Outdoor Living Seminar: Associates to Learn Tricks of Giving Customers Green Thumbs

Nearly 200 associates from the Exchange’s Outdoor Living Departments will attend the sixth annual virtual seminar Feb. 4-5 to find out the best ways to give each customer a green thumb.

Buyers and vendors will answer questions from associates in real-time.

“We want to get them excited for the upcoming shopping season,” said Linda Jerome, senior buyer for ODL. “We expect all of our Outdoor Living Centers to be open by Feb. 15, which may sound early to some, but in some parts of the world, it gets rather warm around that time and you never know when the first sunny day will come.

“We want our stores to be ready.”

Craftsman tools will rejoin the Exchange family of brand names. Other vendors, such as Black & Decker, Scotts, Weber and Traeger grills, will conduct training live via Adobe Connect virtual classroom, which will include interactions with associates.

More natural products that don’t have as many chemicals are growing in popularity and will show up on Exchange shelves this year.

The sessions will begin at 8 a.m. CST for associates in the Eastern and Europe regions and 1:30 p.m. CST for associates in the Central and Western regions.

Outdoor living associates in the Pacific Region will view a recording of the seminar later in February.

LEX course OD 20 will be ready later in February.

This year, new kids on the block will surely plant seeds in the minds of some customers. More natural products that don’t have as many chemicals are growing in popularity and will show up on Exchange shelves this year.

“Millennials are looking to buy products that are organic and natural,” said ODL Buyer Allison Engroff. “Many of our customers are millennials, and they want products that don’t rely so much on harsh chemicals. We don’t expect this trend to end any time soon.”

Got questions about the seminar? Send them here.