Profiles: Jack Bigej

Jack Bigej operates three stores in the Portland, Ore., metro area. His employees are known as the Purple People, due to their uniforms’ plum hue. Garden retailing is in Jack’s blood, a trait he shares with his children, who help run his stores, and also with his son-in-law, who operates his own store nearby.

For more: Al’s Garden Center, (503) 726-1162; www.als-gardencenter.com.

Q. Your new location is mostly undercover. Was it worth the investment?

A. It was absolutely worth the investment -- especially with the extraordinarily wet spring we had.

Q. What are the big trends you are responding to this year?

A. Edibles -- veggie plants -- particularly tomatoes.

Q. How do you handle having your son-in-law’s store so near your new location?

A. He’s after a different customer base than we are.

Q. What is your favorite plant introduction over the past couple of years?

A. Gulliver bacopa

Q. Do you have plans for opening another location?

A. As soon as the last one we opened is paid for! Yes, eventually.

Q. What trait do you look for in new employees?

A. We look for personality -- friendly, customer service-oriented people.

Q. What’s your favorite way to unwind at the end of the day?

A. Walk through the greenhouses and count the holes.

Q. What is the oddest store event you’ve ever held?

A. An ice apple promotion. Ice apples are Fuji apples left on the tree past the first frost when the sugar is set, and then picked. Our buyer (me) missed his guess and we sold out in three days. We promoted them during our Christmas season kickoff with samples and applesauce and sold 12 totes in three days.

Q. What do you think is the most overrated issue in the industry today?

A. The shrinking independent retail market.

Q. Every young garden retailer wants to know: will there ever come a time where you don’t work 12-hour days, six days a week?

{sidebar id=3}

A. Yes, when you have kids who can step in and handle the day-to-day operations, and then you only have to work eight days a week, 16 hours a day. Why would you want to work any less if you truly enjoyed the business?

August 2008