It’s the economy, stupid. Really?

The media are all atwitter about the recession we’re either entering or currently experiencing. In our e-newsletter, the Weekly Dirt, we’ve passed along dozens of stories about the country’s economic woes. Independent garden retailers, however, seem unfazed by these developments.

Recently, I talked with Jeff Walker, owner of Cedar Lake Gardens & Gifts in Decatur, Ill. Like most business owners, he’s closely following economic developments. But he doesn’t buy into the pessimism. His landscape division is doing well and he’s opening a second retail location this spring. He’s got high hopes for spring.

Retailers I talked to in California and Texas last week also aren’t sounding alarms. They’re still anticipating good spring sales. Retailers in the Southeast who are dealing with extreme drought are about the only folks I’ve encountered that are predicting tough times.

Charlie Hall, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture at Texas A&M University, has been scrutinizing how a recession would impact the green industry. You can read more about it on his blog, Making Cents. The horticulture industry has a reputation for being recession resistant. Dr. Hall notes that there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to support this, but not a lot of solid statistics.

To further complicate the situation, there are also no definitive economic indicators signaling recession. It’s one of those things we usually recognize after the fact. Personally, I’m convinced we’re dealing with recession. The price of groceries and gasoline are putting a serious dent in my wallet.

But somehow I managed to find money this weekend to buy bare-root strawberry plants, three large bags of garden soil, a new birdfeeder, birdseed and a bunch of garden seeds. I guess this could be anecdotal evidence that consumers aren’t rational beings?

So, what do you think? Do you think consumers will be tight-fisted this spring? Or are we all in a tizzy over nothing? Post a comment and weigh in on the debate.

-- Sarah

Comments

[trey]

I have been through many recessions over the years and the fear of recession seems to be a bigger factor than the actual recession.

Recessions as natural part of th economy. In addition the generation that remembers the Great Depression are aging so the fear that that event inspired is slowly dissolving, for better or worse.

The economy has hiccups and thats what we are going through. Pay down debt, watch expenses, and stay focused. Don't let the constant drumbeat of doom and gloom the mass media specialize in wear you down.