100% branded packaging for all Proven Winners sold
For over two decades, Proven Winners has demonstrated that branding works. You have seen it in your bottom line with increased profitability from our plants, and consumers have come to equate the Proven Winners’ name with exemplary garden performance.
We have moved to marry retailer and consumer interests by implementing the Complete Package Program for all annuals. Like all of the other Proven Winners plants we offer, all Proven Winners annuals grown for single pot production for retail sale are now sold in our signature white branded container.
Customers selling our annuals in recipes may continue to use our tag exchange program.
Complete package announcement
Why is branded packaging important?
Think about the branded products you consume daily. The iPhone in your pocket came boxed in slick packaging, making it easily recognizable as an Apple® product. Coca-Cola® wouldn’t taste quite the same if you weren’t positive that it was Coke®. Packaging instantly forms our impressions of a product. Consumers have repeatedly shared their concerns when they see our plants not offered in our signature white branded container, believing they are not buying “authentic” Proven Winners.
Nearly every product consumers purchase at garden centers is branded, and branded packaging informs their purchasing decisions. It also allows retailers to capitalize on the tremendous value of the ten billion brand impressions we make through our extensive marketing campaigns each year. Plus, we have proven that using our signature white branded container increases sell-through at higher prices and margins for your customers.
How the Complete Package Program works
Timing: The Complete Package Program was effective in the U.S. beginning with all annuals liners (plants) scheduled for shipment on or after November 1, 2021. In Canada, the program was effective for all annuals liners (plants) scheduled for shipment on or after July 1, 2022. Annuals plants grown in hanging baskets or upright containers may instead utilize our tag exchange program.
Branded Container and Tag Ordering Options: H.C. Companies and East Jordan are the official suppliers of Proven Winners branded containers for annuals. Branded containers are required for all single-pot production for retail sale at a 1:1 plant-to-container ratio. Order in bulk to receive branded containers before the growing season, receive them along with your liner orders, or customize your order to ensure you have the right number of branded containers, trays, container garden tags, and individual variety tags you need. Please see below for further details, check with your broker, or Proven Winners propagator for more information.
For combinations having less than 75% Proven Winners or Proven Selections plants, individual variety stake tags must be used but a generic Proven Winners container garden tag cannot be used. For combinations with 75% or more Proven Winners/Proven Selections plants a generic Proven Winners container garden tag may be used (and is preferred to truly “brand” the combination) – plus, individual variety stake tags must also be used.
Of course, for combinations that are “kits” that come with variety-specific container garden tags, individual variety stake tags don’t need to be used.
Circumstances where branded containers or container/hanging basket tags are not required:
- Sales of Proven Winners annuals to botanical gardens, public gardens, conservatories, and trial sites with confirmation that plants are not being
re-sold (i.e., conservatories do have plant sales, those sales would not be exempt). - Proven Winners annuals orders for landscape use (i.e., non-retail sales; for use in landscape installations).
- Growers should inform their plant broker about which orders, or items on an order are intended for landscape plantings or sales to botanical gardens, public gardens, conservatories, or trial sites.
- Any variety sold as Proven Selections.
What makes Proven Winners packaging better than generic containers & trays
Below are various containers & tray sizes for Proven Winners annuals:
| Proven Winners® Branded Container | Corresponding Tray | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (Inches) | Volume | Dimensions (Inches) | Containers Per Tray | Tray Footprint Sq. Ft. | Supplier | Container Type | |
| 3.5 Injection ** | 3.5 x 3.25 | .687 pints | 21.25 x 7.12 | 12 | 1.051 | HC | Injection |
| 4.25 Grande™ Self-Symetricize® Co-Ex | 4.25 x 5.375 | 1.6 pints | 17.875 x 8.875 | 8 | 1.102 | HC | Co-Ex |
| 4.25 Grande™ Self-Symetricize® Injection * | 4.25 x 4.9375 | 1.56 pints | 17.875 x 9 | 8 | 1.117 | HC | Injection |
| 4.25 Grande™ Self-Symetricize® Co-Ex | 4.25 x 5.375 | 1.6 pints | 21 x 8.5 | 10 | 1.240 | HC | Co-Ex |
| 4.25 Grande™ Self-Symetricize® Injection * | 4.25 x 4.9375 | 1.56 pints | 22.4 x 8.969 | 10 | 1.395 | HC | Injection |
| 4.50 Classic™ Self-Symetricize® Injection * | 4.5 x 3.8125 | 1.31 pints | 19.4375 x 10 | 8 | 1.350 | HC | Injection |
| 1.0 QT Injection * | 4.625 x 4.6875 | 1.94 pints | 19.5 x 10 | 8 | 1.354 | HC | Injection |
| 6.50 Injection * | 6.5 x 4.9375 | 2.01 quarts | 19.3125 x 13.25 | 6 | 1.777 | HC | Injection |
| 1.0 GL Royale™ Co-Ex | 6.5 x 7.5 | 2.9 quarts | 19.875 x 6.625 | 3 | 0.914 | HC | Co-Ex |
| 1.0 GL Royale™ Injection | 6.5 x 7 | 2.72 quarts | 20 x 6.625 | 3 | 0.920 | HC | Injection |
| 8.0 Jumbo Injection | 8.0 x 5.62 | 3.27 quarts | No Tray Available For This Container | HC | Injection | ||
| 3.5 Co-Ex ** | 3.5 x 3.38 | .769 pints | 12.125 x 9.25 | 12 | 0.779 | EJP | Co-Ex |
| 4.25 Grande™ Self-Symetricize® Co-Ex * | 4.33 x 5.125 | 1.71 pt | 21.625 x 8.625 | 10 | 1.295 | EJP | Co-Ex |
| 4.50 Classic™ Co-Ex | 4.5 x 3.75 | 1.42 pints | 22.375 x 8.6875 | 10 | 1.039 | EJP | Co-Ex |
| 1.0 QT Co-Ex * | 4.70 x 5.00 | 1.00 qt | 19 x 9.625 | 8 | 1.270 | EJP | Co-Ex |
| 6.50 Co-Ex * | 6.50 x 5.00 | 2.00 qt | 19.375 x 13.125 | 6 | 1.766 | EJP | Co-Ex |
| 1.0 GL Royale™ Co-Ex * | 6.30 x 6.375 | 2.5 qt | 19 x 12.625 | 3 | 1.666 | EJP | Co-Ex |
| 4.25 Grande™ Self-Symetricize® Eco+Grande® | 4.25 x 4.9375 | 1.57 pints | Fit any of the 8 or 10-count Grande trays | PVG/FS | Zero Plastic | ||
* These containers are included in the sample box. See further below for information about our free container sample program.
** These containers are for use with Proven Accents® by Proven Winners® or Proven Selections® varieties only.
Trays: Trays are encouraged but not required.
Additional Resources:
- Recommended container sizes for Proven Winners perennials
- Proper usage of Proven Winners branded containers and labels
- Annual branded container FAQs
- Eco+Grande® FAQ
To receive samples, contact your propagator.
Order your box of sample containers and trays so you can determine the best Proven Winners branded containers and trays for your needs.
Your propagator will send you a sample box of our 10 different styles of branded containers, including our Eco+ Grande, so you can try them out on your racks, carts, benches, and pot fillers. We’re here to help you work through any issues that may arise as you transition to 100% Proven Winners branded packaging-containers or container garden tags for all Proven Winners annuals.
