Washington, D.C. — The American Nursery & Landscape Association’s (ANLA) “mini-MBA” for garden retailers, Garden Center University (GCU), is now accepting registrations for the Class of 2012.  This program, exclusively designed for garden center owners and managers will begin in Louisville, Ky., January 30-31, 2010.  GCU, taught by “Professor” Ian Baldwin, examines garden centers as businesses – covering metrics, inventory, staff management marketing and more. Garden Center Magazine’s Sarah Martinez will host a webinar on Monday, November 23rd at 2 p.m. with Ian and GCU graduate Gary Blondell of Gary’s Garden’s.

The five-semester program will improve the profit and market position of both large and small garden centers, veteran owners, and new managers alike.  Participants are constantly networking and problem-solving in groups. The program in interactive and participants are asked to bring their own financial statements, promotion pieces, job descriptions, etc.  Ian Baldwin’s experience from 25 years in retail nursery consulting yields several examples of good and bad practices.

The program is primarily aimed at retail owners and managers in the sales volume range of $500,000 to $5 million per year who want to double or triple their size. The program is linked throughout by core “threads” of learning (Fiscal, Human Resources and Sales & Merchandising) essential for profitable garden center operations.

To register, visit www.anla.org/events or contact Colleen Beirne at 202-741-4857 or cbeirne@anla.org.