We previously shared how the mental wellness trend is inspiring your customers to create indoor spaces full of greenery. Now that it’s spring, it’s time to consider how they’ll expand this space outside with zen gardens. This isn’t just a trend for home owners. Consider how to transform balcony spaces.

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Zen Gardens For Homeowners

At the end of last year, we saw the increase of wabi-sabi gardening, or, the imperfect garden. Prim and proper English gardens are making way for gritty, mossy zen spaces. Homeowners want areas they can relax in to get a breath of fresh air. 

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Air, Water and Fire Incorporate Natural Elements Into Gardens

Now, I’m not saying to just leave a flame burning unattended all day. Instead, make your zen garden your focus when including a fire pit for evening relaxation. Or, incorporate the idea of fire with glowing accessories. Add these accessories to promotional images on your label design to inspire customers.

Water gardens and ponds are a fantastic way to add flare to your landscape while incorporating the relaxing sounds of lapping water. Advertise which plants compliment water gardens, such as water loving plants, on the label design. It doesn’t have to be complicated! Use a simple water drop graphic.

As for air, wind chimes are a calming tree accessory. Butterfly, bee, bird, and bat houses all add vibrance and life to a garden. Again, highlight these products on your plant labels with inspiring imagery. Use a booklet-style label to expand your content and describe which items are seen in the image. Even go so far as to provide a QR code linking the customer to your website. Or, it’s also helpful to mention the aisle in-store where they can find the accessory.

Variety in Texture is Key

It might already be apparent, but a variety of texture is a key element to zen gardens. Whether it’s fuzzy moss, stone pathways, or elegant Japanese Maple trees, offer variety. Create arrangements that provide this texture and highlight a variety of easy-care plants. Then, create a label that fully delves into proper care routines. An organized way to help customers would be to create an easy-peel label for each plant that they can pull off for future reference.

Traditional “Zen Garden” Influence

When you imagine a zen garden, you likely think of tabletop sand bowls and mini rakes. So, add that back into the garden and create an outdoor tabletop sand zen garden with a plant or two built in. Consider how relaxation activities, such as meditation, influence how your customers want to engage with their calming space.

Mental Wellness Spaces For Balconies and Small Spaces

As millennials get older, metropolitan areas expand. So, considering how your younger demographics shop is crucial. Make the space count while also providing a relaxing atmosphere.

Think Mini

Customers will be looking for space-saving alternatives. Showcase small, terrarium sized plants for tabletop arrangements. Or, promote plants that are easily trained into bushes and small plants. Wisteria is a fantastic easy-case plant for this purpose.

Think Privacy

With other apartments squished up against their space, plants help in creating a more private space outside. Bushes and vines cover the space without overwhelming it. Morning Glory is one that would thrive on climbing any open metal or wood structures. 

Since balconies are stacked on top of each other, consider promoting shade-loving plants. Make it easy for the space to thrive and survive the summer. 

Think Useful

Fruit, vegetables, and herbs are all fantastic options for balcony gardens. Especially plants that can be picked and tossed into hot water for tea. This creates a space that isn’t only relaxing, but money saving and useful. If successful in caring for the plant, younger generations grow more interested in the industry and come back for return purchases. Making a clear label that ensures growing success is critical or this reason.

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Designing Impactful Labels

Use Pantone’s Colors of The Year for 2017 & 2018

First, use colors that subconsciously set your customers at ease. Use the 2017 and 2018 booklet-style label. Both Greenery and Ultra Violet were selected for their calming properties. On top of this, Ultra Violet was selected for the mystical properties as well. This brings me to my next visionary idea.

Gemstones Compliment The Mental Wellness Trend

Compliment zen spaces with gemstones. At least for inspirational photography you add to the label design. If you don’t offer gemstones yourself, create a collaborative promotion on your label with a local business. 

Enhance The Wild Aesthetic

Earlier in the blog, we mentioned the impact of wabi-sabi this year. We’re seeing a movement to embrace imperfection, so push plants that grow easily on their own or tend to get a bit wild. Use bold colors to make these products stand out, or add tips and tricks to the copy. Suggest ways your customers will create a relaxing space instead of a plant care space. The less work, the better.

This also means that providing clear, easy-to-read instructions is important. Use labels designed for removal from the plant pot so customers will add them to the fridge. Or, link customers to a calendar with reminders for watering and fertilization. The easier you make the process, the more likely you’ll see the customer again for return purchases.

Learn about the labeling and automation solutions that Label Gator offers. See how you can save time, money and labor with our Product Guide. Click here to download the guide.

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