Denis Flanagan CLD
Manager, membership services

As some of you may know, office personnel at your Milton office have shuffled. This change will allow me to now concentrate more on promoting our industry and the professional image of our members to the media and the consumer.

One of the most effective ways to accomplish this goal is through nurturing relationships and partnerships. As you know from your own business, the most satisfying work comes as a result of networking and referrals. Over the next few months, with the help of our publishing/communications team, we will generate ideas on how to get the LO message promoted through as many avenues as possible.

Some projects we will be working on include:
•    Working closely with Chapters to assist them with marketing plans.
•    Increased ties with garden writers, magazines and newspapers.
•    Working with TV networks to encourage more garden content.
•    Freshening and expanding our website photo gallery.
•    Producing video blogs.
•    Developing timely consumer gardening tips.
•    Developing an ‘Ask the Expert’ section on our consumer website.
•    Developing tools to help individual members garner public recognition.
•    Working with the Branding Committee to develop a member campaign.
•    Working with as many consumer shows as possible to benefit members.
•    Developing alliances with other horticultural groups.

As a good example of this outreach, we recently met with several groups, including the Master Gardeners of Ontario, Ontario Horticultural Association, Royal Botanical Gardens and Communities in Bloom, to discuss our current needs and explore the possibility of developing co-sponsored garden symposiums for northern Ontario. (See story on page 20).

As always, we welcome ideas from our members on how we can help you create effective marketing.
 

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Denis Flanagan may be contacted at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.