How much fun is it to inspire young people in the delights of gardening! I am sure you all agree that the future is in their hands, and we should all encourage children to get their hands dirty while learning about nature. 

Wholesale Plants & Products understands it is easy to forget the importance of catering to children in your store – but remember kids come in with Mum or Dad. There are a number of ways you can encourage a relationship with the children in your area, getting them in to your store and engaging with your products.

Why not try the following:

• If you’re doing some landscaping, bring children into the discussion. Have them be a part of the planning and planting process. Encourage them to choose plants for the area, and use that opportunity to educate them on plant choices.
  
  
• Develop a gardening ‘kids’ club. Run special programs during school holidays or on weekends that entice children to come in to the store – and bring their parents. Have them plant container gardens or design a playground.
  
  
• Have a competition to grow the biggest vegetable. Provide the seeds and the education required to grow their own vegetables. Develop a leaflet that illustrates how to get the best out their seeds. This in turn will support extra sales through the selling of fertilisers, sprays, pots and gardening tools.
  
  
• Start up a garden design competition. Encourage children to draw up a portion of their own garden they would like to develop, or a space in their local area that needs rejuvenating and workshop a plan for implementing their design. You can then provide them with a list of plants and materials from your store that can be used to complete their project.
  
  
• To encourage a holistic approach to gardening, hold an insect competition.  See how many insects kids can collect and indentify from their own gardens. Then hold a workshop to educate them on the role these insects play in the garden; which ones help to improve soil quality, which plants attract butterflys, and what can be done to discourage certain insects from eating your plants.

In educating future gardeners you encourage a connection to nature that can last a lifetime, and in the process build your current sales through projects kids can carry out at home with Mum and Dad.

For a full range of plants and products that will help you to encourage kids to engage with nature in your store visit www.wholesaleplants.com.au