In This Issue
Antony Harker to launch Altico at Glee - Read GTN's August issue on-line now
Last chance to nominate the best buyers of the past eighteen months?
Come and see a stand full of new ideas at Glee!
Bill Bickerdike, one of "the gang", has died
August starts with sales uplift!
T&M for sale with up to £200m price tag say city sources
Impact of Brexit sees horticultural business export almost 40% fewer plants to EU markets so far this year
Kernock Park Plants hosts visit from South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray
Exciting opportunity at Creative Products
Garden centres and nurseries offer open-air atmosphere for consumers concerned about COVID
Plant sales reveal late summer colour clamour
Time to enter GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund
Summer sees furniture and BBQ sales hot up
TV gardener refreshes Wellbeing Garden at Tong
Celebrating nature's gift of wellbeing
Video, video. Watch the SOLEX SUN video showreel from SOLEX On-Line 2021
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
Autumn Fair Little Black Book now available
Supporting role
No sign of growing media demand slowing
AIPH announces Virtual International Expo Conference on 19 October
Upturn for Wild Bird Care
Sally Morgan presents natural guide to futureproof the veg plot
The best of last week's
July 2021 sales are 28% ahead of nine-year average for the month
JBM Sales employs first rep into SW agency
New Woodlodge showroom displays latest products
Recognise importance of water for horticulture industry
SOLEX 2021 On-Line remains open for buyers looking for next seasons bestsellers
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
ORGANIX – sustainable choice driving consumer demand
PetQuip reveals finalists for prestigious Industry Awards 2021
Pet firm attends premiere of PAW Patrol The Movie
Situations Vacant
Exciting opportunity at Creative Products
 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team at Creative Products, who are seeking a hard-working, dedicated full time merchandiser/area representative to look after the company's accounts across London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey....

Read more»
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

 

 

 

 

 

 


Summer sees furniture and BBQ sales hot up

 

The Garden Centre Association has recently released its Barometer of Trade (BoT) for June, revealing furniture and BBQ sales were up by 94.88% year-to-date.

 

The report also shows a year-to-date increase in 11 out of 13 categories proving that garden centre demand has been positive at the start of the summer.

 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “The great weather at the start of June led to outdoor entertainment and alfresco dining remaining popular. People were continuing to spend more time in their gardens and outdoor living spaces. Many centres received a ‘second wave’ of furniture deliveries in June, delayed from earlier in the season, going some way to fulfil the pent-up demand from customers and keeping sales buoyant.

 

“There was an anticipation of the ending of restrictions in July and people were preparing to be reunited with friends and family and to be able to host them in their gardens and to fully resume entertaining at home.

 

“Another key category, which has been continuously affected throughout the last 16 months is catering. It has seen a massive increase from June 2020 with sales up 2,481.82%. Although it has been hampered significantly by the limitations affecting the hospitality industry, which needs to be taken into consideration. The increase is unsurprising as hospitality was closed until July 4 in 2020, so last year the figures relate to a few centres offering a limited takeaway menu.

 

“Many restaurants and cafés remained closed until mid-May this year and these facilities have had to endure difficulties with changing rules and the impact of the Government’s track and trace system which led to staffing shortages when they were required to isolate.”

 

As centres had only just re-started their catering operations in May this year, the year-to-date figure remains down at 26.56% for June.

 

Iain added: “The nation’s new gardeners also appear keen to continue. Houseplants have remained top sellers with sales up 80.56% and outdoor plants up 73.17%, year-to-date. Our love and appreciation of natural things clearly flows across generations linked with the proven benefits of gardening and plants to our wellbeing and mental health.”

 

Other categories that performed well in June compared to the same month in 2020 include clothing, with sales up 55.52% and gifts up 67.26%, although last year it must be remembered that many centres were trading these departments in a limited capacity, and in some cases, they were closed in June last year. The food hall and farm shop category was up at 50.22% and pets and aquatics up 36.63%.

 

Iain added: “As we move towards autumn/winter members will be wary of the potential for another wave and how this may impact on our sector. Although we managed it successfully in 2020 and as a result, we remain confident for the run-up to Christmas, especially as many customers will still consider GCA garden centres as safe places to shop, with their excellent track record of having appropriate measures in place during the pandemic.

 

“Despite uncertainty as to when restrictions would lift, nine categories have seen sales performing above 50% on the year-to-date. We’re thrilled to see that these figures have remained high and positive, are still performing consistently and are better than in 2019.”

 

Overall sales for the month were up year-to-date by 8.43%.

 

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

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

Email Address:*

Comment:*