In This Issue
Tributes for Ernest Wertheim, the original Garden Centre Guru
One million new gardeners = increased sales
Fair Trade Face Coverings from Earth Squared – the new ‘must have’ accessory!
Hyve launches virtual events, including Glee Gathering
Eat Out to Help Out With CSY
Fund created for Westland accident victims family reaches £5,000 target
GCA members discuss challenges of re-opening restaurants and cafés
Haskins Snowhill’s new look centre bounces back
Garden centre evacuated after massive fire breaks out at nearby scrapyard
John Lewis looks to expand into horticulture
Greenfingers Charity begins work at Rainbows Hospice
Afternoon Tea is back at Dobbies 
New era for British Christmas Tree Growers Association
Premium Christmas Trees’ Nordmann Slimline trees are its fastest selling festive tree range ever
DJ Turfcare invests in new video content to help drive sales of its new Autumn Lawn Treatment
LifestyleGarden launches second generation of DuraOcean
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Char-Broil appoints new team to fire up UK business
It’s a Herbidacious summer for veg sales
Pot sales stay high
Autumn colour comes early
Legal seeds offer new opportunities for horticulturists
Double growing media sales fuelled by new gardeners
APHA launches first plant health apprenticeship scheme
The best of last week's
Online garden centre retailer apologises to dissatisfied customers
New benchmark for summer sales
We've all gone Potty!
Surge in home and garden businesses trading online
Dobbies and Sainsbury’s grocery partnership launches
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
All the latest news from the world of pet products
PetQuip reveals finalists for prestigious Industry Awards 2020
Dog food brand signs 'Better Chicken Commitment'
New Product Awards go ahead
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news.

Email trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 07973 504214


GCA members discuss challenges of re-opening restaurants and cafés
 

Members of the Garden Centre Association have taken part in a virtual forum to discuss the challenges they faced with the re-opening of restaurants and cafés.

 

The forum was facilitated by Chris Brown of Turpin Smale Catering Consultants and attendees included principals, managers and catering managers, who were able to share ideas, information and best practice.

 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive (pictured right), explained: “One of the biggest benefits of being a member of the GCA is being able to share best practice and ideas with other members and, as our regional meetings are unable to take place as they normally would at this time of year, we’ve decided to get together virtually instead.

 

“It was a great opportunity for an open discussion with Chris Brown at the helm. There were lots of points raised about how the re-opening of catering hasn’t been as clear cut as the re-opening of garden centres was back in May.

 

“With numbers/capacity limited in centres and some only having retail areas opened, we discussed the effects of customers coming in and staying for longer periods of time. 

 

“It was revealed that many of our member garden centres have been looking to move to a table service and that many have been trialling or implementing IT solutions for ordering and payment, QR codes and WiFi. Many members have been taking pre-bookings only and not walk ins and some revealed they will/won’t take up the meal voucher scheme proposed by the Government.

 

“It was good for everyone to get together again, albeit virtually, and share their concerns, ideas and hopes for the future, as well as the positives that they have found. It was concluded that the next real challenge facing our member garden centres would be implementing a successful Christmas and we will be hosting another forum on this topic shortly.”

 

The GCA’s virtual forums will continue to take place during the next six to 12 months and a range of topics will be discussed. Sessions are free and exclusive to members of the GCA.

 

Chris Brown, Director at Turpin Smale Catering Consultants, said: “Garden Centres appreciate how important catering is to attracting footfall and providing a distinctive retail experience, but they were also well aware of the pitfalls of being COVID-safe when they re-opened. 

 

“New technology, lots of training, good communication and keeping it simple kept coming up time and again in the responses from the front line.”

 

Registration details for the next event will be sent to GCA members shortly.

 

Iain added: “There are so many benefits for centres to join an organisation like ours. We’re a friendly and inclusive bunch and membership enables businesses to easily share information, experiences and ideas, which helps them make decisions.

 

“We also help members to achieve high standards in areas like customer service and plant quality, which are important in making sure they stand out from their competitors. Anyone interested in joining can visit www.gca.org.uk.”

 

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Del.icio.us Digg | Comment (0)
Comment
Name:*

Email Address:*

Comment:*