T & T Seeds is a growing concern

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This article was published 02/03/2018 (2986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

T & T Seeds new owners Jarrett and Jackie Davidson are making changes to the long-time business but keeping the values started by the Twomey family.

The Davidsons purchased the business at 7724 Roblin Blvd. in Headingley which sells flower, vegetable and fruit seeds across Canada, offers bedding plants and trees in the spring and summer months, and operates a garden supply retail department year-round, in November 2016.

Jarrett said former owners Brian and Kevin Twomey, who took over the business started by their father Paddy and uncle Jerry, are still part of the operation.

“We are embracing what the family developed and are enhancing that for the future,” he said.
Davidson also has a family business background. After earning a business degree from the University of Manitoba, he worked with his father who established and ran the World of Water’s Winnipeg head office. He later formed a corporate financial practise, offering advice on business mergers, acquisitions and succession planning. He said he missed working in his own business and was looking for an opportunity when he heard about the Twomeys wanting to sell T & T Seeds.

He was attracted by the business’ 73-year history and the internal culture that promotes family relations in terms of employees and the way in which customers are treated.

“We share the same philosophies of relationships with people.

Davidson is proud to say that he has a cousin and two nieces who work at T & T Seeds, and is already getting his 10 and 11-year-old children involved.

The focus on family extends to customers as Davidson said he wants to make sure customers enjoy their shopping experience as a family when they come to buy their bedding plants and garden supplies.

Davidson also acknowledges the business’ longtime seed customers, some of whom still mail in their annual seed orders with a money order included. However, more ordering is being done online.

He said the annual seed catalogue still plays a vital role as it serves to advertise the thousands of seed choices available. In fact, this season’s catalogue is larger with 160 new products added. The catalogue is mailed across Canada with 130,000 copies printed.

T & T Seeds specializes in seeds grown in Canada that are capable of thriving in northern climates. Davidson said the company has a five-acre trial garden that they use to test new varieties and are starting to grow some rare varieties for seed harvest.

Another aspect of the business that attracted him is that it’s part of what he calls “a happy, healthy industry.” An increasing number of people of all ages want to grow some of their own food even if they are using containers.

“We’re going to launch planting classes,” he said, with information on container and square-foot gardening, among other topics.

The retail area is connected to a greenhouse that Davidson has renovated. It has room for the workshops as well as holding tables of bedding plants.

The retail area was completely repainted and reconfigured. Davidson said four cash desks were constructed using barn board and wood that had been stored onsite. They are situated in such a way that allows room for customers to wheel their carts filled with plants up to each desk.

The warehouse that contains shelves stacked with seed packages was also changed to increase its capacity and to make it easier for staff to access the products they need.

“They now have everything at their fingertips,” Davidson said.

The business is situated on 40 acres, 30 of which aren’t currently being used. Davidson said he’s working on a master plan that will further expand the business and may include a garden showcasing some of the plants and seeds they sell.

For more information on T & T Seeds see their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TTSeedsLtd or www.ttseeds.com