A local Lexington landmark, Wingard’s Market truly is rooted in history. In 1968 Margie and Judson Wingard started propagating and selling azaleas from their Lexington, SC home. Since that initial conception, Wingard’s Market has been serving the Lexington area as one of the top garden centers specializing in plants and flowers that thrive in the Midlands.
A decade ago, their daughter Delores Wingard Steinhauser and her husband Wally took over the garden center, preserving the look and feel that made the garden center so popular.
With time comes change, and, over the years, the Steinhausers began looking for ways to serve their customers better. Sustainability and preserving the role of local farmers began to take shape in their new vision. Customers short on time were looking for a one-stop garden center that would fill their garden lifestyle needs while supporting the local community.
As their customers started to embrace each new innovation, it became apparent that Wingard’s Market was more than a place to buy flowers, trees, and shrubs. From the expansion of the Gift Shoppe to a Produce Market and lastly adding Wild Birds, their 1403 North Lake Drive location has blossomed to be genuinely a Destination Garden Center.
As a leading small business is the Lexington community, we ask Wally what benefit he sees from advertising his business on their company vehicle.
“There are many. We make deliveries throughout the Midlands, and that big, colorful mural that Pine Press designed and installed on the side of our box truck draws big attention to our business in a big way.”
We’ve watched Wingard’s grow since they first became a customer of ours in 2006, and we value their advice. We asked Wally if he could share with us any tips about being a small business owner.
“Do your homework…keep your cost structure low, determine who your customers are, determine your competitive advantage, and market your business accordingly. Remember, you can offer it fast, cheap, or with quality, but you can’t offer all three.”
We also asked him if he could share with us one form of marketing or advertising that has worked the best for you and why? He said.
“Our newsletter, which our customers voluntarily sign up for has been very successful.”
If you haven’t visited Wingard’s Market, we encourage you to enjoy the quiet ambiance of a garden center seeped in history, be inspired by the lush colors of nature, and find a peaceful spot to enjoy the birds, blossoms, and butterflies.
Wingard’s Market, Inc.
1403 N. Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072
Hours:
Currently: 9:00-5:00 Monday – Sat | Closed on Sunday
Normal Hours: 9-6 Monday – Sat and 1:30 – 5:00 on Sunday
Website: wingardsmarket.com
Phone: 803-359-9091