One of the keys to turning a profit in 2010 will be your ability to adapt to a new breed of customer. While your staple Baby Boomer has been quo-ing the status almost since she first set foot in your door, the Generation X and Gen Y shoppers play the game by a new set of rules. They are techno-savvy. They are picky. They are impulsive. They are generally predisposed to favor destination over journey. Mainly, though, they are here to stay, and you need to offer a product mix that caters to what they want/need. To that end, here are five products designed to do eXactlY that …

What is it? The GroPole telescopic plant stake from GroPole LLC. Why should you sell it? GroPole will “grow” with the plant it supports, taking a lot of the maintenance out of plant nurturing. The stakes can go from 2 feet in height to 5 feet tall and can adjust incrementally. They come in bright colors that tend to repel common plant pests. Where to find it? E-mail hank@gropole.com
What is it? The Shamrock Seed Gift Set from Official Irish Dirt. Why should you sell it? This product has Gen X written all over it. It is an all-in-one pack that will allow the recipient to grow official Irish shamrock seeds in authentic Irish dirt in a beautifully crafted Belleek bowl. It’s a conversation piece and an attractive container gardening accent all at once. Where to find it? www.officialirishdirt.com
What is it? Some manner of “cool tool” combo, featuring the likes of the Potlifter from the company of the same name, the SharpShooter Pruner (pictured) from the company of the same name and ergonomic grip tools from a company by a completely different name, Tierra-Derco. Why should you sell it? This is a great chance for you to cross-merchandise. You can choose from among whatever tools you market, but if they have a “that’s clever” or “that will make life much easier” quality about them, they’re tailor-made for your new market. Where to find it? These “its” can be found at www.potlifter.com, www.sharpshooterpruner.com and www.tierraderco.com
What is it? The Easy Bloom Plant Sensor from PlantSense Inc. Why should you sell it? This Internet-based gardening tool can recommend plants that will thrive in a particular spot. EasyBloom collects environmental data over a 24-hour period. Algorithms on the EasyBloom Web site then interpret and analyze the data to recommend which plants will flourish in the spot. Where to find it? www.easybloom.com
What is it? The Snap ‘n Shape heart-shaped tomato/pepper mold from Twisted Gardens. Why should you sell it? Snap ‘n Shape takes the ho-hum out of growing cherry tomatoes and cherry peppers. Your customer snaps the product around a young cherry tomato or pepper; then slides the clip in place. The shaper does the rest, gently molding the growing tomato into a heart, a process that takes an average of seven to 10 days. Where to find it? www.snapnshape.com