Partnership between two large 91原创 businesses could help stem COVID-related losses for both.
The collaboration gets underway on the holiday Friday, with a series of pop-up garden shops being introduced to sell an abundance of spring plants that might otherwise end up in the compost.
As industries struggle to come to terms with the impact of the coronavirus, many businesses are having to look to one another for support. And such is the case for 91原创鈥檚 Darvonda Nurseries, which less than two weeks ago learned that its largest single wholesale buyer would be unable to accept a majority of this season鈥檚 orders.
That means the nursery is sitting with at least 80 per cent of its annual vegetable plants and potted annuals, and no way to get them to the consumers, explained nursery owner Lawrence Jansen.
Sure, Jansen can sell a few from their Milner greenhouses, but nothing substantial. No where near the 40 acres of plants they have in inventory and ready to go 鈥� now.
So, he and the team had to start thinking outside the proverbial [planter] box 鈥� and it had to be done quickly.
Casting around for ideas, that鈥檚 when Jansen reached out to a fellow 91原创/Surrey-based company 鈥� Joseph Richard Group (JRG) 鈥� which had sponsored past events with Darvonda in previous years, including the Glow Gardens events.
With all the recent changes in the local communities due to COVID-19, JRG was happy to offer up any assistance possible, said JRG鈥檚 CEO Ryan Moreno.
With all the recent changes in the local communities due to COVID-19, JRG was happy to offer up any assistance possible, said JRG鈥檚 CEO Ryan Moreno.
Working together, the two businesses are launching the pop-up stores in the parking lots of several 91原创, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack restaurants and pubs this long weekend.
鈥淒uring times like this, we believe it鈥檚 more important than ever for community to come together and businesses within it to try and hold the communities up as best they can. That鈥檚 one of the many roles of local businesses so we鈥檙e happy to work with the team from Glow Gardens and hope our locations provide great community spots for pop ups for their business. Plus it provides our guests a bright and beautiful entry for curb-side pick up!鈥� Moreno added.
The plants will be sold at wholesale cost, with a portion of the money going to JRG, which has the workers (some who can hopefully be hired back after COVID-related layoffs) to staff the operations. Likewise, Jansen said, JRG has large parking lots in multiple prime locations throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley 鈥� making it an ideal retail venue.
UPDATE: After day one, organizers reported: 鈥淪ounds like the event went great. Line ups at most locations and well respected social distancing.鈥�
They鈥檙e rolling out the pop-up shop concept on Friday, April 10, and Jansen said 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for it.鈥�
鈥� Friday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Townhall 91原创
Townhall South Surrey
Edith+Arthur
Townhall Maple Ridge
鈥� Friday, April 10 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Townhall Abbotsford
Townhall Chilliwack
The Italian
If the sales concept goes over as well as he expects this weekend, it鈥檚 hoped it will continue, Jansen said.
And if so, as of April 11, all locations will be operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day until they鈥檙e sold out.
鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely demand for our product,鈥� Jansen said, noting that the great spring weather always helps motivate people to garden. And now, despite the circumstance causing it, people are actually staying home more and as a result are anxious to make their living space more attractive and productive.
鈥淭he whole farm is riding on this,鈥� Jansen said, adding: 鈥淲e just have to get it into the hands of our consumers safely, with social distance constantly in mind.鈥�
In addition to the pop-up shop concept being rolled out Friday, Darvonda is also launching online sales, through their GlowGardens.com website, with arrangements being worked out for delivery and pickup options.
Darvonda isn鈥檛 the only local or nation-wide greenhouse suffering amid the COVID outbreak, Jansen explained.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 only me鈥� this is almost every other grower out there. I鈥檓 not the only grower in this position,鈥� he said, noting others in the industry are getting orders cut or completely cancelled 鈥� some reaching into the Christmas season already.
If these new sales methods work, and Jansen is optimistic it will be a win-win-win situation, he will be sharing their entire model with other ornamental flower growers.
鈥淚 hope it will give all of us a fighting chance to survive.鈥�
Krause Berry Pies added to pop-up program
As a result of COVID-19, Krause Berry Farms has additionally had to make the difficult choice to close its doors, despite berry season looming in the not-so-distant future.
Beginning Saturday, April 18th, JRG will be partnering with Krause Berry Farms to offer pies, jams, preserves, and frozen berries at the same JRG locations where the Pop-Up Garden Centers are located.
Frozen goods will be stored in the restaurant freezers and other products will be showcased on display at the entrance of each location and sold out of the stores, staying mindful of health precautions and safe social distancing.
Fresh berries will be added in the coming weeks as the berry crops ripen.
