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A lack of retail experience and an absence of any extensive plant knowledge didn害羞草研究所檛 stop Robin Knox from buying a popular Duncan garden centre more than a decade ago.

害羞草研究所淚 was a stay-at-home mom and my son was getting ready to graduate and go off to school, and I thought, 害羞草研究所榳hat the heck am I going to do?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Robin explains.

害羞草研究所淚 was always very involved in school fundraising projects and everything I did seemed to make money and did well, so when a friend said, 害羞草研究所榳hy don害羞草研究所檛 you buy this business?害羞草研究所� I thought it was a great idea. And here I am 13 years later!害羞草研究所� laughs Robin.

She took over the Old Farm Garden Centre in 2006 and she害羞草研究所檚 been growing the business ever since.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e known for our pots 害羞草研究所� people come from all around to look at our pots 害羞草研究所� but once they get inside, they see we have all this other beautiful stuff for the garden,害羞草研究所� the 70-year-old says. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝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.害羞草研究所�

But the Calgary transplant admits the learning curve has been a big one 害羞草研究所� both for running a store and becoming a gardening expert.

害羞草研究所淲hen I bought the business I thought about pots and all the beautiful accessories for the garden, but I never thought about the plants,害羞草研究所� she explains. 害羞草研究所淎ll of a sudden the plants started coming in and I thought, 害羞草研究所榦h geez, I don害羞草研究所檛 know about this one,害羞草研究所� so I started taking things home to plant so I would learn about them. Over the years, it害羞草研究所檚 been a huge learning curve.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淥ne really popular item we carry that carries us through the winter months is Anvil Island,害羞草研究所� Robin says. 害羞草研究所淭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 we害羞草研究所檙e very fortunate to carry that line.害羞草研究所�

Diversifying the product line and attracting customers in on-peak months has helped the Old Farm Garden Centre mitigate its biggest challenge 害羞草研究所� the seasonal nature of the business.

害羞草研究所淭he seasonal factor is definitely the biggest challenge and weather also plays a big part in sales,害羞草研究所� Robin explains. 害羞草研究所淭his year, with the snow, we didn害羞草研究所檛 even open until February 18.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淧eople are constantly looking for deals and it害羞草研究所檚 pretty hard to compete with the Costcos of the world, so we have to be very service-oriented because you don害羞草研究所檛 get that at big-box stores,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淵ou can害羞草研究所檛 ask information about plants and what works in shade and what害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

Since lots of people have moved to the island from other provinces 害羞草研究所� as she did 22 years ago 害羞草研究所� Robin says, they害羞草研究所檙e not used to such a long growing season or how quickly things grow here.

害羞草研究所淢y yard is pretty throughout the year, whereas in Calgary, everything dies back and goes brown,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭he first year we moved here, we gingerly trimmed back the rose bushes and then, whoosh, everything just goes crazy. So I害羞草研究所檝e learned to be more aggressive.害羞草研究所�

She害羞草研究所檚 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 what害羞草研究所檚 not selling.

害羞草研究所淚f it doesn害羞草研究所檛 move, put it on sale and get it out of there because it害羞草研究所檚 taking up space,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e a little boutique garden centre and I can害羞草研究所檛 afford to have stuff sitting there if it害羞草研究所檚 not selling, so I害羞草研究所檝e learned to try and get your money back, sell it off, and put some new merchandise there.害羞草研究所�

That business lesson also translates into the garden. Robin害羞草研究所檚 best gardening advice?

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 be afraid to move things,害羞草研究所� she advises. 害羞草研究所淚f they害羞草研究所檙e not working in one place, dig them up and move them somewhere else.害羞草研究所�

Now that she害羞草研究所檚 70, Robin is looking to sell the blossoming business so she has more time to travel and visit friends.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 like to retire this year and I害羞草研究所檓 hoping somebody who would like to buy it will come along. But I害羞草研究所檇 still like to be involved,害羞草研究所� she says.

She害羞草研究所檚 also quick to point out that while some plant knowledge would be advantageous, a potential buyer wouldn害羞草研究所檛 need to have it going in, given how knowledgeable her veteran staff, Lindy and Mel, are.

害羞草研究所淚n the early years I was afraid to work alone,害羞草研究所� she quips. 害羞草研究所淭hey taught me so much and are a huge part of our success. It害羞草研究所檚 such a wonderful environment to be in because you害羞草研究所檙e surrounded by beautiful things. It害羞草研究所檚 not like people are here to buy socks and underwear. They害羞草研究所檙e here to buy pretty things to make their homes nicer.害羞草研究所�

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