Scotts will close Smith & Hawken garden-store chain

[TomClash]

Source: Columbus Dispatch

All stores, including one at Easton, will be shut down
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 4:40 PM
By Tim Feran

The Smith & Hawken store at EastonScotts Miracle-Gro announced today that it will shut down Smith & Hawken, the premium gardening chain that it bought five years ago.

Marysville-based Scotts said a year ago that it was seeking strategic options for Smith & Hawken, which has struggled during the recession.

Scotts paid $58 million and also took on $14 million in 2004 debt for Smith & Hawken, which sells high-end lawn furniture, garden tools, gardening clothes and accessories.

All of Smith & Hawken's 56 U.S. stores, including one at Easton, will be shut down by the end of the year. Third-party consultants will manage the closure, which will begin with storewide sales on Thursday. Orders via the Smith & Hawken Web site, catalog and call center will be discontinued the same day.

"We would have preferred to sell the Smith & Hawken business in order to protect jobs and keep the retail franchise intact," said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive officer of Scotts. "However, after discussions with several potential investors over the past 12 months, it became obvious that shutting down the business was the best option available.

"Unfortunately, the combination of a weak economy and the lack of scale proved too great to overcome."



Read more: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/08/smith_hawken.html?sid=101

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. I bet original owners of S/H are dancing a jig for unloading the stores awhile back.

tho the store did get too yuppy-fied some time ago.
The tools I bought from them in early 80's are still going strong.

[On the Road]

8. Paul Hawken

was an inspiration to me. He was one of the few counterculture figures to not only start a successful business, but develop principles, write about it, and encourage others.

Smith & Hawken began as a mail-order site. It seems particularly stupid that they can't simply scale back to internet sales.

[efhmc]

12. Looked for a replacement tool (all metal) and they

had only the usual china crapola. I can get that far cheaper at wallie world. Taking the cheaper way does not pay off in the long run.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Lee Valley is what S&H used to be, we order from them now. Link:

http://www.leevalley.com/

They have some "cutesy" stuff, but also very good quality tools, including woodworking tools which Mr. D. swears by, and he is a serious hand tool man ( *%#!*% Norm Abrhams, if I had a zillion $$$$ for all those power tools he used I would make a planet, not a bookcase !!!)

and they have some cool "old timey" books about how things were built and used on the farm in the good ole days. We bought a few.
Just in case.

edited to add:

ohhh..I just noticed on their site:
FREE SHIPPING
On orders placed between July 9th and
July 19th, 2009 ( they are Canadian)

disclaimer: I have no vested interest in them except as a happy customer.

[Kittycat]

2. Well that really stinks, especially for the employees - however..

I've been looking at their Extendable Rake, Compost bin, Water barrel, and a couple planters for a while now. Maybe I'll be able to finally afford them (doubtful, but I'm going to try).

ETA: Their website is already down, you can't even view products: http://www.smithandhawken.com/

[xchrom]

3. shit -- i loved that store.

there's a lot in my garden that came from that place.

[The Second Stone]

4. It was very expensive stuff and not a lot of inventory.

I went into a local one a few times and I was surprised that there was a market even in a rich community for this stuff. Very overpriced. I hope the employees land well.

[lindisfarne]

5. I agree.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. I'm sorry... they sold "high-end lawn furniture, garden tools, gardening clothes and accessories" ?

I never heard of this chain and I'm not sure I understand the business plan. I get my tools at Ace, my gardening clothes are what I can't wear pretty much anywhere else, my accessories from wherever I stumble across them, and my lawn furniture at Target (though I can see upgrading if you have the means and the estate-like venue).
Of all the business closings I've seen the past couple years, this one just doesn't strike me as something that had a real chance.

[SoCalNative]

7. They also had a line of products that was carried at Target

guess that will be gone too.

[KoKo]

9. They had good quality tools that lasted forever and were for the

upscale "niche" gardener that died out around the late 90's. It's sad to see them go just when folks are getting interested again..but their stuff got pretty high end ...so Walmart and Ace and the rest will still be selling. Smith & Hawkin gave a lot of info in their catalogues that you don't get from walmart and Ace and the rest, though.

[NJCher]

11. Smith & Hawkens

This was a store that was about the "romance of the garden." It had beautiful garden displays, such as topiaries and unique, interesting looking pots.

They had garden books and seeds that were out of the ordinary. It was definitely oriented to the affluent customer who entertains and enjoys the outdoors. The clothes, which was really just stuff like gardening smocks and wide-brimmed hats, were not a big part of the business.

I can also see why it isn't going to make it. The gardeners are now interested in vegetables and herbs.

I just drove past one of their stores tonight and almost stopped in to say hello to a former student, who (until now) had a promising career in retail management with them.


Cher

[mopinko]

10. i wondered why they were still open.

been predicting their disappearance for a while. all their stuff is just too f'ing expensive. i only every bought anything there when it was on sale, or for a gift.
hope i get something good at the clearance sale.