Save the Date: HortSmart in Temecula, Calif.

The San Diego County Flower and Plant Association has joined the California Association Pest Control Advisors to produce a unique educational summit with a product showcase, “HortSmart: Strategies, Education and Marketing to Enrich Your Business,” which will take place June 2 and 3 at the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa in Temecula, Calif. The idea is to replace the “everyday” trade show with a top-notch educational summit and product showcase for sellers and buyers alike.

The event will kick off with CAPCA’s high-quality seminars geared toward pest control advisers and chemical industry professionals. In the evening, there will be a cocktail reception with CAPCA and HortSmart participants. On June 3, HortSmart begins with a keynote breakfast, followed by the Horticultural Trade Fair in the courtyard for a look at the new products. Educational seminars will take place in the adjacent Barrel Tasting rooms.

The event’s theme is “Inspiring Growth.” Speakers will include Sue Kirby, who will present on the “WOW Factor”; Lisa Takao of Takao Nursery, who will present on the next generation of consumers; Gary Hudson on strategic thinking; Gary Jones of Armstrong Garden Centers on the consumer mindset in the garden center; Brenda Vaughn of John Henry, who will offer ideas on packaging ideas and strategies; Ken Soles and Chris Johnson, who will speak on shipping; Laurie Scullin of the New Product Group, who will discuss new marketing ideas; and Josh Schneider of Cultivaris on the potential of organics. And that’s just the beginning.

There will also be a panel discussion featuring buyers from different market backgrounds within the industry, which is designed to provide attendees with a well-rounded perspective of what buyers are looking for in a supplier.

Save the date — June 2 and 3, 2010, in Temecula, Calif. — and stay tuned for more information in future issues of GPN Weekly and on www.flowerandplant.org.