Fort Worth, TX — Two of the horticultural industry's most experienced and innovative companies, Branch-Smith Publishing and PlantFind.com, have formed a strategic marketing alliance to provide true solutions for the green industry.

Since 1915, the goal of Branch-Smith Publishing has been to provide green-industry members with the tools and information they need to succeed. "We have spent the last several years seeking out just the right electronic partner to complement our print magazines and the Green Beam," said Ken Tichelbaut, president of Branch-Smith Publishing. "We believe PlantFind.com is the right company, bringing the right services at the right time. This builds on our desire to bring the industry the most comprehensive, beneficial set of business tools possible."

"In the last two years we have made significant strides in delivering the best e-commerce solutions for our industry," said Michael Ferraro, president of PlantFind.com. "Having a partner like Branch-Smith shows the industry that we are a true solutions provider. They would not put their name behind a company like ours if we could not truly provide a great service for the industry."

The Branch-Smith/PlantFind.com partnership is the perfect marriage of information, communication and sales. Combining the energies of both companies allows them to assist with the entire sales process, from information and ideas to advertising and sales assistance – all for a nominal fee.

PlantFind.com was created by a group of notable industry professionals. PlantFind.com CEO Frank Ferraro is the former president of the New York State Nurserymen's Association and has been a leader in the green industry for the past 38 years. Bosh Bruening, vice president of sales, served with ANLA as the chair of the Public Relations Committee for six years and chair of the Wholesale Plant Sales Professionals Committee for 12 years. Other members of the creation team were Dr. George Good of Cornell University, Peter Costich of Horticulture Material Systems, Edward D. Stone Jr. of EDSA, and Dick McGuire who served on the executive committee for the American Farm Bureau for 12 years. This team of industry experts has been joined by Jim Amtmann, chief operating officer, an experienced leader who has led eight companies ranging from various high-tech companies to Fortune 200 companies such as The Stanley Works, where he acted as the president of three divisions for more than 30 years. Amtmann also reigned as president of First Alert, and president/CEO of Zodiac Pools. Together, the creators of PlantFind.com have more than 300 years of experience in the green industry.

PlantFind.com allows growers to participate at several different levels – from receiving request for quotes to complete online sales. Other amenities include industry software (ASP) that allows companies to avoid some of the high costs of customized software. Currently, inventories for more than 1,500 growers are listed on PlantFind.com.

"Branch-Smith Publishing has been helping this industry grow for almost a century. By partnering with PlantFind.com they are looking forward to the next century and how they can continue to help the green industry grow," said Ferraro.

Branch-Smith Publishing produces four monthly magazines: Nursery Management & Production (NMPRO), Greenhouse Management & Production (GMPRO), Garden Center Merchandising & Management (Garden Center), and Garden Center Products & Supplies (GCP&S). With audited circulations that guarantee each magazine is read by top buyers in the industry, these magazines boast the most discerning and educated audiences of any green-industry publications. Branch-Smith's Green Beam web site (www.greenbeam.com) is the industry's leading content provider.