With great sadness
we report the passing of John TankardTankard Nurseries, Exmore, VA. He passed away at his residence early on Tuesday, April 7, 2009
John E. Tankard, Jr.
(May 21, 1933 - April 7, 2009)
Funeral services will be held at Franktown United Methodist Church in
Franktown, Virginia on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 11 am.
Memorial donations may be made to The Virginia Coast Reserve. ************************************************************************************** Help Us Help You! Spring 2009 Survey Results For Members
A summary of the results is listed below. For a complete listing of all the responses Click Here
In March, the VNLA conducted a short
online questionnaire for members asking how you've made changes and adjustments
this spring and how the VNLA can help you best during this economic downtick.
The questions were open ended to help generate more detailed answers. Following
is a summary. By Matt Shreckhise,
VNLA Communications Chair
Question #1: What are you doing differently this spring to attract
customers?
Summary: The most common answer was
advertising. Many are using cheaper forms of advertising like sending emails and
e-newsletters, keeping websites up-to-date, faxing and sending out flyers.
Others have chosen to increase their advertising on radio and in magazine
publications. Some are expanding the scope of their business such as opening a
garden center in addition to their landscaping business while some growers are
producing more assorted plant material. Like most industries right now, more
specials and discounts are being offered.
Question #2: What management decisions have you made to make your business
successful this year?
Summary: Scaling back discretionary
spending and labor related reductions were by far the most common answers. Some
are delaying purchases such as tractors and trucks, potting machines, and office
equipment. Some businesses have hired fewer employees, cut back hours and are
reviewing their company's health and other benefits. Nurseries and garden
centers are adding more variety to their plant material but less quantity and
are keeping their prices competitive.
Question#3: What should the VNLA be doing to help you have a successful
year?
Summary: We received great suggestions but
the most frequent was in regards to our focus on advertising such as starting an
ad campaign directed at the general public promoting the VCH program and the
value of landscaping their property with qualified landscapers. Continued
legislative communication and lobbying was also a common suggestion as well as
continuing support of related industry lobbying associations such as the
Virginia Agribusiness Council and the ANLA.
Thanks to all that were able to
participate in this survey during our busiest season. We received some great
ideas, useful tips and suggestions!
Matt
Shreckhise, VNLA Communications Chair
*************************************************************************************** VNLA Newsletter (Jan/Feb issue)
is now available online
as a PDF file athttp://www.vnla.org/Newsletter.htm*************************************************************************************** * |
