Englishman's Expanded Showroom, New Kitchen Line

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900

New Furniture-quality Kitchen Line Enters Market

Englishman’s Fine Furnishings introduces custom kitchen line in newly expanded furniture and accessories showroom.

Sept. 1, 2010 – Atlanta – Englishman’s Fine Furnishings, makers of high-quality, European-style antique reproduction furniture, officially announced this week its new furniture-quality, custom kitchen line in a fully expanded showroom at AmericasMart Atlanta (Building 1, 11-D 2). The new kitchen line, Englishman’s Kitchens & Fine Custom Cabinetry, is part of an overall showroom expansion to include a total 9,300 square feet of display space.

The former 7,500 square-feet, L-shaped showroom was augmented with an available adjacent space and remodeled into a large square that now features Englishman’s new custom-kitchen design options, along with the company’s signature collections of whole-house furnishings and accessories. The showroom was redesigned to provide a warm home-like feel and easy flow. Customers now enter through a new 1,800 square feet of display space with glass windows and doors that wrap around two corridors and are next to the floor’s escalators. This leads to a diverse range of dining room, seating and bedroom vignettes; into the new custom kitchen, and through a garden area complete with terracotta containers, fountains and statuary.

Englishman’s Kitchens & Fine Custom Cabinetry was launched based upon the company’s long-standing business of building custom furniture. “We had received many requests for custom kitchens reminiscent of our English- and European-style furnishings,” says Mike Howarth, owner / president. “Since other businesses in the Mart were not offering this type of built-in cabinetry, we knew it would be a good opportunity to create custom kitchens for designers and their clients.” With pre-existing design services and customizable kitchen and dining furniture pieces, Howarth and his staff added high-quality countertop options and an appliance source, creating a one-stop shop for new and remodeled kitchen needs.

The kitchen line includes all components of today’s kitchens such as made-to-order cabinetry, shelving, wine racks, and islands in nearly any wood. Finishes are available in mahogany, walnut, oak, burl wood, cherry, oak, and solid paints in all colors and shades. “We can handcraft the pieces in antique and traditional styles as well as transitional or distressed looks,” says Anita Vreeland, Englishman’s president of marketing & design. The company’s artisans also can do veneering and inlaid work and incise hand-carved details. There are 20 cabinet hardware alternatives on display, and customers can request custom hardware to match their own tastes. Countertop selections encompass a large number of granite and quartzite choices with several types of edging. The showroom’s new kitchen display features both a polished and a honed countertop. To top things off, most any kind of decorative oven hood can be fashioned and built.

To supply comprehensive service, Englishman’s provides full design and installation for designers and their clients. “We start the process by meeting with our customers to assess their kitchen needs and wants,” says Howarth. “It is recommended they share photos, plans or sketches with us, though we can provide design sketches and a wide range of customizations upon request.” From there, the design team measures and quotes the cabinet job, facilitates the counter and appliance selections and their quotes, and creates a systematic approach for installation. Though, kitchen design plans are only considered complete when all the necessary furniture pieces have been determined and planned.

Englishman’s staff members specialize in conceptualizing inclusive kitchens with a broad arrangement of furnishings. “Custom and standard-fitting tables, matching or eclectic chairs, bar stools with swivel seats, huntboards for serving, and hutches for storage and display of dishes are just a few of the many possibilities,” says Vreeland. According to the company, the ultimate goal is to achieve kitchens for customers that result with appealing and aesthetic interior design, combined with today’s modern kitchen functionality.

Part of the overall showroom expansion involved a close study of industry and market trends to uncover what customers are seeking in artful conception for homes. With an understanding of these insights, Vreeland and her team acquired and placed applicable new pieces with in-stock items into pre-planned vignettes. “We create displays that are similar to real-life settings and then accent them with accessories and décor to evoke visual interest,” she says. “In the end, our customers often tell us they find our showroom displays yield great opportunities for showcasing important design considerations to their clients.”

In addition to AmericasMart Atlanta, Englishman’s Fine Furnishings has a showroom for trade professionals in Smyrna, Ga. The Smyrna showroom is also open to the public. To learn more, log onto www.englishmansfurniture.com.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, Writers, and Other Members of the Media:

Members of the media and writers may seek supplemental information, written articles, high-resolution photos, showroom VIP tours, and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email address at the top of this release. Thank you in advance for your interest.

Eberly & Collard Public Relations Makes List of Top PR Firms

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900

Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Jeff Collard, jcollard@eberlycollardpr.com

Eberly & Collard Public Relations Makes List of Top PR Firms

May 18, 2010 – ATLANTA – Eberly & Collard Public Relations, a public / media relations and advertising firm specializing in the Home, Garden, Design, and Agribusiness Industries, announced today it was awarded inclusion to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2010-2011 Industry Leaders list. The distinction places the company on the annual list of top public relations firms, as determined by the research staff of the business publication. The list of top firms was published in the May 14 edition and will also be included in this year’s Book of Lists, 2010-2011.

“We are proud to be part of such a professional line-up of PR firms,” says Don Eberly, co-owner and president / chief executive officer. “Being headquartered in Atlanta has proven to be a solid home base for servicing clients corporately located throughout North America.”

Considerations for comprisal to the list included size of firm and employer status. Other noted factors encompassed the firm’s service offer and company-wide achievements during the past year. The success of Eberly & Collard Public Relations’ social media services, termed PR 2.0, was sited as a significant annual achievement for the firm.

“The team at ECPR has worked diligently to cultivate our PR 2.0 service model, which is the convergence of traditional public relations and modern social media networks,” says Jeff Collard, co-owner and vice president / chief financial officer. “This proactive combination leads to building online communities for our clients, including their existing customers, potential customers, supporters, media members, and others within their constituency groups and diverse marketplaces.”

The PR 2.0 service was created to help businesses build and gain referral traffic from online social networks, while still executing traditional public and media relations. At the core of the program, Eberly & Collard Public Relations guides its clients through the process of utilizing social media strategies and channels to interface directly with their customers or clients, and participate in their online conversations.

Collard, Eberly and their staff implemented social media services for their clients a year ago after conducting focus groups to determine the related effectiveness. Their findings showed combining established public relations practices with online social networking enhanced clients’ marketing communications from one-way models to two-way relationships.

Learn more about Eberly & Collard Public Relations on the company’s website at www.eberlycollardpr.com and through the following social media channels:

Blog: www.eberlycollardpr.blogspot.com

Facebook Fanpage: http://tinyurl.com/ECPR-Facebook

Twitter: http://twitter.com/eberlycollardpr

Flickr: http://tinyurl.com/ECPR-Flickr

Information about the firm’s social media services can be read at: http://www.eberlycollardpr.com/social-media.asp.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, and Other Members of the Media:

Members of the media and writers may seek supplemental information and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email address at the top of this release.
Byline articles with social media subject-matter are available upon request.

ShadeFX Canopies and Walpole Woodworkers Announce Shade Pergolas

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact(s): Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900

Leslie Kirk, lkirk@eberlycollardpr.com

Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Walpole Woodworkers and ShadeFX Canopies Introduce Shade Pergolas

Outdoor Room Innovators Walpole Woodworkers and ShadeFX Canopies Establish Partnership to Launch Shade Pergolas to Trade and Consumer Marketplaces.

Walpole, MA / Toronto, ON – February 11, 2010 – Walpole Woodworkers, a renowned woodworking / home product company and the largest fabricator of cellular vinyl in the U.S., and ShadeFX Canopies, manufacturer of the monorail drive pergola canopy system, announced this month a strategic partnership to launch Shade Pergolas, a versatile alternative to common retractable awnings. The product line was created to provide for the moderating comforts of sun and shade as well as protection from rain in outdoor rooms and seating areas.

Shade Pergolas combine high-quality, handcrafted pergola structures with exclusive retractable and integrated canopy systems that provide functional architectural style to outdoor living areas. Shade Pergolas are designed for use at residential landscapes, decks and patios, commercial properties, assisted living facilities, outdoor cafes and restaurants, seating areas at marinas and golf courses, and most any outdoor space where the choice of sun or shade is desired.

“Shade Pergolas are the perfect complement to a home or commercial property’s architecture,” says Louis Maglio, president of Walpole Woodworkers. “With their height, depth and width, Shade Pergolas bring dimension and substance to an outdoor space.”

Shade Pergolas address the call for extended outdoor living. Walpole Woodworkers and ShadeFX Canopies created Shade Pergolas based upon the growing trend of outdoor rooms and to provide customers an advanced level of flexibility. “Shade Pergolas can be used to cover large areas up to 600 square-feet. Typical retractable awnings extend only 13 feet,” says Steve Ostrowski, president of ShadeFX Canopies. “Shade pergolas offer the combined benefits of structural beauty and defined space provided by pergolas, and functional protection from the elements for which awnings are known.”

The monorail drive pergola canopy system developed by ShadeFX Canopies eliminates the problems of attaching linear track systems to structures prone to shifting or moving over time. The company’s monorail drive design is patent pending worldwide.

Shade Pergolas offer homeowners the ability to create outdoor sanctuaries that are covered from rain, protected from sun, and impervious against wind. They can be affixed directly to a house, garage or other building, or installed as free-standing structures supported by robust columns that are elegant in appearance. Since the canopies are retractable, homeowners can switch from sun to shade at their leisure. The cellular vinyl pergolas are low-to-no maintenance and last more than 25 years. The canopies are durable and will deliver 10 to 15 years of use.

“Shade Pergolas make the investment in outdoor living a justifiable value because they truly expand living space and lifestyle options,” says Ostrowski. “Now, rather than going inside when the sun is too hot or rain begins to fall, Shade Pergola owners can continue to enjoy the comfort and convenience of outdoor living.”

Shade Pergolas are available with standard options or as customized designs, including the following:

Standard Options:

Hand-crafted cellular vinyl construction offering the look and feel of wood and requiring little to no maintenance.
Five standard sizes including: 10 x 10 feet, 10 x 12 feet, 10 x 14 feet, 12 x 12 feet, and 12 x 14 feet.
Square or round fiberglass columns.
Arched or straight roof tops with factory prefinished white vinyl safe paint.
Water-resistant fabric shades available in five standard colors from Sunbrella: Taupe, Heather Beige, Burgundy, Black, and Forest Green.

Custom Options:

Shade Pergolas can be any size as long as the design is sound and safe.
Hand-crafted cellular vinyl requiring little to no maintenance or natural wood construction.
Square, round, double, or custom columns.
Arched, straight, gabled, A-frame, or custom tops.
Custom additions such as intricate lattice panels, privacy shades, and other special requests.
Complete selection of water-resistant fabric shades available through Sunbrella or any of the waterproof fabrics from Sattler Yachtmaster.
Complete selection of paint colors for the pergola structure from Sherwin-Williams.

Rope drive canopies are available for structures up to 170 square-feet. For larger Shade Pergolas, motor drives are recommended, and canopies over 200 square-feet require motor drives. Shade Pergola designers can measure spaces intended for installation and help customize plans for customers.

Homeowners and commercial property owners may purchase Shade Pergolas via the company Web site. For standard Shade Pergolas, clients can expect shipment within seven to 10 days, while custom designs may take from three to six weeks.

To learn more about Shade Pergolas and the joint venture between Walpole Woodworkers and ShadeFX Canopies, please visit the newly designed Web site at www.shadepergolas.com.

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Notes to Editors, Reporters, Writers, and Other Members of the Media:

Additional information, interviews, article angles, and supplemental high-resolution / Associated Press-ready images may be obtained by directly contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations.
Media contact for all purposes: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900, Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com, or Leslie Kirk, lkirk@eberlycollardpr.com.

Eberly & Collard Public Relations Announces New Client

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900

Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Eberly & Collard Public Relations Announces New Client

January 2010 – Eberly & Collard Public Relations, a public / media relations firm specializing in the Home, Garden, Design, and Agribusiness Industries, announced this month it is managing public / media relations for Big River Industries / Old Castle APG, the nation’s largest producer of expanded clay lightweight aggregate.

The firm is developing new methods of communicating Big River Industries’ expanded clay lightweight aggregate product information, application benefits, and case-studies to the engineering, architecture, building, and horticulture / landscape marketplaces. Media kit research and development began in December, and product-based case-study writing is being completed to include all essential applications of Big River Industries’ aggregate products.

Team members managing initial campaigns developed an Associated Press-based feature article about Big River Industries that will be published in Pit & Quarry magazine, a publication featuring companies in the mining and manufacturing industries. The firm also secured a feature-oriented article in “question and answer” format that will quote Big River Industries’ top personnel. It will publish in Landscape & Irrigation, a leading trade publication for landscape, land and turf managers.

“A strategic and full-scale media relations program plan will lead to articles and product coverage publicizing Big River Industries in key trade publications,” says Jeff Collard, vice president for Eberly & Collard Public Relations. “Our firm’s ability to author many of the articles for the media combined with Big River Industries’ valuable industry knowledge is already lending to information-sharing with engineer, architect, builder, and other networks.”

Big River Industries’ lightweight aggregates are used in a variety of concrete products, including concrete masonry units and structural lightweight concrete for buildings and highway bridge decks. Other uses include precast / prestressed concrete, skid-resistant asphalt paving, geotechnical fill, and specialty products such as adhered manufactured stone masonry veneers. Compared to ordinary aggregates, lightweight aggregates increase the fire resistance and insulating capabilities of concrete products, improve their strength to weight ratio, enhance durability, and improve seismic and fatigue resistance, all while increasing cost efficiency. Big River Industries’ lightweight aggregates also reduce vertical and lateral loads when used for geotechnical fill. These aggregates are used in a wide range of applications by customers, and they supply solutions other products cannot provide.

In addition to lightweight aggregates, Big River Industries’ markets Class C Fly Ash, a by-product of western coal combustion. Fly Ash can be used as a partial replacement for cement in concrete products. It is also useful for solidifying liquid waste in landfills, and for soil stabilization.

More about Big River Industries

Big River Industries is an Oldcastle APG company, and has been a part of Oldcastle Architectural since 1987. The company began in 1954 with the production of Gravelite®, a rotary kiln produced aggregate at the company's original location near Baton Rouge, La. In 1984, a second expanded clay lightweight aggregate, Livlite®, was added with the acquisition of the Tombigbee Lightweight Aggregate Company in Livingston, Ala. The Arkalite® plant near West Memphis, Ark. was purchased in 2005, making Big River Industries the nation's largest producer of expanded clay lightweight aggregate. Today, Big River Industries’ annual production capacity exceeds 2.5 million cubic yards.

Big River Industries’ expanded clay lightweight aggregate has been used at Soldier Field, Busch Stadium, Turner Field, the Picardy Interchange, Meadowbrooke Golf Course, Chicago City Hall, The University of Central Florida, and numerous other high-profile sites.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, and Other Members of the Media:

Members of the media and writers may seek supplemental information and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email address at the top of this release.
High-resolution photos and case-studies regarding Big River Industries’ products and applications at high-profile sites are available upon request.

Garden Splendor Announces New Showcase Plants for 2010

Press Release - For Immediate Release

Media Contact(s): Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900

Leslie Kirk, lkirk@eberlycollardpr.com

Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Garden Splendor® Unveils New Showcase Plants for 2010

Overdevest Nurseries Continues a Tradition of Excellence by Identifying Ten New Plants for Garden Splendor®’s Premium Showcase Line of Plants in 2010.

BRIDGETON, N.J. – January 20, 2009 – The Garden Splendor® brand by Overdevest Nurseries announced today 10 new 2010 Showcase selections from the company’s premium plant collection of more than 500 varieties of perennials, ornamental grasses, patio plants, shrubs and vines.

This will be the seventh year that Garden Splendor has offered the Showcase line, and independent garden centers appreciate the consistency and branding of the high-quality product. Willow Run Home & Garden Showplace, an independent garden center based in Cresskill, NJ, has carried the Showcase line for four years and has found customers recognize and anticipate the Showcase line for its quality and value each spring.

“Carrying a co-branded (plant and garden center brands combined) plant line of the highest quality benefits us as a good reflection on our company with our consumers,” says Glenn Pendergast, owner of Willow Run Home & Garden Showplace. With co-branding options available, the managers of the Garden Splendor brand work closely with independent garden centers to maximize the sales and marketing opportunities the line provides its customers. This can include branded and co-branded labeling and local marketing efforts through public relations and advertising.

The 2010 Garden Splendor Showcase line will be available to homeowners at participating independent garden centers in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions beginning spring 2010. The plant material is chosen each year through extensive research and rigorous on-site evaluations for quality, innovation and reliability. Showcase growers also work closely with garden centers to specifically time plant shipments for optimum planting seasons in various cities and states, so plant material is displayed fresh and at peak interest the week it is projected to sell best.

“Plants tailored for Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic landscapes can sometimes be hard to come by,” explains Ed Overdevest, president and founder of the Garden Splendor brand and Overdevest Nurseries. “This is why we are sure to select superior varieties that meet upcoming trends, regional climate conditions, and our garden centers’ most prominent demands for the year.”

The new Garden Splendor® Showcase Plants for 2010 include the following:

Ajuga 'Black Scallop'
Aquilegia Winky Double 'Blue and White'
Chamaecyparis 'Oregon Blue'
Clematis 'Crystal Fountain'
Dianthus 'Raspberry Surprise'
Dicentra 'Burning Hearts'
Echinacea 'Mac n' Cheese'
Hosta 'Touch of Class'
Schizachyrium 'Carousel'
Veronica 'Giles Van Hees'

“Garden Splendor Showcase plant selections are grown to exacting standards and encompass the best of the ‘tried and true’ as well as the most promising of the ‘exciting and new’,” says Overdevest. To be included in the Garden Splendor collection, each plant must have a proven trial record of performance under various garden conditions.

Garden Splendor Showcase varieties are sold with the exclusive Remember Me® marker, a signature anodized aluminum tag embossed and printed with the botanical and common names of the respective varieties to serve as permanent identifying labels in the garden.

Additional information about the Garden Splendor brand and plant availability can be found at www.gardensplendor.com.

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Notes to Editors, Reporters, Writers, and Other Members of the Media:

Please see the high-resolution image for publication accompanying this press release or request one by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations. If you received this release via email, the attached image shows the Ajuga 'Black Scallop' variety, one of the new 10 Garden Splendor® Showcase plants. If you received this release as part of a mailed media kit, please see the images on the enclosed CD.

Additional information, interviews, individual plant profiles, article angles, feature stories, and supplemental high-resolution / Associated Press-ready images may be obtained by directly contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations.

Media contact for all purposes: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900, Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com, or Leslie Kirk, lkirk@eberlycollardpr.com.

Thank you!

Terra Nova Nurseries Launches New Solution-based Web Site and Catalog

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Eberly & Collard Public Relations

404-574-2900

Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Terra Nova Nurseries Launches New Solution-based Web Site and Catalog

Terra Nova Nurseries announces the launch of a targeted new Web site and wholesale 2010 catalog, positioning the company as a grower destination for breeding plants that fill industry and consumer demands.

Canby, Ore. – October 7, 2009 – Terra Nova Nurseries, a world leader in plant breeding technology, has announced the launch of a redesigned Web site and 2010 catalog which target grower and retailer audiences with solution-based information and photos. The site and catalog were created in tandem to serve as informational tools for industry customers and end-consumers, and to position Terra Nova Nurseries as a destination breeder for wholesalers, re-wholesalers, retailers, and professional landscapers.

“For the past several years, we have been carefully monitoring changes in the marketplace. Our customers know what they need to be successful, but they simply haven’t had all the necessary plant material available to them.” says Dan Heims, co-founder and president of Terra Nova Nurseries. As a result, Terra Nova Nurseries re-categorized customer wants and needs, and is now producing plants that specifically target trouble areas in the landscape, seasonality, and U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zones.

The marketing team at Terra Nova Nurseries uncovered a desire for education and full disclosure of information about each plant on the parts of customers. In response, the company developed the new Web site and catalog with customers in mind, keeping information streamlined, thorough and targeted per sub-audience.

Terra Nova Nurseries designed the new site and catalog to incorporate detailed insights about 54 new varieties for 2010, many of which possess qualities never before seen in 16 distinct genera. Highlights include the top five must-have new varieties and top five must-have new collections encompassing Coreopsis, Tiarella, Hellebore, Heuchera, and Agastache.

The new 2010 catalog and site contain rationales behind various new plant or genus improvements, along with explanations as to how the plants have been improved over previous cultivars. Plants were specifically bred to match unique customer needs and to address undesirable cultural traits. Some noteworthy examples of this innovative breeding include a new leucanthemum without an unpleasant scent, hardy echinaceas with sturdier stalks, and several tiarellas with trailing habits for extended landscape applications.

The catalog also encompasses all-new features such as content-rich boxes placed throughout the 80-page colorful booklet that supply grower customers with breeding and plant cultural insights. The graphically designed boxes consist of the following information:

· Grower Solutions – Solution plants that have been bred to solve the problems growers encounter throughout a growing season; comparisons between Terra Nova Nurseries’ products versus products from direct competitors; and benefits of Terra Nova Nurseries’ genetics versus standard varieties

· Breeder Goals – Strategies created by Terra Nova Nurseries’ breeding department to develop superior plants; breeder breakthroughs that have revolutionized the genera; and exceptional breeding achievements

· Native Species – Color-coded maps that establish areas in which Terra Nova Nurseries’ hybrids are native

The new interactive Web site has been organized by relative sectors: home gardeners, professional growers and media professionals. The sectioned online portal allows visitors to easily navigate to the most relevant, up-to-date information they seek. Notable highlights from the new Web site include an extensive photo library with downloadable high-resolution images for customers and media members, updated access to current plant availability, a news section with the latest ready-to-print press releases, and marketing section with a downloadable version of the 2010 wholesale catalog. The site’s most accommodating feature is a section housing detailed plant information for every product offered by Terra Nova Nurseries.

After receiving an over-whelming number of requests for insights into Terra Nova Nurseries’ special and unique horticultural accomplishments, a collectors’ guide was also featured in the new catalog. The collectors’ guide is an insert that fits into the fold of the main catalog and consists of rare plants, limited editions and classic varieties for growers, retailers, buyers, and garden enthusiasts.

To access the new Web site and download a copy of the new 2010 catalog, visit www.terranovanurseries.com.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, Garden Writers, and Other Members of the Media:

Please see the accompanying photos / artwork, or request materials and additional information by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations.
Professional wholesalers, re-wholesalers, landscapers, garden center owners / personnel, and others can learn more at www.terranovanurseries.com.
Members of the media and garden writers may seek supplemental information, copies of the new catalog, and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email addresses at the top of this release.

Habersham Gardens Announces CSA Program

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900

Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Habersham Gardens Acts as Liaison Between

Local Farmers and In-town Community

Atlanta independent garden center / professional landscaping company launches Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to promote local products, business growth and community outreach.

Atlanta – October 19, 2009 – Habersham Gardens, an Atlanta garden center business specializing in unique plants, garden accessories and landscape services, announced this week an innovative new program to advance business objectives, sales and community outreach by serving as a major in-town Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) participant. By becoming the newest food pick-up site in the CSA program, Habersham Gardens is supporting 20 local farmers who grow sustainable produce and supplying locally grown food to Atlantans.

The program is a cooperative made up of farmers with sustainable growing practices and urban organizations / businesses like Habersham Gardens with strong public followings or customer bases. The urban participants must also have physical locations conducive to easy pick-up of food items for area residents.

"Many Atlantans have interest in their own vegetable gardens given the 'home-grown edibles' and 'backyard to table' trends, but simply do not have the necessary time. Habersham Gardens initiated becoming a CSA participant to act as a liaison between local farmers and in-town residents,” says Deborah Harrison, founder and co-owner of Habersham Gardens.

Atlanta consumers may participate in the program by procuring food-purchasing memberships in return for weekly deliveries of seasonal, ultra-fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables and other organic food items. Regional farmers, in turn, are able to market food products to urbanites and receive membership payments early in the year prior to harvests. The advance-pay food memberships lead to steady cash flow for farmers’ crop development and address common interest in organic food among Atlantans. Habersham Gardens serves as the link between the two, given the garden center business acts as a significant food drop-off and pick-up location for in-town locals.

As a participant, Habersham Gardens’ CSA participation includes a wide variety of food items which are not restricted to vegetables. In addition, fruits, herbs, eggs, grains, coffees, meats, and other items become available over time. “Now, when our customers come to the garden center for plants or garden accessories, they can also register to receive weekly shipments of locally grown and diverse foods,” says Harrison.

Customers are able to fill out member profile surveys which determine food preferences. These preferences are then passed along to the farmers so they can plan crops according to member needs.

Becoming a sustaining member permits customers to participate in food crop planning and receive a special start-up pack including a special CSA cookbook. Since it is located between Midtown and Buckhead, Habersham Gardens offers local residents easy access to participate in the program and staff members trained to assist member-consumers during the weekly food pick-ups.

More than just a good way to help area residents find and purchase locally grown and organic food items, Habersham Gardens' CSA participation is also a strategic business action on Harrison’s part to increase marketability and inventory for her garden center.

"Implementing the CSA program at Habersham Gardens was a natural fit for us since we have been an in-town retailer of home and garden products for many years. Adding local, seasonal produce and food items to our inventory has brought about an additional sense of community as well as business opportunities for us,” says Harrison.

In order to maximize the opportunity further, Harrison and her staff plan to schedule a series of seminars open to the public to discuss cooking with vegetables and herbs. Habersham Gardens’ e-newsletters, Web site and blog will also feature appropriate recipes for common and seasonal CSA food items.

"Through CSA and because our garden center sources plants from local and regional growers, Habersham Gardens has relationships with both farmers and urban residents. For us, acting as a go-between for both groups is a way to better meet the selling objectives of farmers in business to make profits, and local residents who strongly desire local produce with little way to find it,” says Harrison.

To become a member for weekly food deliveries at Habersham Gardens, call 404-873-2484 or visit 2067 Manchester Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30324-4110. For more information about Habersham Gardens, please visit www.habershamgardens.com.

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Notes to the Editor:

Please direct any / all questions or needs to Don Eberly, Eberly & Collard Public Relations. The phone number and email address can be found at the top of this release.

Don Eberly Speaks at Chicago Market on Design and Product Trends

News Brief: Chicago Market and Design / Product Trends Panel

A panel discussion on “Trends in Design – Beyond 2009” will take place Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. during the 2009 International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market. The market show runs from September 21 to 24 at The Chicago Merchandise Mart, where 350 manufacturers from around the world will fill more than 350,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Sarah Kinbar, editor-in-chief of Garden Design magazine, Don Eberly, president and CEO of Eberly & Collard Public Relations, and other leading experts in the industry will discuss the latest trends in products and design. The panel will focus on furniture designs and styles, fabric trends, popular paint colors and finishes, plant and floral pairings, decorative containers, interior / exterior design trends, and more. The panel will also touch on how the green movement is affecting homeowners’ and designer's choices, as well as discussion from Eberly regarding the firm’s focus group findings and study data pertaining to product and design trends.

Who: Attendees and trade industry media attending the 2009 International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market

When: Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. CDT

What: “Trends in Design – Beyond 2009” moderated by Sarah Kinbar, editor-in-chief of Garden Design magazine, with special panel presentation from Don Eberly, president / CEO of Eberly & Collard Public Relations

Where: Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Suite 470, The Merchandise Mart

Chicago, IL 60654

Resources: For more information about the panel and market event, please visit www.casualmarket.com. To learn more about Don Eberly and Eberly & Collard Public Relations, log onto www.eberlycollardpr.com.

Media Contact: For questions or to RSVP with a media pass, please contact Eberly & Collard Public Relations at 404-574-2900, or email Leslie Kirk at lkirk@eberlycollardpr.com.

Note: If members of the media are unable to attend, information stemming from the event can be made available for article and photo coverage.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, and Other Members of the Media:

Members of the media and writers may seek supplemental information and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email address at the top of this release.

Silver Vase, Inc. Announces Sustainable IPM Practices

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900

Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Silver Vase Inc. Announces Clean & Green Integrated Pest Management Program

Grower of Premium Bromeliads and Orchids Addresses Sustainability Needs of Customers With Minimal Pesticide Use and Beneficial Species.

April 28, 2009 – Homestead, Fla. – Silver Vase Inc., a leading grower of orchids and bromeliads, officially announced today its Clean & Green Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. Silver Vase, Inc. management created the program to address customer and end-user need for chemical residue-free and sustainable plant material. The announcement was made to share valuable information about the program and its related benefits to customers of the company which include independent garden centers, mass merchants, florists, floral designers, landscapers, and interiorscapers.

Silver Vase, Inc.’s IPM program was developed a decade ago to deliver fresh, healthy and “green” products for wholesale customers looking to sell live goods that satisfy consumers’ trend-based demand for sustainable merchandise. Objectives of the program also included ensuring a clean environment for the company’s employees and customers. Today’s trend-based market interests related to clean and green growing practices led to the company’s decision to widely communicate the program in 2009.

Instead of depending primarily on pesticides like many other bromeliad and orchid growers, Silver Vase, Inc.’s IPM program uses information about pests’ life cycles to control them, with fewer hazards to people and the surroundings. IPM staff carefully limit the use of pesticides on plants and rely on the clean environment in the greenhouses to produce untainted products. Beneficial insect species are incorporated at strategic and timed intervals to control unwanted pest infestations. These practices guarantee delivery of residue-free plants to the consumer, removing pesticide dangers in the home.

“As a leader in IPM technological advancements through the years, Silver Vase, Inc. is intimately familiar with the importance of an integrated pest management program,” said Marcella Lucio, director of marketing for Silver Vase, Inc. “With our advanced IPM program and vision for continually enhancing sustainability for our customers, we have seen new interest from retailers and landscapers facing the challenges related to being green.”

Components of Silver Vase, Inc.’s IPM program include the following measures:

Unlike many specimens imported from other countries, these young orchids from Holland are naturally strong and disease resistant. Their premium origin combined with the IPM program measures equate to quality products that are clean and safe for home usage.

Measure # 1: All new and young live goods are brought in bare-rooted; this allows Silver Vase, Inc. to create its own soil media for their orchids / bromeliads. Soil mites are added to the mixtures in stage one to prevent and eat the larva that produces fungus gnats. The beneficial mites are released to live amid the greenhouses for two to three months. Additionally, all orchids are originally sourced from Floricultura, a European market leader specializing in the tissue culture and propagation of quality orchid plant material.

Measure # 2: Because it is impossible to entirely eliminate fungus gnats, spraying is still a necessary practice for most greenhouses. However, Silver Vase, Inc. chooses to take extra precautions to ensure that early-process spraying is reduced to a minimum of once or twice each year, and only the safest chemicals and procedures are permitted by the production managers.

Measure # 3: Because spraying is a rare occurrence for Silver Vase, Inc. and chemicals are not used on the plants regularly, natural predators are a decisive application as part of stages two and three in the greenhouses. The beneficials do not hurt the plants; rather, they combat the pests that could possibly affect the orchids / bromeliads which is a staple of the company’s overall IPM practices. Production and IPM staff allow for “friendly” predatory flies within the orchid greenhouses, while bromeliads naturally tend to attract helpful spiders.

Measure # 4: To ensure buyers that Silver Vase, Inc. products are residue free upon receipt, no chemicals are used on plants that are scheduled to be shipped within 10 weeks. If there is a pest problem, Silver Vase, Inc. will treat it another way, but chemicals are off-limits within this “Period of Protection.”

“Ongoing chemical spraying is how the average greenhouse controls pests and keeps plants protected,” said Lucio. “Many growers spray on average every two to three weeks. Given Silver Vase, Inc.’s IPM measures, we only spray crops an average of one to two times in an entire year.”

Additionally, plants are provided to retailers with laminated cards that state, “We Grow Clean and Green with Integrated Pest Management” and promote the product as pesticide residue free. Recently, retailers in higher numbers have told Lucio they prefer using these tags, since their mark of sustainability offers consumers the information they seek regarding safe products for gift-giving and the home.

More about Silver Vase, Inc.

Silver Vase Inc. is a privately owned, Florida-based corporation in the wholesale greenhouse industry with distribution across North America. Silver Vase, Inc. specializes in florist-quality, blooming and double-spiked Phalaenopsis orchids and 11 unique varieties of bromeliads that are available 52 weeks a year. The company has been in operation since 1988, and its principals and employee team members have extensive years of experience in the ornamental horticulture industry. Silver Vase, Inc. is the exclusive United States supplier of diverse European orchid varieties ranging in unique colors.

For more information about Silver Vase, Inc., log onto www.silvervase.com.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, Garden Writers, and Other Members of the Media:

Please see the enclosed CD and corresponding media kit materials. High-resolution images of the aforesaid plants can be found on the CD. Or, request a full media kit by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations.
Members of the media and garden writers may seek supplemental information and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email address at the top of this release.

Terra Nova Nurseries Announces Breeding Breakthroughs, New Collections

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Media Contact(s): Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900
Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com

Terra Nova Nurseries Unveils Breakthrough New Plants and Collections for 2010

Terra Nova Nurseries announces industry breakthroughs in breeding with new and improved 2010 introductions as well as five new specialized genera collections.

Canby, Ore. – July 12, 2009 – Terra Nova Nurseries, a world leader in plant breeding technology, has announced 54 new plant introductions for 2010 and five specialized collections that set new industry standards in coreopsis, tiarella, helleborus, heuchera and agastache.

“In today’s market, it is not just about the word ‘new’ written on the label,” says Dan Heims, co-founder and president of Terra Nova Nurseries. “Wholesalers, re-wholesalers, retailers, and landscape professionals are all looking for plants that offer the complete package. They want plants that offer novelty, are easy to grow, and provide value for both the grower and the consumer. Anything less will not hold up to their expectations.”

In order to satisfy customer needs, Terra Nova Nurseries has selected plants for 2010 that offer unique, superior improvements over past cultivars. Extended bloom time, disease resistance, exclusive color and form, unique application abilities, and higher tolerance to extreme conditions are key plant traits of these and other Terra Nova Nurseries new introductions.

A few noteworthy introductions include Ajuga ‘Sparkler’, the most vigorous and variegated ajuga ever offered in Terra Nova Nurseries’ extensive collection; Heuchera ‘Electra’, a new unrivaled heuchera being introduced this year with shocking, blood-red veins that last all year on electric golden leaves; Leucanthemum ‘Paladin’, a unique, ultra-vigorous Shasta Daisy with three rows of ruffled petals on stiff, upright stems and no disagreeable odor; Echinacea ‘Flame Thrower’, an incredibly long-lasting, early- and re-blooming echinacea with two-tone orange and yellow flowers that do not fade; and Pulmonaria ‘Silver Bouquet’, a deer-resistant hybrid with spectacular silver foliage all year and the first breakthrough pulmonaria with no delay between flowering and foliage, so the plant has beautiful interest from start to finish.

“Terra Nova Nurseries has been known for introducing high-interest varieties to the global market for over 15 years,” explains Ken Brown, co-founder of Terra Nova Nurseries. “However, 2010 marks a benchmark year for the brand as it reaches several target goals focused on providing grower solutions with our breeding of coreopsis, tiarella, helleborus, heuchera, agastache, and others.”

Terra Nova Nurseries has categorized five new special collections in a newly published 2010 catalog to make purchasing decisions easier. They include Summer Agastache, Punch Coreopsis, Winter Jewels™ Helleborus, Southern Landscape Heuchera, and Trailing Tiarella. Each collection epitomizes unique attributes that have been trialed, tested and perfected for the genera.

The new plant collections from Terra Nova Nurseries in 2010 will include the following:

Summer Agastache Collection – A new series of five agastache varieties bred with the longest lasting flowers in the industry, as evidenced by trials. Terra Nova Nurseries bred the plants in an exclusive color palette with calyces that do not brown like most agastache varieties. Therefore, blooms boast healthier, extended color all season long. Members of this collection are more weather resistant and grow with a bountiful, compact habit of 20-inch-high flower spikes. This collection has also shown to be cold-hardy to Zones 7 when planted in well-drained conditions.

Punch Coreopsis Collection – A new series of annual coreopsis available in an array of brilliant colors. The coreopsis plants in this series have an unusually high flower count from May to frost and are perfect alternatives to the traditional mum market. The plants are easy and low-cost to grow, and offer superior, consistent compact growth habits. They are self-cleaning and will re-bloom continuously all summer with little care and attention.

Winter Jewels™ Helleborus Collection – A new series of 10 extremely large, double hellebores that grow in a variety of rare forms. The strains are available in an exclusive range of individual colors rather than mixes, offering wholesalers, retailers and landscapers more color blocking options over previous hellebore selections. Winter Jewels™ Helleborus are available as 30-cell jumbo plugs to ensure added growth potential and, eventually, higher levels of shade landscape application success.

Southern Landscape Heucheras – A new series of five heuchera varieties that tolerate extreme heat and humidity due to Heuchera villosa breeding. From the very beginning, the Terra Nova Nurseries production team has taken great interest in introducing heucheras that break the mold of tradition. This series provides landscapes in the South with large, colorful foliage options, providing four seasons of interest.

Trailing Tiarella Collection – A new series of tiarella that offers vigorous growth, novel leaf shapes and attractive, high-contrast leaf patterns. These tiarellas are extremely drought-tolerant and can blanket dry, shady areas with newfound interest. Their trailing habits make them highly unique and perfect additions for containers, hanging baskets and landscapes.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, Garden Writers, and Other Members of the Media:

Please see the enclosed CD and corresponding media kit materials. High-resolution images of the aforesaid plants can be found on the CD. Or, request a full media kit by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations.

Professional wholesalers, re-wholesalers, landscapers and independent garden center owners / personnel can learn more at www.terranovanurseries.com.

Members of the media and garden writers may seek supplemental information and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email addresses at the top of this release.

Eberly & Collard Public Relations Launches New Brand, Media Channels

Press Release – For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Eberly & Collard Public Relations, 404-574-2900
Don Eberly, deberly@eberlycollardpr.com
Jeff Collard, jcollard@eberlycollardpr.com

Eberly & Collard Public Relations Announces New Brand, Company Name,
Web Site, and Social Media Channels

Industry Public Relations Firm, Specializing in the Home, Garden, Design, and Agribusiness Industries, Launches New Brand and Introduces Advanced Ways for Media and Clients to Interface.

Atlanta – July 10, 2009 – Eberly & Collard Public Relations, a public / media relations and advertising firm specializing in the Home, Garden, Design, and Agribusiness Industries, announced today its rebranded company name and online media channels. The company, formally operating as Eberly Public Relations, will enact its new brand effectively immediately. With the introduction of the new name, Eberly & Collard Public Relations is expanding to include a range of online and Social Media devises to enhance communicative activities for the firm and its clients. The changes will enable Eberly & Collard Public Relations personnel and clients to increase publicity levels with the use of multi-platform technology.

An overarching component of the new brand is the company’s name. The addition of Jeff Collard’s last name was an obvious and necessary change. Even though Don Eberly, president and chief executive officer, founded the firm nearly eight years ago, Jeff Collard, who serves as vice president and chief financial officer, joined the firm only six months after the original inception. Eberly and Collard decided to wait to change the name of the company until the firm was well established and widely known.

“With continuous growth and new client accounts over the years, the time for a brand and name change was well overdue,” said Eberly. “Jeff’s work background and education in horticulture and design always have been, and continue to be, the perfect match to complement our service structure.” Eberly’s career path and degree includes a mix of public relations, journalism and education.

As part of the brand launch, the firm has just released a new Web site (www.eberlycollardpr.com) as a means of communicating information about its services, capabilities, and clients’ company and product / service information. The new site was designed with easy-to-access press and product releases along with the ability to follow related news and information through a RSS feed on the Home page.

The site also provides visitors the ability to access Eberly & Collard Public Relations’ four key Social Media channels. These include the firm’s ongoing posts on Twitter, a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables the company’s personnel to send and receive updates, known as tweets; Flickr, a photo-sharing site on which the firm places photography of its clients’ products and design work; a customized blog on which staff members share how-to narratives quoting clients, product photos, event information, and client-based trend news; a Face book fan page that is used to connect with industry contacts, initiate online discussions, and communicate information about happenings of the firm.

“By embracing and interlocking all of the new social media networks and launching our new Web site, Eberly & Collard Public Relations plans to continue building communications and relationships with industry friends across the globe,” said Collard.

The new brand and its related changes will generate a gamut of features representing a high level of marketing support for clients and the latest technologies, but in a simplified format that addresses the information-sharing needs of the company’s clients and media contacts.

Log onto the new Web site and each of the new media channels which can be easily located on the site’s Home page in a box entitled, “Our Media Channels.”

For more information, contact Don Eberly at deberly@eberlycollardpr.com.

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Notes for Editors, Reporters, Garden Writers, and Other Members of the Media:

Members of the media and writers may seek supplemental information and advanced interviews by contacting Eberly & Collard Public Relations at the phone number and / or email address at the top of this release.

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