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"Garden Center University has been an eye-opening experience for me. Through the excellent leadership and expertise of Ian Baldwin, I have learned the inter-connectedness of all business decisions - from customer service to plant production. In short, if Management Clinic were undergraduate school, GCU is the Master's Program."
— Mary Wallitsch
Wallitsch Garden Center, KY

Garden Center University
Understanding the Business of the Garden Center Business

The next semester of Garden Center University will be held Wednesday, July 16th - 18th in San Jose, CA. This is the second semester for the Class of 2010, however new students are welcome! "Professor" Ian Baldwin will hold a Financial Review session prior to the class meeting for new GCU students as well as first semester students who would like a review. The Financial Review session will be held on July 16th from 8am - 12pm and the second semester class will begin at 1pm. Registration for the Financial Review session and the second semester will open mid-April. For more information, you can email Colleen at cbeirne@anla.org or call 202-789-5980 ext. 3019.

Since 2002, Garden Center University has served as an integral part of the growth and success of garden centers throughout the United States and Canada. Offered over the course of two years, GCU is like a min-MBA for garden centers. The five-semester program will improve the profit and market position of both small and large garden centers, veteran owners and new managers alike.

The program is linked throughout by core "threads" of learning (Fiscal, Human Resources and Sales & Merchandising) essential for profitable garden center operations. Participants are constantly networking and problem solving in workgroups. The 12 day program is incredibly interactive and is sprinkled with examples of good and bad practices collected by Ian Baldwin in 25 years of retail nursery consulting.

All Semesters use intensive networking between participants, who will be asked to bring their own examples of financial statements, promotion pieces, job descriptions, etc. Once participants know the Key Performance Indicators they will be expected to track and share them in the half yearly analysis sessions, held at the beginning of each semester and share them on the participants-only list serve.

Garden Center University Graduation "Ian Baldwin's knowledge and experience has helped us almost double our sales in the past four years."
— Bob Buchwalter
Buchwalter Greenhouse, OH

Click here for a full brochure with details of all five semesters of Garden Center University.

For registration information, contact Amanda at 202.789.5980 ext. 3010 or aflynn@anla.org.