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Rave Reviews! Magazine is no longer being published.
Find out what Cherie's up to below.

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If you’ve been a subscriber for long, you know that I have mentioned my husband’s plant nursery in some of my editorials. What used to be just another nursery has evolved into a full service operation, where there are not only lots of beautiful containers and ornamental artwork to choose from - but the concept of the plants we sell has dramatically changed, too. We are now the growers - planting tiny little seedlings and watching as they develop into healthy plants that are acclimated to our area. As we continue to put out plant material that is superior to anything we have previously sold, our reputation for attention to detail is spreading.

The detail is not only in the look of the plants - it’s in the look of the nursery. After years of hounding, I finally convinced my husband to turn me loose out there! I kept telling him, the nursery grounds are like a giant gift basket. We need perceived value. We need height! To that end, I convinced him to build some pergolas and add signage to raise awareness! The nursery had decorative pots from one end to the other, so I said, “Let’s create color rooms–grouping like colors of pots, benches, tables, etc. together–making it easy for buyers to shop!” And people began to notice that there was something different going on...

As with gift baskets - if you don’t show customers what you can do, you can’t be disappointed in your sales. Once I began to organize and lay out the nursery, I found I had great creativity when it comes to merchandising and design. I have discovered a hidden talent - and it has opened the door to a new opportunity where my husband and I can work as a team.

It is with mixed emotions that I let go of one part of my life to move forward with another, but this is an opportunity I can’t pass up. November/December 09 will be the last issue of Rave Reviews Magazine. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in this industry for the last twenty years, and I hope that in some way I have inspired you.

What an exciting time for my family–as the chance for Keith and I to work together brings with it huge potential! If you’re interested in keeping up with me - you can visit the nursery website–www.bentoaknursery.com–where you’ll see my creativity in full bloom!