Meet, mingle and have fun with our entertaining and rewarding social program!

There are only 48 days to go until the NGI National Conference in Darwin and as well as insightful and informative speaker sessions we also have a fun-filled social program for you to enjoy.

Get up close and personal with saltwater crocs at the Welcome Function. Are you brave enough to enter the cage of death or to feed the crocs from the feeding platform? What about handling the reptiles? Come and join us if you are game!

What is Territory Rig? Show us your best impersonation of a Territorian by dressing up for the NextGen theme night. Join us for fun and games such as whip cracking, a thong throwing competition, toad races and don’t miss out on the chance to see ‘Tiffany and the Curls’ playing live.

The Conference will end on a high with the NGI 2010 Awards Gala Dinner, ‘Under the Stars with the Stars’. Celebrate the Best of the Best at one of Darwin’s premier function venues, by Fannie Bay on the grounds of the picturesque museum gardens, a unique and memorable venue to celebrate the industry’s top achievers.

The 2010 NGI National Conference - a must-attend event for all of industry. Be quick! Registrations close April 15. To register
click here or for more information ph Natalie Walker on (02) 9876 5200

Past exhibitors – if you want your business to have a presence at National Conference this year there is still the opportunity to educate delegates about what you do with a satchel insert. To find out more contact Kobie Keenan on 0410 686 901

What's in your pocket Johnny?

New innovation for industry to be launched at Conference

An exciting new diagnostic tool will be launched at National Conference so make sure you tick the technical stream on your registration form if you want to see it unveiled.

Industry Development Manager John McDonald will be presenting ‘What’s in your pocket Johnny?’ As part of this presentation John will be launching the Pocket Diagnostic Test Kit, an in-field rapid, portable and cost effective plant disease diagnostic tool.

The Test Kit is robust and simple to use and gives a result in
3 – 10 minutes at a cost between $10 and $20 per test, which is
10 – 20% of the cost current laboratory based testing!

Independent analyisis of the test kits undertaken in the UK and Holland has proven that the test kits are also reliable, establishing a consistent 96% correlation with laboratory based diagnostics.

Destination Darwin

More about industry tours!

In 1995 Estelle Cornell and her husband Peter purchased a property on the main highway to Darwin. The land was originally a nursery and all that was left was a shed and very basic infrastructure.

The couple originally had other plans for the property, but while cleaning it up they were constantly stopped by members of the public and asked when the nursery would be reopening. Pouncing on a business opportunity, Estelle began potting up plants day and night. Her vision was for a garden centre that provided a tranquil environment where customers could wander through at their leisure and choose from a wide range of plants, gardening and landscaping products, water features, garden ornaments, pots and gifts. Click here to read more

Darwin Plant Wholesalers was established in 1973 by Darryl South who is originally from Adelaide and has a nursery and landscape background.

Establishing a business in Darwin was a challenge, especially after Cyclone Tracey hit. However, the nursery grew and Darwin Plant Wholesalers started to make a name for itself in many areas of Australia, particularly the north-west of WA. Darwin Plant Wholesalers had began to establish itself as reliable supplier with a good variety and quality of product.

Click here to read more

The Nursery & Garden Industry Conference is funded by the Nursery Levy.

Speaker Q & A

Brian Walker

In this edition of Countdown to Darwin we interview 'The Retail Doctor', Brian Walker who will be presenting 'The New Players - Challenge or Opportunity?' in the Conference plenary session.

What one main thing do you hope growers will take away from your presentation?

Different strategies and practical steps they can take to deal with, and grow in, the changing marketplace.

Twelve Woolworths hardware stores have recently been approved in Victoria. What do you think this means for the nursery industry and how will this change the way we need to operate?

I will be showing delegates how to get ‘fitter’ in business. The new hardware stores represent challenges but also represent opportunities.

For retailers – I will be focusing on these opportunities and showing them how to differentiate themselves and use the strengths that the big boxes don’t have.

For growers - I will be giving them tips on how to better understand this new customer and service them better.

What experience do you have with similar market situations?

Big box retailing creates a definite opportunity for wholesalers to grow a larger share of their business. I will be highlighting new ways for growers to take their business to market. I have worked in a series of businesses where we have created a really defined wholesaler strategy to make a more compelling offer in the new marketplace.

What can growers do to differentiate themselves and stand out from the crowd other than just competing with price?

Many things:

• Work out what they are good at
• Work out where their opportunities lie
• Understand what their market is looking for
• Pick key trends
• Be flexible and adaptable
• Understand where and how they make their money
• Understand their customers' business, and tailor their offer
• Think of ways they can make their customer’s business more profitable; increase their profitability while increasing their customers’ as well.

To view Brian's bio, click here.