Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes…

If you’ve been reading the last few issues of The Weeding Gnome, you’ll remember me teasing of big news.  So big, I’d have to kill you if I told you.

Well – DRUMROLL…here it is.  The news you’ve been waiting for!

I’ve been working diligently, behind closed doors to improve the future for Plants Nouveau in the midst of this very unsettled industry.  I now have a plan.

Here is the press release that we just sent out…

Double the Power, Double the Fun
Two Super-fun, Savvy Plants-Women Join Forces

Plants Nouveau is proud to announce a new partnership with Linda Guy, former Managing Director of Novalis LLC in South Carolina.

According to Angela Treadwell-Palmer, founder of Plants Nouveau, “Plants Nouveau has always been a company about plants, fueled by the introduction of novel, innovative selections from real plant people. Adding the expertise of Linda Guy and her genuine love for new plants as well as her breeder relationships into our mix gives us amazing credibility, an amazing new plant inventory and an even more amazing addition to my innovative vision and plans for the future.”

“Linda and I have been good friends for many years, it’s super fun to finally be working with someone who shares my passion for new plants and proper marketing.”

What does this new partnership do for Plants Nouveau?

Combining the knowledge, experience and new plant contacts of Linda Guy with founder, Angela Treadwell-Palmer’s existing contacts, breeder relationships and marketing expertise, Plants Nouveau will be positioned to be an industry leader in new plant introductions.

With two plant savvy, forward thinking leaders, they’ll have double expertise and double worldwide contacts.   This new “double-trouble” partnership will make for some clever, innovative competition to other large new plant introduction companies.

Along with founding Plants Nouveau, Angela successfully managed two of the most significant new plant introductions in the last two decades; the Knock Out rose from The Conard-Pyle Co. and breeder William Radler and Echinacea Orange Meadowbrite, from The Chicago Botanic Garden and breeder Dr. James Ault.  Angela adores her breeders and they trust her with their inventions and discoveries. Angela has been managing Plants Nouveau on her own since 2005.

Most recently, Linda managed Novalis LLC, one of the most respected new plant introduction companies for independent garden centers in the U.S.. Linda has a passion for southern plants, and has traveled the world extensively, looking for new plants.  She’s climbed mountains in the far reaches of China, hunted in the hinter-lands of Argentine deserts and explored the bogs of the southlands – all to find the best new stuff and forge long lasting, trusted relationships with breeders from many countries.

“The natural world is filled with wonder. What better way to experience it than looking for new varieties.  Amazing plants and the people connected to them-Plants Nouveau connects the dots. It doesn’t get any better than that”, adds Linda.

International contacts and a stellar reputation for marketing and fairness gained Plants Nouveau international recognition in new plant circles. Breeders and nurserymen trust their instincts and know they’ll provide them the best protection and most valuable knowledge to help their new plant succeed in a very competitive market.

Plants Nouveau is not a nursery, or an institution trying to fund research programs. This gives them an honest, unencumbered view and plan for marketing new plants with the breeder’s best interest in mind.

According to Angela, the main mission of Plants Nouveau is “To protect and market new plants in a way that maximizes royalty revenues and recognition for the originator…AND to have fun while we are doing it!”

What does this mean for you?

For Breeders – it means wider grower coverage and more marketing dollars in the future – yay!

For Licensed Growers – it means more promotion to help YOU sell the plants we’ve asked you to grow.   It also means wider access and different introduction channels for plants we are promoting.  Linda brings a lot of well established breeder relationships,  so we’ll be adding those plants to our portfolio.  This means a larger list of plants to grow.

For Garden Writers – this means more, fantastic, thoroughly trialed plants to try in your garden and hopefully love so much – you’ll write about them.

For Friends, Gardeners and Landscape Designers – this means more, cool new plants…enough said, right?

So, be on the lookout for cool new plants plus some totally hip and savvy marketing ideas to come…we are very excited about the future and we hope to be here for a really long time.

Our new logo means a lot to both of us.  It’s modern and minimal, but it says a whole heck of a lot:

•    Ideas and a partnership unfurling to make a better future.
•    That we’ve got each others’ backs in a very competitive World
•    That one of us is tall and the other is not so tall…hehe.  That’s the comical part that I love
•    It’s also feminine and it represents Girl Power – something you don’t often see in this industry.  Who else in the industry has a pink and orange logo?

As our fronds continue to unfurl – we’ll be introducing new plants and ideas to our website and marketing plans, so stay tuned and come along for this thrilling ride.  We’d love to have you become part of our growing family.

Chris Beytes, Editor of Grower Talks did a fantastic job on the first interview with Linda since we announced our partnership.  You can read it here in the Acres Online e-letter.

Sign up for his newsletter if you have not already.  It’s always a funny, info filled read.

Happy Earth Day, Happy Good Friday, and Happy Weeding to you all!

Angela Treadwell-Palmer
Partner, Plants Nouveau