In this captivating episode, William Klaassen sits down with Angelo Petitti, a luminary in the horticulture industry with over 50 years of experience.
Angelo shares insights on building trust-first leadership, fostering a community-focused business culture, and adapting to industry challenges through vertical integration and innovation. His passion for giving back and empowering others shines through, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders alike.
This conversation dives into the heart of what makes a business thrive: culture, innovation, and treating people with respect and care.
Key Topics Discussed:
- From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leader:
Angelo’s inspiring journey from working odd jobs after immigrating from Italy to establishing one of the largest garden center chains in Ohio. - Building a Strong Company Culture:
Insights into Angelo’s philosophy of treating employees and customers with empathy and empowering his team to make decisions. - The Power of Vertical Integration:
How growing their own products and controlling the supply chain has been a game-changer for Petitti Garden Centers. - Commitment to Community:
Angelo’s passion for giving back, including donating plants to churches and charities, fostering a sense of belonging within the community. - Challenges in the Horticulture Industry:
Angelo highlights the significant capital and time investments required in the nursery business and discusses how technology is shaping the future. - Consolidation and Succession:
Exploring the industry’s shift toward larger players due to a lack of succession plans and the high cost of entry for new businesses. - Lessons in Leadership:
The importance of listening to employees, maintaining a hands-on approach, and fostering a culture of low-cost production and innovation.
Notable Quotes:
- “Treat people as you would treat yourself. If it was you, how would you solve the problem?” – Angelo Petitti
- “Making a profit is fun. It allows you to invest in your people, your facilities, and your community.”
- “The greatest gift you can give your kids is teaching them how to work.”
About Angelo:
Angelo Petitti, the son of a farmer and nephew of an avid gardener, immigrated to the United States in 1963 at the age of 16 from Faeto, a small mountain village with a population of 600 in southeast Italy. For 3 years, he worked at Pick-n-Pay Supermarket, and as a busboy at a local restaurant, to support himself while attending Kent State University night classes to pursue political science. Angelo also leveraged his innate sense of the land to do part-time landscaping and eventually, his interest in horticulture became his full-time passion.
In 1966, Angelo started Petitti Landscape Company. His brother, Domenico, joined him and they bought an oversized garage in 1969 in Oakwood Village to store their trucks, landscape equipment and plant material. Soon, passersby began to visit, inquiring about the plants inspiring Angelo to open the first Petitti Garden Center on site of the old garage on April 15, 1971.
Today, Angelo Petitti owns nine garden centers in Lake Country, Ohio, plus a 10th store opening Spring 2025. Angelo has invested in over 4,000 acres of nursery land where over 3 million trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses are grown and cultivated, serving landscapers and wholesale plant customers region wide.
With over 45 years of experience as a garden center owner, and 28 years as a grower, Angelo Petitti has gained valuable plant knowledge, which he loves to share through the media. Thousands of gardening enthusiasts tune in each week to Gardening with Angelo, Saturdays on WTAM 1100, where Angelo answers callers’ gardening questions. Each week on News Channel 5, Angelo and meteorologist Mark Johnson tackle timely gardening issues for viewers.
Resources Mentioned:
- Angelo’s radio show: Gardening with Angelo
- Petitti Garden Centers: petittigardencenter.com
Connect with Us:
- Guest: Angelo Petitti
- Host: William Klaassen
- Rhyzone, the Horticulture Leaders Podcast