This past weekend , Canadians across the country placed gorgeous blooms into their home gardens and outdoor spaces . For those in Western Canada , there ’s a good chance the sensational florals they purchased at their local Walmart Garden Centre are from Rainbow Greenhouses , found in Chilliwack , British Columbia .
Like many of Walmart Canada ’s nearly 2,100 Canadian suppliers , Rainbow Greenhouses is family - owned and operated .
“ My wife and I started this business when I was 22 , using a single hand truck I borrowed from my Padre , ” explains Stan Vander Waal , CEO , Rainbow Greenhouses . “ Today , we employ more than 600 people and I ’m proud to say that my family exploit with us , too . We like to say it ’s all hands on deck – especially during the busy times . ”
In the virtually 20 years they ’ve been working with Walmart , they ’ve seen their business grow and expand : they now supply Western Canada with nearly 500 indoor and outdoor varieties , include string up baskets , tropicals and a wide sort of pollinator plants , including a Walmart - single Pollinator Passions program .
Together , the Walmart Canada and Rainbow Greenhouses squad work to add the best miscellany of product with awesome economic value to their shared customer . seem at ease of care , colour and purpose trends , the teams develop programs that help client construct out the gardens of their dream twelvemonth after year .
grow together : collaborationism is key for Walmart Canada and Rainbow Greenhouses“Working with our suppliers like Rainbow allow us to make novel and advanced items for our customer , ” divvy up Kelly Heshka , Senior Category Manager , Garden Centre , Walmart Canada . “ We ’re focused on bringing great value every day to our customers – a big part of that is working with our suppliers . Without our provider ’ in depth knowledge and creative minds , we would not be capable to give birth what our client want at the everyday low prices that we anticipate . ”
The collaboration includes walk the path of regeneration together . Rainbow Greenhouses is an diligence leader in sustainability , take a number of practice to cut back energy consumption , leveraging integrated pest direction systems including biologicals and introducing tearing system that run off less water .
Flowerpot Takeback ProgramThis twelvemonth , Walmart and Rainbow Greenhouses are piloting a flowerpot takeback program in British Columbia store to help reprocess and recycle plastic flowerpot .
“ Some people feel you ’re dealing with a emptor at a big concern like Walmart and they evidence you what it ’s get be and how it ’s going to go . Our relationship with Kelly and her squad is substantiation that it does n’t work that way , ” explains Stan . “ Our business transformed when we became more collaborative . We both have the same client and we work out together to ensure we ’re providing the products they ’re look for and working on solutions together – in regeneration , in operation and in merchandising . ”
For more information : Walmartwalmart.ca
