Smith & Hawken lives on

Look for the Smith & Hawken brand to be expanded at Target now that the retailer has acquired the brand from The Scotts Miracle-Gro company. Commenting on the acquisition announced after the market closed on Friday, Target EVP merchandising Kathee Tesija said, “We’re thrilled to own such an admired and iconic brand. We believe the Smith & Hawken brand complements our existing portfolio of owned brands and provides our guests with another compelling reason to shop Target.”

Target began offering Smith & Hawken products in 2006 when it created special branded department in stores to offer outdoor furniture, gardening and decor items. Back then, Smith & Hawken operated stores and a Web site and the company was well-regarded for the high quality of its merchandise, which tended to carry an equally high price tag. That wasn’t a good combination when the nation’s housing market and economy tanked. Last summer, after an unsuccessful year-long effort to sell the retail operations, parent company Scott’s decided to close all 56 Smith & Hawken stores.

“We would have preferred to sell the Smith & Hawken business in order to protect jobs and keep the retail franchise intact. However, after discussions with several potential investors over the past 12 months, it became obvious that shutting down the business was the best option available,” Jim Hagedorn, chairman and CEO of ScottsMiracle-Gro said at the time.