E-Commerce Connect Members Take the Stage at TPIE 2026!
- Souny Kennedy
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
E-Commerce Connect members are bringing the voice of independent garden centers to the TPIE stage — and to future industry conferences focused on e-commerce and growth.
The Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — one of the horticulture industry’s premier gatherings — brought together growers, retailers, suppliers, and innovators from across North America. This year, E-Commerce Connect was proud to have our members featured as speakers in a key educational session focused on technology, people, and process.
Real Leaders, Real Experience on the Main Stage
As part of “Cultivating Synergy: Aligning People, Process, and Digital Innovation for Growth”, three industry professionals shared practical insights into how garden centers can use workplace solutions, digital tools, and smart processes to save time, increase revenue, and reduce labor expenses — a trifecta of priorities for any successful horticulture business.
The session took place on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EST during TPIE, and was structured as a 1.5 CEU educational workshop.
Our Members on the Agenda
E-Commerce Connect members brought real-world retail and digital experience to the conversation:
Allison Bast — a proven educator and practitioner in garden center digital commerce and strategy.
Tyler Cerbo — a hands-on operator focused on bridging the gap between retail execution and online selling models.
Sarah Polzin — an expert in process optimization and team enablement for independent garden centers.
These speakers represented a range of perspectives, from day-to-day retail operations to strategic application of digital tools and processes — exactly the types of insights independent retailers need to compete and grow.
Why This Matters for Garden Centers
TPIE is more than an industry trade show — it’s where the future of horticulture is shaped. Having E-Commerce Connect members on the agenda sends a strong signal: independent garden centers are not just adapting to digital change — they are helping define how it should happen.
Their session emphasized:
How technology and digital adoption can drive revenue and operational efficiency
Ways to align team processes with customer expectations
Practical methods to save labor and speed execution without sacrificing quality
In short, it was a session focused squarely on translating modern digital capabilities into retail outcomes — something every independent garden center is trying to do right now.
A Collective Step Forward...
Plant retail is evolving rapidly. As online sales continue to grow and consumer behavior continues shifting toward convenience and digital discovery, independent garden centers need both tools and peer-based learning to stay competitive. Participation at TPIE by E-Commerce Connect members reflects the broader momentum behind the program and its mission to empower independent retailers with practical strategies that deliver results.
We’re proud of our members for representing the independent garden center community with insight, clarity, and leadership — and we’re even more excited to share more at future conferences!
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