Texas Garden Retailer Awards 2025 Winner

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Texas Garden Retailer Award 2024

TNLA Retail Awards Program offers retail garden centers the chance to be recognized across the State as a leading retail garden center in Texas. This program will help retail garden center’s leverage their brand and connect with their peers while providing the brand recognition they deserve

Each project will be evaluated separately through an online scoring system

For questions contact Aimee Pledger at 512 579 3864 or email apledger@tnlaonline org

Let's get to know you!

First Name McKenna

Last Name Jenkins Phone Number 13252075317

Street Address 3300 N Fairgrounds Road

City Midland State Texas

Zip Code 79705

Email mckennajenkins alldredge@gmail com

Company Name Alldredge Gardens

Company Address 3300 N Fairgrounds Road

Company State Tennessee

Company Zip 79705

Company Phone Number 14326824500

Entry Contact Person McKenna Jenkins

Alternate Contact Person Trevor Johnson

Email Address of Main Contact Person mckennajenkins.alldredge@gmail.com

Project Information

What TGRA Awards Category are you applying for? Unique Features

Entry Name Alldredge Gardens

City of Entry / Project Midland, Texas

Photo Name of Award's Plaque Photo 361925974 733566778779008 83396304741018609 n jp g

Does the photographer request photo credit on the plaque photo? No

Name of Person consenting

McKenna Jenkins

Title of Person consenting Sales and Marketing Director

Representative from Retail Garden Center entering the project

McKenna Jenkins

Are you a member of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association? Yes

Describe your store's unique features and what is innovative about them

Close your eyes and imagine you’ve just landed at the Midland airport You look out your window and see the hot and dry desert landscape and wonder “Why in the world did I come here?” You jump in the Uber and head straight to Alldredge Gardens Just be patient - it gets better, we promise! Welcome to the Oasis in the Desert! Here at Alldredge Gardens, we've created a unique blend of retail and community engagement that celebrates the outdoors and the green industry in all of its forms Firstly, imagine stepping into our greenhouse, where you're surrounded by an array of plants that are primarily selected and grown in house to thrive in our local environment Our growing department specializes in selecting and growing plants that not only beautify West Texas but also endure the harsh weather conditions here, ensuring that our customer’s landscapes will impress What truly sets us apart are the experiences we offer beyond shopping Picture yourself enjoying a peaceful moment in our atrium cafe, nestled amidst the greenery It's a perfect spot to grab brunch with your family on a Saturday morning, or lunch during the week Offering a broad range of foods from sandwiches and salads to burgers and a full bar, Cafe at the Gardens is the place to be! On Thursday evenings, our Café comes alive with live music, creating a relaxing atmosphere where you can unwind after a busy day and enjoy the blend of music, drinks from our full bar, dinner options ranging from steaks to sandwiches, and of courseplants! If you're planning a special event, our Café’s atrium transforms into a beautiful venue for weddings, showers, holiday parties, and more It's a unique setting that combines natural beauty with personalized service and full-service catering, ensuring that every occasion is memorable Throughout the year and once every month, we host a Market at the Gardens event comparable to a farmers market, only better These events are not just about shopping; they're vibrant community gatherings that showcase local small businesses and provide a fun event once a month for our town. From freshly baked bread to permanent jewelry, custom hat bars, pickled goods, geodes and fossils, macarons, clothing, fresh-cut flowers, snowcones, and lemonades, our Market has something for every family member! Families are at the heart of our community focus We love hosting seasonal family-friendly events that combine fun and education. From interactive workshops for kids to courses for plantloving adults, someone is always learning in our greenhouse This year, we have hosted custom potting classes and services, Houseplant School, scavenger hunts for kids, and more Education is another cornerstone of what we do. We offer West Texas-specific guides that our customers can use for reference when fertilizing their lawns or landscapes, preparing new beds for planting, or planting new trees We have degreed and certified Horticulturalists and Arborists on staff that combined represent over 100+ years of experience within the green industry. We're passionate about sharing our

Tell us about the goal of your store's unique features and the overall outcomes with your customers and community

knowledge with the next generation through field trips with local schools These hands-on educational experiences teach children about general plant care and gardening, planting the seed to begin a love for plants and the outdoors For those looking to capture special moments, our seasonal, and free, photo booths provide a fun way for families to create lasting memories while promoting our store on social media From pumpkin patches to Christmas paradise, it's all about sharing the joy of gardening and community spirit with our online audience! We're also committed to making a positive impact related to local animal adoption. Partnering with local shelters, we host adoption events where families can meet and potentially adopt dogs looking for forever homes We partner with two local adoption agencies and have pets on-site at least twice a month The agencies also use our facility to photograph pups that need new homes, allowing for eye-catching social media advertisements In conclusion, our store isn't just a place to shop it's a community hub where nature meets creativity, education, innovation, and real-life connections Whether you're a gardening enthusiast, a family seeking fun activities, or someone planning a special event, we invite you to explore all that Alldredge Gardens offers

Unique Features: Professional Education Guides: We provide comprehensive guides authored by our degreed horticulturalists These resources are designed to help customers make informed decisions and address their gardening challenges with confidence For example, we provide customers with a yearly "Alldredge Lawn Schedule" that lists what products to apply and when to apply them throughout the year to keep their lawns healthy, pest free, and weed free Personal Consultations: Our team is available for both phone and in-person consultations Whether customers need tailored advice or have specific concerns, our experts are here to offer personalized support We work closely with customers to give design advice, resolve a turf grass/shrub/tree disease issue, and more Active Social Media and CRM Engagement: We maintain active communication channels through social media and CRM platforms, ensuring that customer questions are answered promptly and accurately Our customers have access to contact us via chat bot on our website, phone, text, social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc), and email. Overall Outcomes: Informed Customers: With access to expert-written guides and personalized consultations, our customers gain valuable knowledge, making them more confident in their gardening choices A Trusted Resource: By providing consistent and reliable support, we position ourselves as a trustworthy garden center that customers can rely on for all their gardening needs Stronger Community Connection: Our active engagement and support help build a strong community around our store, creating a space where customers feel valued and connected Through these efforts, we aim to create a positive impact on our customers’ gardening experiences and contribute to a more informed, self-confident and engaged gardening community

Has your store's unique features inspired your staff, customers, or community? If so, describe how

Our staff members are continually inspired by the opportunity to educate and engage with customers By providing expert guidance and personalized support, our team feels a deep sense of purpose and satisfaction in helping others succeed in their gardening endeavors

This inspiration translates into a passionate and knowledgeable workforce that is enthusiastic about their role and committed to enhancing the customer experience Our educational resources and personalized consultations have empowered customers to feel confident in their gardening skills and find satisfaction in themselves when achieving desired results By offering clear guidance and being a reliable resource for their questions, we help customers approach gardening with newfound assurance This confidence often leads to greater enthusiasm and creativity in their gardening projects, turning challenges into exciting opportunities for growth Our store has become a vibrant hub for both home and commercial gardening, inspiring a sense of community and shared passion Through our educational programs and interactive support, we motivate individuals to explore new ideas and approaches in their gardens This engagement fosters a dynamic and supportive gardening community where members are excited to share their experiences, seek advice, and celebrate their gardening successes together In summary, our store's commitment to education, personalized support, and a fun, engaging environment has not only inspired our staff and customers but has also strengthened our connection with the Midland and Odessa communities

Additional Photos/Documents

Provide images with descriptions on your retail garden center's unique features

Describe the photos above

Award Photos pdf

We compiled a document showcasing a few areas of our business such as the following: -Market at the GardensPhoto booths and other family photography opportunities -Pumpkin Patch -Christmas Wonderland -Education Experiences (Field Trips) -Live Music at Cafe at the Gardens (Atrium Dining and Full Bar) -Dog Adoption Partnerships -Customer Congregation Painting NightsEvent hosting for weddings, engagements, showers and business dinners -Educational Handouts (Free and provided to customers for community education projects) -Event Advertisement examples and schedule for 2024Overview photos of the nursery/garden center area and overview photos of a live market event/parking lot

Other Documentation: Upload any additional supporting documents or images Award Photos.pdf

MARKET AT THE GARDENS

PHOTO BOOTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES

EDUCATION EXPERIENCES (FIELD TRIPS)

LIVE MUSIC AND DINING CAFE AT THE GARDENS

DOG ADOPTION

CUSTOMER CONGREGATION NIGHTS

EVENTS HOSTED IN CAFE AT THE GARDENS RENTAL SPACE

EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMER EDUCATION HANDOUTS/EVENTS

NURSERY OVERVIEW PHOTOS (MORE HERE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13MIXAkdDgcCd-oxdRiR9306V1DP8g06r?u sp=sharing)

MARKET AT THE GARDENS

PHOTO BOOTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES

EDUCATION EXPERIENCES (FIELD TRIPS)

LIVE MUSIC AND DINING CAFE AT THE GARDENS

DOG ADOPTION

CUSTOMER CONGREGATION NIGHTS

EVENTS HOSTED IN CAFE AT THE GARDENS RENTAL SPACE

EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMER EDUCATION HANDOUTS/EVENTS

NURSERY OVERVIEW PHOTOS (MORE HERE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13MIXAkdDgcCd-oxdRiR9306V1DP8g06r?u sp=sharing)

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