There is a nursery in Kingwood Texas, just northeast of Houston, that has recently made a dramatic turnaround. Bernie and Louise Johnson sold Kingwood Garden Center to Bob Robertson about 3 years ago. Bernie and Louise were good people but did not have the nursery experience or youthful energy to achieve that nurseries full potential. They stayed in business but did not flourish. Bob was interested in horticulture but had no real retail garden center experience. Bob then relied upon the long term employees for advice and direction for about a year and a half. 
          In early 2008 Michael Wagner was let go as manager of the Cornelius Nursery on FM 1960. Cornelius Nursery was the premiere multi-location nursery in Houston while Sterling Cornelius was the owner. Mr. Cornelius sold out to Calloway's Nursery, out of Fort Worth, before he passed away about 5 or 6 years ago. Michael came to my nursery for a job and I was honored that he thought enough of my nursery to want to come to work here. I was sad to tell him that I did not have a place for him. I did not like passing up that valuable talent.
         Michael was hired by Kingwood Garden Center.  Bob took a chance. Michael was allowed to clean, organize and stock Bob's nursery with high quality, fresh material. I heard today that Kingwood Garden Center sales at the end of this July exceeded 2008 total year sales. That is huge!  Congratulations Bob Robertson. Good decisions do lead to success!
         I also heard last week that the Cornelius Nursery on FM 1960 was closing next month. The same nursery that Michael Wagner was fired from. I have inside information that tells me that the person that replaced Michael was, well, less than professional and had no direct retail nursery experience. I also believe that bad decisions do lead to failure.