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Hop On The Bus » Hop On The Bus Nebraska » Click On An Episode (1 thru 5 of 8)
Day 1
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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!

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Meet The Cast

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.

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.

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!!)

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."

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 Galeski

In 1986, graduated from Seminole Community College with a degree in the Arts with coursework in business administration. During and after college for many years, Steve worked in a retail sporting goods store as an associate, working his way up to store manager. Steve was hired onto the Mulhall’s team in 2000. He worked as the Statuary and Pottery department Manager and Buyer for many years. His ability to modify and improve systems and processes moved him into his most current role as Senior Manager of Hard Goods and Logistics.

Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell, is a third generation owner of Campbell's Nurseries and Garden Centers. Some of his day to day responsibilities include: overseeing the two retail stores and the annual production facility, as well as coordinating the purchasing for both garden centers. He graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Horticulture.

Duane Novotny

Duane Novotny began his horticultural career in 1977 at Bluebird Nursery in Clarkson, Nebraska. A native Nebraskan, Duane moved from the small town of Clarkson to Lincoln, where he started working for Campbell's in 1996, filling the garden center manager position. An extremely hard-working, self-taught Horticulturist, Duane excels in salesmanship.
Directory

HOTB - Pre Release Day 1

Chris Campbell and Dan Mulhall introduce their nationally recognized garden centers.

HOTB - Pre Release Day 2

5 retailers from across North America. Meet Team Steve, Team Awesome and the guy who gets them talking.
What do our retailers think about Hop On the Bus? Find out!

HOTB - Day 1 Monday

Service and education drive sales in these departments built on customer success.
From Campbell's drive through to Mulhall's roll up sides, what ideas are our retailers taking home from their tour? FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Where are the wins and how do we get customers excited about woodies again (think color!)? ANLA MEMBERS
Campbell's deals with getting in and out of a small site while Mulhall's tries to track inventory on 26 acres. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
When is the customer really wrong and how do you break off the relationship? ANLA MEMBERS

HOTB - Day 2 Tuesday

Mulhall's and Campbell's find success in the elusive effort to sell more trees.
Campbell's adds a touch of lifestyle to houseplants and Mulhall's gets fertilizer out with their annuals. The ideas our retailers are bringing home. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
How many varieties do your customers really need in the ongoing battle between season long color and the garden that returns year after year? FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Mulhall's explores the challenge of training seasonal staff and Campbell's shares a culture of safety. ANLA MEMBERS
Are they just too young to garden or is now the time to court your future customers? ANLA MEMBERS

HOTB - Day 3 Wednesday

Spectacular sales success in two unlikely breakout categories.
Our retailers discover what separates the winning departments from the losers. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Campbell's tree collar and Mulhall's staffing board got raves from our retailers. What do you think? ANLA MEMBERS
SKU and margin management are key to profitably selling these garden solutions. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
The left coast faces off with the heartland over organic and sustainable products. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Mulhall's signs up members with paperless receipts and Campbell's believes in the power of information. ANLA MEMBERS
Can your store brand live side-by-side with product brands? And how important are independent only brands? FREE SITE REG REQUIRED

HOTB - Day 4 Thursday

Campbell's teaches customers about color and Mulhall's moves to video to ensure consistent training.
Mulhall's say's "shop our displays" and Campbell's has the coolest plant reference EVER! FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Annuals are hot, color is hot and these two retail growers are driving major sales growth with a serious commitment to this department. ANLA MEMBERS
Dan Mulhall says services drive 30% of his retail sales. Learn how our two hosts are helping their customers help their bottom line. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
This spring the boxes came out swinging with impossibly low prices. What's an independent to do? ANLA MEMBERS

HOTB - Day 5 Friday

Mulhall's and Campbell's drive amazing growth in an already hot category with extensive selection and custom design.
Campbell's uses displays to control summer inventory levels and Mulhall's thinks outside, on top of and all around the box. ANLA MEMBERS
Mulhall's has one of the largest statuary programs you'll ever see and Campbell's is driving impressive dollars on a small footprint. Where's the money in Lifestyle? FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Campbell's wants more room and Mulhall's may be too big. Our retailers offer solutions. ANLA MEMBERS
Independents talk about their service and quality advantage over the boxes. Do your customers agree? FREE SITE REG REQUIRED

HOTB - Host site review - Monday

Our retailers ask is Mulhall's too big and is it time for a makeover?
Is Campbell's leaving money on the table and should they spend some on their benches?
From paperless returns to product champions: the ideas our retailers are taking home. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
This 98 year-old business has some new tricks to offer with strong sales in tough categories and explosive growth from the greenhouse. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Mulhall's asks for our retailers advice on shopping carts, spring training and when does display become decoration? FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
Shrinking the nursery category may be the answer for traffic flow, site management and growing (yes growing!) sales at Campbell's 40th street location. FREE SITE REG REQUIRED
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.
Season Guide
Publishing Team
Project and Editorial Design: Jonathan Bardzik, ANLA

Visual and Video created by Fresh Brew Studios
Steve Kendall, Producer
Josh Miller, Producer

Graphic Design created by The Design Works