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All graphics and navigation elements are trademarks of PlantAmerica. All Rights Reserved.
PlantAmerica is not associated with Northwest Horticulture, the wholesale grower of Etera branded perennials.
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Welcome to PlantLink. With PlantLink you can search the web for URLs containing the search value and criteria you want. To use PlantLink:
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PlantAmerica offers three professional, affordable and easy-to-customize web site options for independent garden center and landscape firms. Key features:
Option A – One page site. – Professional setup. – Two e-mails. – Technical support. $200 setup + $70 domain registration/transfer. $29.95/month hosting fee.
Click here for a sample site.
Option B
– Three page site. – Professional setup. – Two e-mails. – Simple text and graphic editor. – Unlimited ability to add pages. – Technical support. $200 setup + $70 domain registration/transfer. $39.95/month hosting fee.
Click here for a sample site.
Option C
– Five page site. – Professional setup. – 38,000 plant encyclopedia. – Online tutorials. – eCommerce. – Two e-mails. – Technical support. $200 setup + $70 domain registration/transfer. $49.95/month hosting fee.
Click here for a sample site.
Already have a web site? Click here to take a quick quiz to see if you’re getting the most for your money.
Considering different web options? Click here to learn more about the pros and cons of your options.
Why Now?
Source: Pew Research Center
PlantAmerica
A web site is rapidly becoming as important to small businesses as business cards, fax machines, and cellular phones. What was once a highly expensive, confusing and uncertain endeavor has become affordable and far simpler, with more choices available than ever before.
While there are many different options for building and maintaining a web site, there are two principal choices available to green industry firms: custom sites and template-based sites. By examining the pros and cons of each type of site, you can determine which option best suits your business needs and resources.
Custom Sites
A “custom” site is one that a web development/design firm builds for you. A custom site can range in size from a single page to over 100 pages. Custom sites can be either “static,” meaning that you cannot easily make changes yourself, or “dynamic,” meaning that you have the ability to make changes to the site.
Advantages
The major advantage of a custom site is that you get to determine its look, feel, and functions. You might spend anywhere from $2,500 to $50,000 or more on a custom site. Typically, you get what you pay for: less if you just want a static “Yellow-Pages” type site, while the more flashy graphics, rotating photos, tips, etc you want, the more it will cost.
Disadvantages
The major disadvantage of most custom sites is the challenge and cost of keeping them up-to-date and interesting. Typically, you either need to submit changes to the designer (who makes them according to his/her schedule, for a fee) or hire or train someone in-house to make the changes. Given the high salaries webmasters command in today’s marketplace, relying on either of these options can increase your costs considerably.
According to design firms, you should budget to spend roughly the same amount in annual maintenance and hosting as you spent on your original design, unless you don’t update your site very often. For example, if you spend $5-10,000 on the original design (not excessive if you want to build a nice, functional site) you should budget a similar amount for hosting and maintenance. Plus, you will learn that you want new functions, etc., after the site is built and this requires further investment.
Template-based Sites
This type of site allows you to insert your custom content in pre-designed graphical templates. Most “free” sites have disappeared, and template-based sites can cost anywhere from $29.95 a month to several hundred dollars a month, depending on what features and functions you want.
Advantages
The major advantage of a template-based site is that virtually anyone can make most updates quickly, easily, and at no cost. Second, a template-based site typically provides many more features and functions than you could afford to create on your own. Equally important, the cost is typically much lower than a custom site — and very predictable. Also, if you decide in the future that you really want a custom site, the “switching cost” is relatively low, as you have not invested thousands in custom design work and programming. However, by starting with a more costly custom-built site, if you want to change in the future, the switching cost is high.
Disadvantages
The major potential disadvantage is your limited choices to create the “look and feel,” navigation, and functions of the site. For example, most programs have a selection of templates from which to choose, but if you don’t like them, you don’t have the option to design something else. If you want a particular feature, and the template doesn’t offer it, then you don’t have that as an option.
What Do You Value?
In the end, the question is value: you must consider the variables of cost, functionality, and flexibility, and decide what makes the most sense for your business. Template-based sites can offer excellent value, providing you with powerful technology for a small fee. However, if your priority is an original design and the flexibility to have exactly the features and functions you want, and money and time are less important, then the custom route may be for you.
Joel Albizo is vice president of PlantAmerica (www.plantamerica.com), a green industry business tool firm, and a former senior director with the American Nursery & Landscape Association. He can be reached at 703/312-2834 or [email protected].
Corporate Office PlantAmerica 4350 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203 703-516-7654 703-516-7655 (fax)
Web Site Technical Support
888-262-6900 360-848-6296 (fax)
Webmaster
Web Site Sales
703-312-2831 703-516-7655 (fax)
CD-ROM Support
706-613-0046
The American Horticultural Society (AHS), founded in 1922, is an educational, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that recognizes and promotes excellence in American horticulture. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious gardening organizations in the United States whose mission is to educate and inspire people of all ages to become successful and environmentally responsible gardeners by advancing the art and science of horticulture. AHS is known for its educational programs and the dissemination of horticultural information.
Alabama Landscape & Nursery Association
Established in 1951, the Alabama Nurserymen’s Association is a professional association for those involved in and allied to the ornamental horticulture industry. The ANA is a non-profit trade association whose business is conducted by an elected Board of Directors. The ANA promotes the Alabama ornamental horticulture industry through its Annual Gulf States Horticulture Expo, Greenhouse and Nursery Seminars, and by its link with organizations in Alabama and throughout the nation. The ANA strives to provide the information and support to make your business more efficient and profitable.
Associated Landscape Contractors of America
The Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) is a trade association which promotes business management skills and the profitability of its members’ businesses. ALCA recognizes that the professional landscape contracting business is continually evolving and extremely competitive. ALCA provides its members with a good business foundation to help them evaluate, plan and better manage their businesses. Member firms have direct access to marketing tools, industry specific business publications and business experts who can assist companies in becoming more profitable.
ALCA members are a unique blend of landscape maintenance, installation, design/build contractors and interior landscape firms. Founded in 1963, ALCA develops and maintains active programs for its 2,000 member firms in the areas of business management, government affairs, public relations, technical assistance, safety and insurance, education, and inter-industry relations with other facets of the green industry.
California Association of Nurserymen
The California Association of Nurserymen is a professional organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the nursery industry for its members and the public it serves.
In 1969, C.A.N. established the California Certified Nursery Professionals™ (CCN. Pro™ ) program, the first accreditation program for nursery personnel in the United States. There are more than 3,400 California Certified Nursery Professionals , including approximately 350 who have earned advanced status by testing for proficiency in insects, diseases and weeds, irrigation and turf management.
California dominates the nation’s lawn and garden industry ringing up $8.4 billion in retail sales during 1999, approximately 21% of national sales. The State’s wholesale production is 26% of national sales. It is the fourth largest crop in California with $2.7 billion farmgate value in 1999.
Since 1952, C.A.N. has made annual research and scholarship grants to foster career development and work on problems of concern to the industry. In 1969, the California Association of Nurserymen Endowment for Research and Scholarship (CANERS) (501(c)-3) was created to provide sustaining funds for scholarships and grants. In 1999, CANERS awarded $275,450 to students and researchers. The endowment stands at $2.5 million.
New York Nursery & Landscape Association
NYSNLA is one of the state’s leading trade associations and the only organization serving the interests of nursery growers, garden center operators and landscapers and those doing business with the Green Industry throughout New York. Comprised of nearly 1000 companies, NYSNLA and its affiliated regional associations make available a wide variety of cost saving services, promotional materials, educational information, legislative and regulatory information, trade shows and the opportunity for networking in all geographic areas of the state.
Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association
The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) is a non-profit association, incorporated in the State of Ohio, representing the interests of the state’s nursery, garden center, and landscape industry. Membership is comprised of nursery stock growers, landscape contractors and maintenance firms, garden centers, arborists and allied suppliers.
Founded in 1995, PlantAmerica offers the Internet’s best and most complete souce gardening information and seasonal products for America’s 85 million gardening households. The company’s online gardening library at www.mygardenguide.com
PlantAmerica also provides state-of-the-art web hosting services to over 1,200 of the industry’s leading garden centers, landscape firms, and wholesale growers.
The company’s management team includes professionals with deep gardening industry, technology, and business backgrounds.
Lee Pryor
President and CEO
Lee Pryor has over 30 years of successful experience as a chief executive for technology companies. He began his career with Time Inc. then moved to IBM mainframe sales. Lee left IBM to found a Computer Supply Company, which grew to $48 million in sales.
Recently he has been running late stage startup’s for investor groups.
Lee attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated from Northwestern University. He served in the Counter Intelligence Corp after college, is a former member of YPO, and has served on the Board of The National Defense University, and Kent School. He is a member of the New York Yacht Club as well as the Explorers Club of New York. His book Cultures of Incompetency, will be published in the spring.
Joel Albizo
Vice President, Sales
Joel brings 16 years of experience in sales, marketing, and public relations with the green industry. Prior to joining PlantAmerica, he served as senior marketing executive and Internet strategist with the American Nursery & Landscape Association where he played a key role in increasing member satisfaction, building membership and growing revenues.
At ANLA, Joel also led the development of the industry’s leading web site and created ANLA-Connect, a popular Internet-based problem-solving forum. Joel is responsible for the development and implementation of Plant America’s sales program and is a member of the firm’ marketing team. Joel graduated from Towson University in Maryland and is a nationally accredited Public Relations Practitioner and Association Executive.
Rajeev Karamchand
Senior Systems Engineer & Manager, IT Operations
Rajeev brings over 10 years experience in IT Operations Management, Network Support, and Systems and Database Management to PlantAmerica. As Plant America’s Senior Systems Engineer, Rajeev plays a critical role in managing Plant America’s e-commerce web sites and IT infrastructure. Prior to joining PlantAmerica, Rajeev served as network and systems administration consultant. The holder of seven professional certifications from Microsoft and Cisco, Rajeev received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mathematics from the University of Delhi, India.
Donna W. Moramarco
Vice President, Content and Education
Donna Moramarco, a fifth generation horticulturist, brings more than 25 years of horticultural education and training experience to PlantAmerica. A 22-year veteran of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service, Donna was responsible for commercial horticultural training and consumer gardening programs. As vice president for content and education at PlantAmerica, she is responsible for horticultural content within the company’s web site and database as well as partnerships with not-for-profit groups and institutions. Donna holds a B.S. degree in Horticulture from Cornell University and a MS degree in Education from SUNY Stony Brook. She currently serves on the EPA Review Board for Pesticide Labeling; the America in Bloom National Board; the New York State Nurserymen’s Foundation; and the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Board. Donna is a New York State Certified Nursery Professional and NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator.
Gijsbrecht de Leede
Controller
Gijsbrecht de Leede brings to PlantAmerica 10 years of public and private accounting experience with emphasis on cost accounting, reporting, and financial planning and analysis. He previously held accounting and financial positions with Thomson Financial Research, 86 Inc., Starpower Communications, and KPMG. As PlantAmerica’s controller, he is responsible for accounting and financial reporting and analysis. Gijsbrecht is a Certified Public Accountant, having completed his accounting course work at McGill University (Montreal, Quebec), and holds a B.S. in economics from Concordia University (Montreal, Quebec).
Jason Dwyer
myGardenGuide Database Manager
Jason brings seven years of Internet technology and management experience to Plant America’s product development projects. As Plant America’s manager for the MyGardenGuide initiative, Jason plays a critical role in managing and promoting this important offering from beta testing through to launch. Before joining PlantAmerica, Jason worked in diverse technical and management roles at Colorado-based companies as Internet Marketing Manager, Sr. ISP Analyst, and Technical Support Manager. In these positions he developed expertise in search engine, electronic mail, and web server technologies. Jason attended college at the University of Michigan after graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.
The board of directors and board of advisors represent deep and credible experience in the new media; Internet; financial; garden center retailing; growing; and horticultural distribution sectors.
Richard C. Webel, Chairman PLANTAMERICA founder and managing partner, Innocenti & Webel-Landscape Architects, Architects, and Strategic Planners
Edward Bennett Tax and compensation partner, Evans, Carter, Kunes & Bennett, and legal advisor to Kelso & Company
Frank Bynum Partner, Kelso & Company: Private equity investing
Thomas McPartland Board member, MIT New Media Laboratory
Samuel F. Pryor Former managing director of the Noel and Prospect Groups and co-founder of Brazil Rail Partners
Peter G. Schiff Managing Partner, Northwood Ventures
Does an independent retail garden center need a web site? The short answer is, “yes!” According the Grapevine Survey, published by the American Nursery & Landscape Association, over three quarters of all gardeners own a personal computer and nearly 70% of these households have Internet access. Put simply, your customers are online and you need to be there for them with your name, reputation, and goods and services. PlantAmerica believes that the goal of a web site should be to increase in-store purchases, where you receive full profit and have the opportunity to generate add-on sales.
With a cost-effective PlantAmerica web site, you can:
A powerful, professional web site can be yours starting at just $29.95 per month. For more information, click here.
According to a recent survey by the Gallup Organization, the number one consideration for customers in choosing a landscape firm is image and reputation. The web offers a number of valuable opportunities to build, reinforce, or enhance your image to current and potential customers. With a cost-effective PlantAmerica web site solution you can:
A powerful, professional web site can be yours starting at just $29.95 per month. For more information, click here.
PlantAmerica
A web site is rapidly becoming as important to small businesses as business cards, fax machines, and cellular phones. What was once a highly expensive, confusing and uncertain endeavor has become affordable and far simpler, with more choices available than ever before.
While there are many different options for building and maintaining a web site, there are two principal choices available to green industry firms: custom sites and template-based sites. By examining the pros and cons of each type of site, you can determine which option best suits your business needs and resources.
Custom Sites
A “custom” site is one that a web development/design firm builds for you. A custom site can range in size from a single page to over 100 pages. Custom sites can be either “static,” meaning that you cannot easily make changes yourself, or “dynamic,” meaning that you have the ability to make changes to the site.
Advantages
The major advantage of a custom site is that you get to determine its look, feel, and functions. You might spend anywhere from $2,500 to $50,000 or more on a custom site. Typically, you get what you pay for: less if you just want a static “Yellow-Pages” type site, while the more flashy graphics, rotating photos, tips, etc you want, the more it will cost.
Disadvantages
The major disadvantage of most custom sites is the challenge and cost of keeping them up-to-date and interesting. Typically, you either need to submit changes to the designer (who makes them according to his/her schedule, for a fee) or hire or train someone in-house to make the changes. Given the high salaries webmasters command in today’s marketplace, relying on either of these options can increase your costs considerably.
According to design firms, you should budget to spend roughly the same amount in annual maintenance and hosting as you spent on your original design, unless you don’t update your site very often. For example, if you spend $5-10,000 on the original design (not excessive if you want to build a nice, functional site) you should budget a similar amount for hosting and maintenance. Plus, you will learn that you want new functions, etc., after the site is built and this requires further investment.
Template-based Sites
This type of site allows you to insert your custom content in pre-designed graphical templates. Most “free” sites have disappeared, and template-based sites can cost anywhere from $29.95 a month to several hundred dollars a month, depending on what features and functions you want.
Advantages
The major advantage of a template-based site is that virtually anyone can make most updates quickly, easily, and at no cost. Second, a template-based site typically provides many more features and functions than you could afford to create on your own. Equally important, the cost is typically much lower than a custom site — and very predictable. Also, if you decide in the future that you really want a custom site, the “switching cost” is relatively low, as you have not invested thousands in custom design work and programming. However, by starting with a more costly custom-built site, if you want to change in the future, the switching cost is high.
Disadvantages
The major potential disadvantage is your limited choices to create the “look and feel,” navigation, and functions of the site. For example, most programs have a selection of templates from which to choose, but if you don’t like them, you don’t have the option to design something else. If you want a particular feature, and the template doesn’t offer it, then you don’t have that as an option.
What Do You Value?
In the end, the question is value: you must consider the variables of cost, functionality, and flexibility, and decide what makes the most sense for your business. Template-based sites can offer excellent value, providing you with powerful technology for a small fee. However, if your priority is an original design and the flexibility to have exactly the features and functions you want, and money and time are less important, then the custom route may be for you.
Joel Albizo is vice president of PlantAmerica (www.plantamerica.com), a green industry business tool firm, and a former senior director with the American Nursery & Landscape Association. He can be reached at 703/312-2834 or [email protected].