Comments on: What’s All the Hype About Urban Outfitters’ New Terrain Garden Center?

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:03:16 +0000

I visited Terrain last week without realizing it was owned by Urban Outfitters, so wasn’t aware that it was ‘targeted’ to GenXers and Ys. I’m in my early 50s and Terrain is the gardening shop mecca of my dreams (always disappointed by Smith & Hawkins). It’s not inexpensive, but I was willing to pay a bit more for the experience. Last Friday afternoon the ages of customers eating and shopping at Terrain definitely tilted toward older women, probably typical for that time of day.

When I was in my 20s and early 30s I had the interest, but not the time or money, to spend in/on a garden. Herbs on my Manhattan fire escape were the best I could manage. Now I’m a rabid gardener and beekeeper. So I don’t really think things have changed all that much between generations. That being said, I think your contemporaries are much more tuned in to sustainable agriculture, locavore eating and environmental issues, so I’m pretty confident backyard gardening has a future.

As for those Latin name-droppers, I used to hear the same sort of stuff when I was your age, but now I encounter many condescending young people just as eager to impress with their vast knowledge.

Thanks for your informative, un-precious blog!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:59:57 +0000

As for those Latin name-droppers, I heard the same sort of stuff when I was your age, but now I also encounter many condescending young people just as eager to display their knowledge.

Thanks for your informative and un-precious blog!

By: Jayme Jenkins

Jayme Jenkins — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:42:17 +0000

Great comments Fern! I totally agree with everything you said. $8.99 for 4″ perennials? Yikes!

I’m actually traveling to Corvallis, OR, tomorrow to visit a more inspiring plant nursery. I tolerate the local independents for their basic plants and convenient location, but they could steal some ideas from Terrain to make the shopping experience more enjoyable.

My goal is to someday visit Flora Grubb’s nursery in the bay area. I think she’s rad!

By: Fern

Fern — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:56:15 +0000

Christina–I need to move to your neighborhood, because my Home Depot has boring plants in bad condition. I only buy the basics from them (cheap bedding annuals, occasionally potting soil). There are two independent nurseries I shop at. One is more reasonably priced but laid out in an uninspiring fashion. I try and buy as much as I can from them. The other is laid out like Terrain and is moderately (but not obscenely) expensive. I swear to myself that when I visit that one, I’m just going for inspiration. But invariably they have some gorgeous plant that I can’t find anywhere else and I tell myself that it isn’t thaaaat bad to pay $8.99 for a perennial in a four inch pot. Also, while I am a 20-something with a limited plant budget, I always see plenty of 40 & 50 somethings there who are buying cart fulls of plants.

The moral of the story: If you have an interesting, unique selection at prices that are not astronomical, you’ll find plenty of people who buy what you have to offer. Even though places like Terrain appeal to younger gardeners, they also appeal to baby boomers who are much more style conscious than their parents and have the cash to spend in expensive nurseries.

By: Jayme Jenkins

Jayme Jenkins — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:23:07 +0000

I am so glad you posted your visit to Terrain. Sounds like it was an amazing place to hang out for a day. I feel like that is always a good gauge of how well a store can play into a customer’s emotions: You plan NOT to spend money, then you end up buying over $100 worth of stuff you couldn’t possibly live without.

Interesting note about the demographics. I don’t know if I’m totally surprised though. From what I’ve heard, Terrain isn’t cheap and I wonder if that price range doesn’t appeal to younger gardeners yet. Very interesting none the less.

Thanks again Jess for your observations!

By: jesshibb

jesshibb — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:24:15 +0000

Update: I finally visited Terrain today, while on vacation in the Philly area. Between brunch & terrarium plants & other goodies, we spent over $100. The fact that they were having a tent sale and a lot of items were 30-50% off really didn’t help me retain my willpower.

(I just re-read my previous comment about how I didn’t plan to buy anything there … HA HA HA. What was I thinking?! It’s so easy to talk nonsense like that when it’s January and there’s snow on the ground.)

For those who are interested, the shoppers who were there (mid-day on a Monday in the middle of summer) were not all the youthful hipsters I anticipated. There were a few of them, but there were also a lot of women who looked to be in their 40s & 50s, some couples in the 30-65 age group. Not hugely diverse. I’d imagine there’s a wider demographic range during the busier spring & fall seasons.

By: Jayme

Jayme — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:42:37 +0000

@blockbot,
How fun to get a guy’s perspective. Thanks for your thoughts, almost like you were reading my mind.

You grow dude!
Jayme

By: Jayme

Jayme — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:40:34 +0000

@Phillip,
Good to hear from you! Hope you had a fabulous holiday season and happy 2009. I agree with you about the paradigm shift. The garde society is changing the younger generation is taking the bull by the horns.

Best,
Jayme

By: Philip

Philip — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:51:57 +0000

I think you really captured something here.
I think there is a real interest in sustainability,native plants, urban farming,food policy, edible schoolyards.
I think what is “out” is elitism, ostentation,lawns,”freeway” plants, invasive plants and the like.
Young people are getting involved, it is a radical shift; a new paradigm. We are in a new era.

Thanks for a thought provoking post, and your opinions!
Philip

By: blockbot

blockbot — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:39:58 +0000

Ok, so I am a 25 year old guy. I don’t like gardening, actually, yard work was like the kiss of death during the summer when I was living with my parents. But what I do like the idea of is growing my own food in an urban environment. If I were to look to a place to find products that would allow me to do that I would probably look to an Urban Outfitters like store. I agree totally in terms of Gardening never being a hobby for me, and never will be, but it could be integrated into my way of life as a source of food and style. I think there is huge potential with what is going on here and I am interested to see who takes advantage of it early.