The History of Breck's Holland Bulbs
The company now known simply as Breck's, which is known for its Holland bulbs, was established in 1818. Breck's website boasts 187 years of experience, and the fact that their buyers fill customers' advance reservations on the spot in Holland, in order to choose the best quality bulbs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Founding
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Joseph Breck (1794-1873) founded Joseph Breck and Company in 1818. He was known for trying out innovative methods like packaging seeds for specific geographic locations. Breck included gardening essays in his catalogs to educate his clientele.
Background
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Joseph Breck served as president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society from 1859-1862. He was also one of the founding members of the American Seed Trade Association.
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Publishing
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Joseph Breck was an early forerunner in the field of garden publishing. In addition to a gardening magazine, he wrote a book called "The Flower Garden".
New Direction
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The fifth generation of the gardening family, Luther Adams "Bo" Breck, took over operation of the business in 1947. He revamped the company by becoming an importer of Dutch bulbs. He died in March 2009 at the age of 91.
The Company Grows
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According to "Bo" Breck's obituary, there were 2.5 million names on the company mailing list at its peak. "Bo" Breck also came up with creative sales ideas, like running contests for the best home improvement gadgets.
New Owner
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In 2001, Breck's was acquired by Gardens Alive. It is now headquartered in Guildford, Indiana, and Hillegom, Netherlands. Products include both spring- and summer-flowering bulbs and perennials.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Powi) (Per Ola Wiberg
