CENTS 2012 Shows Green Means Business

(Columbus, Ohio, January 30, 2012—) The Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show
(CENTS) made it clear why the Midwest’s largest green industry convention is growing: green
is big business.
Top Growers, Independent Garden Centers, Landscape Contractors, Arborists, Turf, and Pest
Management professionals gathered in the Columbus Convention Center to sell, buy, network
and learn. As testimony to CENTS grow beyond the green” reputation, professionals came
from across the U.S. (Utah, New York, Texas, Florida, Maine, etc.) and Canada.
“We booked more orders at CENTS 2012 then we have for years. The traffic was steady to
the end of the final day, and we heard from attendees who now want to exhibit in 2013. It was a major business success for us, ” said Tim Kline of Kline Nursery Sales.
CENTS’ roots run 80-years deep, with a rich partnership with The Ohio State University
Nursery Short Course, long-admired for its unparalleled educational programs. This
year, CENTS added a new dimension to the show by rolling out fresh, in-depth business
management sessions to help owners drive efficiency, sales, and profitability.
“Industry members want more than continuing education in horticulture. They need practical,
hands-on advice to help get control over the bottom line, hiring staff, paying taxes, and
succession planning. CENTS 2012 sessions tackled these issues head-on, and marks where
CENTS will continue to grow,” explains Kevin Thompson, Executive Director of The Ohio
Nursery and Landscape Association, sponsors of CENTS.
The move toward business education reflects the challenges of conducting green business in
the current economy, which demands business sophistication to thrive.