Home and garden organizations offer an abundance of opportunities for positive exposure for your business. In addition to the usual members of the garden organizations, you will have opportunities to meet and get to know other members of the home organizations, including business leaders that support the home and garden organization.

Affiliation with home and garden associations provides lobbying and networking opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests while you support the industry. Membership in home organizations often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. Local gardening associations offer even more chances to network with local business leaders in your community. Approach your membership in home associations from a variety of perspectives.

1. Expand your network through garden organizations

2. Support the industry by participating in home organizations

3. Stay informed with home and garden association publications

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Develop business contacts in garden associations

Home and garden organizations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At gardening organization events, as well as through various committees in which you can participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support and work within and for the home and garden associations. The business leaders you meet could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.

I recommend: The American Brush Manufacturers Association provides plenty of opportunities to meet business owners in the home organization realm. The Lawn and Garden Marketing and Distributors Association represents the interests of business professionals by setting standards and helping members address global trade issues.

Demonstrate your interest by joining home organizations

If you want to do business with home and garden professionals, you will want to show your support while building relationships with national and local leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in home and garden associations with both your presence and your financial support.

I recommend: The Cookware Manufacturers Association will put you in touch with business professionals and consumers through a variety of events and meetings. At the National Association of Independent Lighting Distributors, you’ll meet business owners who serve the lighting needs of homeowners and businesses.

Keep your company in the loop with home and garden organization publications

While you may not have time to participate in a trade group or volunteer on a committee, you can take advantage of membership in home associations through the myriad publications they put out. By keeping up with the reports and news in the industry, you can pick and choose which events will be most beneficial for you to attend while keeping updated on changes or news that affect home and garden organizations industry-wide.

I recommend: The Cleaning Equipment Trade Association is a good place to go for trade certifications and training materials while also networking with members when you can. The Biodynamics Farming and Gardening Association offers hundreds of books and videos for members in addition to regional meetings and events for eco-minded businesses and consumers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join a committee in home organizations to develop closer relationships with others who could be helpful to your career and provide sources of business for your company.