 |
Englishman Trevor Cole immigrated to the United States in 1992, bringing his landscape experience and his passions for gardening, birding and pond keeping. After several years of operating a small retail water garden store called Pond Wise out of his landscape offices, Cole decided to expand the business to include not only ponds, filters, fish and aquatic plants, but to encompass all aspects of backyard nature observation and outdoor living with garden gifts, statuary, pottery, birding supplies, patio furniture, outdoor cooking, rocks and bulk landscape materials. The latest addition is Café Olivia, which focuses on fresh, healthy eating.
Cole now owns two Across the Pond retail outdoor living stores in Huntsville and Florence, Alabama, with his wife, Jeannie. The couple travel extensively to lecture as well as to explore the different cultures of living outside. Through this blog, Cole shares his discoveries and experiences with fellow professionals. |
Feb. 25, 2011, 3:45 p.m. EST
Reaping the Benefits of a Garden Tour
Our home is on the Botanical Gardens Private Garden Tour this spring. We have more than nine water features in our yard as well as various outdoor living elements that we sell at the store. Read more »
Feb. 14, 2011, 5:40 p.m. EST
Choose a Celebration to Boost Pond Store Traffic, Sales
The month of February is full of celebrations from Chinese New Year to Valentine’s Day to Black History Month. Read more »
Feb. 1, 2011, 5:40 p.m. EST
Quality Pond Products, Service Promote Longevity
How long have you been in business? A recent newspaper article profiled several local businesses that have been around for at least 100 years. Read more »
Jan. 18, 2011, 12 a.m. EST
The Power of a Simple Goldfish
Indulge me one more fish story. Actually, it's two fish stories that segue together to illustrate the potential power of a little initiative and a single goldfish. Read more »
Jan. 4, 2011, 3 p.m. EST
New Year's Resolutions for Pond Success in 2011
Happy New Year! What are your plans for 2011? Read more »
Dec. 20, 2010, 8 a.m. EST
An Introduction to Koi Fish
Often referred to as “living jewels” because of their vivid colors and patterns, koi fish create a stunning look as they gracefully swim through gin-clear water. Read more »
Dec. 6, 2010, 8 a.m. EST
Goldfish for Ponds, Water Gardens
Ornamental fish often are used in ponds and water gardens to add movement and color, but which are the right choices? Read more »
Nov. 21, 2010, 5 p.m. EST
Thinking Outside Can Include Gathering Global Ideas
I just returned from a trip to Vietnam in search of pottery. Read more »
Nov. 11, 2010, 5 p.m. EST
Cafe Olivia Adds Value, Volume to Store Traffic
Despite the dismal weather, gardening is a favorite pastime in England, making garden centers and nurseries very popular places. Read more »
Oct. 27, 2010, 5 p.m. EDT
Pond Business Expansion - A Leap of Faith
In 2003, my wife Jeannie and I brought home two babies: a daughter from China and a new, 5,000-square-foot water garden store. Read more »
Oct. 4, 2010, 2 p.m. EDT
Attract New, Different Water Garden Customers
Fall means football, especially here in the South. Read more »
Sept. 21, 2010, 7:50 p.m. EDT
Venice, Where Water IS the Landscape
The landscape in Venice, Italy, contains water, and lots of it. Read more »
Sept. 9, 2010, 2 p.m. EDT
Nasoni Water Fountains in Rome
We were in water garden heaven this summer on our trip to Rome where nearly every corner and piazza contains a lavish fountain designed by a famous artist. Read more »
Aug. 24, 2010, 3 P.M. EDT
Adventures in Water Features
Some describe the famous Italian Renaissance gardens at Villa d’Este as a 16th Century water park; I describe it as breath-taking. Read more »
July 26, 2010, 2:45 p.m. EDT
Is Martha Stewart on Your Pond Team?
At Across the Pond, we joke that one of our employees has become the "Martha Stewart of Water Features." Read more »
July 6, 2010, 3:15 p.m. EDT
Summer: Outdoor Living's Season to Shine
In Alabama we had our third hottest June on record, for high temperatures and surprisingly for summer sales. Read more »
June 21, 2010, 5:25 p.m. EDT
Customers View Koi Fish as Pets
The current Water Garden News poll asks visitors to weigh in on whether their customers consider koi ‘pets’ or ‘pond decor.’ Read more »
June 8, 2010, 2:20 p.m. EDT
Include the 'Wow' Factor in Your Pond Projects
Soon after Yeltsin came to power and the former Soviet Union haltingly opened its doors to the outside world, my wife dragged me to Russia for our summer vacation. Read more »
May 28, 2010, 3:40 p.m. EDT
Merchandise the Pond Experience
We jokingly call the enclosed pole barn that houses our fish and pond products the Testosterone House. Read more »
May 10, 2010, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Why Websites Matter for Pond Businesses
Is your pond and water garden business out there on the World Wide Web? Read more »
April 27, 2010, 1 p.m. EDT
Sell Your Pond, Water Garden Expertise
You are an expert. We own our pond and water garden businesses because we have the training, experience and knowledge needed in our field. Read more »
April 12, 2010, 2:40 P.M. EDT
Show Entrance Design Exhibits Your Work, Products
Every year about this time, our local Homebuilders’ Association heralds the arrival of Spring by hosting a Homebuilding and Remodeling Show at the civic center. Read more »
Feb. 16, 2010, 6 p.m. EST
Marketing Can Add to Your Long-term Success
This past year was running smoothly for my businesses until mid-fall. Read more »
Feb. 8, 2010, 2:40 p.m. EST
Surviving Your Water Garden Career
Some folks think of water gardening as a flash-in-the-pan hobby. Read more »
Jan. 29, 2010, 5:30 p.m. EST
Hunt for the Dwarf Victoria Waterlily
Travel is part of my nature. I travel for business, for pleasure, to relax, to discover and to explore. Read more »
Jan. 11, 2010, 8:15 p.m. EST
Harness the Universal Attraction of Water
While I attended the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, my wife, Jeanne, and daughter, Olivia, spent much of their days at Dongguan People’s Park behind our hotel in Guangdong. Read more »
Dec. 29, 2009, 1:05 P.M. EST
Water, Water, Everywhere
I joined my wife in Las Vegas recently where she was attending a conference. Read more »
Dec. 14, 2009, 4:50 P.M. EST
Get Peak Pond-season Sales Despite Winter Weather
We just wrapped up our annual Open Houses in Florence and in Huntsville. Read more »
Dec. 1, 2009, 7:40 p.m. EST
Boost Sales During Your Slow Season
Winter is a quiet time for most pond and garden-related stores. What's a business to do? Read more »
Nov. 16, 2009, 3:30 p.m. EST
A One-stop-shopping Model for Pond Businesses
When pond and water garden customers want to complete a home improvement project, they can find a dizzying array of choices often offered in multiple places. Read more »
Nov. 6, 2009, 2:30 p.m. EST
Buying Pond Products Overseas
Canton Fair, the annual international trade show in Guangzhou, China, offers what amounts to one-stop shopping at its best. Read more »
Oct. 21, 2009, 6 p.m. EDT
Local-level Advertising Can Make You a Star
Reality home-improvement shows such as “Extreme Home Makeover” and “Trading Spaces” remain immensely popular right now. Read more » Oct. 6, 2009, 2:30 p.m. EDT
The Power of Children in Branding
An old showbiz adage says, “Never work with animals or children.” We throw caution to the wind and work with both. Read more »
Sept. 21, 2009, 5 p.m. EDT
Customer Service Helps Local Small Pond and Water Garden Businesses Excel
Customers told me recently that they WANT to buy from us. Why? Because they realize that they need local small businesses to achieve a real sense of community. Read more »
Sept. 8, 2009, 4:30 p.m. EDT
Pond Business Ideas for Autumn
I recently returned from Independent Garden Center Show 2009 in Chicago, Ill. The most interesting thing I saw was ... a crowd. Read more »
Aug. 24, 2009, 8:30 p.m. EDT
Creating Fun, Memorable Retail Experiences
As my wife and I strolled through the sidewalks of Venice and admired the piazzas, statues and painted walls, our 6-year old daughter Olivia was more interested in spotting fish in the labyrinth of canals. Read more »
Aug. 12, 2009, 7:45 p.m. EDT
Think Outside the Box ... the Big Box
On the Greek isle of Santorini, it’s a steep 1,000 foot hike up to the main village on which modest white-washed homes perch on the cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea. Read more »
July 30, 2009, 3 p.m. EDT
Trevi Fountain Visit Demonstrates How Displays Sell Water Features
As I sit here in Rome watching my wife and daughter throw coins in the Trevi Fountain it strikes me with wonder at the crowds this fountain draws. It’s not just this fountain. Read more »
July 14, 2009, 2:30 p.m. EDT
Fish Hobby Meets Career
My grandfather introduced me to the water gardening hobby more than 40 years ago when he installed a small blue fiberglass pond in his modest concrete patio. Read more »
|