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August 19, 2016 CapitalPress.com 3 Dennis’ 7 Dees sets sights on growth Nursery industry rebounds from recession Capital Press Capital Press Janae Sargent/Capital Press David Snodgrass, owner of Dennis’ 7 Dees, says his family-owned retail and landscaping business relies on the judgment of employees. also looking to expand retail in the future. “I really like that we’re so diversiied,” Snodgrass said. “I enjoy all aspects of this in- dustry.” Growth has been a priority for the company since it started as a wholesale rhododendron nursery in Portland in 1927. As the company grew, so did the family. When David’s father, Robert Snodgrass, mar- ried into the Dennis family, took over the wholesale busi- ness and had seven children, all with names starting with a “D,” the business oficially adopted the name “Dennis’ 7 Dees.” David Snodgrass irst bought into the landscape di- vision. When he took over in 1977, it was doing approxi- mately $70,000 annually. He said in 2005, revenues hit near- ly $25 million. In 2005 Snodgrass bought out the brothers he was part- nered with and brought in his brothers, Dean and Drew, as partners. Snodgrass said family is vital to the company’s success. That includes both the imme- diate family and the managers and staff, which he calls the extended family. “We really encourage em- powerment and growth from within here,” Snodgrass said. “We have people who have worked here for 40 years and family members of employees working here, and I’m very proud of that.” As the nursery industry continues to rebound from the housing market crash of 2008, those operations that survived the recession are sometimes struggling to meet the growing demands of landscapers and consumers. Breanne Chavez, executive director of the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association, said the landscap- ing industry is booming and sales are up at retail businesses but that the smaller number of nurseries sometimes struggle to meet the reinvigorated de- mand. Approximately 30 percent of nurseries shut down during the recession in response to low demand and a lack of homes being landscaped, she said. Josh Zeilinski, Oregon Association of Nurseries vice president, said the supply is being built back up to meet the renewed demand. Zeilinski said the products that are in the highest demand right now are the ones grow- ers decreased production of MORNING SHADE FARM AND NURSERY Blueberries and other berry plants 503-730-4788 HAZELNUT TREES: FARM DRAINAGE: McDonald, Jefferson, Yamhill, Wepster Sacajawea, York, Eta, Theta & Felix Installation, Consulting Repairs & Maintenance www.canby.com/morningshade N16-4/#T5D IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT BOUGHT. SOLD. CONSIGNED. 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While he is concerned about the pressure that puts on growers who ship their plants to keep them fresh and peak- ing, he said it is a good bet to ensure the industry remains strong. He also sees a future in plants as gifts. “If young people don’t start buying houses, we need to push the mindset of plant buying toward gift-giving,” Zeilinski said. “We need to make people view plants in a different way.” Zeilinski and Chavez agreed that it is exciting to have a strong nursery market again and that the industry will continue to generate innova- tive new ideas in the years to come. AGNursery.com N16-1/#7 CALL TODAY FOR PRICING! 503-849-0216 • FOREST GROVE, OR N16-1/#T1D David Snodgrass sees Den- nis’ 7 Dees as a $50 million company and said its man- agers have developed a four- year plan to meet that goal. Growth, sustainability and empowerment are the corner- stones of the fourth-genera- tion family-owned landscap- ing, retail and maintenance company that celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Owners of Dennis’ 7 Dees recently challenged managers to put together four-year plans that set goals for their divi- sions. Snodgrass, the president, said the company is on track to meet the plan’s irst-year goal. Dennis’ 7 Dees is split into four divisions: retail, com- mercial bid build construc- tion, residential design build and maintenance services. Snodgrass said the bid build work has steadily in- creased and is doing well and that he would like to see the maintenance division experi- ence more growth. The retail division of the Portland-area company is still recovering from the drop in big projects after the housing market recession that began in 2008, but Snodgrass said he has seen a turnaround. He is during the recession. Japa- nese maples, hedge material and landscaping products are rebounding with the renewed focus on homebuilding. Chavez said annuals, low- ers and hanging baskets stayed strong and continue to be con- sistently popular. She added that kitchen gardens, herb gar- dens and edibles kept the in- dustry going when demand for large plant products was down. The concept of an urban “farm” — backyards with chickens and vegetable gar- dens — has also gained in popularity. Alongside the concept of urban farms, sustainability and plants that attract pollinators such as honeybees have be- come more popular. “Edibles do really well with young people,” Zeilinski said. “I wouldn’t say they are increasing because they have held really steady.” Zeilinski said he thinks the D16-41#T1D By JANAE SARGENT By JANAE SARGENT