Archived Meeting

Direct Marketing: Vermont's Hidden Industry...
Does it have a future?

Main Speaker

Gardener's Supply Company Jim Feinson Gardener’s Supply Company is the largest direct-to- consumer gardening supplies catalog in the nation. Founded by Will Raap in 1983, with its headquarters in Burlington, Vermont, Gardener’s is an employee- owned company with 275 employees. Gardener’s Supply is passionate about providing garden-tested, earth friendly products and believes in the positive effects gardening can have on the community. Currently Gardener’s donates 8 percent of its pre-tax profit to gardening, sustainable agriculture, environmental and hunger-related organizations and has founded such organizations as the Burlington Compost Project and the Intervale Foundation. Jim Feinson, president of Gardener's Supply - a multi-million dollar direct marketing company - will join us to discuss Vermont's direct marketing industry and its opportunities for the entrepreneur.

Growth Company Showcase

High Mowing Seeds Since 1980, the organic food industry has been growing at 20% annually. Currently only 1% of Certified Organic land in the U.S. is planted with organic seed because of lack of availability and poor quality. High Mowing Seeds, based in Wolcott, Vermont, is a vertically-integrated 100% certified organic seed company supplying primarily vegetable seed as well as some flower, herb and cover crop seeds. The company breeds, grows, cleans, warehouses, packages and distributes seeds as seed packets for commercial and home growers, seed racks for retail store displays and in bulk to other seed companies.