Harman Patil (Editor)

Gardener's Supply Company

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Industry
  
Retail

Area served
  
Worldwide

Website
  
www.gardeners.com

Founded
  
1983

Type of business
  
Employee-Owned

Number of locations
  
2 retail stores (2014)

Products
  
Gardening items

Founder
  
Will Raap

Number of employees
  
220 (2014)

Key people
  
Will Raap, Founder/Chairman

Headquarters
  
Burlington, Vermont, United States

Profiles

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Gardener's Supply Company is an employee-owned company providing environmentally friendly gardening products and information through its website, catalogs, and retail stores.

Contents

The Gardener’s Supply Company headquarters in Burlington, Vermont, include administrative offices, a retail store and display gardens. An additional retail store, outlet, and display gardens are located in Williston, Vermont.

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Employee Stock Ownership Program

In December 2009, founder Will Raap sold the majority ownership of Gardener’s Supply Company to its employees, officially making the company 100% employee-owned through its Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP). The ESOP was adopted in 1987 to allow all employees to earn stock and share in company profits. Current CEO Jim Feinson said the employee-owned company has also developed "a community culture of support" that offers benefits and flexibility to its employees, including encouraging them to make their own schedules.

B Corp Certification

In 2014, Gardener's Supply Company became B Corp-certified.

Founder, Will Raap

In 1983, his interest in food systems led gardener and businessman Will Raap, to found Gardener's Supply. He moved his company to five acres at the entrance to the Intervale, 350 acres of neglected land located in Burlington, Vermont, in 1985. Raap also helped found the non-profit Intervale Center in 1988. As of 2014 it is home to several sustainable businesses in addition to Gardener's Supply Company, including food and flower farms, a café and a market.

Community Involvement and Support

Gardener's Supply Company donates 8% of pre-tax profits to gardening-related community programs and organizations. Organizations supported by Gardener’s Supply include the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA), the Green Education Foundation (GEF) (www.greeneducationfoundation.org) and ampleharvest.org (www.ampleharvest.org).

The company established the Garden Crusader Awards to honor individuals who improve their communities through gardening.

Gardener's Supply Company is a Champion Member of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), a non-profit trade organization that advances business ethics through education, public influence and workplace quality.

References

Gardener's Supply Company Wikipedia