OCN Garden Center opened in 1993.
If you have ever been to Tofino, you know it ‘s across a mountain passage, over a rough road. Even with the best conditions, it’s a full day of travelling by the time you finish doing any required shopping never mind any special stops.
I wanted a garden center that was easier to get to, quicker to access, and that I didn't have to go to several different stores to find what I was looking for (you know, those essential items that most of us use in our gardens).
In our small 8x12 homemade greenhouse, we started with the basics of bedding plants, and through requests, we graduated into trees, shrubs and fertilizers.
Within the first year, I remember saying to my husband, "We either expand or close".
The result, Ordinary Corner Nursery (OCN).
A full compliment of products that you use in the garden including seeds, trees, shrubs, perennials, bedding plants, soil, fertilizers, amendments, and everything in between.
We purchased a second hand commercial greenhouse, 30x50, and had many of our products in there, including our organic fertilizers. After a bear broke into it, we built a small dry goods area.
I worked full time 8 months of the year at a job that would help to pay the bills, as well as working in the garden center full time, but I still needed something to do in the winter months when my other job was dormant, so we added another building and opened a gift store, with a garden theme.
"Gifts for the garden and gardener" I like to say.
Today the Garden Center keeps me busy year round. We close 3 weeks out of the year, one for Christmas holidays, and two to do inventory.
Thanks to my husband for the improvements we make every year!!.
The secret to the success of the Garden Center,
"Don't let owning a business go to your head",
"Your friends are your support in a small community".
"Treat your employees like you would like to be treated".
"Customer service is #1, they may not always be right, but they are always important".
"And gardening is always a learning experience, even the masters can learn something new".
619 Tibbs Plc PO Box 682 Tofino BC V0R 2Z0
Canada
250-725-4450
Website Design by Joanne Pettersen Copyright © OCN Garden Centre 2011
All Rights Reserved
Ordinary Corner Nursery
The driving directions of Mapquest works only if you are entering a United States address. The map is correct with the placement of the star for OCN Garden Center.
