During travels and chats with producers, we have observed the ideas that you use to market and sell the brands. Many producers are savvy about local markets and customers, and have original ideas. Here are a few we would like to share:

Turf Demonstration Area
Rhyne’s Select Turf, Benton, AL
Rhyne’s Select Turf produces EMPIRE^® Zoysia and another variety. They installed a turf demonstration area, which includes EMPIRE and varieties they do not produce. The plots and the entire demo area are large, and help customers to evaluate purchases.

Truck Signage and Driver Preparation
Green Acres Turf Farm, Furman, SC
Green Acres displays farm name and contact information on signs mounted on the backs of trucks, as well as on side doors. Therefore this info. is visible to passing and following cars. This farm also educates drivers about the turfgrasses, and they keep brochures in the trucks. These simple activities help drivers to promote the turfgrasses.

Creative Print Advertising
Evergreen Turf, Tempe, Arizona
Last year, this producer developed a series of print ads that creatively communicated their best competitive advantages. One ad featured the legs of a "prisoner," dragging ball and chain, and the headline, “You don't need to ‘do time’ waiting for sod to be delivered.” This ad promoted Evergreen’s ability to deliver great sod, at the right price, right away. Other ads featured more unusual graphics and copy, promoting the farm in a memorable way.

Promotional Video
Modern Turf, Rembert, SC
Modern Turf developed a cable TV commercial that they also used as a promotional video. The original commercial, which was taped at the farm, captures Modern Turf’s capabilities and products. The video has been used at special events and also as a sales tool.

These ideas are just a few of the many we have seen this year. We applaud and encourage all of the producers' initiative, as well as the quality of the turfgrass that they produce. Please send me your own creative ideas, including photos to sreda@sodsolutions.com if you would like them included in The Fish Wrap.