PANTS10... the complete schedule
August 3-5, 2010

What will you discover?

NEW!
Schedule of Events
Download PDFs of all the great events being held at the PANTSO9. Discover issues like how to properly layout your store entrance to reviewing the latest POS technologies.

NEW!
PANTSO9 - Sessions & Events in Detail

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.           
Garden Centers – TreeVitalize Can Help You Sell More Trees!
Ellen Roane from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Gregg Robertson from PLNA will present a new coupon program for garden centers to help you sell more trees.  Governor Rendell has set a goal of planting 1 million trees in Pennsylvania over the next five years through the TreeVitalize program.  Come to learn about the pilot for this program, the plans for extending it state-wide and how your garden center can participate. 

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Horticultural Business Opportunities in the Green Roof Market
Dr. Robert Berghage
Associate Professor of Horticulture, Director of the Penn State Center for Green Roof Research
Green roofs are an emerging market opportunity for nursery and landscape professionals.  This market has grown from almost nothing 5 years ago to today when millions of square feet of roof have been and are being installed.  The potential for continued growth is enormous as our cities struggle to manage stormwater runoff and energy demand.  This presentation will cover the basics of green roofs with an emphasis on promoting green roofs based on the benefits.  We will discuss opportunities for plant production, roof design and installation, and roof maintenance including potential niche markets like green garden sheds. 

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Just What is a Rain Garden?
Dr. Robert Berghage
Associate Professor of Horticulture, Director of the Penn State Center for Green Roof Research
Rain gardens have become a hot topic in many urban and suburban areas as municipalities look to develop better ways to handle stormwater runoff.  Just what is a rain garden?  How does it work?  What are the design and maintenance issues?  Learn about this and similar BMP’s for landscape stormwater management. 

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fundamentals of Skid Steer Loaders
Rick Brown

Rick will provide an in depth explanation / understanding of what to look for when purchasing a skid loader for your business. 
Discussion with compare:

• Radius arm loaders vs. vertical lift loaders
• Understanding skid loader manufacturer’s rated tipping capacities. 
• Manufacturers advertised breakout forces, gross vs. net horsepower.
• How the machines tipping capacities are rated based on an ANSI rating system.
• Differences in skid loader manufacturers pump systems.
• Calculating auxiliary hydraulic horsepower for skid loader attachments.  Matching the right machine to the right job.
  
  

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Nurseries – TreeVitalize Needs Trees!
Ellen Roane of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Michael Leff of the PA Horticultural Society (PHA) will discuss the TreeVitalize program and Governor Rendell’s goal to plant 1 million trees in Pennsylvania over the next five years.  The program, which started in the Philadelphia area, is now expanding state wide.  Ellen and Michael will discuss the program’s requirements for trees and how your nursery can get involved. 

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Planting a Seed in Social Marketing
An Introduction to How Social Marketing Tools and Strategies Can Help Build Your Brand… and Your Business
Rick Holberg, from GardenCenterMakeover.com, will discuss the pros and cons of the web’s newest trend, social marketing.  Learn how MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and others are impacting business on the web.  Discover a path to becoming social media savvy… and tweating your way to sales growth. 

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The Web is The Way … Using the Web to recruit, hire, train, and retain your employees
LandscapeSafety.com
Chances are that your employees already use the web in their lives in a significant way: connecting with friends and family through email and social networking like facebook, purchasing online, getting and listening to music and news… use the web in your business to recruit, hire, train and retain your employees. 

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Innovating POS – Registers of the Future
SBI Nursery Software
The new face of retail technology is the handheld “register”.  Instead of processing sales solely at the counter – why not make sales anywhere in your store with handheld PDA’s?  By taking your sales process mobile you are able to sell more and sell better.  A good wireless sales system offers the ability to create sales live from the yard over local wireless or over a cell connection.  Users can also control inventory and receive inventory from vendors all live on a handheld.  Learn how you could benefit from this technology in all parts of your business including increased profits & improved customer service.

THURSDAY, JULY 30

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Philadelphia Mayor Nutter’s Plan for Greening Philadelphia: Greenworks
Philadelphia Mayor Nutter has put forth an ambitious plan to make Philadelphia the “Greenest City in America.”  A representative of the Nutter Administration will discuss this program and how your company can benefit. 

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Software That Helps Grow Plants and Profits
SBI Nursery Software
Production management software allows users to plan what quantities they want to have available and when.  The system then drives production of that plant material from ordering bill of materials, seeking or sticking cuttings, transplants and all tasks associated with production.  Learn how to use production management software to improve your wholesale growing business.
Now that you have the software to help you grow your plants – learn about the technology that will help grow your profits.  Running a successful and profitable business is directly tied to managing inventory tightly and efficiently.  And in this industry, we all know our inventory is unique – it grows and dies, shifts up and down.  This is where handheld inventory management comes in.  Users can perform complete inventory management from the field: plants, counts, dumps, location changes, size shifts, etc.  Learn how an effective handheld inventory management system gives you the inventory visibility and control you need for a profitable business.

“PANTS provides growers, designers, and garden centers with new information on business, plants, money saving ideas, pesticide credits and everything they need in a one conference. In today's lean and mean market it's important to be aware of all aspects of the green industry."
Stephanie Cohen
aka Perennial Diva

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