In this article , Must Have Perennials likes to shine a spotlight on one of its long - prison term partner , Emerald Coast Growers . Emerald Coast is a major sweeping provider of young plant to raiser throughout North America , specializing in cosmetic grasses , perennials , and select annuals . David Babikow start out Emerald Coast in 1991 , at a growing facility in Pensacola , Florida . In later years , Emerald Coast also open up a orbiter growing readiness in Lancaster , PA .
The Must Have Perennials licensee web control their varieties make it to the retail space in fine course .
We had the chance to sit around down and talk with VP Al Mueller and Marketing Manager John Friel to get an privileged look at Emerald Coast ’s operation .
Thank you ! We pride ourselves on cause two of import things : great employee and their independency . These elements have led to much of their success . Good employee can make or break a company and we work with people who have great estimate and know how to witness peachy new products . This allow the owners to do what they do best , which is formulate relationship throughout their manufacture .
We ’ve remained independent for over 30 years , and we have a long - standing reputation in the diligence as a trusted , family - have business concern . We work hard to be a client and factor friendly . The Babikow family has been in horticulture since the 1800s and current owner is very hands - on . We also take pride in provide special customer serving . If our customers have a job , we have a problem .
I got my starting signal in the industry many twelvemonth ago , as a motortruck number one wood at Green Leaf Enterprises in Lancaster , PA . While sour in horticulture , I enrolled in some college penning classes , which pass me to writing for local media outlets , and then columns in manufacture trade issue . At the same metre , I continued exploit in most areas of the horticulture industriousness , finally set down in sales and merchandising . I conjoin Emerald Coast Growers as Marketing Manager about 10 years ago . From a marketing perspective , I think it ’s important to remember that mass have an aroused connection to their plant . Writing and messaging that celebrates that connection really seems to resonate with our interview .
Emerald Coast was started in Pensacola in 1991 , with a focus on decorative grasses . The panhandle climate there is perfectly suited for grass yield , so the location was a lifelike fit . When we added the growing facility in Pennsylvania , it allowed us to diversify our product line . We ’re capable to work with more cool season Grass and perennial that are well suited to a all-inclusive reach of clime condition . In addition , this make it easier to strive our customers in the N with lower transportation costs .
We ’ve plow with quite a few over the path of the pandemic . toil was a giving issue , and we mete out with staffing shortages but never call for to lie anyone off . We give a stack of time and imagination to employee safety and staffing bounced back the following year . Transportation and logistics continue to be big challenges as freight companies are feeling these gist too . At our Florida installation we deepen the shipping point and consolidated facilities for near product flow . So far , it ’s been very successful . Like everyone else , we ’re dealing with supply chain issue and inflation affecting fertiliser , soil , and plastics . We ’ve been streamlining process and finding shipway to increase our efficiency in response . The past two years contain out what old - timers have always said , “ hard times are good times for this industry . ” It may be the example that this inflationary catamenia continues that style , hopefully our industry atmospheric condition that well .
We late build up an R&D facility in Florida to aid in our approach to plant production . One ground stock breeder fare to us is our proven platter of selecting successful new varieties and quickly getting them into propagation and yield . We also have fighting trial gardens in Florida and Pennsylvania . They make a great showcase for visitors and are outstanding for marketing . These facilities attract breeders and put us in position to be first to get sight trials , indoors and outdoors .
It ’s true that we ’re known as “ the pasturage guys ” but we also saw that there was gamey customer requirement for dinero - and - butter perennials . In the late 90s we expand our ware line to admit perennials , selling directly to factor . Production really take off by the mid-2000s , and with that increase in demand , perennials now make up 35 % of our business . Mary Jane demand has also consistently increased as consumers cover to see the benefits of adding grass as accent marks in gardens .
Those kale - and - butter variety always trade well for us – cheap and dependable . Sun - bang plant always do well , and Geranium Rozanne is one of those staple plant . Buddleja ‘ Butterfly Gold ’ is a real stone and has also been performing well . The young Hellebores you give us for trialing are begin to get a lot of interest from our tryout garden visitor as well .
Our industry make a muckle of novel garden consumers during the pandemic , unseasoned mass particularly . We need to retain the interest of these fresh client and provide products that fit their want and interests , like sustainability .
Must Have Perennials is proud to partner with the team at Emerald Coast Growers to take nifty perennial products to securities industry . For more selective information , resources , and availability , visitEmerald Coast ’s website .
For more information : Must Have Perennialswww.musthaveperennials.com
