BOXBOROUGH,
MA — Wednesday, Nov. 7 began the first day of the 2018 Northeast Greenhouse Conference
and Expo at the Boxborough, MA Regency Hotel. The two-day event is the
Northeast’s premier trade show for the horticulture industry. Since the first
conference in 1972 in Lynnfield, MA the conference has continued to grow
considerably and now accommodates over 1,000 attendees and almost 100 vendors.
Growers
and retailers alike attend this show, held every two years, to network within
the industry as well as stay on the cutting edge of equipment, trends and pest
and disease management. The conference also allows attendees the ability to
earn pesticide recertification credits for the New England States and New
York.
Two days
of educational sessions offered in tandem with the trade show served to educate
growers on everything from plant disease management and proper use of
fertilizers to business management and social media marketing.
Educational
sessions were offered in English as well as Spanish. The classes were given by
experts in the industry including extension representatives from universities
throughout the Northeast including University of Connecticut, University of
Maine, UMass Extension, Cornell University, University of Rhode Island and UVM
Cooperative Extension. These classes are a staple to keeping growers and
retailers up to date on the ever-changing market trends and techniques in the
industry.
A
trending theme this year was properly marketing your business, from keeping
your retail space clean and organized to conventional marketing techniques and
more importantly, having a strong social media and online presence.
The
keynote speaker, Carmen Johnston of Carmen Johnston Gardens, gave an eye-opening
presentation on the value of social media, not only to show potential clients
what your business has to offer, but also as a way to view the upcoming
trends of what people will be looking for next year. Johnston points out that
most customers search for a website or social media site before actually going
to a new store. They look for hours, reviews, deals and product selection.
She
stressed that whatever platform(s) you use, it should be updated at least once
a week and needs to be kept professional looking. Johnston also pointed out
that no matter what you business is, “Your customers will always absorb
your enthusiasm… or lack thereof.”
As the
consumer base changes to a younger generation it remains important to keep your
product accessible and relevant to everyone.
A growing
trade show and larger number of attendees provided a great experience for both
exhibitors and attendees.
“The
show has been great,” says Sandy Merrill of NeSeed, “The first day
people came to talk and the second day they came to talk business.”
According
to the Northeast Greenhouse Conference website, “One of the benefits of
producing a perennially successful educational program is the growth of related
projects.”
This event is held every two years and serves to educate, inform and connect growers from all across the Northeast. If the conference and expo continue to grow a larger venue may be needed. For information on the 2020 Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo visit their website at www.negreenhouse.org.
