Corso's Perennials was first established in 1941 as a retail greenhouse. They continued to grow and expand into a nursery, garden center, floral shop and landscaping company. The 1980's brought on the beginning of what is now the wholesale division of Corso's Perennials. Production of perennials began for Corso's own use at their garden center and for just a handful of wholesalers. The wholesale perennial and herb business has greatly expanded and currently brings in forty six percent of the total company revenue.
As a family owned and operated business, both third and forth generations are currently employed. Reflections of the dedication found within the company's full time staff is shown by the average amount of years having been employed at Corso's, being eight years. The staff consists of fifty full time employees and sixty-five part time employees. The owners son, Chad Corso, graduated from The Ohio State University, receiving a bachelor of science degree in Landscape Horticulture. Chad's brother attended The Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio. The classes that the Corso brothers thought were the most beneficial for them in their careers are the plant identification classes. If you are unfamiliar with plants that you work with on a day to day basis, it is going to be difficult to be able to tend to them properly. They also told us about their experience of going to work for another business that was not family owned after completing their education. They wanted to find out what things are like "on the other side of the fence." I thought that their learning experience must have been important enough for them to share it with us. I think it would be a good idea for all of those involved in a family owned and operated business to go work for someone else for a while and bring back their good and bad experiences to their own company. I was glad that they shared their opinions and work experiences with us and stressed the importance of their own experience. Being subjected to how other people go about conducting business relations will help one to gain experience and bring back that experience along with new ideas and concepts to the family operated business.
I was really impressed with the facilities they had for wholesale sales area. The wholesale production department produces two hundred and fifty varieties of perennials. The potting media that is used is purchased pre-mixed from the Carolina's. Water is supplied from the city, and a soluble liquid fertilizer is injected into the irrigation water (fertigation) with three fertilizer injectors. In one growing season they produce six hundred thousand, four and one half-inch pots; one million, one gallon containers, and twelve thousand, two gallon or impact size perennials. Herbs are grown under the catchy name of "Herb Herbert's Traditional Herbs" to help facilitate sales. These herbs are categorized in five divisions: kitchen, herbal teas, insect repellant, medicinal, and fragrant. All herbs are grown in four-inch plastic terracotta looking containers, three hundred thousand containers are grown per growing season. Printed on the inside cover to their 1999 perennial catalog is the motto "Striving to Grow the Perfect perennial for your Customer," this aspect reflects the genuine quality and care associated with the wholesale production facility.
A large percentage of Corso's labor force consists of immigrant help from Mexico. No real problems have been associated with these people. They are residing in America making more money than they ever would in their own country, and are treated better. I think that imported help will become mainstream in the Horticulture industry because of the lack of labor, and the heavy work load associated with low salaries.
The retail area consisted of a large multiple ridge greenhouse housing indoor plants, seasonal displays, herbs and potted containers. The seasonal displays were very nicely put together with lots of plant varieties and autumn colors. Beside the greenhouse was the gift and floral shops, and on the other side of the greenhouse was the outside retail sales area. The retail plant sales consisted of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and water gardening supplies. I liked the raised display beds that featured interlocking pavers, varying types of mulches and plant material. The displays were set up as if they could be duplicated at a client's home or business. I liked the fact that these people took the time to make attractive arrangements of their plant material for the purpose of pleasing prospective customers.
Along with Corso's, many other quality establishments were visited. I chose Corso's to write about because I have a passion for perennials plants and have experience in the retail garden centers. I feel that I was fortunate to be able to experience this field trip and I suggest others to take the advantage and go on the trip if the opportunity arises.