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Boffo BONUS Wednesday
Hop On the Bus
The industry's first virtual garden center tour. This collection of 3-5 minute videos takes you behind the scenes to look at the great merchandising, innovative management and creative ideas - big and small - that make America's best garden centers successful. Join our five retail experts from around North America as they tour two nationally recognized garden centers, Campbell's and Mulhall's, in Nebraska - without ever leaving the comfort of your office. While you're at it, bring your whole staff and Hop on the Bus!

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What can you see?
Free registration required: These videos require you to complete a quick (we promise) site registration - no sales figures or sqft required! Sign up here. Have your whole staff register and they can log on at home.

Members only: ANLA Members have exclusive access to these videos. Complete the site registration, confirm you are an ANLA Member, check member and you've got access. Want to become a member? Sign up here.
IN EPISODE 5
Boffo BONUS Wednesday
That's right, two extra videos today! Discover champions - department evangelists who are responsible for extraordinary sales growth (imagine 40% in birding!), and the left coast faces off with the heartland over going green (which is about the time Corey starts breaking things). All this and Steve M's questionable pirate act (check out What's Selling? In Hardgoods) means it's time to Hop On the Bus!

EPISODE GUIDE
Meet Your Hosts
How big is Omaha, Nebraska? How long is the growing season in Lincoln? How was the weather this year and what did Chris want to be when she grew up? (Hint: A professional waterskier.) Join the hosts of Hop On the Bus to learn about the markets, history and weather that have shaped their businesses.
Meet Our Expert Retailers
Five retailers from across North America have gathered in Nebraska to tour two nationally recognized garden centers. Who are these folks? Learn more about the businesses they come from and the perspective they will share as they Hop On the Bus.
Monday: Where's Team Steve?
Are they on top of McStack, ducking under roll-down sides or braving the Nebraska winds? Join them as they discover how Mulhall's has grown statuary to a $500k business, Campbell's is increasing tree sales (yes you read that right!), and debate the perennial question, "Is the customer always right?" (hint: no) Hop On the Bus!
Tuesday: Inside the Box
Mulhall's and Campbell's put trees in boxes, Team Steve discovers cross-merchandising Nirvana with fertilizer in a box, Team Awesome breaks out of the department box by mixing their perennials and annuals, and everyone wonders whether we've already lost GenX/Gen Y to the big boxes. Plus, what's so funny about Nome, Alaska? (check out POV: Cross Merchandising) Learn the answer when you Hop On the Bus
Episode 5 NOW PLAYING
Boffo BONUS Wednesday
That's right, two extra videos today! Discover champions - department evangelists who are responsible for extraordinary sales growth (imagine 40% in birding!), and the left coast faces off with the heartland over going green (which is about the time Corey starts breaking things). All this and Steve M's questionable pirate act (check out What's Selling? In Hardgoods) means it's time to Hop On the Bus!
Thursday: Team Awesome Gets Punny
Take a laugh-riot trip as Team Awesome discovers what's driving top line growth in the greenhouse (350+ varieties makes a statement!), how in-store services support sales and the coolest plant reference tool EVER! (the punch line is "absence of malus." The joke? Check out POV: Signage when you Hop On the Bus.)
Footprint Friday
Team Awesome discovers Mulhall's sub-compact of mulch displays is generating stretch Limo sales. Team Steve find big profits come in small departments with gifts at Campbell's, and Lisa gets a text message from her hairdresser(re: petunias Big Ideas! Are you Really Different?). Join Steve McShane and his white glove when you Hop On the Bus (inside joke: What's Selling? In Lifestyle)
The Debrief
Corey takes our team of retailers through a final look at Campbell's and Mulhall's offering advice, sharing their big take-aways and answering three questions posed by the host-sites. In corn country can you be too big? (Advice: Mulhall's) Should Campbell's stop selling trees? (Three Questions: Campbell's). And what's the secret to explosive growth when faced with a wet spring in a down economy (check out both Take Homes) Hop On the Bus for one more ride in Nebraska!
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Spectacular sales success in two unlikely breakout categories.
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The left coast faces off with the heartland over organic and sustainable products. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
 
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MEET THE CAST
Dan M.
Chris C.
Corey B.
Lisa M.
Merrideth J.
Steve M.
Steve G.
Holli W.
Jessica F.
Connor O.
 
Dan Mulhall
A 1984 graduate of The University of Notre Dame in Chemical Engineering, Dan has worked his entire career with the same boss – the customers of Mulhall’s. By being active in ANLA for many years, Dan is learning the lessons of what good garden retailing means from the best teachers available. His greatest achievement to date has been to help lead the talented group of individuals from Mulhall’s who are featured in this production and the many more who work everyday to ensure Mulhall’s has it All!
Chris Campbell
Chris Campbell, is a fourth generation in the family business. She manages one of the retail garden centers, assists in purchasing and overseeing the annual production facility and is the advertising/marketing coordinator. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Business Administration, Chris is also involved in the local community and the ANLA.
Corey Bordine
Corey graduated from Michigan State with a degree in Marketing and then when on to receive his MBA from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis on Operations Management. Prior to coming back to the family business 12 years ago, Corey worked for the Coca-Cola Company doing sales and marketing for six years, living in Minnesota, Michigan and Texas. Within the Green Industry, Corey has served on the ANLA Clinic committee for 5 years, serving as the Chairperson of this committee for his final two years. He has also served on the ANLA retail board as both a board member and its President. Corey has also volunteered his time on numerous committees and taskforces with the ANLA structure. Corey is one of the 3rd generation owners of Bordine Nursery. He and his brother Calvin run the day-to-day operations of the company, while his father, Bruce, is still involved on the top-line decisions. Bordine Nursery has 4 retail sites in Southeast Michigan, of which two of them have growing operations.
Lisa Minter-Bustin
Born and raised in Chilliwack, I was always involved in the business. My first jobs were sorting pots and applying Osmocote to field stock, later I was promoted to box stapling and then watering. The glamour hasn’t exactly increased with age or experience! I graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1996. Married with two children, Katie (12) and Sam (7). I have had the phenomenal opportunity to grow with ANLA over the years through the Management Clinic Programming Committee, the 2000 Vancouver Convention Committee, a member of the Retail Division Board. They haven’t gotten sick of me yet (or perhaps are too polite to say anything!!)
Merrideth Jiles
As General Manager, Merrideth brings over 18 years of Garden Center experience to The Great Outdoors. From display, design, watering, cashiering, sales, planting, he’s done it all. Now, Merrideth works mostly behind the scenes to steer The Great Outdoors toward being the best garden center in Austin and one of the best in the country. In addition to his work at TGO, Merrideth has written for and spoken to members of the independent garden center community nationwide. He can be seen locally on Fox7 news’ “In Your Garden” segments as well as an occasional appearance on Central Texas Gardener. Merrideth plays upright bass in a local bluegrass band, and spends as much time as he has left with his wife of 10 years Angi and their dogs, cats, chickens, fish, and parrot.
Steve Mcshane
Steve McShane is a first generation garden center owner along the sun-kissed Central Coast of California. He has a B.S. in Soil Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara. He is ANLA Senator and Board Member for the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers. When not working, he loves hiking, traveling to far reaches of the planet and experimenting with exotic fruits. 
Steve Gallion
Steve began his Garden Center career at age 15 with Stauffers of Kissel Hill, bagging mulch when he didn't even know what mulch was, and sweeping the parking lot. He has worked for Stauffers for 43 years and is now the Director of Retail Garden Center Operations and a partner in the business. Steve has been married to his wife Janet for 37 years and they have two grown children. According to Steve, Janet says she has raised three children, "and I am the toughest because I won't grow up and I won't move out."
Holli Wrieth
Graduated from Metro Community College in 1992 with a degree in Commercial Art. In 1995, she started a lawn service with her husband. As the business grew, they expanded into landscape maintenance. They started a family in 2004 and decided to sell the business. Holli joined Mulhall’s that year and worked in the Custom Potting Department as a designer, having experience with custom pots in her business. In 2006, she moved from designer to Manager of Custom Potting. With some recent changes, she has now moved into a new position as the Annuals, Tropicals, and Custom Potting Manager.
Jessica Flemming
In 2006, after 19 years in cake decorating, Jessica decided it was time for a change of careers. She responded to an ad at Mulhall’s for a sales associate in the Perennial, Herb, and Vegetable Department. Her love of plants comes from gardening with her grandma during her childhood. Her passion for cooking inspired her to become an expert in herbs and vegetables, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge with the community. In 2009, there was a renewed craze from customers for vegetable gardening and she moved into her current position as the Herb and Vegetable Buyer and Manager.
Connor O'Malley
In his senior year at Creighton Prep in Omaha. After graduation he will be attending Bemijdi State in Minnesota. He is undecided at this time, but is considering a major in Business Administration with a Minor in Horticulture. His interest in horticulture started at a very young age, gardening with his father. They planted annuals and had a vegetable garden every year since he can remember. He started at Mulhall’s in February of 2009, wanting to find a steady job at a place where he enjoyed the products. He has found a home in Mulhall’s customer service department.
 
Additional Resources
Join this "On the Bus" conversation in ANLA's new discussion forum. FREE SITE REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
See a product you like, want to know more about an idea presented in today's videos? Post it here and our host sites and retailers will answer. REGISTER TO READ. ONLY ANLA MEMBERS CAN POST.
Overwhelmed? Don't know where to start. Use this guide with descriptions for all 35 videos included in the Nebraska tour.
PUBLISHING TEAM
Project and Editorial Design: Jonathan Bardzik, ANLA

Concept and Partnership Development: Kellee Magee, ANLA Visual and Video created by Fresh Brew Studios
Steve Kendall, Producer
Josh Miller, Producer

Graphic Design created by The Design Works