Gardens Alive! continues to grow like a weed: The horticultural mailer announced Sept. 25 it has acquired the U.S. operations of Thompson & Morgan Seedsmen. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Thompson & Morgan was founded in 1855 in Ipswich, U.K., and entered the North American market in 1982. Its U.S. operations, which include seasonal catalogs and retail outlet distribution, are based in Jackson, NJ.
Gardens Alive! founder/president/CEO Niles Kinerk says Thompson & Morgan “fits into our existing horticultural titles and fills in an area of weakness for us: the sale of seed of flowers, as opposed to potted plants.” Thompson & Morgan offers 1,500 seed varieties.
Lawrenceburg, IN-based Gardens Alive! specializes in products for the biological control of garden pests. The company also includes the Breck’s, Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Co., Henry Field’s Seed & Nursery Co.,Michigan Bulb, Spring Hill Nurseries, New Holland Bulb, and Audubon Workshop horticultural catalogs.
Gardens’ Alive in June purchased gifts and home decor products cataloger TouchStone; last year it bought gifts mailer The Paragon and puzzles merchant Bits and Pieces.