Back to School Offers Unique Opportunity for College Students and Parents to Connect...
As parents of a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, we’ve witnessed the “dorm plant” craze firsthand over the past three years. Our son has developed a healthy addiction to plants and is now growing his own urban jungle—complete with a bonsai tree he’ll be caring for well beyond graduation. For independent garden centers located near a college or university, this presents a tremendous opportunity: promote plants as the perfect “dorm-warming” gift—and let E-Commerce Connect handle the delivery!
With Central Florida Ferns & Foliage now drop-shipping houseplants, it has never been easier to become the go-to plant destination for students and parents in your own backyard. Reach students during their first year, and you may gain loyal customers who shop with you—both online and in-store—for the next three years and beyond. Our son regularly visits his favorite local plant shop in Richmond, and his collection continues to grow.
Watch this short video to see what’s possible:
This is exactly why we created E-Commerce Connect: to give independent garden centers a fighting chance to compete with big-box stores in today’s convenience-driven economy. The connection between plants, improved mood, and overall well-being is well documented. For a fascinating look at how nature affects us, read The Nature Fix by Florence Williams.
Creating a “College Collection” on your Shopify or WooCommerce website takes only a few minutes—and the timing couldn’t be better, with student move-ins beginning next month. Consider featuring easy-care houseplants, dorm-friendly planters, bonsai trees, and affordable plant gifts for parents to send directly to campus.
There is so much that can be built around this simple, affordable idea. Give students and parents the ability to “Dorm Dash” a plant straight to a dorm room—and begin building a new generation of loyal plant customers. If you take advantage of this opportunity, we would love to hear how it goes. With just a few clicks, Back to School can become Back to Nature.
Watch for ready-to-use promotional materials coming soon to The Post Office.
(Coming Soon!)
