The Changing Floriculture Industry

The Society of American Florists (SAF) has published a new report on the floriculture market, which includes potted foliage and flowering plants.

The domination of this market by women is not new news but it once again triggers the question of why.

The report says that men account for only a little over 20% of the purchases and women almost 80%. I suggest it’s even higher than that on a product usage basis. It is highly likely that half of the male purchases are for women. The actual use of these products could easily be 90% female and a mere 10% male.

So, we have somewhere around 150 million men who are absent from this market. With numbers like these, you'd think someone would be doing something about it. I can assure you that if these were corporate numbers, something would be happening or heads would roll. It's known as "time for plans and programs." Anyone steering this boat?

What is it that makes floriculture a female market? If you have an opinion, please share it by email. Thanks!

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AeroGrow Reports

AeroGrow management deserves significant credit for their accomplishments since the launch of the AeroGarden.

Their success is the most positive news I've found in the rather moribund indoor plant market including both consumer houseplants and commercial interior plantscaping.

I wish them continued success in the future and hope that the AeroGarden brings new consumers who are comfortable with technology into the plants in buildings marketplace.

Accomplishments for AeroGrow for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 include:

-- Launching the AeroGarden products chain-wide with Linens 'n Things, including a Mother's Day promotion that featured the AeroGarden on the cover of 41 million Linens 'n Things Sunday newspaper inserts.

-- The launch of the new AeroGarden Pro 100 on April 29th on the world's largest TV retailer, where it sold more than $1.7 million dollars in just 24 hours. The Pro 100 features stylish stainless steel trim and Adaptive Growth Intelligence(TM) that monitors plant growth to give plants exactly what they need at each stage of growth for maximum plant health and yields.

-- AeroGrow expanded internationally into Japan through an agreement reached with Japan's largest TV direct response/retail distribution company, Oak Lawn Marketing Inc. ("OLM"), headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. OLM will sell AeroGarden products through a wide variety of retail outlets and television (including home shopping channels and infomercials) along with web marketing and public relations initiatives. Initial airings of the infomercial in Japan should begin in September 2007.

-- AeroGrow was approved for listing and commenced trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the new ticker symbol AERO effective at market opening on June 13, 2007.

-- AeroGrow launched a full-line, 16 page, full-color product catalog for database marketing to existing customers and purchased mailing lists. The new catalog features 31 AeroGarden products and accessories, including 19 new products. The new products included 9 new seed kits, 9 new accessories, and the new AeroGarden Pro 100.

"We are excited by the consumer acceptance shown for our AeroGarden products as evidenced by a 664% year over year increase," stated AeroGrow founder and CEO, Michael Bissonnette. "We look forward to continuing our growth with the addition of nationwide distribution at Sears, Macy's and Bed, Bath & Beyond in September and our initial product launches in Europe and Japan." Read more….

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USDA Foliage Plants Report

The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the USDA released the new 2007 Floriculture Crops report .

Potted foliage plants are one of the floriculture crops categories that includes cut flowers, potted flowering plants, potted herbaceous perennials, annual bedding/garden plants among others.

Following is a narrative about foliage plants from the report. There is no explanation or analysis of the figures. There is likely some significant impact from the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season that devastated many Florida nurseries.

There is no commentary about this report that I can find on the Internet. Both a news search and blog search resulted in no hits as of this date. Does anyone care?

I don’t see any signs of marketing leadership in this market which includes both consumer houseplants and commercial interior plantscaping. There's no buzz to speak of. It's about as exciting as Mirepoix.

Foliage Plants: The value of 2006 foliage plant production, at $543 million, is down 19 percent from the previous year at the 15-State level. Florida continues to dominate this category with 68 percent of the value. Potted foliage plants represent 89 percent of the total foliage value. The remainder of the value is from hanging baskets. The number of foliage producers decreased by 7 percent to 957 in 2006. For 2005, the 15-State program covered 95 percent of the 36-State total value.

Floriculture Total Wholesale Value: The total wholesale value of floriculture crops grown by operations exceeding $100,000 of sales in the 15-State program is $3.83 billion for 2006, down 3 percent from the revised 2005 total. These largest operations account for 96 percent of the total value of floriculture crops, but comprise only 46 percent of all producers. California contributed 26 percent of the total wholesale value in the 15 States. Florida ranks second with 21 percent; while Michigan, Texas, and North Carolina round out the top 5 States accounting for 9 percent, 7 percent, and 5 percent of the total, respectively. In 2005, total crop value from the large operations for the 36-State program was $5.08 billion, therefore the 15-State value was 78 percent of the larger 36-State total.

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Flickr Now Number Two Behind Photobucket

In June, Yahoo Photos began to close, and users are being encouraged to join Flickr. Later in the month, Yahoo began including Flickr images in Yahoo Image Search. These efforts have resulted in an increase in Flickr’s US market share of 38 percent in the past four weeks (week ending 7/7/07 vs. week ending 6/9/07).

Flickr is now the No. 2 photography Web site in the US, with 6.42 percent of category visits for the week ending 7/7/07.

Photobucket still leads with a whopping 43.5 percent share.

Via: DMNews Hitwise blog

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Getting To The Root Of Plant Growth

The Centre for Plant Integrative Biology (CPIB)

From Science Daily.

Science Daily — A £9.2m research centre at The University of Nottingham will break new ground in our understanding of plant growth and could lead to the development of drought-resistant crops for developing countries.

The Centre for Plant Integrative Biology (CPIB) will focus on cutting-edge research into plant biology — particularly the little-studied area of root growth, function and response to environmental cues.

Clear plastic containers are one of the most valuable educational tools I’ve used over the past 9 years in my lab. I can see the root system. How can I tell what’s going on with a container plant if I don't know what's happening with the root system?

I’ve only been using them for a short time but the recycled bottle sub-irrigation planters are promising to be the best sub-irrigation design from a learning standpoint. They are as simple as ABC. Add a measured amount of water to the bottom reservoir (A). Watch it move by capillary action up through the neck (B) into the soil system (C).

Further, the plastic is clear. Everything is visible. If you follow two rules: 1. never allow the water to rise to the surface; 2. look at the soil moisture condition, you will not water too much or too little. You’ll also not propagate fungus gnats or mold.

When you look, you’ll clearly see that the most vigorous root growth is towards the bottom and not at the surface contrary to all the bad advice on houseplant websites and books. Do yourself a favor and don’t read it.

When you use the right tools it's easy to teach yourself. In a relatively short period of time you'll know more about how to maintain a plant inside a bulding than most houseplant book authors.

A greater understanding of plant roots, particularly how they respond to different levels of moisture, nutrients and salt in the soil, could pave the way for the development of new drought-resistant crops that can thrive in arid areas and coastal margins of the developing world.

Because it is difficult to study roots — as all their growth occurs below ground level — scientists will develop a 'virtual root' using the latest mathematical modelling techniques. By developing computer models of the root that exactly mimic biological processes, they will be able to observe what is happening at every stage from the molecular scale upwards.

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Bonsai of the Future?

Science Daily — Forest scientists at Oregon State University have used genetic modification to successfully manipulate the growth in height of trees, showing that it's possible to create miniature trees that look similar to normal trees -- but after several years of growth may range anywhere from 50 feet tall to a few inches.

This is an interesting story about Oregon State University forest scientists controlling the height of trees through genetic modification. They’re outdoor trees, but who knows what the future holds for more and better plants adapted for use in buildings.

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AeroGro now on NASDAQ

The success of the AeroGarden is one of the most significant events in my over 30-year involvement with plants in buildings. I view it as a significant, perhaps major, breakthrough for technology. Only time will tell if it will be a pathfinder for other technology products that facilitate year-round indoor plants whether they be for food, flowers or foliage.

There have been other fine products that were not able to gain a significant position in this consumer market. You can attribute that to a combination of techno-aversion in the gardening market, lack of marketing talent and insufficient funding.

For the first time we have a product that is adequately financed, marketed and managed by business people rather than “plant people.” It's good to see that it is being marketed to those with other interests besides digging in the dirt and those who don't own dirt to dig in. There is a huge urban market of people who live in homes without yards or decks. They have been largely under served by horticultural products providers and academia.

I took the time to read the bios of the management team on the AeroGarden website. It caught my attention that Sylvia Bernstein, Director of Plant Products and Accessories has an MBA from the University of Chicago among her other significant achievements.

If you take the time to read the other bios, you will find that these are experienced and well-educated business people. I wish them much success and hope that other boats will rise on the incoming tide.

I have no financial investment or relationship with AeroGrow International, Inc.

BOULDER, CO -- 06/12/07 -- AeroGrow International, Inc. (OTCBB: AGWI) ("AeroGrow" or the "Company"), makers of the AeroGarden(TM) kitchen garden appliance, announced today that its common stock has been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market. AeroGrow will commence trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the new ticker symbol AERO, effective at market opening on June 13, 2007.

"AeroGrow's acceptance by the NASDAQ Capital Market is another significant milestone in our maturation as a public company," stated Michael Bissonnette, AeroGrow Founder and CEO. "The NASDAQ listing increases AeroGrow's visibility and accessibility to the investing public, research analysts, retail brokers and institutional investors, which we believe may lead to increased individual and institutional ownership of our common stock."

"We think our listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market will bring AeroGrow to the attention of investors who aren't aware of what we have achieved in the last year since the launch of our first product," continued Mr. Bissonnette. "For these new investors, we offer the following recap of AeroGrow's key milestones and accomplishments to date." Read more…

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24 Hours of Flickr

I happened to surf into the Blurberati Blog and discovered that this past Saturday, May 5, 2007 was designated 24 Hours of Flickr.

This is event is a good example to illustrate my point that Flickr is unique and not comparable to Photobucket and the other photo storage sites. Flickr is a dynamic community of creative people as this event so clearly demonstrates. Have a look!

There are currently over 23,000 members in the 24 Hours of Flickr group with over 4,000 photos posted. Incidentally, there are just 46 photos from a group search on the word "plant".

I'm sure there will be more.

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Flickr in the News

Flickr.com won several Webby Awards (equivalent to Oscars in film) including Best Practices. Most view this award as the top award since it focuses on excellence in design, content, and technology. Flickr also won Webbys for Best Visual Design – Function and the Community award. That’s quite an achievement and in my opinion well deserved.

At the same time, Yahoo (owner of Flickr) discontinued its Yahoo Photos site. Customers will be encouraged to move their photos to Flickr with Yahoo’s help.

Flickr is also in the news with the publication of photo site rankings. Photobucket, not Flickr, is the clear winner in this category with about 40% of all online photo sharing traffic. Much of this traffic comes from MySpace where it is the preferred photo site.

Comparing Photobucket and Flickr in the same category is probably an apples to oranges comparison. They serve rather different clientele with different objectives. Photobucket is more like a traditional photo album in digital form.

Flickr is a community of people who to a larger extent enjoy the art and display of photography. There are plenty of mundane, low quality photos on Flickr but you’ll also find that it is community of creative and talented photographers both professional and amateur. The quality of photography is much higher on Flickr than on the other photo sites.

Incidentally, many gardeners store their houseplant photos on Photobucket. I’ve searched these photos several times. It is in my opinion a mélange of mediocrity. Most of the plants are still in their plastic grow pots or terracotta pots (with saucers of course). The poor level of quality is a testimony to the practice of drench and drain watering coupled with insufficient light.

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Take a Meditation Break

Found this thanks to popgadget. You might say why? Then again, you might say why not? Sure looks better to my eyes than staring at a fake Ficus tree.

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How the Internet took over

USA Today reports. See Google at No. 6

Twenty-five years ago the Internet as we now know it was in the process of being birthed by the National Science Foundation. Since then it's been an information explosion. From e-mail to eBay, communication and shopping have forever changed.

6 Google

So popular it’s a verb. The search powerhouse, with a market capitalization of nearly $149 billion, perfected how we find info on the Web. Google sites had nearly 500 million visitors in December.

The World's Most Powerful Brand

Google is reported at the top of the new BrandZ rankings.

In my Inbox

AeroGarden - pricey, but worth a look. More information here.

Boulder, Colorado Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - AeroGrow International, Inc. ("AeroGrow"), makers of the AeroGardenâ„¢ kitchen garden appliance, announced today that the AeroGarden has been scheduled to appear as a featured "Countdown to Christmas" holiday gift on the "Today Show" (today.msnbc.com) this Thursday morning. The Today Show has been the highest-rated, most-watched morning news and talk show in the world since December 1995 and recently registered more than 6 million daily viewers, a million more than the next highest ranking morning show. The Today Show is the second longest running series in television history. The AeroGarden will be introduced by celebrity chef and food writer Kathleen Daelemans (www.kathleendaelemans.com), named one of the country's "Top Ten Rising Star Chefs," as part of the Today Show's "Countdown to Christmas." Kathleen's recipes have been showcased in respected food and wine journals including Bon Appétit, Wine Spectator, Gourmet, Food & Wine, and EatingWell. The "Countdown to Christmas" segment is scheduled to air at 9:30 AM EST on NBC stations. Check local station listings for run times in your area. Time subject to change.

More fertilizer - Just what we need? Probably not. How about some new artificial lighting products.

Dear National Gardening Association Friend,

I'd like to ask you to participate in the 2006 National Gardening Association Container Gardening Fertilizer Survey. This short survey will take just a few minutes of your time, and will help us find out about your attitudes and opinions about a new product for fertilizing flowers and plants grown in containers.

As our way of saying "Thank You" for participating, everyone who completes the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a $100 Gift Certificate to the NGA Garden Shop. Please take a few moments to click on the link below, answer the survey questions, and then submit your answers.

Interior Plants Consumer Survey

Interior Landscape Business reported on a recent consumer survey conducted by Project Evergreen. The results are not surprising considering the low level of interior plants publicity I find when doing research for this blog.

Summary of consumer awareness turned up the following points:

• 70 percent of the respondents were not aware that interior plants save air conditioning costs before seeing the survey;
• 70 percent of the respondents didn't know that psychologists have found access to plants and green spaces provides a sense of rest and improves worker productivity;
• 70 percent of the respondents weren't aware that employees with an outside view of plants experience less job pressure;
• 65 percent of the respondents didn't know that employees with an outside view of plants experience greater job satisfaction;
• Half of the respondents were aware that trees, shrubs and turfgrass remove smoke, dust and other pollutants from the air; and
• 80 percent of the respondents were aware that well-placed plantings offer privacy and tranquility by screening out busy street noises.

Flowers and Plants in the UK

Click the photo for Interesting statistics and other information from the Flowers & Plants Association (UK).

The UK Market

The UK fresh cut flower and indoor plant market is worth £2.2 billion ($4.1 billion US) at retail level. To put this in perspective, the UK music industry is worth around £2 billion ($3.7 billion US).

This represents an average spend per person per year of £36 ($67) - (£28 ($52) on flowers and £8 ($15) on plants).

While this is a good increase from the 1984 value of £8 ($15) per person, it still comes nowhere near the rest of Europe, where people regularly spend £60-£100 ($111-$186) per year on cut flowers and indoor plants.

In the UK we spend £9 ($17) on cut flowers for every £1 ($2) we spend on indoor plants. This may be because most people in the UK have gardens and so spend more on outdoor plants; or it may be because the British like to hang on to their houseplants when they are past their best, instead of treating them as a disposable item to be enjoyed and then discarded, like fresh flowers.

Around 60% of the £2.2 billion ($4.1 billion) spent represents people buying flowers and plants for themselves, for their own homes. Even five years ago, most people in the UK only bought flowers for special occasions like weddings and anniversaries, and may have bought a pot plant when visiting someone. Now, we all realise the beauty of having fresh flowers and plants around our homes, workplaces and public places. Why should they be saved for special occasions only?

USDA Reports for 2005

Read the U.S. Department of Agriculture Floriculture and Nursery Crops YEARBOOK – SUMMARY in text format or PDF format.

For those interested in the wholesale sales rank of various potted flowering plants:

Poinsettias 30%
Orchids 18%
Florist Chrysanthemums 9%
Spring Flowering Bulbs 6%
Florist Azaleas 5%
Easter Lilies 4%
Florist Roses 2%
African Violets 2%
Not identified 25%

Statistics for potted foliage plants by species are not provided.

Excerpt: Potted Flowering and Foliage Plants

Sales of flowering plants in pots climbed 1 percent in 2005 to almost $809 million. Potted foliage plants expanded 7 percent in sales to $652.1 million, but foliage hanging baskets dropped 10 percent in sales to $68.9 million. Potted flowering plant sales’ gains in 2005are attributed largely to orchids, which closed in on $144 million in sales, up from $129 million in 2004. Orchids are the fastest-growing potted flowering plant, more than tripling sales of $47 million a decade ago.While poinsettias remain the biggest seller at $242.3 million in 2005, sales are down 2 percent from 2004 and fell farther below their peak of $255.3 million in 2001. Imports of poinsettias, largely shipped from Canada, were more than $6 million in 2005, but are down from $10.4 million in 2002.

Potted orchids are the most expensive major potted flowering plant at $8 per pot on average (wholesale value) in 2005. Poinsettia prices are about half at $4.10 per pot (all sizes). Similarly priced potted flowering plants are Easter lilies at $4.24 and florist azaleas at $4.14 per pot in 2005. Prices of all major potted flowering plants averaged a record $3.66 per pot in 2005, up 2 percent from $3.60 in 2004. Again, California leads in sales of potted flowering plants with $199.3 million in 2005. Florida’s sales of $94.6 million amount to less than half of California’s. California grows the most poinsettias and orchids, but Florida is a fast-growing source of potted orchids.

Average sales per grower are highest for orchids at $663,447 in 2005. For all potted flowering plants, average sales were $384,660 per large grower, up 6.5 percent from $360,927 in 2004. Average sales of poinsettias were $160,467 per grower, up 3 percent from 2004, and the next highest after orchids. Similar sales per grower were recorded for florist chrysanthemums, which were up 7 percent from 2004. Nevertheless, average sales per grower for potted foliage plants were $706,507 in 2005, up sharply by 13 percent. All these sales are record amounts, attesting to the strong domestic market for potted flowering and foliage plants. Although competition from imports is rising for orchids and other flowering plants, the share of imports in consumption remains at a low 3 percent compared with cut flowers’ 66 percent.

Potted foliage plants for indoor or patio use have the third largest sales among floriculture crops at $721 million, coming after bedding annuals and potted flowering plants. Nearly 70 percent of sales of U.S. foliage plants are earned by Florida growers, with California earning a distant 15 percent. Most foliage plants are marketed in metropolitan areas and face minimal competition from imports except fake plastic plants.

New Floriculture and Nursery Crops Outlook

There is no good news (PDF File) here from the USDA. In addition, Katrina and Rita have carried even worse news regarding higher energy and gasoline prices.

This is a great opportunity for savvy business owners to turn a negative into a positive. There’s not likely to be a better time to invest in irrigation technology to allow a switch from energy wasteful and unnecessary weekly plant care.

Despite relatively healthy growth of the U.S. economy, sales prospects for ornamental crops in 2005 are modest. A 2-percent gain for all greenhouse and nursery receipts is projected following 1.3 percent growth in 2004.

Sharply higher energy and gasoline prices in the third quarter of 2005 are expected to dampen consumer spending on discretionary goods such as ornamental crops.

Sales declines are projected for cut flowers and cut cultivated greens and no growth for indoor foliage plants.

Continued strong sales for bedding and garden plants and propagative material are largely responsible for the 2.3-percent gain in floriculture crop receipts in 2005.

Rentokil-Robinson Speculation

What an ugly situation this has become.

American shareholders are rallying behind Sir Gerry Robinson, the Irish-born multimillionaire who has said he may launch a takeover bid for Rentokil, the support services group chaired by Brian McGowan.

Robinson has just spent a week in the US, meeting American investors - who are reckoned to account for over half the Rentokil share register. The Robinson camp are now thought to be quietly confident that they will be able to seize control of the struggling company, which recently published disappointing interim numbers. A move could come in the next two weeks.

The media estimate is that this battle is costing Rentokil as much as $36 million (20 million pounds) in defense fees. Think of all the better uses for the money at this time. Pity.

Plants in Buildings News Summary

Rentokil Initial

Rentokil Initial, UK parent of US Initial Tropical Plants, obviously needs more than a facelift to solve its problems but a newly remodeled website is a good start. You’ll see that it has the imprimatur of new CEO Doug Flynn. Along with a photo there’s video and audio of him reporting interim results on August 25, 2005.

Meanwhile, the takeover attempt by Sir Gerry Robinson of Raphoe Management has split the UK financial community. Forbes reports.

Personally, I’d like to see Flynn get his chance to turn things around. If he’s not the one to do it, I don’t know who is. From what I read the odds are no better than fifty-fifty that they will keep the interior landscaping business. Following this post, you can read public comments by Doug Flynn. It's a collection of quotes from news articles since the interim results report of August 25.

Rentokil reported their support of an interesting study conducted by a student at The Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Her study indicated that plants might have a positive affect on student’s classroom attentiveness. This is a good start but the subject needs more weight behind it to attract media attention. The media will want results authored by a credible institution rather than a study conducted by a college student.

The story was reported by Interior Landscape Business and Landscape Industry News, a sister publication. Other than that, the story has had no traction in the US media.

I hope that more funding appears for studies of this type. The academic market has huge potential. Unfortunately, I observe no leadership within the US interior plantscaping industry. It appears to be leaderless and rudderless at this time. I hope that changes soon.

A Touch of Spring

This is a story (Registration required) from the opposite end of the spectrum from Rentokil. It is about a houseplant hobbyist who started her own business. A familiar story it is.

As long as the established interior plantscaping companies allow the cost of entry into the business to be low (the cost of a watering can) there will be severe low-price competition from indoor gardeners. The pay beats pumping coffee at Starbucks.

Note the low-tech unprofessional saucer installation of these plants. This is an image not likely to promote the business of interior plantscaping.

Real or Replica at the Mall?

According to this article, MacArthur Center in Norfolk, VA switched from living to replica plants with little notice by shoppers.

It appears to me that, along with the plants, this ‘photo’ is also fake. It looks like a computer rendering. Someone from the interior plantscaping industry should call them on this. In my opinion, it’s negative publicity based on misrepresentation.

Incidentally, what does “very few comments” mean? People are now quite accustomed to seeing ‘fake’ plants and would not likely take the time to comment one way or another. It doesn’t mean they like fake plants or don't care.

When MacArthur Center owners switched out live greenery for the synthetic version about two years ago, they heard very few comments from customers, said Karen Winters, marketing director for the downtown Norfolk mall. Winters said she presumes shoppers either liked the change, didn’t notice it or didn’t care.

Planters, United Arab Emirates

Planters, of Dubai, is the only interior plantscaping company I know of on the web that has a program of professionally produced press releases.

Their ‘news’ appears on a frequent and regular basis. Even knowing that what I read is PR rather than media news I read their stuff. The information and writing quality is worth my time.

'The project is very interesting in that it combines replica, preserved and living trees and plants. The high quality of the plants chosen makes it difficult to differentiate between what's live and what's preserved,' explained Mr. Pardoe. 'We have chosen the Birch species to provide an authentic British tree, the Cypress to give that formal English garden look, Kentia palms imitate the parlour palms often used in British décor and Peace Lilies imitate the 'Lilly of the Valley' plants often found in traditional English Gardens.'

Planters, the largest interior landscaping company and in the middle east for the last 26 years have announced that they will be participating at the fourth Cityscape 2005 exhibition to be held in Dubai from Sept 17 - 19, 2005 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Doug Flynn media comments follow.

Doug Flynn, Rentokil Initial CEO, comments since August 25, 2005

Telegraph UK, August 28, 2005

At the beginning of April he started the new job, and began to burrow into the company and evaluate the challenge he faced - which now appears enormous.

Was it greater than expected? "Well, certainly not less" is how he puts it.

"I don't exactly lack in energy, I don't lack in balls," he declares. "I'm not going to stand back and shy away from the problems. The problems are there, I will confront them."

His plans for the group are wide-ranging and ambitious, and mostly revolve around its organisation and structure. "It is a company stuck in the 1980s," he says. "All the changes in the way you run a business in the past 20 years have passed it by."

To reinforce the point that its organisation is poor, Flynn deploys a startling anecdote. "We have got competing businesses in washrooms in Europe," he says. "Now I just find that extraordinary. They are in the same countries and they are competing."

He also refers to a diagram from the results presentation. Its title is as blunt as Flynn can be: "Poor performance analysed - ineffective organisation."

In the chart, the company is divided into four vertical silos titled sectors one to four. In each silo are a mix of pest control, washroom services, cleaning and other business areas. Presumably each sector is a geographical part of the world? Wrong, he says. At this point his adviser interjects, saying each sector has a head in charge of it.

But how on earth are these fiefdoms created; they can't just be arbitrary? Flynn's eyes light up. "Completely arbitrary," he booms. "Well, I'll rephrase that. It's not totally arbitrary, it's mostly arbitrary. It's a mix of geographies and businesses. I think they started out with a regional structure then tried to move it a bit. They didn't quite get there. I've said nuts to all that, our structure has got to be based around our strategy."

The Sunday Times Online, August 28, 2005

Flynn repeated that the company still had huge problems, despite his work over the past months. He delivered a blistering critique of past management failings at Rentokil, particularly of Thompson. He said the company had failed to invest in the business, had worked to very short-term goals, allowed service standards to deteriorate and had set prices at unsustainably low levels. He also said acquisitions had not been properly integrated.

“This company is stuck in the 1980s,” Flynn told The Sunday Times. “It has had a simplisitic view and management style that has been based on the branch structure. The idea of 20% returns stopped more than 10 years ago. The only reason, for instance, that returns continued to be high after 1998 was due to the acquisition of BET. But the reality was different.”

The Herald, August 26, 2005

Flynn said further asset sales would inevitably follow that of the conferencing unit, saying he would get rid of the "clutter" at the edges of the group.

However, this does not include its parcels and tropical plants businesses, Flynn said.

He also ruled out dumping any of its main businesses, adding: "You are going to leave a lot of value on the table if you go down that path aggressively."

Rather than this, Flynn said it would be far more preferable to focus on improving their productivity.

Rentokil's immediate focus will be on its rat-catching business and washroom services and textiles, which provide "the greatest opportunity to drive shareholder value".

Additionally, Flynn acknowledged the group would probably have to undergo a rebranding process in the future, but said this was the least of his worries at the moment.

"If I went down the branding route right now it would look like we were moving the deckchairs around on the deck of the Titanic."

Guardian, August 26, 2005

Undue cost cutting and a poorly focused sales strategy had also hurt the business. "Since quality of service is the single most important matter for our customers, declining service has resulted in a high level of terminations," the management statement added.

Rentokil had also suffered from being deficient in customer data analysis, partly due to inefficient IT spending, while its organisation and structure was ineffective.

"It has been based on a 'command-and-control' approach that has impeded rather than ensured good decision-making. It has encouraged a silo mentality and has resulted in the organisation becoming overly centralised and inward looking," said the statement.

Guardian, August 26, 2005

Rentokil says it has already moved to running businesses globally and that it plans to address issues of leadership and local managers avoiding responsibility for change.

The company said it would concentrate early development efforts on pest control and washrooms, where selective acquisitions would be considered.

But little was said about a range of other operations, such as parcels, tropical plants and catering. Are these to go eventually? Putting the conference business on the block has been on the cards for a long time. Nothing radical there. In fact, the turnaround plan looks alarmingly similar to a previous rescue strategy that surfaced last year, although Mr Flynn denies this.

The Scottsman online, August 26, 2005

Flynn - who joined in April - said that he would be off-loading the group's conferencing arm, which has been under pressure from hotels, but will keep the remaining seven businesses. These range from pest control to washrooms.

He added that improvement is needed in almost all parts of the business. "This is a company stuck in the 1980s," he said. "Every change that has been made by companies in the last 20 years has bypassed this one. Everywhere you turn, there are things wrong with this company."

Times Online, August 26, 2005

Describing yesterday’s numbers as “pretty terrible”, Mr Flynn said: “We are taking a comprehensive set of initiatives to drag us out of the 1980s and into the Noughties. We believe we know what the issues are and the necessary actions to achieve a turnaround have commenced.”

Mr Flynn said that the company would concentrate in future on core businesses — washroom/textile services, pest control and electronic security and cleaning. Other “peripheral” businesses may be sold but there was no mention of a sale of parcels or plants, two businesses that Sir Clive Thompson, the former chairman, had wanted to sell.

Mr Flynn has made clear that he will dismantle the “silo mentality” that created an over-centralised and inward-looking organisation and will introduce a streamlined management structure.

Times Online, August 26, 2005

RENTOKIL has laid bare its soul and it is not a pretty sight.

Doug Flynn’s diagnosis of the difficulties at the former stock market darling reads more like a psychiatrist’s note on a troubled patient.

The company has become “introspective” and managment has made “very short-term goals” a priority. As budgets became “ever more unrealistic, so morale has dropped”.

Forbes, August 25, 2005

'Right at this time there are no other disposals planned... but what we wish to go forward with we'll keep an open mind about,' chief executive Doug Flynn told reporters on a call.

MarketWatch August 25, 2005

"The issues aren't that complex individually, but there are lots of them -- more than I've ever seen in a single place," Chief Executive Doug Flynn, who was hired in April, told journalists on a conference call.

"Our main problem is that the company has remained stuck in the 80s," he said.
The company, which operates mainly in Europe, is also being hit by a difficult trading environment. Flynn said on the conference call that European companies "aren't exactly booming forward." As a result, management said it doesn't expect market conditions to improve anytime soon.

Flynn said no other divestments are planned at the moment. Job cuts at the senior-management level are also on the agenda.

ThisIsMoney UK August 25, 2005

Flynn's business review has concluded that Rentokil must focus on businesses that can create shareholder value and where profitable growth can be achieved. His base will be European pest control, washrooms and textiles and, in the UK, security and cleaning.

Times Online August 25, 2005

As he accepted that the group had a "poor track record" in adapting to change and insisted that he had embarked on a more "disciplined" approach to managing the group, Mr Flynn said he was not expecting any improvement in market conditions in the near future.

As he set out his recovery plan for Rentokil against the backdrop of Sir Gerry's interest, Mr Flynn said Rentokil would be focusing on its pest control and washroom and textiles businesses, although he maintained the group would not let other parts of the operation slip.

Reuters August 25, 2005

"Few companies have so many pillars for growth," said Flynn, whose first results statement as CEO included a stinging attack on previous management for running the company on unrealistic budgets, with cost-cutting that destroyed service quality and led to lost contracts.

"The '20 percent' era ended in 1998. Our review has shown how the pressures, both internal and external, to meet expectations led to management prioritisation of very short-term goals. Prices were pushed to unsustainable levels. Costs were relentlessly taken out -- often to the detriment of growing the business. Service quality was sacrificed," Flynn said.

The company's immediate focus will be pest control and washroom and textiles, which provide "the greatest opportunity to drive shareholder value", Flynn said.

There Is No Hope

 
Wouldn’t you know that "clay pot Martha’s" first audience had to bring a houseplant?

She was there with her clay pots stacked up. Anyone know of a suitable 12-step program?

Maybe there's a glimmer of hope. She also featured a how-to on aging a plastic flower pot. Has Martha figured out how to grow green mold on a plastic pot?

COURANT WRITER CLAUDIA VAN NES and her houseplant were in the audience for Martha Stewart’s new TV show, but Van Nes did not fulfill her dream of being onstage with the domestic diva.

As we filed out with our houseplants and grills, I saw Bonnie, another guest who'd had her houseplant repotted by Martha on the air, step into a limousine, handing her bulky grill to the driver. She gets to be interviewed by Martha, takes lackadaisical care of her houseplants AND has a limo and driver.

Katrina Overwaters Some Houseplants

The Miami Herald reports on damage to South Florida crops including houseplants.

Bill Hunt, president of the Dade Chapter of the Florida Nurserymen, Growers and Landscape Association, predicted a 40 percent loss in landscape and foliage plants but said it would take several weeks to tally up the final losses.

Nursery owner Gus Pena was out surveying his property Friday afternoon. He found bent and shredded shade houses, hundreds of pots bobbing in the flood waters and thousands of overturned sheffleras, draceanas and Croton Petras.
''We didn't expect this kind of damage,'' said Pena.

Pena and his brother and partner Tom grow indoor plants that are sold at Home Depot stores around the country. He estimated he has $1 million in shade houses and $2 million to $3 million worth of plants at his nursery.

Some of the house plants -- which must be undamaged to be sold -- can be saved. But many will be lost. Federal crop insurance can help pay for the damages, but only after the owners pay a deductible of half a million dollars.

Katie Edwards, executive director of the Dade County Farm Bureau, said it will be critical to drain flood waters as soon as possible since root rot sets in within 36 hours.

Another storm casualty was the plant show of the Dade Chapter of the Florida Nurserymen, Growers and Landscape Association. Scheduled for this weekend at the Coconut Grove Exhibition Center, the show was canceled after the hurricane damaged the exhibition hall and cut power.

Hunt, president of the Dade Chapter, said 94 exhibitors had been scheduled to display plants to garden centers, landscapers and, on Saturday, to the public.

Bad News, Sad News From South Florida

This Katrina is no lady and threw a mean left hook across the Miami-Dade area in South Florida. The Miami Herald reports the destructive details. I have fond memories of my time living in that area and am saddened by the news.

My fears about the foliage growers in the area seem to have been confirmed by John Mendozza of Morning Dew Tropical Plants. He posted this news on the Interiorscape discussion board.

This hurricane has caused substantial crop and structure damage in the Homestead area of FL. Many growers are without power. The full extent of the storm damage will not be fully known until next week.

She’s Baaaack!

Oh no!...It looks like ”Clay Pot Martha” is going to be back talking about houseplants. Martha, Martha, talk about decorating with houseplants. You’re good at that.

Talk about how beautiful they are, talk about how beneficial they are for us, yadda, yadda, but don’t talk about growing them in your cutesy clay pots. You know…the ones with the drainage holes, saucers and green mold.

Please…don’t do it! It’s not a "good thing"!

Saying “I am a businesswoman and I am a homemaker”, Martha Stewart served up details of the two upcoming series today that mark her return to American TV.

The studio full of reporters and photographers got to take stock of the set for “Martha”, her syndicated weekday lifestyles show that premieres on September 12.

It’s a sprawling dream of a Manhattan loft done up in signature Stewart tones, complete with a fully functioning kitchen and a garden area for growing houseplants.

No Split-Up Defense by Flynn

I’ve read every Rentokil article I can get my eyes on including this one. I got up in the middle of the night and listened to this mornings Rentokil webcast from the UK reviewing first half results.

My opinion is that Rentokil is not going to cave in to the Gerry Robinson pressure. I believe the best interests of the shareholders are for them to give Flynn the proper amount of time to turn things around…or not.

My belief is that the “tropical plants” business is not locked in to the Rentokil portfolio. If things do not improve significantly, I believe it could go on the block next year. Only time will tell. Whatever happens will have significant impact on the plants in buildings business in the US.

Sir Gerry, An Analyist’s Opinion

Here’s one person’s opinion of Sir Gerry and the Rentokil situation. All we need is for Donald Trump to get involved. Wouldn't that have the makings of a TV series? Sir Gerry meets The Donald.

Here's a profile of Sir Gerry billing him as "One of Britain's Greatest Businessmen". It mentions his TV series "I'll Show Them Who's Boss". Does 'them' mean Rentokil?

Rentokil Update

It is confirmed that Gerry Robinson may make a bid for control of Rentokil. The news triggered a surge in Rentokil stock.

Rentokil Rumors and News

Today’s rumor all over the UK financial press is that that Sir Gerry Robinson is targeting Rentokil for a break up. Note that new CEO Doug Flynn will be releasing his first set of interim figures this coming Thursday. It will likely be an interesting week in the continuing saga of the world’s largest interior landscaping company.

While billed as the largest interior plant company, I should point out that the plants business of Rentokil is rarely mentioned in the articles I read. Pest control, hygiene and security are the most discussed elements of the business. Rentokil impact on the U.S. plants in buildings business of course prompts my close attention.

The hard news is that Initial Tropical Plants (Rentokil US subsidiary) was selected to provide educational assistance to a prominent nonprofit professional organization. You can read more of the details on the Interior Landscape Business website.

Incidentally, we noticed that Ali Cybulski’s name is conspicuously absent. She is, or was, Editor of Interior Landscape Business magazine. Has there been a change that got by me?

Excerpt from the Iniitial press release: Initial Tropical Plants has been selected by the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI) to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for graduates of BOMI’s professional designation programs. BOMI is a nonprofit group that offers training to professionals with property, facility and building systems responsibilities at property management firms, corporations, government agencies, unions and trade associations. Initial is the only interiorscape firm to be approved by BOMI as an official CPD provider.

The Plants-In-Buildings website was a significant reason for the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI) to pick Initial. I have long been a fan of this plants in buildings educational resource.

My only reservation has been that a business rather than a nonprofit educational institution produced it. I remain, however, an unabashed admirer of the Plants-In-Buildings website.

Whether valid or not, there is the potential for accusations of “giant sized” Rentokil using the site for competitive advantage. That surfaced in this recent Interiorscape discussion board exchange.

Clem Cirelli, Jr./Summit Plants and Flowers, Inc. - Conflict of interest? 8/19/2005; 9:06:31 AM

This item on the Interiorscape.com news wire caught my eye...what do you all think?

"Initial to Provide Training to BOMI Grads

Initial Tropical Plants has been selected by the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI) to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for graduates of BOMI’s professional designation programs. BOMI is a nonprofit group that offers training to professionals with property, facility and building systems responsibilities at property management firms, corporations, government agencies, unions and trade associations. Initial is the only interiorscape firm to be approved by BOMI as an official CPD provider."

Since when does a trades contractor get hired to "train" employees of its potential clients...or, to put it another way, to indoctrinate/persuade its competitors’ current clients? This seems on its face a conflict of interests for BOMI to hire a firm with a huge vested interest in swaying property owners and managers to its client roster to provide what is supposed to be "continuing professional education"...

Fox in the henhouse?

Clem

Kenneth Freeman/Rentokil Initial plc - Re: Conflict of interest? 8/19/2005; 9:49:06 AM

No conflict of interest at all.

If you had taken the trouble to find out a little more about BOMI’s CPD programme and the requirements made of CPD providers, you would have found out that there are some very tight guidelines to follow.

The CPD course is generic in its nature. It is all about what the industry is capable of, not what Initial does. It is certainly not a sales pitch. The programme will raise awareness of the whole interior landscaping industry with BOMI Institute graduates, so I suppose we may be considered to have done the industry as a whole a bit of a favour!

The provision of CPD programmes is nothing new. Many professional bodies require their members to undertake CPD, which is usually given by companies such as ours (or even yours). We have been running a programme for architects in the UK for some time and you can see an on-line version of the course here: http://www.plants-in-buildings.com/CPDgeneral-intro.php .

Fox in the hen-house? Gift horses and mouths seem to be more appropriate words.

Kenneth Freeman
International Technical Manager: Tropical Plants
(and author of the CPD programme in question)
Rentokil Initial plc

Editors note: Update to thread.

Clem Cirelli, Jr./Summit Plants and Flowers, Inc. - Re: Conflict of interest? 8/21/2005; 9:41:59 PM

What would you think about, say, the State of Illinois hiring a particular insecticide manufacturer to give its pesticide applicator license recertification courses? Do you really believe that the captive audience would be getting an unbiased and completely factual presentation of all aspects of the subject matter, as one would reasonably hope and expect?

I actually did do my homework on this subject before posting my opinion...on the list of approved CPD providers on the BOMI site are numerous industry and other associations, whose role is properly and transparently to advance their industries as a whole. There are also some individual contracting companies, who like Initial have as their ultimate goal the acquisition of new business as a result of their investment in "educating" prospective customers. That’s where I have a problem with the ethics of the approved providers list. And, by the way, I could find nothing on the BOMI site about the "tight guidelines" for the providers...perhaps you might provide me with a link?

I would expect to see among the listed providers: academic institutions who are expert in various disciplines; industry and trade groups whose members engage in providing products and services to the building management industry; and private consultants who specialize in providing seminars, conferences, software, books and other educational information to the property management industry, but do not primarily sell other services or products to that industry. I don’t think it is proper or ethical for a professional association to sanction individual for-profit companies, whose primary objective is to compete for a share of the students’ business, as approved providers for an industry recertification or continuing education program that is basically mandatory for continued professional licensing status.

Anytime a commercial entity that has a particular ax to grind is given free rein to "educate" prospective clients of its own business, there is too much temptation to color that "information" to give the provider’s company an advantage over less-favorably positioned competitors. It’s like inviting only one company to bid on a maintenance contract...too cozy a relationship under the circumstances. Maybe that makes me old-fashioned, but so be it. If it walks like a duck...

Clem

Will Creed/Horticultural Help - Re: Conflict of interest? 8/21/2005; 10:17:04 PM

Thanks, Clem for doing the heavy lifting on this issue. Many of our comrades are unwilling to take on the 500 lb. gorilla in our industry. It is easier to beat up on the Anonymous critic with no clout.

I admire your integrity and courage.

Will

The Essential Pot

 
Forbes.com names "the pot" as the 16th most important tool of all time.

Curiously they make no mention of its use for holding plants. That may be because it awaited the invention of the drainage hole and saucer by the USDA Extension Program. How else would present day houseplant gardeners be able to practice drench and drain watering.

Breaking News From Initial Tropical Plants

Here's breaking news about another acquisition by Initial Tropical Plants, the U.S. subsidiary of Rentokil Initial of the U.K. Note that they bought the interiorscaping division of Veldkamp's only, not the entire company.

Initial Tropical Plants is by far the largest interior plantscaping company in the U.S. Think Wal-Mart.

Veldkamp's is a 45 year old company and one of the pioneers of the interior plantscaping industry.

August 12, 2005 - Corporate

It is with great pleasure that Initial Tropical Plants has agreed to acquire the Interior Plants Division of Veldkamp's, Inc. in Denver, Colorado effective August 1, 2005. We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new co-workers from Veldkamp's. Together we will continue on our path to "Fabled Service."

Hurricane Forecast Increased

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Service projects an additional 11 to 14 tropical storms from August through November. That’s not good news for the foliage plant industry in Florida, which produces more than 50% of the plants for use in buildings in the U.S.

Return of the Wollemi

The prehistoric Wollemi pine was in the news a while ago. It's back! Read on...

I have my doubts that it’s a good interior plant. But, what do I know? I haven’t tested it. It sure is an Australian buzz creator, whatever its merits as a plant for your home. You can enter your bid in October.

Twilight of the Flower Fields

 
 
The "flower capital of the world" is fast becoming the expensive housing capital. Slowly but surely the flower fields and greenhouses of North San Diego County are disappearing.

I lived in South Dade County Florida a long time ago and the same thing is happening there and in West Palm Beach County. What impact will this all have on the floriculture business in the U.S.? I wonder.

Horticulture, once the mainstay of Encinitas' economy, is entering its twilight, growers and city officials agree.

Soaring real estate values throughout coastal North County are enticing farmers to sell their land and retire in comfort or move their operations inland where the land is less expensive.

PHS Has a New Owner

The UK press is reporting an offer to take PHS Group (including their Greenleaf interior plants business) private.

USDA Update

Potted flowering and foliage plants--Although sales of potted flowering plants were up in 2004, sales of potted foliage plants for indoor or patio use were down. Poinsettias, orchids, and florist mums led flowering plant sales growth. Producers in California, Florida, New York, Texas, and North Carolina benefited from this growth. Producers in the Midwest States did not fare as well, as the region’s total sales slumped. For foliage plants, the largest producer State--Florida--suffered from adverse effects of hurricanes in the summer of 2004. Heavy rains in California also reduced sales in the second largest producer of foliage plants.

While poinsettia sales from California fell, sales from North Carolina, Florida, and New York all increased. Average poinsettia sales per producer are now $157,162 nationally, up 7 percent from 2003. Florist mum growers each received $161,000 on average from corresponding sales in 2004, up 12 percent. The lion’s share, however, belongs to orchid growers, who each sold $564,637 worth of plants on average in 2004, despite an 8-percent reduction in price per pot to $7.41. Only growers of potted foliage plants top orchid producers--$568,545 average sales, not including foliage hanging baskets. This higher amount was likely aided by the diminution of supply from Florida in 2004 (no quantity sold data are available). Nevertheless, these gains lag the expansion of bedding and garden plants as the share of potted flowering plants in total U.S. floriculture sales slid to 16 percent from 20 percent a decade ago.

The complete Floriculture and Nursery Crops YEARBOOK – SUMMARY June 9, 2005 update is available here.

Glaswegians Get Houseplants

This headline got my attention.

GLASGOW'S biggest landlord has unveiled a new collection of fully-furnished flats complete with houseplants.

Read on...

Sansevieria Renaissance

Sansevieria is one of the plants we used when I was an interior plantscaper but it was a rather boring option used sparingly. The only species available at the time was Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’. The plant in the photograph is named 'Twister'.

It looks as if Sansevieria is making a comeback and I understand why. Although not widely distributed here in the western U.S. there are now more varieties available. I bought a few a while back and am impressed with how little water they use. Remember that I weigh and water all of the plants in my lab every two weeks. Water consumption is thus measured accurately. Two of them were recently converted to hydroculture in clay pebble media.

It was interesting to read this article about a Malaysian company that went public last month. EQUATOR Life Science Bhd claims to be the world’s largest supplier of Sansevieria. They ship them around the world and are launching a new North American marketing program. I’m interested in seeing whether we have more Sansevieria offerings at retail as a result.

It took some doing to find their website, but after looking at their product portfolio, I would gladly buy one of everything. Incidentally, more and more visitors are finding their way to this blog through a Google Image search. That was the only way I was able to find EquatorGroup.com the website for Equator Life Science.

Rentokil, PHS News

The UK financial press is reporting some unsettling opinions about Rentokil and a rumored bid to acquire rival PHS. Read more here...and here.

Elsewhere, there was talk that Rentokil Intial, down 6.25p to 147.75p, might be tempted to launch a bid for its smaller rival PHS, up 2p to 97.5p. PHS has confirmed receiving a takeover approach which is believed to have come from JP Morgan Partners, the private equity firm. A move on the company would cost Rentokil up to £500m but Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein is not convinced by the story. The broker said: "We would find Rentokil doing a large deal a surprise given all divisions within its portfolio are deteriorating."

DKW also downgraded its earnings forecast on Rentokil by 6 per cent. It warned that the company continues to suffer from pricing pressures and increasingly sophisticated competition. The German broker therefore urged investors to exit Rentokil stock fast.

Rentokil Tropical Plants Speculation

Breaking News: If there's truth to this story, it has major implications regarding the US interior plantscaping market.

May 25 (Bloomberg) -- Chief Executive Douglas Flynn of Rentokil Initial Plc, the world's largest pest-control company, may be forced to shed units such as parcel delivery and tropical plant services to revive sales and profits and prevent a takeover.

``Rentokil has become a bit of a rag-bag and Flynn needs to make up his mind about what to focus on,'' said Stuart Fraser, a director at Brewin Dolphin Holdings in London, which manages $26 billion, including Rentokil shares. ``Disposals are inevitable. If he doesn't sort it out, an outside bidder may do it for him.''

Update 05-26-05 - There's a Doug Flynn video interview available here. Registration required.

Life on Turbo

This is the opening paragraph from an article in The Financial Express. Mumbai (Bombay) India. The author addresses the receptiveness of young people to change and innovation. That, of course, describes the fast-paced techno-change world they have grown up in.

What environmental support can we design to support our evolving lifestyle? Not since the 1990s, has there been such a change and it’s thanks to technology. In particular, the young today are more experimental, expressive, progressive and imaginative all at once. They treasure their privacy, work, entertainment and like to lead a contemporary lifestyle rather than borrow ideas from the past or be dictated to by others. The phrase ‘Breaking the Box’ is perfect to nail the young mind’s attitude to life. It inherently elevates ‘change’, ‘difference’ and innovation’ over everything else. Youth is mesmerised by new culture and willing to experiment.

The author goes on to suggest that the living environment should incorporate amenities that might help to counterbalance their “life on turbo” as she aptly termed it.

Whether it is the music system, a library, indoor plants, sleeping spot for your pet, sports gear or exercise equipment in your space, show your stuff. No matter how quirky your collection, if you love them, let them show.

This may be the most opportune time to promote the benefits of modern methods for indoor plant maintenance to young people. I believe that if they were properly introduced to hydroculture and sub-irrigation there would be a renaissance in the “houseplant” business. Attempting to change the embedded mindset of graying babyboomers is likely a lost cause.

IBM Encouraging Young Female Scientists

This can have nothing but a positive affect on the field of interior horticulture.
Read on...

"Studies show that young girls enjoy math as much as boys but, by the eighth grade, twice as many boys as girls show interest in pursuing careers in science, engineering and math," said Janet Perna, general manager, Information Management Solutions, IBM Software Group.

"We've got to make young girls understand that a career in technology does not have to be dull or boring. It's just the opposite. Technology and science-related careers offer opportunities to be creative, to become a leader, to give back to your community and to establish financial independence."

In Manila, Philippines, EXITE campers will learn how to farm without soil using the latest computer-controlled technology during a visit at a hydroponics farm.

Foliage Plants Going Nowhere

Foliage plants for building interiors whether for homes, hotels or offices are a fine product. Unfortunately, there is little or no market leadership and the product category stagnates.

The latest USDA figures for 2004 show a 2% increase for floriculture crops but a 2% decline for foliage (pdf version).

Total Wholesale Value: The total wholesale value of floriculture crops grown by operations exceeding the $100,000 sales level is $4.89 billion for 2004, up 2 percent from the revised 2003 total.

These operations account for 94 percent of the total value of
floriculture crops, but comprise only 41 percent of all growers.
California contributes 21 percent of the total wholesale value for
the 36 States surveyed. Florida ranks second with 16 percent.
Michigan, Texas, and Ohio round out the top 5 States with
7 percent, 6 percent, and 4 percent, respectively.

Foliage Plants: The value of 2004 foliage plant production, at $639 million, is down 2 percent from the previous year.

Florida continues to dominate this category with 65 percent of the value. Potted foliage plants represent 87 percent of the total foliage value. The remainder of the value is from hanging baskets. The number of foliage producers, at 1,505, is 81 below 2003.

An Era Coming to an End

Being both an architectural preservationist and a marketing professional, I have mixed emotions about the news from Rentokil Initial. They will be moving their headquarters from this beautiful old mansion to a new downtown London location.

This is the first decision by Doug Flynn, their new CEO that has made the news since he moved into his new job the first of the month. I can’t help but wonder how long time employees reacted to the news. As is heard so often in corporate corridors, “ever onward and upward”. Bah, humbug!

I wonder if Kenneth Freeman, creator of the plants-in-buildings website, will have to change this photo. Would it work to title it “former headquarters” so we can at least preserve the building in virtual reality

Latest Gardening Survey

The results of the most recent survey conducted for the National Gardening Association are not a positive indicator for the inside plants business. USDA figures for foliage plant production indicate a stagnant market. Now it appears that the bull market in outdoor gardening peaked and is in decline. I believe there is a direct correlation to both the houseplants and interior plantscaping markets.

The survey indicates a 4% decrease in sales between 2004 and 2003. Consumers spent a total of $36.8 billion on their lawns and gardens in 2004 compared with $38.4 billion in 2003, a decline of $1.6 billion. This was the second consecutive year that nationwide sales of consumer lawn and garden products have stayed at about the same level, compared to the $39.6 billion spent in 2002 - the last time consumer lawn and garden sales showed a significant increase.