January/February 2012

Publishers’ Perspective

POND Trade Magazine

Keeping your business fresh and vibrant in 2012 could be key to your success and growth. People are always intrigued with what's new. What was exciting three years ago is passé now. As you plan for your 2012 year, you might want to make a point of searching out a crop of new products to add to your offerings. This provides you the perfect excuse to contact prior customers, letting them know you are thinking about them, and are interested in how they and their pond are doing. Take the opportunity to recall the enjoyment when their ponds were new. Ask about what they enjoy most, and if they are having any problems. They might be up for a new filter that is easy to clean, or additional filtration, as their fish have grown since the pond was new. Tell them about products that have come on the market since they built their pond, and how they could enhance the enjoyment of their pond.

In this issue we present a great list of new products for you to consider. Take a look at the winners of the POND Trade Magazine Product of the Year Challenge, starting on page 16. Also see details on all entrants at http://www.pondtrademag.com/productoftheyear/2011/winners/ here. If you can't find something exciting and new to add to your product line, I would be very surprised.

Have a great 2012.

Download the January/February 2012 PDF

Article List

Creating a Welcome Environment
Kiley Thompson
Pond industry retailers - what should you be doing now to prepare for the upcoming season? Review the benefits and care for both aquatic plants and pond fish. Learn how to educate and prepare your customers to have a successful pond. Learn about header ponds and how they can be used.

IWGS 2011 New Waterlily Competition Winners
Jennifer Zuri
See the best of the beautiful new waterlilies introduced in 2011. The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) is proud to announce the winners of the 14th annual New Waterlily Competition.

Skin: The Most Overlooked Aspect of Koi
Matt Corino
The better the skin quality of a koi the more vivid and vibrant the colors will be. Read this article to learn this simple but important aspect that can help your customers select higher quality koi. Skin quality can bring a 3-D look to your Sanke (and other varieties). This koi expert will help you understand this key point to consider when pricing and selling koi to your customers.

Product of the Year 2011 Challenge Winners Announced
Cindy Graham
Nothing stimulates sales like new products. See the dozens of new products recently released by our industry's leading manufactures. The product challenge winners and all entries, including contact information are listed here.

Finding the "Cheese" in a Changing Market One Man's Opinion
Rick Smith
With the economic outlook uncertain and the entry of a new generation of homeowners to your market, how do you plan on adjusting your business strategy to be successful? If you continue the way you always have you may not be able to meet your goals; take advantage of the information shared to you by a long time marketing expert. The pond industry is evolving into the water feature industry - it not just about ponds any more. Take a look at some strategies to stay strong and grow.

All That Glitters - Understanding Kin-Gin-Rin in Koi
Ellen Kloubec
What is gin rin? What should you look for in a gin rin koi? Is gin rin the same as a metallic in koi? There are four basic types of gin rin - learn how to identify each, so you can best promote the koi in your inventory. By introducing your customers to the magic of gin rin, you can stimulate many new sales, as virtually all koi varieties come in beautiful gin rin versions.

Ponditat for Humanity 2011
John Olson
Ponditat for Humanity is the annual event where members of the International Pond Professional Companies Association (IPPCA) give back to the community. This fall, the IPPCA built a pondless water feature at the Loma Linda University Medical Center Campus, PossAbilities. Thank you to everyone who helped in this build, from your labor to the generous donations from the sponsors. Take a look at this impressive project.