Andrew Hendriks & Sons Greenhouses specializes in indoor and outdoor garden arrangements containing combinations of living plants.

Twice a year when Andrew Hendriks & Sons Greenhouses releases a catalog, 85 percent of its products are new, owner Andrew Hendriks says. "We don't sit on a winner, but we try to introduce new products every year," he says.

The company specializes in indoor and outdoor garden arrangements containing combinations of living plants such as colorful foliage and unique flowering plants. Plants are arranged in a wide variety of decorative containers for the home and garden décor such as glazed ceramics, brushed metals, bamboo, willow and chests. Most of its products are sold to retailers, such as big-box supermarkets, independent flower shops and garden centers in Ontario, Quebec, the East Coast and the Midwest.

Hendriks says the company is able to introduce many new products because it travels to Asia and Europe every six months and works directly with suppliers. That gives the company a special advantage because countries on the other side of the Atlantic are often ahead in terms of styles and designs, he says.
"The trends in Europe are often two or three years ahead," he explains. "There is a new variety initiative in Europe. Our spring 2008 collection is a reflection of what we saw in Europe.

"There is more emphasis on home décor and the color of the [plant] container," he says. "Customers are looking for overall value and that is a huge part of the package."

Energy Efficient Technology
Hendriks' grandfather John Peter founded the company, which was then a farm, in 1953, and his parents bought it in 1967. At that time, the company's products were holiday crops, vegetables, and pears, peaches, cherries and tomatoes. In the 1970s and 1980s, the company added indoor garden and floral items as well as tropical plants. Today, about 90 percent of the business is floral distribution.

"We are extremely proud of the continual improvement in products that we have developed over the years, which have led to our standing as the premier indoor garden producer in North America," the company says. "But what will ensure that we maintain our position and competitive edge is our enthusiasm for improvements as we move forward."

The company has about 240,000 square feet of production space in its headquarters in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. "[Its] greenhouses were designed for indoor garden production, [which allows it] to foster creativity and detail in our products while maximizing efficiency," the company says. "We are committed to providing our customers with new and innovative plant material for our indoor gardens, because we understand the importance of having a large selection of unique, quality products to sell."

It strives to keep its facilities updated, Hendriks says. For example, it is focused on investing in energy-efficient technology. "We are just drilling down one of our biggest cost, which is energy," he explains.

The company has converted its heating system to hot water to take advantage of some of the technologies available such as heat storage tanks. "Heat storage tanks allow us to even out our energy peaks driving the overall efficiency of the plant," he says.

Changes in growing practices are also driving energy efficiencies as well. Currently, Hendriks is looking to improve the overall efficiency of natural gas and electricity by 10 to 12 percent. There are long term plans to add bio-mass energy to the operation as well, he adds.

Loyal Group
Hendriks says the company has grown despite a flat market. "The low American dollar has put some pressure on Canadian exports into the U.S." he explains. "But we've managed to grow and we keep and continue to invest in labor and energy efficiencies."

Innovation, efficiency in delivering new products, competitive prices and good distribution partners are some factors that have made the company successful. "We have been able to move the business forward and long-term viability is very good," Hendriks says.

The company also surrounds itself with good people. "We look for a strong work ethic and people tremendously committed to values," he says. "We have a great group of managers who are motivated and committed to what needs to be done. They are a loyal group."