2023 Certified Garden Center Training Program

Current 2023 Season Participation in Connect+ and Certification Programs

The 2023 Certified Garden Center Training Program

At Proven Winners^{^®}, plants aren't the only thing we're committed to growing. We’re also dedicated to growing your business by increasing your knowledge of Proven Winners plants, products and consumer trends. We understand the crucial role garden centers and their employees play in providing information and advice to people who love to garden. That’s why we’ve developed the Proven Winners Certified Garden Center Training Program - an ongoing partnership that offers the opportunity to learn more about our plants while building your employees' confidence to sell Proven Winners. Why certify?

Certification ends May 1st.

7 Simple Steps - Get Started Today!

Log in and Subscribe to CONNECT+ The 2023 Certification Training Program is part of the Proven Winners CONNECT+ program. But CONNECT+ has more to offer than just certification. There are five levels of marketing/advertising services aimed to make your life easier. Check out the benefits and subscribe to the level that works best for your business. Learn more about CONNECT+ Download the Managers Step By Step instructions for CONNECT+ - PDF
Manager set-up - Add your store location(s), list the number of employees that will complete the training, and choose your rewards. Download the Managers Step By Step Instructions - PDF.

Help Me Find My Employee Certified Test Keys
Train - Watch the 45 minute training video.
Test and choose reward - Take the online cettificaiton test or download the employee test forms.
Comment - Give us some feedback or take our survey and receive
a chance to win a $150 POP coupon for garden centers or a $50 gift certificate for an individual employee to shop in our Proven Winners online store. Once you complete the test you will have access to the survey.
Enjoy your FREE pizza party or Donate the funds we have allocated for your pizza party to help stamp out hunger in the U.S. and Canada. It's easy--just submit your pizza receipt online - Log in - Get resources - Submit Pizza Rebate. See below for step by step instructions.

Help Me Submit My Pizza/Donation Voucher
Post - Take a picture of your staff wearing their new Proven Winners t-shirts and post it on social media. Tag us at #PWPros to let everyone know your garden center is ready to make recommendations and answer questions about Proven Winners at your store.

Make sure your garden center
completes certification
by May 1st to receive all the benefits.

3 Methods to complete the training

Method 1 - Individual training

Individuals can watch the online video at home or at work and then take the online test and survey. All you need is a test key from your store manager.

1. Manager Logs In, Sets Up Location, Assigns Keys

2. Start Training

Method 2 - Group training

A group of employees can watch the online video together, then take the test and send them to Proven Winners via fax, email or mail. This method is great for large groups, stores with multiple locations or those with limited internet access. If you need a flash drive with the video and forms contact us at 1-815-895-1872.

Download GROUP Training Package Now - PDF

Method 3 - Offline training

An employees can read through the script and see the graphics from the video, then take the test and send it to Proven Winners mail. This method is great for companies without easy internet access.

Download Full video script with screen grabs - PDF

Download EMPLOYEE Training Package Now - PDF

Offline training for Proven Winners Members, Brokers Reps, Students, Growers, Media and other Interested Parties

Individuals can watch the online video at home or at work and then take the test and fax in the answer sheet.

Download Test and Answer sheet - PDF

Start Training

Help me find my employees Certified test keys:

Log In
Go to My Locations
Locate the correct location in your list of retail locations (Zo's Garden Center)
In the Certification box for your location, click Manage Certification Process and you'll find the keys

Help me submit my Pizza/Donation voucher:

Log In
Go to My Locations
Locate the correct location in your list of retail locations (Zo's Garden Center)
In the Certification box for your location, click Get Resources - Submit Pizza Rebate
Click Submit Pizza Rebate for Reimbursement or Donate Pizza Party Rebate to Charity

Have more questions about our certification program? Check our FAQs page or call us at 1-815-895-0104 and we will be happy to help!