News Release
Southern Living® and PDSI will Partner in
Exclusive Live Goods Licensing Deal:
To Develop and Market Plant Collection under Southern Living Brand
(Loxley, AL) — Southern Living magazine and Alabama-based Plant Development Services, Inc. (PDSI) have entered into an exclusive Live Goods Licensing Agreement to develop and market a collection of plants throughout the United States and Canada. This collection will be marketed exclusively under the Southern Living brand.
Plant categories in the comprehensive collection will include: shrubs, trees, bedding plants, groundcovers, tropicals, ornamental grasses, seasonals and related green goods, according to Greg Smith, President of Plant Development Services, Inc. “We are excited about this partnership, as it will create exciting new opportunities for participating nurseries and plant breeders throughout the country,” Smith said.
The Southern Living Collection will feature innovative new plants that solve landscape problems for all consumers. The collection will be introduced to consumers in the 2008 Spring Season, and will be available via all retail channels throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“Consumers have an increasing appetite for plants that solve real problems in the American Landscape. This partnership will create a collection of the highest quality plants, delivered by a brand recognized and trusted by consumers for over 40 years,” said Smith.
Plant Development Services, Inc. is currently expanding its grower group network and evaluating plants in order to adequately service the anticipated consumer demand. In addition to those from North America, many new plants come from Europe and the Far East, according to Smith. Plant Development Services, Inc. is currently in the process of identifying primary contacts internationally, in order to bring these new plants to the North American consumer.
“We are currently in the process of identifying various plants to fill the extensive category needs,” Smith stated. “Our standards are very high, as consumers want the best and most relevant new solutions to solve their landscape challenge.”
Growers interested in the program, and plant breeders with potential new cultivars, should contact Plant Development Services, Inc. on the web at www.plantdevelopment.com.
Plant Development Services, Inc., a leader in horticultural innovation, was founded in 1996 by Greg Smith, after seeing a need for an industry resource that could manage new plant introductions. Of particular interest to Plant Development Services, Inc., according to Smith, are plants with unique performance attributes that can be patented, branded and successfully introduced to the consumer market. Plant Development Services, Inc. owns and/or licenses over 50 patented plant properties, including the number one azalea brand in the world, Encore Azalea®.
Southern Living, is a premier lifestyle and entertaining magazine of the South and the 8th largest monthly consumer magazine in the U.S. (based on readership). It reaches nearly 16 million readers each month and enjoys a circulation of about 2.8 million. Published 12 times a year Southern Living celebrates the heart of Southern life.
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Thursday February 15, 2007