Get Started
Home » Archives for 2010

Archives for 2010

Public Relations Perspectives

By Leave a Comment

Implementing an effective public relations plan can be a comprehensive task. With so many guidelines and procedures, it can be overwhelming. However, those who follow correct protocol will be highly rewarded. Public relations campaigns can yield incredible results and publicity, bringing attention in print, on air, and online to products, manufactures and designers. Take a look at a section of our Web site that briefly explains our public relations services: https://eberlycollardpr.com/public-media-relations.asp

Then, take a few minutes to read about public relations from Jen Polanz. She recently wrote an insightful piece regarding public relations, from the editor’s perspective. We agree with her points of interest and wanted to share the information with the readers of our blog. Even if you are not the owner of a garden center, the essential information still applies.

To read Jen’s full article, Effective PR, visit, http://www.todaysgardencenter.com/viewpoints/jenniferpolanz/?storyid=3031

From a business standpoint, what type of public relations works best for you? For members of the media, what are your top points of advice to businesses pitching you story ideas, product information, etc.?

– Adam

Shade Pergolas Meet Demand

By Leave a Comment

We are excited to share that two companies have filled a great need in the home design industry for an improved, high-end alternative to the traditional awning.

Walpole Woodworkers, a renowned woodworking / home product company and the largest fabricator of cellular vinyl in the U.S., and ShadeFX Canopies, manufacturer of the monorail drive pergola canopy system, announced this month a strategic partnership to launch Shade Pergolas.

Shade Pergolas combine high-quality, handcrafted pergola structures with exclusive retractable and integrated canopy systems. The line was designed for use at residential landscapes, decks and patios, commercial properties, assisted living facilities, outdoor cafes and restaurants, seating areas at marinas and golf courses, and most any outdoor space where the choice of sun or shade is desired.

“Shade Pergolas are the perfect complement to a home or commercial property’s architecture,” says Louis Maglio, president of Walpole Woodworkers. “With their height, depth and width, Shade Pergolas bring dimension and substance to an outdoor space.”

Walpole Woodworkers and ShadeFX Canopies created Shade Pergolas based upon the growing trend of outdoor rooms with a new sense of flexibility. Shade Pergolas can be used to cover large areas up to 600 square-feet, while typical retractable awnings extend only 13 feet. The structures offer homeowners the ability to create outdoor sanctuaries that are covered from rain, protected from sun, and impervious against wind.

The monorail drive pergola canopy system developed by ShadeFX Canopies eliminates the problems of attaching linear track systems to structures prone to shifting or moving over time. Since the canopies are retractable, homeowners can switch from sun to shade at their leisure. The cellular vinyl pergolas are low-to-no maintenance and last more than 25 years. The canopies are durable and will deliver 10 to 15 years of use.

“Shade Pergolas make the investment in outdoor living a justifiable value because they truly expand living space and lifestyle options,” says Steve Ostrowski, president of ShadeFX Canopies.

To learn more about Shade Pergolas and the joint venture between Walpole Woodworkers and ShadeFX Canopies, please visit the newly designed Web site at www.shadepergolas.com.

For editors wanting to learn more about the standard and custom features available for these structures, please visit the Eberly & Collard Public Relations Web site for additional details, or feel free to request a full media kit, which includes high-resolution photos, FAQ information, full press release, and more.

~Leslie

Comfort is Key

By Leave a Comment

According to the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), “The newest outdoor furnishings this year emphasize comfort, versatility and gathering places – all essentials for enjoying more leisure time at home.” The study shows that 29 percent of people polled said they’d like to add either a comfortable lounge chair or some other deep-cushion seating to their outdoor space this summer.

Three Birds Casual specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of premium-grade, fine casual living products. Recently, the company launched an entire new line of teak casual furniture called Monterey. This new line was designed to meet consumer demand for versatile outdoor furniture – a product that is both functional and high-design.

The Monterey line includes a Deep Seating Sectional, Sofa, Loveseat, Armchair and Ottoman. The collection also contains Bar Chairs and Dining Chairs to allow the use of similar products for a cohesive outdoor living area, from conversational settings to dining areas.

According to the same study by the AHFA, nearly 40 percent of the homeowners who participated in the survey said they’d like to purchase one or two new pieces of outdoor furniture this year. For more information about how outdoor furniture manufacturers are prepared to meet the demand of consumers during 2010 through versatile yet luxurious collections, even on a budget, please feel free to contact us.

To learn more about this new line and others from Three Birds Casual, please visit the Web site at www.three-birds.com.

~Leslie

Dan Heims: March Events

By Leave a Comment

Dan Heims, president and co-founder of Terra Nova Nurseries, has over 33 years of horticulture experience and has helped introduce more than 600 new plant varieties to gardeners all across the United States. As an educator, Heims is known as a knowledgeable enthusiast in all things horticulture and has spent years lecturing all over the world.

This March, he’ll be speaking at the following two events…

Idaho Horticulture Symposium:

Heims will be conducting two keynote sessions about “Flash and Splash – Building: the Color Story” and “How Dry I Am – Dryscaping for the Consumer” at the Idaho Horticulture Symposium in Boise. The annual Idaho Horticulture Symposium, hosted by the Idaho Horticultural Society, will be held on March 6, 2010, and open to landscape designers, home gardeners, writers, and more. During “Flash and Splash – Building: the Color Story,” Heims will discuss variegated and color-leaved plants, how these unique varieties are discovered, and the use of these plants in garden design. During “How Dry I Am,” Heims will address plants for “water-wise” landscaping, water shortages and distribution. For more information about the Idaho Horticultural Society and registration, please visit www.gardencentral.org.
All-Iowa Horticultural Expo:

Heims will be a keynote speaker at the All-Iowa Horticultural Expo, lecturing on “Right Plant, Right Place.” This event will take place on Saturday, March 20, at 10:00 a.m., at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa, IA. Whether a garden space is dry, wet or shady, Heims will advise attendees on how to make good plant selections for problematic areas and how to keep these areas healthy. For more information about attending the All-Iowa Horticultural Expo, please visit www.iowahort.org.

If you are a member of the media and would like additional information on how to attend these talks for free, please feel free to contact me at lkirk@eberlycollardpr.com.

~Leslie

What will they think of next? Great Garden Gadgets by Plumstone

By Leave a Comment

With a handiness factor that compares itself to the invention of the garlic press for culinary experts, the SoilStick, which is just one of the new products introduced by Plumstone, is sure to assist even the most novice of gardeners with how to accurately determine the correct acidity level for a particular plant or bed of plants.

Determining pH levels in soil until now was a fairly daunting task, and if you happened to be thumbing through the latest issue of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine like me the day the professor covered the topic in chemistry class, you are also at a loss as to why your Camellia bush’s foliage is yellowing.

Here is some background on the science behind the measurement of soil pH. The pH level is a mosaic that varies according to soil crumb structure, on the surface of colloids, and at microsites. The pH also exhibits vertical gradients, tending to be more acidic in surface mulches and alkaline where evaporation, wormcasts, and capillary action draw bases up to the soil surface… Wait, I got off track a bit, and there IS a much easier way!

The SoilStick will do this for you. SoilStick’s innovative scoop design measures out the perfect amount of soil each time, giving more accurate results. Each package includes a pH Color Chart matching plants (including vegetables and fruits) with the right pH in one easy step. An Amendment Chart makes it a snap for users to change the pH for a particular plant or perennial bed. To use SoilStick, simply scoop the soil, dump it into the tube, add water and the pH tablet. Each package includes 8 tablets.

If you are working on a gardening how-to article as a member of the media, let us know how we can assist you and your readers. The folks at Plumstone are experts well worth quoting. Consumers can make purchases at www.plumstone.com. Watch for more posts from us about Plumstone’s products before spring.

~ Jeff

Discovered antiques become models or inspirations for production…

By Leave a Comment

On assignment for a couple of our editor contacts, and to gather information for our blog, Jeff and I went on a two-day hunt at the Atlanta International Gift, Home Furnishings & Area Rug Market. Since the “Mart” is only a few blocks from our office, this is one market for which no travel was needed. The proximity gave us more time to soak in trend-based products, work with clients, see old friends, and meet many new ones.

Our product picks and reviews will be seen in a variety of online and print publications – both trade and consumer – during 2010. We’ll post updates as publication evolves. For now, we wanted to share information about one of our most preferred companies and its impressive outdoor furniture and accessories.

Elegant Earth is a company specializing in furnishings and decorative accoutrements for the outdoors, tables, chairs, benches, containers, fountains, pedestals, and more. Each piece the company produces has its start in the past. Discovered antiques become models or inspirations for production of new items.

Just as with interior design, accessorizing the exterior with furniture should combine practical use with beauty, and bring character to outdoor living areas, decks, patios, and verandahs. Scale is a key component to the company’s design decisions, with attention to detail and pieces that solve problems for homeowners and their designers. The combination of a classic look and style, frost-proof durability, and a lower cost point than the norm for such high quality is a unique selling proposition.

Retailers, designers, and members of the media, take a look at the following favorites we thought you might like:

French Teak: Side Chair and Loveseats (Also available as an arm chair) – These reproductions are based on a style Elegant Earth came across during its many searches for antiques and new product inspiration. The frames are welded wrought iron with a powder-coated finish in a neutral dark-brown. The durability and style of the hand-finished teak makes this a handsome and functional outdoor seating option. Pairing them with Elegant Earth’s 84-inch Old English Dining Table provides a taste of Old World ambience. Designers, consider this pairing for your next outdoor room installation.


Firewood Console – This accessory is an adaptation of Elegant Earth’s sleek 72-inch Console Table. This highly functional 8-piece set offers multiple units that can be placed side by side to create a truly dramatic effect. All pieces are manufactured from re-enforced concrete and hand finished in one of six standard finishes. This pieces’ juxtaposition of application and beauty makes it a focal point with a purpose. Retailers, you could use this piece to change the way your customers think about cold temperatures and frosty days.

Perfect Oval Bistro Table – A reproduction of a piece that hails from the Provence region of France, its simple design is an elegant statement inside or out. The oval shape can be used as an outdoor bistro table or as a center or side table in a large foyer. Cast in re-enforced concrete and hand finished in one of six standard finishes, this oval table was one of Elegant Earth’s best selling pieces in 2009. Possibly, its best feature, the table has an elegant appearance, yet offers extreme stability against strong winds.

Designers / retailers, request a catalog at www.elegantearth.com. Media members, let us know if you’d like photos or more information. Look for previous and future posts based upon our top product picks from the Mart and other markets / tradeshows.

~ Don

Lighten the Load for Green Roof Designers, Builders and City Planners

By Leave a Comment

One major challenge for landscape architects / designers, contractors and builders in green roof design and installation is meeting weight requirements and building codes. Simultaneously, they must create healthy balances of soil nutrients, plant material, and irrigation systems, all settled on safe base structures and with ease-of-maintenance an essential factor for the future. These green roof professionals must also develop potential opportunities for LEED credits, especially when designing for green-initiative buildings or properties.

Big River Industries is the nation’s largest producer of HydRocks, a lightweight expanded clay aggregate perfect for green roofs. In a rotary kiln, selectively mined clay is fired at temperatures of approximately 2000° F, producing a lightweight, ceramic aggregate. The aggregate is then processed to precise gradations, resulting in a high-quality, lightweight compound that is inert, durable and tough.

At nearly half the weight of common soils, this all-natural, eco-friendly, non-degradable aggregate can be mixed as a soil enhancer to provide the following benefits to green roofs:

  • Reduces water usage
  • Retains moisture during dry periods
  • Reduces water run-off
  • Improves moisture retention
  • Provides sufficient draining
  • Promotes healthy root structures
  • Reduces nutrient loss
  • Encourages aeration
  • Prevents soil compaction

HydRocks particles are completely inorganic and can be blended with other soil supplements. The use of HydRocks can also help acquire up to several LEED credits including: Heat Island Effect, Optimizing Energy Performance, Recycled Content, Innovation in Design, Regional Materials, and Thermal Comfort.

One high-level green roof design that implemented HydRocks is Chicago City Hall. The story behind how the developers and planners created this premium green roof structure and the pivotal role Big River Industries played in the project’s success make for a fascinating case-study.

Editors and publishers, contact us with your questions. For case-study information, feature articles, high-resolution images, interviews with the experts, and more information about HydRocks from Big River Industries, please email me anytime. We’re very interested to learn your article and resource needs pertaining to this type of solution-based story.

~ Leslie

Winter Hellebores

By Leave a Comment

With cold weather circling the country, hellebores are a popular topic for the New Year landscape as a blooming, colorful alternative to traditional poinsettias and evergreens. While hellebores have been around for years, the newest technologies and expertise in breeding have provided the market with new and improved cultivars that really wow.

In a recent article about Double hellebores in time for winter published in Maple Ridge News, Mike Lascelle explores some of the most exciting new double hellebores by Terra Nova Nurseries. The company’s Winter Jewels series offer never-seen-before colors that remain consistent and reliable throughout the season. A few of our favorites mentioned in the article include:

Winter Jewels Hellebore ‘Peppermint Ice’


Winter Jewels Hellebore ‘Onyx Odyssey’


Winter Jewels Hellebore ‘Sparkling Diamond’


If you’re interested in learning more about Terra Nova Nurseries exclusive Winter Jewels Hellebore series, please feel free to contact us for high-resolution images and profile information, or visit www.terranovanurseries.com. We can schedule interviews and site visits with the breeding team for qualified writers and editors.

~ Leslie

Re-Post: Domus Ventures America Wows Market Attendees

By Leave a Comment

Since it is spring lead-time for many of the editors for whom we write and provide trend and product insights, we have received a number of media requests to resurface a few of our top outdoor furniture posts. These posts stem from our work with clients and the media at the Chicago-based International Casual Furniture & Accessories Show. At the time, Don Eberly spoke on one of the market’s trend and design panels, and we worked closely with editors and publishers to gather trend and product information for various articles, Web sites, newsletters, and blogs. Today, with spring magazine and online content being worked on by many members of the media, we are available to write articles or provide sources, photos and trend findings. Email or call us with your questions and editorial requests.

Watch for reposts of outdoor furniture and home accessory photos and information on our blog from the Chicago market show as well as new posts about some of the top companies exhibiting at Atlanta’s America’s Mart Home Furnishings, Gifts and Rugs market. To start, one of our most popular previous blog posts is just below…

~Leslie

Dave Hill of Domus Ventures America is one of the most knowledgeable and friendly people you can meet on a trade show floor or at one of the casual furniture / home industry markets. Talking with Dave offers fresh insight surrounding the industry’s latest trends and product innovations, especially some of the leading and cutting-edge products at the hands of Domus Ventures America. He was on site at the latest Chicago market and offered us an enlightening view of all things modern and gorgeous for outdoor spaces.

After viewing all or almost all of the participating exhibits and showrooms at this year’s International Casual Furniture & Accessories Show in Chicago, Jeff, the other co-owner of ECPR, and I had a hard time selecting our pick of a dozen or so top innovators. Several companies, like Domus Ventures America, made the task a bit easier, given such evident technological advancements juxtaposed with high design. (We were on site at the show / market for our own writing and article research, to speak on Garden Design magazine’s product / design trends panel, and on assignment for a number of editor contacts of ours).

Since the show / market, many of you have touched base to share your opinions about our related event product picks and trends research. We have enjoyed your emails. Feel free to also post your comments here, on our blog.

Well, back to Domus… The new Isle of Pines Massage Lounge from Domus Ventures America utilizes the latest high-tech features while offing the ultimate in outdoor comfort. Possibly our favorite product pick of the entire market, this spectacular piece has a waterproof remote-controlled Shiatsu massage unit incorporated into a beautiful reclining lounge. When I showed the photo to an editor friend, she said she wanted this piece on her patio…and in her office for breaks on those pressing deadline days. – No kidding! Talk about relaxation, an ion battery with AC charger provides up to 14 hours of continuous use. A solar panel side table is also available to charge the battery, making the entire reclining massage lounge totally self-contained and waterproof. This is a lounge that sets the standards for others to follow.

A breath-taker at the show was the marine-grade vinyl especially designed for Domus Ventures. Jeff and I had a chance to take a seat on the company’s Luxor Collection, and it looked just like leather. The collection offers tight seats and backs with deep seating comfort, without the headaches and inconveniences of dealing with cushions. After stitching, the covers are sealed from the inside, making them totally water proof. The covers are attached to Aluminum frames with a marine adhesive like that which is used for inflatable life rafts.

Being marine grade means the covers are not only highly UV resistant but also UV reflective, reducing the absorbed heat. The Luxor Collection includes dining, deep seating, single and double sun-loungers, and canopied lounges in two sizes. The best-kept secret… Hidden in the back cushions of the larger size piece is a ready-to-use cooler, a good example of function meeting form.

Sure to fit the photo and editorial needs of some magazine editors reading this post, the Santa Cruz Double Massage Lounge with its beautiful and angled canopy from Domus Ventures America utilizes the latest high-tech features and offers the ultimate in outdoor comfort. This piece has two waterproof remote-controlled Shiatsu massage units incorporated into a reclining canopied lounge. The canopy can also be collapsed for tanning while getting a relaxing massage. Then, when sun becomes too much, up it goes. A solar panel side table is also available to charge the battery, making the entire reclining massage lounge totally self-contained and waterproof. In our estimation, this is a must-have, pool-side piece for vacation homes. And, what a benefit for high-end hoteliers and resort managers / owners who have outdoor relaxation or spa areas to furnish.

Last, but not least, Domus Ventures America’s Corentine Collection is made of powder-coated, welded aluminum frames. They are hand-woven with 100% virgin HDPE resin wicker. Elegant and sleek, the sculptured design is true-modern. This dining set is well-matched in design and function for home use as well as alfresco spaces and cafes utilized by hotels and resorts.

Domus Ventures America impresses us by setting, rather than following, the standards for unique and modern design of outdoor furniture. You can learn more on the company’s site at www.domusventures.com. Members of the media, please post your comments and let us know if you have interest in sharing any of this information with your readers, viewers, etc.