Creating Experiential Garden Centers That Keep Customers Coming Back

Creating Experiential Garden Centers That Keep Customers Coming Back

Why Experiences Matter More Than Ever

In 2025, the most successful garden centers won’t just sell plants—they’ll sell experiences. Customers are craving something deeper: a place to connect, create, and be inspired. This is where experiential retail comes in, and garden centers are perfectly positioned to lead the way.

At Oasis® Forage Products™, we believe your retail space should feel more like a creative hub than a checkout line. Through our workshop-friendly floristry tools and DIY Forage Kits, we help you create spaces where visitors do more than shop—they participate, engage, and come back for more.

What Is Experiential Retail?

Experiential retail transforms shopping into an immersive, sensory experience. Instead of just browsing aisles, customers are invited to create, learn, and connect. In a garden center, this can take many forms:

  • Hands-on floristry stations with products like our Forage Mini Kits

  • Guided nature walks that lead into bouquet-making sessions

  • Community events like seasonal wreath workshops or pollinator garden builds

  • Interactive displays such as “build-your-own wild bouquet” or native plant education walls

According to Greenhouse Grower’s 2025 Outlook, experiential retail increases customer dwell time by up to 40%—and more time in-store means more sales.

 

Why Experience-Driven Centers Boost Sales and Loyalty

The garden centers that offer creative engagement aren’t just making memories—they’re also increasing revenue.

  • Customers buy more: Attendees of hands-on workshops spend an average of 23% more per visit

  • Foot traffic grows: Special events bring in new faces and turn browsers into regulars

  • Loyalty deepens: Personal experiences build lasting brand relationships

  • Social reach expands: Instagram-worthy workshops and floral displays generate free, authentic promotion

Want to create moments your guests can’t wait to share? Try a bouquet bar built with Forage Kits, or an in-store installation featuring eco-conscious mechanics and plant-based vessels.

Tips for Building Your Experiential Garden Center

1. Make It Hands-On
 Create stations where customers can interact with natural materials. Offer build-your-own bouquet bars using our floristry supplies, or create a display table of foraged materials that inspire DIY creativity.

2. Offer Themed Workshops
 Use the seasons to guide your calendar—spring floral arranging, summer meadow bouquets, or holiday wreaths. Our Forage Mini Kit is a perfect base for hands-on learning.

3. Lean Into Sustainability
 Today’s shoppers care about the planet. Use biodegradable materials and spotlight sustainable practices. Our eco-conscious vessels and mechanics give customers an experience that aligns with their values.

4. Tell a Story
 Bring meaning to every display. Share the journey of a wildflower from field to table, or explain how native plants support pollinators. Storytelling transforms products into memories.

5. Make Events Feel Special
 Use RSVP-only events or members-only early access to create exclusivity. Small, intimate workshops feel more valuable and encourage deeper engagement.

Turn Your Center Into a Destination

Experiential retail is more than a trend—it’s a long-term strategy for meaningful growth. The future belongs to garden centers that turn visits into events and purchases into memories.

At Oasis® Forage Products™, we’re here to support that transformation. Our full collection of tools and kits makes it easy to launch workshops, build creative displays, and bring hands-on joy into your store.

Start building your next great experience today.

 

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