethora of pre-planted, ready-to-go designs showcasing the latest garden trends.

www.creekside106.com

 

IGC retailers are encouraged to make their reservations at the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown now. Nashville is a popular summer destination and books up quickly, and hotel rates will quickly climb to $350 or higher. GCA Summer Tour Nashville is open to GCA members and non-members alike. Register today and enjoy early bird savings at www.GardenCentersofAmerica.com

AMERICA'S ONLY ASSOCIATION DEDICATED SOLELY TO THE NEEDS OF INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTERS

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THE 2020 GCA SUMMER TOUR IS HEADED TO BOSTON!

Click HERE to Register!

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