Experiential Merchandising

Conference Program:  Experiential Merchandising --
Increase Profits by Creating Stronger Visual Experiences

Speaker: Joe Baer, Co-Founder and CEO, ZenGenius, Inc Date: August 10, 2022 .... Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., Room 203-B How can experiential merchandising grow your profits? Visual Merchandising, known as the science behind sales, is the art and science of arranging and displaying your products and services to entice customers, create a positive brand image, and maximize your sales. How products are displayed and presented to your customers impacts how they value the products, the brand, and ultimately their decision to purchase a product or walk away. Learn how to improve your store’s profitability and your customer’s shopping experience from the owner and Creative Director of ZenGenius, Joe Baer. Join this session to learn the best visual merchandising practices and techniques to engage your customers and grow sales. Learn the best visual merchandising practices to implement in your store Learn how to improve your store's profitability and customer's shopping experience Gain hands-on visual merchandising experience

Joe Baer is the Co-Founder, CEO and Creative Director of ZenGenius, Inc. which provides Visual Merchandising, Special Events and Creative Direction. His career encompasses over thirty years of experience working with many of the top retailers. His passion, drive and enthusiasm for visual merchandising and amazing retail experiences leads him to motivate and energize audiences around the world. Joe engages his audiences and creates experiential learning situations. He is well known for leading the annual Iron Merchant Challenge at IRDC to celebrate visual merchandising as an important aspect of retail design. Joe created ZenGenius with a vision to bring the knowledge of Visual Merchandising to the world and provide a unique type of creative support to retailers and businesses. ZenGenius is celebrating over 20 years of creative genius! ZenGenius .... CREATIVE SERVICES, SUPPORT, SUPPLIES -- FOR RETAILERS, BRANDS, CREATIVE SPIRITS At the heart of a great visual merchandiser is the ability to be ingenious - the ability to think creatively and solve problems. As a creative agency rooted in the principles and practice of visual merchandising, we provide solutions for brand activation through visual strategy and development, planning, sourcing, implementation and hands-on execution, bringing life to consumer experiences across all platforms. Employing the best visual merchandisers and designers, we’re your resource to create visual experience that elevate your space to the next level, drive consumer traffic and increase sales. Founded in 1999 in Columbus, Ohio by creative directors and visual merchandising experts, Joe Baer and Paul Cook, ZenGenius was built on the belief that our unique talents are an opportunity and a gift to help the world through visual merchandising. More than 20 years later, ZenGenius has built an extensive network of visual merchandisers, creative directors, stylists and designers, who constantly question, tinker and challenge the status quo to bring life to your brand through visual experiences. Address:   467 East Starr Ave Columbus, OH 43201 Email:  info@zengenius.com     Contact:   Joe Baer Phone:  614-220-9040   FAX:

It’s Time To Get Together Again ... A WHOLE NEW TRADE SHOW DESIGNED JUST FOR IGCs  

The Garden Center Show for independent garden center (IGC) owners and professionals is the premier event for IGCs. We bring together the brightest minds and hottest products in one place at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a conference and exhibition. All attendees receive access to exhibit hall, keynote sessions and inaugural networking reception on Wednesday, Aug. 10th

The Garden Centers of America (GCA) is the supporting partner of the Garden Center Show.
The Garden Center Show for IGCs brings together thousands of retailers and hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest products, services and equipment you need to succeed. Register now to discover your next big seller and your next technological advance. You'll save thousands of dollars or your next pioneering idea to take your business to a higher level.

• Meet with vendors you haven’t seen in two years.
• Add variety to your product mix by finding new vendors.
• Expand your knowledge in peer-to-peer education program sponsored by Garden Centers of America.
• Network with other top IGCs.

The Garden Center Show has everything you need to succeed in 2022!

All attendees receive access to the exhibit hall, keynote sessions and the inaugural networking reception on Wednesday, August 10 | 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Join fellow attendees and industry leaders for an evening of networking!  

A Garden Center Tour Designed to Inspire

Network with fellow garden center professionals and energize your business with fresh retail strategies from independent garden centers counted among the best in the great Milwaukee market, all while saving $100 per team member. On-board moderators will get the wheels rolling, revealing the best practices that put these IGC retailers on top. Then see firsthand what makes them so special as you explore each location. Watch the ideas spark as you fill your to-do list with new possibilities for profit, then get back to your hotel in plenty of time to enjoy dinner and nightlife in downtown Milwaukee. Transportation and lunch included. Conducted in conjunction with Garden Centers of America. Book early — this tour is a favorite among Garden Center Show-goers and has sold out in previous years!

WISCONSIN CENTER

400 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
wisconsincenter.com

SHOW HOURS

Tuesday, Aug. 9:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 10:  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 11:  9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SMARTWORK MEDIA LAUNCHES NEW GARDEN CENTER SHOW FOR IGCs IN AUGUST 2022

SmartWork Media announces the launch of THE GARDEN CENTER SHOW for IGCs to be held Aug. 9-11, 2022 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. The three-day national-level event is expected to draw 700 booths and thousands of buyers from across the country. This event will offer special educational opportunities aimed at addressing the most essential purchasing, marketing and management questions that independent garden centers face today.

The show will partner with Garden Centers of America to bring IGCs a day touring local Milwaukee garden centers on Aug. 9, and GCA will help design the show’s conference program, bringing real-life, actionable how-tos that will help IGCs thrive.

SmartWork Media CEO Matthijs Braakman explains why this show was created: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic there were no Midwest garden center shows in 2020, and at this time, we don’t see any scheduled for 2021 either. The industry needs to have an opportunity to get together to conduct business in 2021,” Braakman said. “With our many years of expertise in producing B2B magazines and shows focused on the retail industry, the new GARDEN CENTER SHOW for IGCs fits well into our model, and we look forward to sharing this expertise with the independent garden center industry.”

THE GARDEN CENTER SHOW for IGCs is being directed by Rob Bailey, who has more than 35 years of trade show experience. From 2015 to 2020, Bailey was the show manager for the IGC Show, and he will be bringing his leadership, expertise and knowledge of the industry to the show. “Over the past five years, I have enjoyed working with thousands of independent garden center owners, building relationships and helping to grow their businesses,” Bailey said. “I am thrilled that SmartWork Media has provided an opportunity to continue that work with the new Garden Center Show. I look forward to seeing many familiar faces in August!”

Bailey’s co-director will be Jim Reed, a trade show veteran of 30-plus years as well, with 20 of those year spent in the management of B2B retail industry shows and two years with the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, a consumer show. Reed sees THE GARDEN CENTER SHOW for IGCs as an opportunity to educate retailers in new ways. “We’re looking to focus on some new educational topics targeting the interaction between the IGC and their customers,” Reed said. “We don’t want to just give them ideas but to also give them time to develop these ideas at the show. When they leave, they will have a plan in hand that will allow them to implement what they learned immediately.”

For more information on THE GARDEN CENTER SHOW for IGCs, visit gardencentershow.com or contact Rob Bailey at (224) 355-6947, rob.bailey@gardencentershow.com, or Jim Reed at (224) 688-0858, jim.reed@gardencentershow.com.