I’ve had some new business cards printed by Vista.com and I have to tell you that they make it very easy to design your own card. Plus they are reasonably priced and have quick service.
I set my cards out on the table and people grab them up!
My cards have a photo of Pam, me, the donkeys and that sassy, little yellow dog, Ally. On the back of the card it says ‘We Sell Beautiful Plants only $5.97 each’, and then the details of the plant sale.
Then I came up with a rewards program for my customer by creating Donkey Points. Each customer gets a Donkey Points reward card. On the front of the card is a close up picture of Finnegan’s nose and on the back is where we log your points based on the amount you spend.
Watch this video to learn more about my plant sale and Donkey Points.
Scott Pugsley says
Mike,
I’m a relatively new gardener and I am interested in how you got started with a nursery. I live on 5+ acres ( 3+ tillable) in zone 6 (near Evansville, IN). I really enjoy gardening and am interested in the opportunity to make a business out of my hobby.What does it take to get started? What equipment, plants and supplies are suggested or required?
Thank you for your videos,
Scott
Mike says
Scott,
I started working in nurseries when I was 16. If you are serious about this, join our members area, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, it’s better than a college education. Starting out you really don’t need a lot, start small and expand from there.
These are the basic steps that I teach people just starting out.
Keep it simple, stick to the basics, this really is a very simple process.
1. Buy properly labeled stock plants. (Read my rant; For years and years and years this has been my rant;
http://freeplants.com/rant.htm)
2. Plant them in a bed so you can take cuttings from them.
3. Get a mist system. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/mikes-plant-propagation-kit/
4. Take softwood cuttings in June, July, August and stick them in coarse sand under mist.
5. Start stock piling hardwood bark mulch for next years potting soil. Shredded bark mulch, not free wood chips from a tree trimmer.
6. Get more mulch, you’ll never have enough.
7. Get more mulch, you still don’t have enough.
8. Next spring pot up what you rooted.
9. Repeat one thru eight.
I’m a little slow, someone had to point out to me that you probably don’t need to repeat step 3.