#27 PLANNING/ (revised 6/10) "who are we?"

The Columbia was broad and flat that July morning. Wind surfers were hanging outside the old Hood River downtown coffee shops catching the morning sunlight, waxing their boards for the afternoon breezes that would whip whitecaps on the river. Later, flocks of tiny sails will glitter, bob, and jump, scattering on the surface, turning at once, together, as leaves flip across a lawn when the sudden air shifts.

We gathered outside on antique iron and cushion patio chairs near the edge, overlooking the river to ask and answer the questions.

Who are we?

We are green garden gates, a group of garden stores dedicated to offering the best plants and plant care products for the American gardener.

We define gardening as an activity where the focus is plants and plant care.
We define gardeners as people who engage in this activity.



Why do we exist?

We exist because our customers are attracted to our commitment to them, the gardeners and other who garden. We exist because gardeners can find our same commitment with all of our green garden gates stores as they travel, work or live elsewhere. We exist because we support the gardeners, their fellow friends, their neighborhoods and their local communities.



Where are we headed?

Our long term goal is to operate many green garden gates stores in every community of significant size in America. We want see green garden gates as a lasting place in those communities long after we are gone.



Where do we need to be during the next five years?

We will establish a single store within twelve months. We will establish a cluster of two to three stores within thirty-six months. We will establish a second cluster of stores within sixty months.

Where do we need to be this year?

We will observe, test and research. We will identify and make changes and modifications to our plan. We will solidify our operating leadership structure and target a geographical location. We will build and establish a model prototype store.