Home Nursery Inc., a family-owned and operated producer and distributor of field- and container-grown nursery stock, is celebrating its 95-year anniversary in 2016.
Home Nursery was founded by Ernest E. Tosovsky Sr. in 1921. Through the leadership of Tosovsky and his sons, Ernest Jr. and Chuck, the company has grown from a vegetable garden in Edwardsville, IL, to a 500-acre farm in Albers, IL, with two distribution centers, one in Albers, IL, and the other in O’Fallon, MO. Home Nursery now provides service to 13 Midwestern states.
Home Nursery has stayed in the Tosovsky family and is currently being led by Ann Tosovsky, granddaughter of the founder. “We have great relationships with our customers, and we care about their success,” Ann says. “As a result, product quality is key. It may sound cliché, but it is how we run our business.”
Innovative thinkers. As an example of this customer focus and passion for quality, the company recently purchased land to begin a “pot in pot” production system that uses containers placed inside permanent in-ground containers to improve growing and transporting. The main benefit of this system is that plants and trees can be harvested all year (for the most part) for improved availability, versus waiting for the right time to dig in the fields. Other advantages include root protection from extreme hot and cold temperatures, greater stability for reduced tipping, and the ability to grow and overwinter shrubs in a single fixed location, reducing costs and stress on the plant. The first pot in pot crop should be harvested in 2017.
Additionally, the company recently implemented “Lean Flow” to improve the shipping process at its main farm in Albers, IL. Most loads are now shipped on racks, which contributes to less breakage, reduces shortages and is easier for customers to manage and unload.
“We have always been able to change with the times, which helps us stay relevant for our customers,” says Ann. “We implement new systems to improve plant quality; we improve processes to make it easier and faster to do business with us; we keep up to speed with new plant varieties that are introduced to the market so that our customers can offer innovative options. With this commitment, we plan to be in business for the next 95 years.”
Home Nursery is celebrating 95 years with several internal and external celebrations throughout the year. The company introduced a new anniversary logo for banners and trade shows, recognized many of its long-tenured employees at a recent company breakfast, and will host open houses for customers at both distribution centers in September. The company will also host an employee/family event on October 8 at its farm in Albers.
“Our anniversary is the perfect time for us to reflect on our business and say thank you to our employees and customers that have allowed us to succeed,” Ann says.
