Garden Centers of America
Garden Centers of America (GCA) is a nonprofit organization of independent garden centers across North America. It was incorporated in March 1973 for the purpose of improving conditions in the retail garden center industry.
GCA provides a medium through which independent garden centers may consider their mutual problems and interests, exchange ideas and assist each other in bringing the independent garden center industry to a higher level of efficiency.
Regular members are limited to retail firms to whose primary purpose is to sell live plants to the public. Active members must have a definite location of business with appropriate facilities to properly care for and display plants.
GCA puts on two tours of garden centers in different regions of the United States each year. One tour is in June; the other is a Holiday tour in November. GCA provides the website Hot New Plants to help consumers find the new and improved varieties of plants they are seeking.
GCA's commitment is to ensure the long term success and sustainability of the independent garden center. GCA is the primary forum for information, education and training that promotes the exchange of ideas between member firms.
GCA has endorsed the Independent Garden Center Show and will help with its educational program.
In October 2006 GCA had 324 active member firms and 50 associate members with a sincere interest in improving the business of retailing in garden centers.
Awards
The Jack F. Schneider Award is the highest award given by GCA. It is given to an individual who shows tireless energy, imagination, creativity, generosity, and dedication to the betterment of the garden center industry. Winners of the award Jack F. Schneider, John R. Horton, Ernest Wertheim, Robert F. Lederer, Dennis McKeown, John D. Siebenthaler, Alfred Hicks, Lawrence Bachman, John Chiapelone, and Chuck Johnson
History
From 1973 until 2002 GCA contracted with the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) (later the American Nursery & Landscape Association to manage the affairs of the corporation. One part of that agreement required that potential members of GCA would be required to first be a member of the AAN.
In February 2002 the Board of ANLA voted to terminate the relationship since they were unable to come to an agreement with GCA on the future direction of that relationship.
In 2002 GCA contracted with Clayton W. Hannon (the retired Executive Director of the Oregon Association of Nurserymen) to manage GCA on an interim basis.
In April 2005 management was moved to Association Services Group (ASG) in LaGrange Georgia, where it is today. Charles Hall is the Executive Vice President. Shanan Molnar is the Vice President of Operations.