The first ever Christmas Competition was held at the Northeast Greenhouse Conference on November 3, 2010. Seven contestants (each was a merchandiser at a garden center from each of the participating Northeast states) competed by making a display in 45 minutes. The contestant was chosen by the respective growers' association from MA, CT, RI, NH, VT, ME and NY. Each contestant was given an end cap bench, provided by the sponsor, Bartlett Bench and Wire of Maine, and four different kinds of Holiday plants: cyclamen, Euphorbia "Diamond Frost,' Paper whites and poinsettias. (Thanks to Joseph Giannino Co, Quality Plant Growers, Grower Direct Farms, The Flower Hutch, Pleasant View Gardens, and De Vroomen for providing plants.)
Each contestant was allowed to bring props to make their display, as long as the props didn't distract from the plants. The goal of the competition was to remind retailers that an interesting display can, in fact, be created in only 45 minutes. Everyone had a great time, and the results of the judging are as follows:
1st Place overall:Lisa Greene, Nunan Florist Greenhouses, MA
2nd place overall: Teri Smith, Smith’s Acre LLC, CT
3rd place overall: Rob Stevens, Moulton Farm, NH
1st Place, People's Choice: Teri Smith, Smith’s Acre LLC, CT
2nd Place People's Choice: Rob Stevens, Moulton Farm, NH
3rd Place People's Choice: Shelly Harding, Longfellow’s Greenhouse, ME
Additional winners were:
Consumer's Choice: Teri Smith, Smith’s Acre LLC, CT
Most creative: Rob Stevens, Moulton Farm, NH
Most artistic: Teri Smith, Smith’s Acre LLC, CT
Most relevant to Today's Consumer: Kolleen McGinnie, Clark Farm, RI
Most likely to sell Tie-ins: Melissa Macaluso, Adams Fairacre Farms, NY
Winner; best use of color: Shelly Harding, Longfellow’s Greenhouse, ME
Winner: most likely to sell multiple units: Susan Rizzo Allen Bros, Inc., VT
To be added to our mailing list to receive the 2012 Northeast Greenhouse Conference Program or for more information, contact: Cindy Delaney, Delaney Meeting & Event Management, 1 Mill Street, Suite 301, Burlington, VT 05404, Phone: 802-865-5202, Fax: 802-865-8066, Email: info@negreenhouse.org
Source: Northeast Greenhouse Conference