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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 29 Marketing Tips to Increase Houseplant Sales Marketing Tips to Increase Houseplant Sales It is important to offer a variety of fabulous containers that customers can choose from to pair with their plant choices. Pay attention to current home décor trends, and offer a line of vessels that are distinctive and desirable. Create customization options and multiple price points by offering different containers for the same plant. It is also crucial that you add your artistic twist to plant designs, to set yourself apart from discount and big-box stores. Options include customizing plant designs with decorative wire accents, handmade trestle structures, gnarly branches, moss or wire spheres, moss and seasonal accents. During the holidays, dress up plants by adding seasonal décor like pine cones, branches of winterberries, miniature ornaments and more. e Wright Gardner, an indoor office plant design and maintenance company in South San Francisco, Calif., shares some marketing tips for selling plants. According to Christian Figueroa, CFO of e Wright Gardener, there are two tops factors to consider in making your plant sales a success. "Number one, be confident in your pricing," he advises. "Plants are expensive, but never apologize for your prices. Remind customers of the incredible impact that plants will create for every staff member and guest who enjoys them. Second, provide high-quality images to help customers envision what specific plants look like in home and office environments." Kelsey ompson, AIFD, CFD, owner of Bloom in Algona, Iowa, shares several of her creative social marketing ideas for boosting houseplant sales and attracting and retaining customers. "Many consumers became new plant parents during the pandemic or started exploring propagating and collecting different varieties of houseplants as a hobby," she says. "And that's one habit they aren't dropping, so market your shop as the go-to place for plants and accessories. Unique planters, decorative watering cans, small bags of soil, propagation tubes and care books are easy add-on sales. We offer a 'Plant Parent' gift box that kicks off a six-month houseplant subscription, and we also have created custom plant care tags for each type of plant we sell. Signage with QR codes in the plant section lead shoppers to short educational plant videos we've made and to links to our plant blog on our retail website." ompson continues, "Plant-themed social media is always a top performer for engagement and sales. We hold Facebook plant auctions and live sales. We also connect with our social media followers by having them share their plants with us; we even hosted a virtual 'Plant Pageant' that was a big hit and grew our page following by 5 percent. By submitting photos and names of their plants, consumers became qualified to win prizes. Another popular post is to have customers vote for 'Who Wore it Best,' showcasing two in-store plants, pictured side by side, in the same pot. "Positioning yourself as a plant expert will attract both growing newbies and plant fanatics," ompson continues. "Post educational videos on social media, and host workshops on repotting, propagation and basic plant care. Hosting a 'plant swap' will bring in new customers and create a community of plant fans that keep your shop top of mind."

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