Our client Terra Nova Nurseries was recently featured in the September / October issue of Pennsylvania Gardener. The article entitled “Sustainability: Right Plant, Right Place,” written by Maria Zampini, educates readers on how to plant sustainable gardens. Essentially, a sustainable garden requires little or no maintenance, all the while being eco-friendly. Zampini encourages gardeners to choose native, non-invasive plants that are adaptable in a range of growing conditions and can provide a healthy habitat for wildlife.

In the article, Zampini mentions that hellebores are a favorite plant choice for sustainable gardens, specifically Terra Nova Nurseries’ Winter Jewels Series including ‘Amber Gem’ and ‘Peppermint Ice’. The Hellebore Winter Jewels Series bred by Marietta O’Byrne are double flower strains featured in individual colors rather than mixes. ‘Amber Gem’ is an apricot dream. The blooms are yellow infused and blushed with red, like a ripe apricot; perhaps the rarest of colors in hellebores. This winter plant is deer resistant and shade tolerant, making it an ideal plant for a sustainable garden. ‘Peppermint Ice’ has fluffy, light pink flowers with a rim of dark pink edging; the dark pink on the back of the tepals adds to the appeal. Like ‘Amber Gem’ this plant is deer resistant, drought tolerant and performs well in shaded areas.

To read the full article about sustainable gardening in the September / October issue of Pennsylvania Gardener, see the photos included in this blog post. To enlarge the photos, simply click on each individual photo. Media members, if you’re interested in learning more about Terra Nova Nurseries’ Hellebores Winter Jewels Series for an end of the year article, please contact us by clicking here.

They’ve been spotted on movie posters, business cards and on printed business and product collateral. Similar to Facebook URLs and websites, mobile barcodes are regularly popping up in advertisements and all manner of places where online content is desired. The widespread use of barcodes is to help satisfy consumer demand for immediate access to relevant information. No longer do consumers have to wait to get home to find specific information about products they see at retail stores. Recently, comScore, a company that measures digital marketing, found Quick Response (QR) code usage has been on the rise. In the month of June, about 14 million Americans scanned QR barcodes, which comes to a bit over 6 percent of all mobile users in the U.S.

What is a QR code?

A QR code is a 2-D barcode that can be scanned by a smart phone’s camera. Once the code is scanned, it could direct users to a website, offer a coupon from a local retailer, show a movie trailer or video and just about anything else that can be linked online. Manufacturers with a lot of product information can now produce proliferate web pages in complete harmony with their product tags. QR barcodes were invented in Japan and have been actively used there for more than a decade. They are making their way throughout North America, with many furniture stores, garden centers, hardware retailers, and other home / garden outlets catching on to the craze. The barcodes look like this:

How are mobile bar codes applied to marketing?

Mobile barcodes can be useful to businesses by connecting people with each other and to brand-related content. Because QR codes are still relatively new to the U.S., most current ads or printed collateral that contain these codes still have to explain how they work, and the steps the viewer needs to take to access the additional information. The codes can be added to print ads, posters, invites, store front displays, T-shirts, and even to the merchandise itself. The linked information can be specific to a brand or product, containing information such as product details, how-to insights, event details, contest information, customer feedback forms, and so on.

In one retail example, Pottery Barn added a QR code to its fall catalog on a page that featured the Manhattan Leather Armchair. When scanned, it directed consumers to a video that showed the history of the chair and how the designers were inspired by chairs they found in Parisian flea markets. More recently, Home Depot introduced new, interactive plant tags. Buyers can scan a QR code and get in-depth information about the plant, such as how much sun it requires, before they decide to take it home. Mobile barcodes could also be used to build communities on social media channels. For example, some businesses have generated codes that “like” the company’s Facebook page.

As with any successful campaign, a good strategy is key. QR barcodes should provide viewers with a brand experience that is dynamic, exclusive and interactive. The codes should also be easy for consumers to locate and quickly scan. And, certainly, attaining the services of an informed consultant or firm helps create a synergistic approach with all facets of a marketing plan. Let us know, what are your thoughts and questions about QR codes? Do you think they have staying power? Be sure to add your comments below.

Staying up-to-date with the latest digital innovations and trends is important to us, as it helps us better serve our clients. At ECPR we specialize in PR 2.0—as we define it—the convergence of traditional public relations and modern social media networks. To learn more about our social media services, be sure to click here.

How do lightweight concrete blocks (CMUs) differ from normal concrete blocks? Jeff Speck, VP of Sales & Marketing for Big River Industries, the nation’s largest producer of expanded clay lightweight aggregate, sheds light during an interview featured in the April / May issue of The Concrete Producer.

In the interview, Jeff Speck talks about when to use lightweight concrete blocks and when to use normal concrete blocks. Essentially, lightweight blocks can be used at any time, with the exception of very high compressive strength requirements. Lightweight CMUs that meet the requirements of ASTM C90 have all the structural properties of normal weight load-bearing units. The next interview topic includes the comparison of performance between the two, including acoustic properties. Speck talks about the two different measures of acoustic properties, Sound Transmission Class (STC) and NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) in relation to wall thickness and how well a wall absorbs the sound.

Additionally, the interview covers the issue of sustainability. Because Lightweight concrete (LWC) solutions offer improved energy performance, reduced volume of materials, reduced transportation requirements, improved service life, and lower life-cycle costs, the product is more sustainable and green than normal concrete solutions. The next interview topic deals with costs. Lightweight blocks are thinner and lighter, meaning a reduced volume of materials and more efficient costs. The final interview question pertains to how internal curing improves the performance of concrete and how it relates to sustainability.

To read the full Q & A article, view the photos below. Enlarge the photos by clicking on them. Also, the online version is available at http://bit.ly/p93xl5.

EcoSmart Fire works with a number of designers to create and produce environmentally friendly fireplaces for indoor spaces as well as outdoor living areas. This year the company will be showcasing the Stix fireplace designed by Hiroshi Tsunoda at Casual Market. Now based in Barcelona, Hiroshi Tsunoda graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, one of the top design schools in the United States. His recent works have been displayed at the Salone Satellite in Milan and at the design festival, Designersblock in London. As head of Hiroshi Tsunoda Design Studio, he aims to bring practical and functional designs to everyday consumers.

The Stix fireplace provides a contemporary twist on traditional campfires. The outdoor fireplace consists of varying-sized tubular stainless-steel “sticks” that are secured around an efficient three liter burner. Stix is powered by clean-burning, environmentally friendly bioethanol. Bioethanol or simply ethanol, is a renewable energy source produced by fermenting the sugar and starch components of plant by-products. Thus, the Stix outdoor fireplace does not produce smoke, soot or ash. This stylish, elegant fireplace creates the perfect ambiance for a cool summer evening on the beach or backyard patio. The dancing flames have the ability to captivate users for up to eight hours.

The award-winning and innovative Stix outdoor fireplace is a must see at Casual Market this year. For more information about EcoSmart Fire’s bioethanol fireplaces, visit www.ecosmartfire.com.

Indoor furniture collections made for the outdoors. The new Bungalow Collection by Homecrest Outdoor Living puts a luxurious twist on outdoor living spaces. The collection features a slipcover that is applied over a custom designed and engineered aluminum frame. The seat is fitted with a foam core for durability, and then wrapped with a polyester fiber. A water-resistant ticking protects the core material.

The line includes a sofa, loveseat, chat chair, swivel rocker chat chair, and a dining Parson’s chair. The complete collection offers homeowners a stylish, sophisticated outdoor furniture seating area for everyday use or guest entertainment. Bungalow’s slipcover is offered in a large selection of washable, UV protected fabrics for carefree maintenance. Season trends and colors will come and go; with Homecrest Outdoor Living’s Bungalow Collection, homeowners simply have to change the slipcover to stay abreast of color trends!

Retailers, industry trends show dealers and customers are looking for products made in the United States. Homecrest Outdoor Living’s products are made on American soil, offering product customization, quick shipping and safety assurance. Visit the company’s booth at Casual Market to learn more about the Bungalow Collection. To view Homecrest Outdoor Living’s large selection of outdoor furniture visit www.homecrest.com.

The new Euro Bistro Table from Poly-Wood, Inc. will be making an appearance at this year’s Casual Market show. Since 1990, Poly-Wood co-founders and owners Doug Rassi and Mark Phillabaum have been developing outdoor casual furniture made from plastic lumber. Poly-Wood’s plastic lumber is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), UV-inhibited pigment systems, foaming compounds, and selected process additives. The HDPE primary raw material is derived from bottle waste, such as milk and detergent bottles or other HDPE post industrial material. Since HHPE products are made a with a single, purified polymer they have exceptional resistance to corrosion, oils and fuels as well as insects, fungi, salt spray, and much more. Thus, Poly-Wood Inc.’s outdoor furniture collections are durable, long-lasting and ideal for all-weather environments.

The Euro Bistro Table is beautifully designed and aesthetically pleasing. The table’s aluminum frame is complemented with Poly-Wood slats for a contemporary, eco-friendly design. The frame is available in three different colors while the slats are available in 13 colors. Additionally, the Euro Bistro Table comes in three heights, dining, counter or bar height. The possibilities are endless with this customizable dining set. Retailers, stop by Poly-Wood Inc.’s booth at Casual Market to learn more about the company’s eco-friendly outdoor furniture collections. Also, visit the company’s website at www.polywoodinc.com for more information.

Fire tables are going to be a hot new trend at this year’s Casual Market. The Oriflamme Fire Table from Designing Fire, Inc. will be one of the show’s highlights. Portable and easy to assemble, this self-contained natural gas fire table sits at coffee table height to maximize heat and seating comfort. Easily a conversation piece, the Oriflamme Fire Table is a focal point for any backyard, patio or resort setting.

Made in the U.S., the fire table provides up to 60,000 BTU’s of heat with a burn time of 10-12 hours. The flames and heat are easy to adjust and control, perfect for a cool spring evening or a cold winter night. Most notably, Designing Fire’s environmentally friendly fire table does not leave behind soot, ashes or ember. The Oriflamme Fire Table can be customized to suit buyer preferences. Available in square or round tops in granite or Tuscan, buyers have a choice of seven different burner designs and 24 colors of artistic glass for a more personal flare.

Retailers, the Oriflamme Fire Table is ideal for customers looking to add a bit of warmth and ambiance to outdoor spaces. Stop by Designing Fire’s booth at Casual Market to learn more about the company’s natural gas fire table. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.designingfire.com.

Among the collection is Caravita’s most innovative cantilever umbrella, Belvedere. Structural and sleek, the umbrella features a distinctive folding mechanism. Closed, it stands upright and saves space with a middle mast shape. With the smooth opening lever, the shade can be opened and closed with a single arm movement. Additionally, Belvedere can be customized with more than 200 powder finishes and hundreds of solution-dyed acrylic awning fabrics to select from.

This unique umbrella can also shift from modern to classic with a few simple design details. From a traditional design of flowing or attached valances, to venting details like wind roofs and hoods the Belvedere can be designed to fit any outdoor living space. Base and in-ground applications make umbrellas versatile by being portable or permanent.

Caravita’s shades are built to last and distributed through a network of specialty retailers worldwide. Retailers, media members and outdoor space designers and can view all 7 collections of umbrellas and pavilions at this year’s show. Principal Michael Caravita said he’s looking forward to meeting with existing and new retailers at Casual Market and getting a pulse on the marketplace. It will also be an opportunity to uncover new trends. One prominent trend today relates to accessories, he explained, such as heating and lighting options being incorporated into shade products.

This fall, Caravita’s 2012 catalog will be released with more images, specification details and luxury accessories. The company’s website is another excellent resource, which allows users to compare shades, view design details, find upcoming events, and more. See for yourself, at www.michaelcaravita.com.

Currently, the three best-selling Patio Renaissance collections are their latest: Catalina, Monterey and Naples, which launched last year. Catalina and Monterey are deep-seating, all-weather wicker collections, while Naples features tubular aluminum frames finished to look like wood. The Catalina line includes a sectional, club chair, swivel rocker, sofa, love seat, round ottoman, and more. It also features a natural look with fibers that are textured in both shape and color.

Patio Renaissance is a relatively young company but it’s already making a big impact. Gradually, the company has expanded its reach across the country and has grown from offering six furniture groups to about 20. The parent company, Sunlord Leisure Products, has been producing custom furniture out of its vast manufacturing facility in China since 1992. To learn more about Patio Renaissance products as well as the company itself, visit http://www.patiorenaissance.com/.