Advertising to gross sales: 4.6-5.1% for large retailers

WHAT ARE THE TARGET DEMOGRAPHICS OF CONSUMERS WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO HIRE A LAWN MAINTANENCE SERVICE, PURCHASE PLANTS, BULBS, TREES AND SHRUBS AS WELL AS FERTILIZERS AND INSECTICIDES IN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS? Mediamark Research Inc., 2006

		 Did Any	L&G	 Plants,	 Hired Lawn
 	 	Gardening 	Equipmen 	Trees, Etc 	Service
Sex:	 	 	 
Male	 	45.2% 	54.2% 	46.3%	47.1%
Female	 	54.8 	45.8%	53.7%	52.9%
Age:	 	 	 
18-24	 	7.0%	 7.3%	 7.1%	 7.9%
25-34	 	13.3%	 20.1%	 14.2%	 11.7%
35-44	 	19.9%	23.0%	21.5%	 17.9%
45-54	 	22.3%	 23.6%	 22.6%	22.2%
55-64	 	18.1% 	14.6%	 16.7%	 17.8%
65+	 	19.4% 	11.4%	17.9%	22.5%
Income Level:	 	
$75,000+	 	39.0%	 46.4%	 41.3%	 50.4%
$50-74,999	 	22.2%	21.4%	22.0%	19.1%
$40-49,999	 	10.0%	9.5%	 9.6%	 8.2%
$30-39,999	 	10.0%	9.1%	 9.7%	 7.2%
$20-29,999	 	9.4%	 7.3%	 8.9%	 7.8%
Under $20K	 	9.4%	 6.2%	 8.5%	 7.4%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
Marital Status:	 	 	 
Single	 	15.2%	 16.3%	 15.3%	 14.8%
Married	 	67.6% 	69.3% 	68.8%	66.3%
Sep/Wid/Div	 	17.3%	14.4% 	15.9%	18.9%
	

AS A TARGET MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DEMOGRAPHIC SPENDS THE MOST ON OUTDOOR LIGHTING? Consumers in the 55-64 age bracket account for 35% of outdoor lighting purchases.Home Channel News, 2006

The Spike Months April is National Lawn Care Month and National Garden Month. Professional Lawn Care Association, 2007

AS A SALES PERSPECTIVE, HOW LONG DOES OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT LAST? Estimated average useful life of the following outdoor power equipment products: Walk-behind mowers, 6 years; rear-engine riding mowers, 6 years; lawn tractors, 6 years; garden tractors, 9 years; snow throwers, 9 years; tillers, 9 years. Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, 2007

AS A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY MOTIVE FOR WHICH CONSUMERS CHOOSE LANDSCAPE/GARDENING PROFESIONALS? Good references/reputation, 67.4%; satisfaction guaranteed, 39.5%; provides free estimates, 33.8%; in business for a number of years, 32.9%; locally-owned and operated company, 32.4%; insured and bonded, 27.9%; member of a professional trade association, 13.3%; certification of professional training, 12.4%; licensed by government, 7.4%; local representative of a national company, 5.7%. American Nursery & Landscape Association, 2007

CAN LANDSCAPING REDUCE AIR-CONDIIONING COSTS, THUS SAVING ENERGY CONSUMPTION? According to the American Public Power Association, landscaping can reduce a home's air conditioning costs by up to 50%, by shading the windows and walls of a residence.American Nursery & Landscape Association, 2007

AS A SALES PERSPECTIVE, WHAT PERCENT OF A HOME VAULE CAN LANSCAPING ADD? According to a Gallup study, landscaping can add anywhere from 7-15% to a home's value. Additionally , a Money magazine study estimated that landscaping can bring a recovery value of 100-200% when a home is sold. American Nursery & Landscape Association, 2007

AS A SALES AND MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, DO REGULAR CUSTOMERS OF GARDEN CENTERS SPEND MORE MONEY ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING EQUIPMENT THAN CONSUMERS HSO SHOP OTHER VENUES? According to a study by Unity Marketing, average annual spending in various gardening categories by regular customers of independent garden centers and nurseries, compared to average spending by consumers who shop other places, including big box retailers and discounters (in parentheses): Garden tools/equipment, $403 ($332); plant materials, $444 ($346); outdoor products, $513 ($447); outdoor services, $1,006 ($973). Nursery Retailer, 2005

AS A SALES AND MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, BY CATEGORY AND PERCENT OF SALES, WHAT LAWN & GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS DO INDEPENDENT LANDSCAPE GARDEN STORES SELL? Green goods, 53.0%; soils & fertilizers, 10.0%; trim-a-tree, 9.0%; accessories, 6.5%; casual furniture, 6.0%; power equipment, 5.2%; tools, 4.0%; chemicals, 4.0%; watering equipment, 2.3%.Nursery Retailer, 2007.

WHAT IS THE PROJECTED SALES FOR GREEN GOODS TO BE SOLD AT LANDSCAPE GARDEN STORES COMPARED TO SALES LAST YEAR? {projected sales for 2007 in parentheses and total sales in billions}: Bedding plants, $19.8 ($20.6); shrubs, $9.3 ($9.6); evergreens, $6.2 ($6.5); flowering plants, $6.2 ($6.5); foliage, $4.2 ($4.3); deciduous trees, $3.9 ($4.1); flowering trees, $3.9 ($4.1); roses, $2.7 ($2.8); bulbs, $1.8 ($1.9); fruit and nut plants, $1.4 ($1.4). Nursery Retailer, 2007.
LAWN & GARDEN ACCESSORY SALES PROJECTS: {projected sales for 2007 in parentheses and total sales in billions}:Gifts & decor, $2,400 ($2,500); containers (all types), $1,300 ($1,400); water features, $876 ($912); gloves, $321 ($334); weed barriers, $321 ($334); sprayers, $314 ($327); play equipment, $314 ($327); lawn edging, $263 ($274); outdoor lighting, $212 ($220); gardening apparel, $131 ($137); plant hooks/brackets/stands, $88 ($91); grow lights/fixtures, $58 ($61); moisture/pH meters, $15 ($15); miscellaneous, $642 ($669). Nursery Retailer, 2007

WHAT WERE THE MOST PROFITABLE SERVICE SEGMENTS FOR A LAWN & GARDEN MAINTANENCE COMPANY LAST YEAR? Landscape installation, 25%; mowing, 19%; snow removal, 7%; turf fertilization, 4%; irrigation installation, 5%; paving,deck & patio installation, 3%; tree care, 3%; ornamental care, 2%; irrigation maintenance, 2%; landscape design, 2%. Landscape Management, 2006.

AS A COMPETITIVE MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, WHERE DID CONSUMERS PURCHASE THEIR LAWN & GARDEN PRODUCTS LAST YEAR AS A SHARE OF TOTAL SALES? Hardware stores, home centers, hardware warehouses, 50%; independent garden centers, nurseries, farm stores, 43%; warehouse clubs, chain stores, discount stores, 7%.Nursery Retailer, 2007.
NAMES IF THOSE STORES EXPRESSED IN SALES IN MILLIONS:
1. Home Depot, $9,612; 2. Lowe's, $6,438; 3. Wal-Mart, $6,047; 4. Tru Value, $1,275; 5. Ace Hardware, $787; 6. Do It Best, $749; 7. Menards, $623; 8. Orchard Supply Hardware, $256; 9. Sears Holding Company, $151; 10. Target, $118. Nursery Retailer, 2006

WHO ARE THE TOP TEN INDEPENDENT NURSERY RETAILERS BASED ON SALES LAST YEAR? {Sales in millions} 1. Pike Family Nurseries, $100.0; 2. Armstrong Garden Centers, $80.2; 3. Stein Garden Centers, $70.0; 4. Meadows Farms, $54.5; 5. Calloway's Nursery, $47.2; 6. Green Thumb-Green Arrow, $39.5; 7. Bordine Nursery, $36.7; 8. Earl May Seed & Nursery, $35.3; 9. Gertens, $32.6; 10. SummerWinds Garden Centers, $32.1. Nursery Retailer, 2006.

AS A SALES AND MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, WHAT OTHER OUTDOOR-LIVING FEARTURES ARE LAWN & GARDEN CONSUMERS MOST LIKELY TO PURCHASE THIS SEASON? Outdoor lighting, 46%; outdoor hearths and barbecues, 44%; bird feeding and care devices, 42%; luxury patio furniture, 31%; water features such as swimming pools, hot tubs or ponds, 25%. Unity Marketing, 2006.

AS A SALES AND MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, DO MATURE TREES HAVE A SALES IMPACT ON THE VALUE OF HOMES SALES? According to survey conducted by Arbor National Mortgage, 83% of Realtors believe that mature trees have a "strong or moderate impact" on the saleability of homes listed for under $150,000. On homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%. Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, 2007