Theresa Riley and the crew at
RockledgeGardens in
Rockledge,
Fla., are helping customers catch the gardening bug. Riley works closely with husband and co-owner, Kevin, and her mother, Mary Witte. The trio is proud of the store’s rich history and their reputation as the “answer people.”
For more:RockledgeGardens, (321) 636-7662; www.rockledgegardens.com.
Q. What’s your favorite thing about your garden center?
A. Color. When you walk in the main entrance it’s just a burst of color, and our buildings are colorful now, too.
Q. If a customer asks, “Who’s in charge here?” who does the finger point to?
A. Kevin. Without a doubt.
Q. Describe your dream retirement -- if there is such a thing.
A. We’re going to get an RV and just go around the country and visit our kids. Take off for weeks at a time.
Q. Name a product your customers just can’t live without.
A. Rockledge Gardens-branded planting mix.
Q. Complete this statement: My own garden is …
A. The front yard is a mess. The backyard is a tropical paradise. We live on some acreage, and there’s not a lot of need for curb appeal.
Q. Who is your favorite (or least favorite) gardening celebrity?
A. My least favorite is Martha Stewart. She’s so hoity-toity. What she does is not attainable for the average Jane or Joe. My favorite is Tom MacCubbin, a Florida gardening expert. He’s very down to earth.
Q. When I need to recharge I …
A. Jump in the pool with a beer. It’s a daily thing for me and Kevin. Even if it’s just 15 or 20 minutes.
Q. Name a business challenge that just won’t go away.
A. Employee relations -- personality clashes. Just the day-to-day issues that arise.
Q. What’s a hot trend among your customers?
A. We’ve got away from insect intolerance. People are learning to respect nature and coexist, which has created a new trend toward gentler chemicals.
Q. What’s your favorite shopping destination?
A. I like Target -- their merchandising, the layout of the store. It’s a fun place to shop.
Q. Name a garden center you’ve visited that you admire.
A. My favorite on a recent GCA tour was Tonkadale Greenhouses in
Minnesota (www.tonkadale.com). They did a lot of simple things we could do in our store.
Q. What do you prefer? Gardening books or Web sites?
A. For advice I definitely turn to the Internet. To get inspired I look at books.
Q. Complete this statement: Gardeners in my area constantly complain about …
A. Weeds and heat.
Q. Name one techie gadget you can’t live without.
A. My PDA. I so rely on that thing. It’s my brain. I use it every day.
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