Pathways to Perennials manager receives Young Retailer of the Year Award

Lindsay Mennen received her Young Retailer Award July 11 from Ellen Wells, editor of Green Profit magazine Each year, Green Profit magazine Young Retailer Award recognizes the top members in the garden centre industry younger than 35.

Garden centre managers and owners from across North America are eligible to be nominated. For 2009, Pathways to Perennial's very own retail manager Lindsay Mennen was crowned the winner in a special ceremony July 11 at the OFA Short Course in Ohio.

In April, the field of nominees was narrowed down to three finalists, two Americans and one Canadian. Finalists were then required to answer an essay question with their answers featured in June's edition of the magazine. A panel of four industry leaders were chosen as judges and each finalist candidate was rigorously interviewed independently by each judge on a variety of aspects of their business.

"The essay question was what we've learned from the recession. It was tough because we only had 600 words to spill our guts and make an impression" Mennen said. "Once the magazine was released we then had the interviews. The judges asked great, tough questions and kept hammering away, you never really felt totally comfortable. All the while you were wondering what your competition said and how they did."

"I think what sets us apart is our people are so passionate and we specialize in fun girlfriend garden parties with an environmental twist! We try to make visiting Pathways a memorable experience, filled with many interesting and unique ideas for both interior and exterior," Mennen said.