Gardens Alive! Acquires England-Based Seed Company's U.S. Operations

Lawrenceburg, Ind., Sept. 25, 2009 – Gardens Alive, Inc. is proud to announce its purchase of the inventory and rights to Thompson & Morgan Seedsmen, Inc.’s U.S. operations. The acquisition of the English Seed Company’s stateside business includes the publication of the seasonal catalogs, ownership of inventory, and distribution to retail outlets.

The purchase rounds out Gardens Alive’s all-star collection of leading U.S. mail-order gardening brands. Founded in 1855, and steeped in a rich history of horticultural innovation and product development, Thompson & Morgan nicely complements Gardens Alive’s other long-running brands: Breck’s (founded in 1818), Spring Hill Nurseries (1849), Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Company (1866), and Henry Field’s Seed & Nursery Company (1892).

Combining experience, heritage and innovation, these companies have cultivated relationships with their customers based on trust in quality products and service. Thompson & Morgan easily fits within this model. With a 154-year commitment to quality and a selection of over 1,500 seed varieties, T&M will easily appeal to the avid and discerning gardeners who make up the customer base of its new sister brands.

“It’s a perfect match,” says Gardens Alive founder Niles Kinerk. “With Thompson & Morgan’s long history and reputation for quality seed, they match our own brands’ legacy in the seed and nursery business. Customers know that our brands offer only the best products – and that these companies have survived the test of time because they’ve always done right by their customers.”

Moving beyond mail-order catalogs, Thompson & Morgan’s retail distribution adds another dimension to the Gardens Alive business. Themed retail displays expose a wider audience to the unparalleled selection that is the hallmark benefit of growing from seed.

About Thompson & Morgan
Thompson & Morgan began when William Thompson started a small garden behind his father’s bakery in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. When his business quickly grew to include three nurseries, Thompson joined into a partnership with John Morgan in 1855. The results of their efforts 154 years ago have allowed Thompson & Morgan to grow into the horticultural leader that it is today. Entering the North American market in 1982, Thompson & Morgan was able to provide a U.S. audience with the unique and unusual species that were the trademark of William Thompson’s breeding program.

About Gardens Alive
Gardens Alive is one of America’s leading direct-mail suppliers of products for the home gardener. Through its distinct brands, the company offers a comprehensive line of fertilizers, pest and disease control products, seeds, perennials, bulbs and nursery stock – all chosen specifically with the home gardener in mind. In recent years, Gardens Alive has expanded its product lines and resources by combining forces with other businesses that share the company’s vision of high-quality products.