Gardener's Supply Company
Gardener's Supply Company is an employee-owned company providing environmentally friendly gardening products and information through its website, catalogs, and retail stores.
Area served | Worldwide |
---|---|
Key people | Will Raap, Co-Founder/Chairman. Alan Newman, Co-Founder. |
Products | Gardening items |
Number of employees | 220 (2014) |
Website | www |
The Gardener’s Supply Company headquarters in Burlington, Vermont include administrative offices, a retail store and display gardens. Additional retail stores and display gardens are located in Williston, Vermont, Lebanon, New Hampshire and Hadley, Massachusetts.
In 2014, Gardener's Supply Company became B Corp-certified.[1]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
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 Plan (ESOP).[2] The ESOP was adopted in 1987 to allow all employees to earn stock and share in company profits.[3] 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.[4]
Founder, Will Raap
In 1983, his interest in food systems led gardener and businessman Will Raap to co-found Gardener's Supply with co-founder Alan Newman(1)He moved his company to five acres at the entrance to the Intervale, 350 acres of neglected land located in Burlington, Vermont,[5] 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.[6] 1. [7]> 2. [8]
Community Involvement and Support
Gardener's Supply Company donates 8% of pre-tax profits to gardening-related community programs and organizations.[1] Organizations supported by Gardener’s Supply include the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA), the Green Education Foundation (GEF) and AmpleHarvest.org.
The company established the Garden Crusader Awards[9] 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.[10]
References
- "B Corp Community, Gardener's Supply Company". Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- Patrick, Josh. "The Questions to Ask Before Adopting an ESOP". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- Teague, Allison. "Cindy Turcot Grows a Company and Profits for Employees". Vermont Woman. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- Monty, Lynn. "The push to help workers with flex-time, paid leave". www.burlingtonfreepress.com. Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- "The Intervale Center: History". Community Food Enterprise. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- "The Intervale Center: Introduction". Community Food Enterprise. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- Seventh Generation, https://www.seventhgeneration.com/company
- Burlington Free Press, https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2020/06/16/magic-hat-leaving-vermont-sells-south-burlington-brewery-zero-gravity/3201894001/
- de Morsella, Tracey. "Gardener's Supply Invites Nominations for Garden Crusader Awards". The Green Economy Post. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- "About VBSR". Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. Retrieved 21 April 2014.