Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Legacy Continues


When one of my most favorite garden supply stores decided to close it's doors after almost thirty years of doing business, I was disappointed to say the least.
A weak economy was to blame.



Many of you may be familiar with Smith and Hawken, founded by Dave Smith and Paul Hawken in 1979 to provide gardeners with handcrafted tools from England.
Over the years, it became known as the gold standard in the industry.

While the original Smith & Hawken focused on high-end English gardening tools with a lifetime guarantee, later iterations of the company branched into outdoor living products such as furniture, fire pits, lighting, bird baths and garden decor.

Today, I welcomed an e-mail announcing that Target Stores have partnered with the Smith and Hawken brand, and will once again be carrying their line of products.
Quality crafted and timelessly designed garden supplies, they truly are essentials to any garden.


Now where did I put those Christmas gift cards ?

23 comments:

Larry said...

I just saw that info somewhere myself and was very pleased! Some of my favorite tools are from Smith and Hawken! Larry

George said...

It's nice to know that high quality gardening tools will still be available.

Unknown said...

I will definitely check this out thanks Jo x

Sharon said...

Not being a great gardener, or now even a gardener, it's nice to know that Target will be having tools that we DO need that will be reliable, we still will need pruners and that sort of thing. We have had to buy new practically every year because what we have found doesn't last.

Thanks Jo!

Meredith said...

From Target? Please do not think I am a garden tool snob. But Target? Sad news.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

HI Jo, Sounds like you will be visiting Target soon... Hope you find those Christmas gift cards... ha ha

I've been missing you on my blog lately. Hope you are feeling okay these days.
Hugs,
Betsy

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Meredith, Target has carried a line of the Smith and Hawken supplies for several years.

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

I'm happy that you will be able to find those items again Jo...I know what it's like to loose a store that you really enjoy. I hope you don't get the snow and ice that we're getting or at least the people to the north east of us are getting. We've got a bit of ice on the roads but they're getting snow on top of it. We'll see what tomorrow brings for us. Stay warm and safe.
Maura :)

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Hi Jo! I do love Smith and Hawken as well, and have purchased from them for many years--I also enjoy 'Plow and Hearth'which I think has lovely things too!

I hope you've had a good week!

The Redneck Rosarian said...

We had a Smith & Hawken store in Birmingham that closed over a year ago. We have missed it. Glad to hear this news...

Dee said...

quality tools for sure...good to hear Target will carry them..my friend Sue will be thrilled.

Rob said...

Sounds like good news, but if they don't sell very well Target will drop them quicker than you can say "disappointing sales figures".

It's a shame independent businesses have to rely on bigger corporate entities to carry them through tough times.

Barbara Anne said...

What a lovely surprise! I hope the quality of the products is maintained.

I still mourn favorite stores that have closed or that I moved away from!

Hugs!

Country Gal said...

Smith ! good name lol my maiden name !Sounds like it was a lovely shop, to bad they had to close ! Love the photos and post ! Have a great day !

Anonymous said...

Tools can be functional art...happy for all you that you will still be able to obtain the excellent tools and other products of Smith and Hawkens! Quality does tell!

Louise said...

Good news! I need some new gardening tools. Most of mine belonged to my Father and Grandfather and are becoming rather worn.

Doc said...

This is great news. I am a collector of fine tools, tools passed down from generation to generation and will continue to the next when this old gardener is on the other side of the dirt!

Betsy Brock said...

Oh, I'm glad to know this! I've always loved S & H stuff!

floweringmama said...

I'm not familiar with that brand, but there is a Target in town. Looks like I have a new place to wander through.

Cathy @ Country Cathy

Kay said...

We had a "Do It Center" just close down last month. They were a hardware/garden supply store. They had been there for about 20 years. This economy is just killing so many people.

Kay

Kipling said...

Can't beat them! We even have an old long handled spade on our fire truck for use on mountain fires! Still going strong when all the cheaper imports have long given up. Now I'm in charge I'm the one who gets to use it!!! The others can have the cheaper, newer, inferior ones.

Verde Farm said...

I had no idea they had closed their stores? The nearest one to us is in Columbus and I loved going there. Our Target does have a S&H section-but small. This is very good news. I just love the things they make.

Unknown said...

Hooray for Target stores. It's good to see something survive in this economy.
Great Photos.