Eye on Design
Alternative Choice helps customers from start to finish
“I love doing things that are different,” says Alternative Choice Garden Centre co-owner Karin Griffin. Griffin and her husband Chris started Alternative Landscaping Ltd in 1998, but it wasn’t until they expanded with the garden centre at the corner of 34th Street and Patricia Avenue in 2013, that Griffin truly found her niche.
“I’m into design and making things look pretty,” says Griffin, who added that she tries to offer items that are unique in the garden centre’s retail space. In addition to a large assortment of plants, trees, shrubs, gardening tools, giftware, landscaping supplies and yard décor, Alternative Choice also sells distinctive items such as a wide selection of Lechuza indoor and outdoor self-watering planters.
Custom planters are one of the shop’s most requested items.
“You tell us your budget, what colours you want and where the planter will be located and we’ll do the rest,” says Griffin. She adds that they prepared 800 custom planters last summer.
Alternative Choice offers plenty of gardening workshops for customers and they’re happy to put together custom workshops if there’s a specific topic requested. These custom workshops are ideal for special events such as bridal showers.
Feeling artsy? Step up to the Creation Station where staff and customers both get their hands dirty and help to make an idea come to life.
Griffin feels that one of the key assets of the centre is the depth of experience she and her staff bring to the table. The various facets of the business include landscaping, excavation, fencing and yard care. This allows the Griffins to help their customers through every step of a project, from concept design to getting the right supplies, execution or even maintenance.
Leonie Dedieu (left) – Retail Landscape Sales Manager and Kerri Van Mackelbergh – Greenhouse Manager 
All Photos by Kristhine Guerrero
