Complete Package - Additional Concerns FAQs

Aren’t you competing with me now that you are selling directly to consumers?

We get that concern, but honestly we are not looking to compete with our garden center customers. Now, we've been selling Proven Winners plants online through our website for many, many years now. And a Grande Annual, as an example, sells for $8.99 cents plus freight. So that rolls up to about $15 for a single Grande's Annual, which is obviously much higher than any pricing that we've seen at retail. Now, this was really, truly born out of consumers reaching out to us and regularly telling us that they can't find a specific variety at their local garden center.

So again, our goal is not to compete with you. And what I'd recommend is as you're planning your programs, have a wide breadth of Proven Winners varieties in your store, participate in our certified garden center training program, which gets you listed in our retailer locator right at the very top
of the list.

What if I don’t want to be associated with bad quality looking plants at other retailers?

I understand. And the reality is for every plant breeder or brand in our industry, having control over any growing or retail environment, it's extremely difficult. Now, garden centers have the ability to provide the best shopping experience for their customers. Their service quality and selection will always create a shopping experience that will win every single time. And don't forget, since Proven Winners was started in 1992, our plants have been sold at almost every type of retailer that there is. But at the end of the day, independent garden centers are in the unique position to compete with service and quality and selection and utilize the many Proven Winners support programs that we've designed to specifically support independent garden centers.

How will the mandatory container be enforced?

Royalty Administration International will help monitor use of Proven Winners branded packaging.

What is your plan for hanging baskets?

We’ve offered a tag exchange program for hanging baskets and patio ready containers for many years.  Please reach out to your broker sales rep or Four Star or Pleasant View as they can share the details of how the program can work for you.