Although 40-45% of Kim’s customers live in the Huntsville area, she provides her horticultural services to many in surrounding areas such as Montgomery, Willis, Bryan/College Station, Centerville, and Livingston (anywhere within a 45 minute to hour radius). Kim and her wonderful staff offer many special services, including seminars. If a garden club wishes to learn more about a certain subject, and they have 20-25 people confirmed to attend, then this thriving business sets to work. The setup includes coffee, gourmet food samples, and an ambience of fun and knowledge. “In order to offer whatever the customer is looking for, you have to differentiate yourself completely from the box stores.” Although the store only sits on two acres, every inch of the space is utilized. “We use it three-dimensionally, too—up, down, sideways. Any way we can place everything into two acres, we make it work,” Kim quipped as she talked about her location.
Kim’s transforms into a Christmas store during the holidays. A customer can snack on Christmas cookies and wassail while shopping for some of Huntsville’s greatest gems. Gourmet foods are available, and on certain afternoons, wine is served as well. “We do everything we can to make it a fun shopping experience.”
Kim also takes very seriously the responsibility to educate and pass on knowledge to the customers. Toward this end, she currently writes four columns, which include both local and national publications. As a certified nurseryman since 1988, she stays educated on research concerning varying areas of crop science; she believes that it is important to know what is opinion or conjecture, and which findings are based on actual testing and studies. “It is our responsibility to have the education, to have the knowledge to share with our consumers. There are so many thousands of items on the market, it is our job to educate the customer and let them make the final decision. I go to a doctor or a lawyer when I need to know something within their realm of expertise. We have put in the time learning how we can best meet the needs of and serve our customers.”
Although keeping up with product lines that are fresh and new shows Kim’s customers her dedication, she has also has logged many hours over the long haul. Her company has spent decades finding the “perfect fruit tree farmer, the perfect rose grower, finding out which line has the best candle… In a small business, you are either moving forward with all engines on go, or you are moving backward. There is no standing still.”
Whether walking on campus, traveling through the main parts of town, or taking a leisurely drive on the outskirts, one may see the fruits of the labor of Kim and her staff. Their accounts not only include residential contracts, but also include large commercial projects. On the SHSU grounds, the main mall and the performing arts buildings are just a few of the edifices that have been adorned to make these surroundings appealing as students traverse throughout their academic careers. Kim’s influence, however, does not end as the pupils head home from classes. The hard working staff has landscaped most of the apartment complexes in town. Bentwater Golf Course is also listed among the commercial projects which Kim’s Home and Garden Center has completed.
Contracts of this size have been garnered by this hometown entrepreneur through vision and hard work. Kim graciously complimented her staff many times over. “I will put my people, our knowledge, and the quality of material against anyone in the state of Texas or the United States. We have wonderful landscape folks. We have great sales people. These people are the very, very best in this field at what they do.” The knowledge, the customer service, the commitment to excellence, and the energy to always be on the lookout for ways to beautify our Piney Woods are many of the things which keep Kim’s Home and Garden a premium garden center in our area.