Smith & Hawken® was founded in 1979 as a garden tool company when John Jeavons, a dedicated organic gardener, asked his friends Dave Smith and Paul Hawken if they could source his favorite hand-forged gardening tools from England. Soon after, Dave and Paul began importing the finest high-quality gardening tools found in the marketplace—which were unavailable in the United States until that time. Once a simple mail-order company, now over twenty-five years later, Smith & Hawken is a multi-channel retailer of high-quality outdoor living products marketed through its catalog, retail stores and web site, www.SmithandHawken.com.


In 1982, Smith & Hawken opened its first retail store in Mill Valley, California. Today, the retail chain has grown to exceed the original catalog business, and sells its products through 58 stores in 23 states, including the District of Columbia. Currently, many of the company’s stores are housed in historic buildings renovated with the same attention to detail and craftsmanship required of Smith & Hawken products.


In 1993, founders Dave and Paul retired and Smith & Hawken became part of the retail conglomerate CML group, a publicly traded company. This association with CML allowed Smith & Hawken to accelerate its rate of growth and expand its network of stores and product offerings. In 1999, Smith & Hawken was purchased by a private investor group with an eye to further enhance the growth of the brand. Five years later, in 2004, Smith & Hawken was acquired by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the leading supplier of consumer products for lawn and garden care.


Since then the company has continued to grow and expand its national brand awareness through an increased number of new business ventures, including wholesale accounts at high-end independent garden centers and a deal with Target Corporation to provide an exclusive line of products. In addition, the company has redesigned its catalog and web site, as well as created a larger floor plan model for all of its new retail locations.


Today, Smith & Hawken is the premier authority in outdoor living, dedicated to providing products distinguished by authenticity, style and above all, fine craftsmanship. Consistently developing an expanding number of product categories, Smith & Hawken offers a range of outdoor furniture, garden structure, lighting, outdoor entertaining and décor, plants and containers. Products are produced with the highest quality materials, including Premium Teak™ furniture, which is environmentally farmed plantation teak from the island of Java, where teak production and replanting are stringently enforced by the government.


Smith & Hawken strives to nurture creativity and growth for its employees. The company’s corporate office is housed in a recycled Air Force hangar that offers plenty of open space and a working garden outdoors. It is a space in which beauty, creativity and a healthy working environment grow and prosper.