How to Manage a Wholesale Nursery
Do people who love to spend the day mixing soil, watering plants, pruning back trees and fertilizing everything in sight have what it takes to manage a wholesale nursery? The answer is yes and no. Much of what's required to run this type of enterprise relies upon business acumen that offers owners, employees and customers the right mix of service and expertise. Make certain you're up to the task by reviewing the following suggestions before you assume the responsibility of running a business and overseeing staffers so your bottom line always stays green.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Business plan
- Goals and objectives
- Education
- Licenses and permits
- Computer
- Software
- Employee manual
- Competitor analysis
- Communications and other policies
Instructions
-
-
1
Take basic courses in nursery management and horticulture at the nearest agricultural college, technical school or university so you are as proficient in the areas of grafting, culturing, cutting, budding and seed propagation as you are in the protocols and policies that govern the operational end of a well-run wholesale greenhouse or nursery.
-
2
Get certified by a nonprofit association in the horticulture industry to add credibility and credentials to your resume so you are seen as a manager who is eminently well-qualified to handle the day-to-day business complexities of a wholesale nursery. Understand the ins and outs of working with a business plan (find a link to software below) so the nursery you manage always has a long-range game plan.
-
-
3
Learn about licensing and regulatory laws that apply to the nursery you're managing by getting in touch with local government officials. Reach an agreement with the property owner that spells out your job description and responsibilities, including operations, policy making, hiring, firing, financial parameters, marketing and sales strategies. Fully understand the nursery's goals, mission statement and long-term growth projections. Create these documents, in concert with the nursery's owner, if they don't already exist.
-
4
Keep close tabs on personnel so they make your job easier. Draft an employee manual, if one doesn't exist, that spells out restrictions and benefits so there are no questions about sick days, health coverage, holiday pay and other employee issues. Build incentive programs into your management plan to give staff opportunities to shine.
-
5
Make the wholesale nursery's bottom line your first priority while you keep an eye on competitors, stay apprised of new technology and keep tabs on biological advances coming from agricultural schools and horticultural laboratories. By doing this, owners, customers and staff will see you as the go-to person for industry-related information and innovation.
-
6
Communicate regularly with everyone from the nursery's owner to the part-time nursery assistant so you run an efficient team. Motivate staffers by turning every employee into a super sales representative so they are as invested in the nursery's success as you have become. Ask them to help you find creative ways to promote the nursery at every opportunity and you'll keep workers from looking elsewhere for job satisfaction.
-
1
