News
Short Course to expand retail offerings in 2014

July 15, 2013, Columbus, OH — The OFA Short Course is growing in 2014, with an additional 50,000 square-foot exhibit hall targeted at garden retailers.

In addition to hosting more companies that sell product and services to garden retailers, the show will offer additional educational and networking opportunities.
 
“For years, OFA Short Course has been a preferred destination for independent garden retailers, florists, growers, and installers. Our 7-acre trade show sells out every year, and it already includes numerous companies that provide products and services to retailers,” said Sherry Johnson, OFA’s trade show manager. “There is great demand for us to offer more exhibitors and activities for retailers and others.”

The OFA Short Course currently includes exhibitors that provide hard goods, plants, and business services for growers, retailers, and installers, and comprehensive education on business management, marketing, and greenhouse and nursery production.

ANLA and OFA are preparing to consolidate into one new trade association by 2014. OFA Short Course will reflect this change by also increasing the number of companies that supply the nursery and landscape markets.

“When ANLA and OFA combine, our new organization will become the world’s largest trade association of independent garden retailers. The premier event needs to reflect the make-up of our membership and the industry, and offer one-stop buying and selling for goods and services,” said Michael Geary, OFA and ANLA's chief executive. 

“The reality is that for most retailers, plants can make up as much as 80 per cent of annual sales. At Short Course, attendees can see new varieties and other plants that consumers want to buy. But it’s not plants alone that retailers sell, so we also offer a wide assortment of hard goods and services to round out their inventory. In 2014, this product category will expand with the addition of another exhibit hall,” said Geary. “Retailers will get everything they need at this event along with our year-long support.”
 
Sales for the new exhibit hall are schedule to begin late summer. More information is available at ofa.org/retail.