There is a common perception that in order to have everything you need for a robust garden, you have to go to a garden supply center. That may not be too far off the mark when considering everything you might need to have a successful harvest, but the type of garden supply center with which you do business may be more important than the size of the business. Many smaller independent centers may not offer the same variety of products and equipment that some of the major national chains, but they will have everything needed for the home gardener.

One of the advantages enjoyed by the large garden supply center companies is the pricing they can offer their customers. Due to the large quantities they purchase for resell they can usually get a better deal than the smaller independent operators. However, the one thing that many smaller garden supply centers have that many of the big chains lack is service and knowledge of the products they sell.

For the home gardener who knows exactly what they want and how to use it, the larger corporate garden supply center is going to have a larger selection from which to choose while saving a little but of money. However, seeking advice from the same chain's employees can be hit or miss as to whether they understand home gardening or just there for a summer job.

Customers Often Torn Between Two Centers

While there are pros and cons to both the small independent garden supply center and the large chain-owned outlets the needs and preference of the customer are often different, resulting in some customers sharing their business between the two. There is also a perception that the independent garden supply center must be priced higher than their corporate competition and in some cases that may be true, but customers are often surprised by the savings they can find at the small outlets.

Many of the independent operators will have a smaller variety of merchandise but larger ones tend to shy away from carrying indoor gardening supplies and aim at the outdoor business instead. Still some customer enjoy the convenience of the typical one-stop shopping that the larger chains offer, enabling them to buy everything they need at one time, including all of their supplies and equipment. A smaller garden supply center may have all of the stuff needed for growing, but will not have the equipment, sticking with their expertise on plants and supplies.