Twenty
years ago, Mark Panco would not have expected to someday be the
owner of a large wholesale greenhouse operation. However today,
Mark and his wife Carol, are the proud owners of both wholesale
and retail greenhouse operations that rival some of the largest
in the state of New Jersey.
This
success story starts back in 1984 when Mark began working on a
vegetable farm as a farm laborer for Hensel Farms, owned by Eric
Hensel. Eric is a former Farm Credit Director. Mark worked for
Eric for the next 11 years. During that time, Mark developed
a great love and appreciation for farming and the people he worked
for. In 1988, Mark met Carol Alimenti, a local girl who came from
a farming family. Carol attended college and graduated with a
degree in nursing. Upon graduation, Carol accepted a job offer
from a local hospital as a registered nurse. The couple married
in 1992.
Mark, still
employed with Hensel Farms, had since been promoted to Farm Manager.
In 1993, because of available greenhouse space, Hensel Farms began
growing some annual bedding plants to supplement the vegetable
operation. In 1994,
Mark was presented with the opportunity to become a grower of
annual bedding plants and hanging baskets on a wholesale basis
for an individual whose own retail business was expanding. In
1994, after receiving advice and support from his parents and
in-laws, Mark decided to leave Hensel Farms to begin his own greenhouse
business. Carol, although initially leery about the change, supported
Mark’s decision and continued to work full time at the hospital.
With the couple’s savings, Mark purchased seven used greenhouses,
plants and materials and set out to produce for the 1995 season
under the name “C & M Greenhouses”, a sole proprietorship.
In
1996 Mark and Carol added four more used greenhouses, constructed
a retail shop and began to retail some of their own product. It
was at this time that Mark began his relationship with Farm Credit.
Hesitant to borrow money and under the advice of Eric Hensel,
Mark reluctantly established a small operating line of credit.
After having their second child in 1998, Carol decided not to
return to nursing and began working full time with Mark.
By 2000, the business had steadily grown and it was decided that
space was becoming a problem.
In 2000, with the financial backing from First Pioneer Farm Credit,
Mark and Carol decided to expand their operation by purchasing
60 acres of ground located one mile from the retail operation.
Also at this time, Mark & Carol formed C & M Flower Growers
Inc., which would house the production and wholesale portion of
their business. C & M Greenhouses would remain as a retail
operation. On the new site, the first major expansion was
made to include a large work building with office space, 47,000
sq. ft. of greenhouse space and 20 acres of outside production
area for the 250,000 mums and asters that were being produced.
In 2002, 38,000-sq. ft. of greenhouse space was added for a total
of 118,000-sq. ft. of growing area.
Early
in their careers, Mark and Carol learned the key ingredients to
ensure their success:
- To continually
add to their customer base and keep diversifying the product
line to keep customers intrigued.
- Grow a
high quality product and educate customers on what they are
purchasing and how to best use it.
- A satisfied
customer will likely tell someone else about his or her good
experience and in turn will help to further grow customer base.
- Only grow
10% more product than what is pre-sold through the wholesale
business. This eliminates surplus and having to dump the product
into an open market.
As
a result of these key philosophies, Mark and Carol have been very
successful in the development of their business. They continually
strive to provide the best product on the market and their dedication
to success with customer satisfaction at the forefront of their
thinking has enabled them to continue to grow. This “mom and pop”
philosophy continues to be the cornerstone of their business and
this is what separates them from the rest. |