The Texas Garden Retailer Awards (TGRA) celebrates excellence in garden retail across the Lone Star State. Whether you’re a charming neighborhood shop or a destination garden center, this is your chance to be recognized for your hard work, creativity, and customer experience.

Who Can Enter
The TGRA is open to all Texas-based retail garden centers, regardless of size or location. Whether you operate:
  • An independent garden center
  • A nursery with retail sales
  • A landscaping business with a retail store
  • A large multi-location operation
If you serve customers in Texas with plants, gardening products, and horticulture expertise, we want to see your best work!

Why Enter?
  • Statewide Recognition – Stand out in the Texas green industry
  • Media Exposure – Be featured on TNLA’s website, email marketing and across our social media channels
  • Team Pride – Show your employees and customers that their efforts are award-winning

​How to Enter
  1. Fill out the TGRA Application. Entry is free for all eligible businesses.
  2. Complete the short entry form (it’s faster than you think!)
  3. Upload 5–10 photos of your store, displays, and team

No long essays. No complicated uploads. Just your best work, showcased.

When will the winners be recognized?
Projects are honored at the TNLA Awards Festival during the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum on January 6, 2026.

Deadline?
Applications are NOW OPEN will close October 3, 2025.

If you have any questions please contact Jeremiah Armstrong at [email protected]

2025 TGRA Winners

Ask Us Anything

FAQs

ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. CREATE an online account on TNLA's Kaleidoscope program.
  2. UPLOAD entry following the criteria guidelines, questions, and uploading supporting documentation and images.
  3. Submit and pay for an entry per category online through TNLA's Kaleidoscope program.
  4. Winners will be awarded at the TNLA Awards Festival on January 6, 2026 during the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum.

ENTRY FEE AMOUNTS:
​$225 Member | $300 Non-member
Please note: A 3% credit card processing fee will be added to your total at checkout. 
​Entry fees go towards the administrative cost to conduct the awards program to help with the application process and furthermore to market and promote the success of the program.
Texas Garden Retailer of the Year Criteria:
  • Innovation & Quality: Retailers must demonstrate how to run a successful, quality-driven garden center while implementing innovative approaches to their business strategies.
  • Merchandising Concepts: Entrants must provide examples of their store's Merchandising Displays, including but not limited to: POP/POS Concept and Displays and/or, Seasonal/Temporary Displays.
  • Staff Culture within the Garden Center: Provide an overall outlook of the current staff culture within the Garden Center, describing the scope of Staff's involvement at the garden center and the ability to enhance the staff's overall Green Industry knowledge and professionalism.
ABOUT THE CATEGORIES:
Retailer of the Year: Only Gold Award winners are eligible for this honor, and only one Retailer of the Year will be selected per category: centers with over $1 million in annual revenue and those with under $1 million. 

As part of the evaluation process, a TNLA-selected Secret Shopper—an experienced industry professional—may conduct an unannounced visit to your store to assess customer experience, overall store quality, and performance.​
TIPS AND TRICKS TO PROVIDING A STELLAR SUBMISSION
  • Take photos throughout the Spring and during special events at your retail garden center to share with your online entry.
  • Make note of the special classes and activities conducted throughout the year such as writing letters to Santa, providing sessions on creating custom hanging baskets, showcasing Summer movie nights.
  • Share information on special merchandising displays, provide photo examples, discuss what made them unique, if they were Seasonal/Temporary and the purpose they served.
  • Be prepared to share in your online application information about your customer demographics, their buying patterns and the needs your retail garden center meets for your client base.