Pete Norris, Jr., Greenhaven Gardens & Nursery, New Haven, Vt.

Sometimes a problem is really an opportunity in disguise. When Pete Norris, Jr., of Greenhaven Gardens & Nurseries, discovered that jobs were scarce in 1991, he decided to start his own business.

While Pete says that he didn’t possess many assets when he started, he certainly understood the first rule of retail … location, location, location. He located his landscaping, nursery greenhouse center on busy Route 7, which gave him the initial exposure essential for a fledgling enterprise.

Now, just 10 years later, Pete runs a thriving operation that enjoys a hectic stream of customers throughout its May to November season.

In keeping with the theory that you need to take risks to be successful, Pete grew his business by 20 percent every year. “No one wants to come to a small garden center, so I had to expand in order to find my market.” Over time, Pete added several acres of greenhouses, yards and a new garden center, all filled with a wide variety of lush and colorful annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.

“Having a large inventory of perishable nursery and greenhouse stock is frightening. But we minimize loss by keeping close records of each year’s sales and by spending months planning for the next year’s inventory.”

Like all business owners whom we interviewed for this series, Pete is candid about his experience. “In my early days, the economy was bad. But I had youth and persistence, so I slogged along. I didn’t make money until the fifth year and had lots of opportunities to get discouraged and quit.”

But Pete was fortunate to have the support of his father, Pete Sr., as well as a team of dedicated employees who worked many long hours to help build the business to what it is today.

Pete also has Farm Credit.

“I feel secure working with Ken Button, my Farm Credit loan officer. I talk with him in confidence and ask for his opinions on new business ideas. He always gives me a straight answer, which is why I like working with him.”

For someone who started out by selling cedar trees that he dug from his family’s farm, Pete Norris has “grown” an incredibly successful business!

Click on the name of each of the entrepreneurs or graduates below to find out more about the road they traveled:

Entrepreneurs:

• Ben and Andrew Saenger, Saenger cattle, Shoreham, Vt.
• Dean Rheaume, Maurice Rheaume & Sons, Middlebury, Vt.
• Keith Sprague, Sprague's Ranch, East Brookfield, Vt.
• Mike Garrow, Rocklan Farm, Berkshire, Vt.
• Pete Norris, Jr. Greenhaven Gardens & Nursery, New Haven, Vt.

"Graduates":

• Ronald Patenaude, Patenaude Farm, Holland Center, Vt.
• Bruce Bascom, Bascom Maple Farms, Inc., Alstead, N.H.
• Chris and John Laggis, Laggis brothers Farm, Hardwick, Vt.

Click here for more information about our Young, Beginning and Small Farmers Program.

Contact us at info@yankeeaca.com for more information.

• 4 tips on how to survive agriculture's down cycles
• Building a business plan.
• Who needs a consultant?
• Improve management.

© 1999-2004 Yankee Farm Credit, ACA. All rights reserved.