Commercial Horticulture November 2006
Latest News and Features

New gm for Palmers
With a background in horticulture, business, and law, Michael Bravenboer is now the new general manager of the Palmers group of garden centres.

Graeme Ross moves back to M10
Graeme has moved from his former Palmers role to become business development manager of Mitre 10, "I'm in the same office but have new business cards".

GIN a tonic for independents
Eight North Island and three South Island garden centres have formed a group called GIN - the Garden Independent Network - adopting the logo "the tonic for independent garden centres". See Comm Hort November for more.

Bob Wynard appointed to NGINA
Bob previously NGIA development officer, has been appointed Business Skills Development Officer for the Nursery and Garden Industry Association of New South Wales.

Retailers unhappy with Labour weekend
"Weather puts dampener on Labour Weekend" - we talk to retailers about the effects of the weather on their Labour Weekend trading. Read more of their comments in November issue of Comm. Hort.

Two new Egmont Commercial appointments
Christchurch based Egmont Commercial has made two new sales manager appointments - Paul Peach and Nathan Leggett.

Aussie conference
Innovate, Accelerate and Celebrate is the slogan for the Nursery and Garden Industry Association of Australia's Conference to be held at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne from 12 to 15 of February 2007. More details in our November issue of Comm Hort.

New gift card to boost sales
Gardening New Zealand will launch a new gift card that can be used at multiple stores across the country via the Eftpos network. Research shows that gift cards increases sales by 40%, as opposed to paper vouchers.

Joint NGIA-LIANZ conference a first
The first-ever joint NGIA and LIANZ conference will be held next year in Nelson from the 21 - 23 June. You can read more details on the conference in this November issue of Comm Hort.

Pest Plant Accord launched
An official launch of the National Pest Plant Accord took place at the California Garden Centre on Thursday 19th October. More in the NGIA forum.

The 'Mega Sale'
Sharon Ible, Garden Centre Development Officer, of the Nursery and Garden Industry Association of Queensland has an article reprinted here with NGIQ permission icle on getting the most out of your 'Mega Sale'.There are some excellent ideas for NZ retailers in this November issue.

Features
Nursery - Treefrog
"Structures and systems are a vital aspect of nursery management ,"says Brent Cardno of Treefrog whose new nursery site is now well-established on its new Waimauku site. We take a walk and talk around the nursery with several pics in Our November issue of Comm Hort.

Personality Profile - Jack Hobbs
We profile Auckland Botanic Gardens curator, Jack Hobbs, a very interesting many-faceted character whose life has been one of making the most of the opportunities that come his way, the main one being the ongoing transformation of Manurewa paddocks into one of Auckland's most popular attractions.

Plant Profile - Michelia
Growers of this 'floriferous, hardy, scented ornamental tree comment on its importance, production and versatility in the first of a two-part in-depth look in this issue of Comm Hort.

Suppliers Profile
From the West Coast of the South Island comes a look at family business, Suttons Moss, New Zealand's major supplier of sphagnum. From picking to final product, Les and Linda Sutton are proud of the achievement of their fully-West Coast owned and operated business.

John Stanley
In 'Japan - more than bonsai and chrysanthemums', Aussie gardening consultant, John Stanley, looks at some of the trends he observed including the indoor living trend in Japan, home to 127 million people.

Botany with Fiona
Fiona Eadie continues her botanical series, this time on the fascinating subject of pollination, its process and its perpetrators even comparing these with politicians!

Book Review - Mediterranean gardens
Peter Arthur reviews one of this year's most interesting books - 'Villa Gardens of the Mediterranean', by Kathryn Bradley-Hole. Most of the illustrations will bring saliva rushing into your mouth and we've included a few to give you a taste.

Above is a synopsis of articles printed in one issue of Commercial Horticulture - Magazine of the Nursery Industry.

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