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A lack of retail experience and an absence of any extensive plant knowledge didnB次元官网网址檛 stop Robin Knox from buying a popular Duncan garden centre more than a decade ago.

B次元官网网址淚 was a stay-at-home mom and my son was getting ready to graduate and go off to school, and I thought, B次元官网网址榳hat the heck am I going to do?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Robin explains.

B次元官网网址淚 was always very involved in school fundraising projects and everything I did seemed to make money and did well, so when a friend said, B次元官网网址榳hy donB次元官网网址檛 you buy this business?B次元官网网址� I thought it was a great idea. And here I am 13 years later!B次元官网网址� laughs Robin.

She took over the Old Farm Garden Centre in 2006 and sheB次元官网网址檚 been growing the business ever since.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e known for our pots B次元官网网址� people come from all around to look at our pots B次元官网网址� but once they get inside, they see we have all this other beautiful stuff for the garden,B次元官网网址� the 70-year-old says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been told by the different reps that we have the largest selection on Vancouver Island, so we even get people from Vancouver coming back year after year.B次元官网网址�

But the Calgary transplant admits the learning curve has been a big one B次元官网网址� both for running a store and becoming a gardening expert.

B次元官网网址淲hen I bought the business I thought about pots and all the beautiful accessories for the garden, but I never thought about the plants,B次元官网网址� she explains. B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden the plants started coming in and I thought, B次元官网网址榦h geez, I donB次元官网网址檛 know about this one,B次元官网网址� so I started taking things home to plant so I would learn about them. Over the years, itB次元官网网址檚 been a huge learning curve.B次元官网网址�

Robin does all the buying for the store and likes to hand-pick a lot of the items. She tries to buy as much as she can from Vancouver Island and local artisans.

B次元官网网址淥ne really popular item we carry that carries us through the winter months is Anvil Island,B次元官网网址� Robin says. B次元官网网址淭he First Nations pieces are designed by Noel Brown, a Coast Salish carver whose work is on display at the Smithsonian. Anvil Island makes them so weB次元官网网址檙e very fortunate to carry that line.B次元官网网址�

Diversifying the product line and attracting customers in on-peak months has helped the Old Farm Garden Centre mitigate its biggest challenge B次元官网网址� the seasonal nature of the business.

B次元官网网址淭he seasonal factor is definitely the biggest challenge and weather also plays a big part in sales,B次元官网网址� Robin explains. B次元官网网址淭his year, with the snow, we didnB次元官网网址檛 even open until February 18.B次元官网网址�

The other big challenge is big-box competition and an overabundance of pop-up garden centres with cheap prices.

B次元官网网址淧eople are constantly looking for deals and itB次元官网网址檚 pretty hard to compete with the Costcos of the world, so we have to be very service-oriented because you donB次元官网网址檛 get that at big-box stores,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 ask information about plants and what works in shade and whatB次元官网网址檚 deer-proof and all those kinds of things. We tell people to bring in pictures of their garden and we can teach them what they need to know and help them choose plants and pottery.B次元官网网址�

Since lots of people have moved to the island from other provinces B次元官网网址� as she did 22 years ago B次元官网网址� Robin says, theyB次元官网网址檙e not used to such a long growing season or how quickly things grow here.

B次元官网网址淢y yard is pretty throughout the year, whereas in Calgary, everything dies back and goes brown,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭he first year we moved here, we gingerly trimmed back the rose bushes and then, whoosh, everything just goes crazy. So IB次元官网网址檝e learned to be more aggressive.B次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檚 also learned to be more aggressive when it comes to getting rid of old stock. Robin says her biggest mistake was buying too much when she first started, and her biggest business lesson has been to clear out whatB次元官网网址檚 not selling.

B次元官网网址淚f it doesnB次元官网网址檛 move, put it on sale and get it out of there because itB次元官网网址檚 taking up space,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a little boutique garden centre and I canB次元官网网址檛 afford to have stuff sitting there if itB次元官网网址檚 not selling, so IB次元官网网址檝e learned to try and get your money back, sell it off, and put some new merchandise there.B次元官网网址�

That business lesson also translates into the garden. RobinB次元官网网址檚 best gardening advice?

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 be afraid to move things,B次元官网网址� she advises. B次元官网网址淚f theyB次元官网网址檙e not working in one place, dig them up and move them somewhere else.B次元官网网址�

Now that sheB次元官网网址檚 70, Robin is looking to sell the blossoming business so she has more time to travel and visit friends.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to retire this year and IB次元官网网址檓 hoping somebody who would like to buy it will come along. But IB次元官网网址檇 still like to be involved,B次元官网网址� she says.

SheB次元官网网址檚 also quick to point out that while some plant knowledge would be advantageous, a potential buyer wouldnB次元官网网址檛 need to have it going in, given how knowledgeable her veteran staff, Lindy and Mel, are.

B次元官网网址淚n the early years I was afraid to work alone,B次元官网网址� she quips. B次元官网网址淭hey taught me so much and are a huge part of our success. ItB次元官网网址檚 such a wonderful environment to be in because youB次元官网网址檙e surrounded by beautiful things. ItB次元官网网址檚 not like people are here to buy socks and underwear. TheyB次元官网网址檙e here to buy pretty things to make their homes nicer.B次元官网网址�

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