Celebrity TV gardener and designer Joe Swift, a long time customer of Camden Garden Centre, joined staff and customers in Richmond yesterday to officially open The Plant Room, a new houseplant lovers paradise on Sheen Road, just 15 minutes walk from the new Little Dobbies.

Camden Garden Centre MD, Peter Hulatt, told GTN Xtra: "We've been working on this idea for about three years and only found this shop in this location earlier this year, around the same time as Dobbies announced they were opening a Little Dobbies here too."

The plant emporium is on two floors of what used to be a rug shop with the ground floor being the main plant shop area lavishly stocked with houseplants from Javado plus cacti from Giromagi, supplied by Key Essentials.

"Houseplants have been a really vibrant part of the mix at Camden Garden Centre for 10 years now, so along with the charity trustees, we felt the time was right to set up this new venture," added Peter.

A small garden products section with seeds from Mr Fothergills, tools from Burgon & Ball and plant care from Growth Technology sits at the back of the plant displays.

Downstairs features trendy home and garden lines from PTMD, plus pot covers from Ivyline, with Woodlodge providing the terracotta pots for outside urban gardening.

With many of the staff coming from Camden Garden Centre there's plenty of great advice on hand to help both novices and experienced plant lovers.

On the same day as England played at Twickenham against Tonga, and CEO Graham Jenkins visited his newest Little Dobbies store, GTN Xtra braved the crowds and the horrendous traffic to see what Dobbies were bringing to a bustling South West London high street.

The timing of the opening of the newest Little Dobbies, in what was previously a Top Shop and Top Man store, has meant they have been able to lead of Christmas in the shop windows to draw crowds into a shop stacked with quality houseplants at the fore and a typical Dobbies Christmas offering as the backdrop.

The premise was certainly working on Saturday afternoon with a steady flow of people entering the store, browsing and buying plants, Christmas and pet treats (as with Dobbies garden centres the store is dog friendly, even on the high street.)

Compared with the other two London Little Dobbies, at Westbourne Grove and Chiswick, this store is huge and even has a small stock area at the rear.

The team is made up of managers from Dobbies garden centres in the south east and new young retailers all of whom have great confidence to answer customer questions about houseplant care.

From the customer reaction it's no surprise to learn that Dobbies are investigating up to 50 more sites across the country to bring the Little Dobbies experience to more city centre high streets.

With DIY still high on people’s agendas, Onduline has created an attractive free-standing point of sale (PoS) display showcasing its popular EASYLINE roofing sheets, a compact and lightweight roofing system which can be used for sheds, studios, pet shelters and other garden buildings and annexes.  

Introduced by the market leading manufacturer, the displays have been designed to help garden centres and other leisure retailers drive sales.

Since its introduction earlier this year, several independent nurseries, and garden centre’s across the UK have snapped up the opportunity to showcase the product, which features the light weight, 100cm by 76cm roofing sheets, complete with accessories and fixings.

Easy to stock, easy to transport and easy to install

As a retail-friendly standalone pallet, it is simple to stock on a shop floor or in a trade store, and the lightweight EASYLINE sheets can be easily fitted into the boot of a typical family car – ideal for those looking to winterproof sheds or outbuildings in the garden.

Bethany Hall, Sales Manager for Onduline Building Products, said: “The display pallet is being very well received and we have seen increased interest from retailers. We have even had comments saying that it was the first time a roofing company has actually made a product retail friendly, which is brilliant feedback and the reason we designed the units in the first place.

“With the winter weather starting to set in, many homeowners are looking at ‘weather proofing’ their sheds and outbuildings and EASYLINE offers the ideal solution for replacing old, tired looking, leaking roofs and our aim is that the new PoS display helps to boost these sales.”

The PoS displays perfectly showcase the products for customers, complete with accessories and fixings, so everything is in one handy location. They also include a QR code that, when scanned, leads the customer to a simple-to-follow installation video, so they can see how easy it is to install.

Available in a number of bright and vibrant colours, EASYLINE is an attractive alternative to traditional shed felt.  Its 10-year waterproofing guarantee and eco-credentials - with each sheet made of 50% to 60% recycled fibres – are also key selling points, plus the fact that it contains no hazardous substances, making it completely safe for people and family pets.

To find out more about the ONDULINE EASYLINE PoS pallet or other ONDULINE products, visit www.onduline.co.uk.

Despite the lull in footfall and sales caused by the petrol ‘crisis’ at the start of October, overall garden centre sales performed at high levels to set a new record volume, according to the weekly EPOS data analysed by GTN Bestsellers.

October 2021 total volumes were 4.7% higher than 2020 and 26% higher than the average for the month over the previous nine years.

Remember to send in your nominations for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, the judging visit slots are filling up fast. Email: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 44.

• Garden Products Top 50 – up 10%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 6%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 14%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 23%
• Christmas Top 50 – down 12%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 44 

• All Plants with Barcode index – up 3%
• All Items with Barcode index – up 3%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Alexander Mackie Associates Ltd has announced the sale of Fair Gardens Plant Centre located in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, to Flywheel Investment Group Ltd.

The team at Flywheel Investment Group have over 20 years’ experience in the garden centre sector and they look forward to working with the Fair Gardens team and their suppliers to deliver a truly authentic garden centre experience for their customers.

Fair Gardens Plant Centre has been in the same family ownership for the past 40 years and it has been sold because of retirement of the owners.

Plant sales volumes for October 2021 were only 0.8% down on 2020, but up by 22% on 2019. It would appear the shift of increased interest in Autumn planting has stuck.

• As seen in the GTN Veg-2-Gro chart, fruit plants for 2022 harvesting were big sellers last week. Rubus varieties sold particularly well to re-enter the GTN Top 50 at No 14.
• All Plants volume sales change: Week on week DOWN 4.9%.  Year to date vs 2020 UP 49.6%, vs 2019 UP 18.3%. 

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Due to popular demand GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are back for 2021, and for real, again with judging visits and a LIVE, in-person, presentation ceremony at Spring Fair as well to celebrate all that’s great about garden centres at Christmas through the pages of GTN and the GTN Xtra e-mail newsletter.

The team of Greatest Awards judges are readying their sleighs and charging their camera batteries to get out and meet you all.  Just send an e-mail with your nomination to: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk and then we’ll get your judging visit arranged. 

Here are the categories for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2021

• The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team
• The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team
• The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team
• The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team (for sales of BBQ’s, firepits, furniture etc)
• The Greatest Christmas Pets Team
• The Greatest Christmas Community or Charity Initiative 
• The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea
• The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video
• The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team
• The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Display Team
• The Greatest Christmas Supplier – Garden centres will be asked to vote for this
• The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team
• The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team
• The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team 
• The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team

Here's the list of winners from GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards in 2020 – Who will be the winners in 2021?

• The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team – Sponsored by Woodlodge - £500 stock for the winner – Barton Grange. 
  • Highly Commended: Pengelly, The Old Railway Line
• The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team – Sponsored by GTN Bestsellers -subscriptions worth £580 for the winner – Pughs Radyr.
  • Highly Commended: Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange, Pengelly
•  The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team – Sponsored by Garden Radio – 1 years’ service with bespoke messages, worth over £500 for the winner – The Old Railway Line.
  • Highly Commended: Barton Grange, Colemans Garden Centre, Planters Tamworth, Squires Badshot Lea
• The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – Sponsored by SOLEX - 2 x Hotel Rooms at SOLEX 2021 for the winner – Altons BBQ World
  • Highly Commended: Hillmount
• The Greatest Christmas Pets Team – Sponsored by Smart Garden Products, Zöon -£500 stock for the winner – The Old Railway Line
  • Highly Commended: Planters Tamworth, Squires Badshot Lea
• The Greatest Christmas Community/Charity Initiative – Sponsored by Kaemingk – A display from their UK showroom for the winner - Pengelly
  • Highly Commended: Daisy Nook, Dobbies, Perrywood, Thetford
• The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea – Sponsored by Glee – 2 x Hotel Rooms at Glee 2021 for the winner - Groves
  • Highly Commended: Altons BBQ World, Hillmount, The Old Railway Line
• The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video – Sponsored by Premier Decorations - £500 stock for the winner – The Old Railway Line
  • Highly Commended: Bosworths, Glendoick, Pengelly
• The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team – Sponsored by Elho - £500 stock for the winner - Baytree
  • Highly Commended: Lakeside Plant Centre
• The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Display Team – Sponsored by Global Journey - £500 stock for the winner – Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange
  • Highly Commended: Baytree
• The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by DCUK - £500 stock for the winner – Squires Badshot Lea
  • Highly Commended: British Garden Centres Thatcham
• The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team - Sponsored by Ascalon - £500 stock for the winner - Pengelly
  • Highly Commended: Jacksdale, Lakeside Plant Centre
• The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Kaemingk - A display from their UK showroom for the winner – Busy Bee
  • Highly Commended: Glendoick, Planters Tamworth, Sapcote, The Old Railway Line
• The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Festive - £500 stock for the winner – Barton Grange
  • Highly Commended: Baytree, Hillmount, Perrywood
• The Greatest Christmas Supplier – Garden centres are voting for this award – To be confirmed Thursday morning.

GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are organised by the team from GTN.  Contact Trevor Pfeiffer trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk  07973 504214 or Alan Burdon alan@pottingshedpress.co.uk  07939 048899 to make your nominations or to be one of the sponsors.

Kelkay acquired the Woodshaw production facilities in Doncaster in late 2018, since when the brand has grown and expanded to become a key element in the AMES UK portfolio. Now, as part of a wider expansion plan for all their UK based manufacturing, AMES UK will move the Woodshaw manufacturing equipment to a new and larger facility on their Pollington site.

Twenty key staff with many years of specialist knowledge and experience have received a relocation package and decided to make the move to the modern new facility which will see overall capacity significantly increased. The new manufacturing unit will be housed in a totally refurbished WWII hangar on the Pollington site. The space has become available thanks to the decision to warehouse the extensive Easy Fountain Water Feature range in Stroud in a new facility adjacent to the La Hacienda site.

Jon Wilson, Manufacturing Director said “It’s exciting to be able to invest in bringing this amazing old building up to modern manufacturing standards and it’s well suited to our needs with high ceilings and great access. The space we’ve gained is really going to improve our efficiencies and flexibility which in turn will translate into better seasonal availability.”

Paul North, AMES UK Managing Director added “This is just one of the changes we are making as part of a company-wide redevelopment and expansion plan that will see our manufacturing base grow significantly over the next 12 months. I’m especially pleased that so many staff chose to relocate to the new site and the increased capacity means we are now embarking on a recruitment process to further expand the team.”

AMES’ investments in UK manufacturing, together with new equipment and specialist staff training, will see the output from the site more than double in capacity in 2022.

Dobbies Garden Centres opened the doors of its Richmond little dobbies on Thursday as it continues the roll-out of the new concept stores across the country.  

Located at 54 George Street, this is the third little dobbies to open in London and the fifth in the UK, following Westbourne Grove, Chiswick and Clifton which all opened this year, and Edinburgh which opened in 2020.   

The little dobbies stores have gone from strength to strength and Dobbies aims to continue this roll-out in 2022, with more stores in the pipeline.   

The leading garden retailer continues to lead the market with 74 stores UK-wide, ranging from little dobbies to larger garden centres, with 4,000 employed across all stores across the country.  

Graeme Jenkins, CEO at Dobbies, said: “Our little dobbies stores in Chiswick and Westbourne Grove have been well received by London customers, and we are proud to be able to further expand our offering in the country’s capital with this latest opening. 

“The little dobbies stores were designed as a new way for customers to shop local, providing the same quality products Dobbies is known for in a more urban environment. The format is proving extremely popular with customers, and we’re looking forward to even further expansion in 2022.”  

Customers visiting the new Richmond branch will have the opportunity to discover a carefully curated range of houseplants, as well as convenience and sustainable gardening products. Alongside core, high quality products, customers will also have the chance to explore home decoration and spa ranges, food gifting from Hotel Chocolat and Dobbies Signature range, as well as Christmas decorations and potted real trees.  

Opening hours for little dobbies Richmond are Monday – Wednesday, 9am – 7pm; Thursday – Saturday 9am – 8pm; Sunday 10am – 7pm.  

As part of its commitment to ‘Protecting the Environment’, the Centre’s 6^th Green Footprint, Bents Garden & Home in Warrington, Cheshire, has completed an extensive solar panel installation, which it hopes will provide 20-25% of its overall energy supply.

A total of 1167 new panels have been fitted to the Centre’s buildings which will generate enough energy for the family owned and run business to operate on a self-sufficient basis at certain times of the year.  And with additional plans for even more green investments and developments Bents aims to be over 90% self-sufficient at all times in the coming years. 

The new initiative is the latest addition to Bents’ Six Green Footprints, which have formed the basis of the Centre’s commitment to the environment and world around us since their launch in 2007. 

The Green Footprints outline the Centre’s commitments to:  Recycling, Water Efficiency, Healthy Living, Social Responsibility, Trading Fairly & Responsibly and Protecting Our Environment. 

Long term initiatives such as the purpose built 3.5m gallon reservoir - which collects all run off water for re-use throughout the Centre – as well as green waste, plant pot and general recycling schemes have been enhanced by the investment into the new solar panels.  These, along with an existing 190 solar panels, cover an area of 2,536 sq m.

The addition of the new solar panels is the latest investment into alternative and renewable energy supplies, at a time when the issue features high on the national agenda. 

Says Matthew:  “As our Green Footprints state, ‘we believe passionately in our environment and have a vision of a healthier, happier and greener future and if we all take small steps, together we can achieve a bigger goal’.  We are constantly reviewing and researching new opportunities for improvement and the installation of our new solar panels is the latest example of our on-going commitment.  We are already looking into additional initiatives and hope we can start working on making new plans very soon.”

St Austell and Newquay MP, Steve Double, saw how the horticulture industry presents opportunities for economic growth and can play a vital role in tackling climate change, when he visited a garden centre near St Austell yesterday (Saturday).

The centre’s owner, Sarah Daniel, who is the Horticultural Trades Association’s Council representative for the South West, will also discuss the significance of ensuring smooth trade with the EU and attracting and retaining local seasonal labour for the horticulture industry.

Pengelly Garden Centre is an award winning, family-owned garden centre in rural Cornwall near St Austell. The centre stocks thousands of plants, including their original offerings of bedding and perennials. They have recently expanded their business and now also sell seeds, bulbs, and trees brought in from local, specialist nurseries where possible. Their poly tunnels are stocked with an exciting selection of shrubs and perennials.

Ms Daniel, Managing Director of Pengelly Garden Centre, said: “I am looking forward to Steve Double MP coming to visit Pengelly Garden Centre and to showing him what is involved within the retail industry and the massive changes that we are currently undergoing.

“Given the current COP26 talks, climate change - including the challenge of finding reliable quantities of viable alternatives to peat - will be up for discussion. The horticulture industry could be instrumental in making a greener planet and providing strong economic growth for this country, but we are currently facing a lot of legislative dilemmas which make it impossible to find staff and extremely costly to bring produce in across foreign borders.

“It will be a very useful exercise to make as many in government aware of the issues our industry currently faces.”

Steve Double MP said: “Like many sectors the horticultural sector has faced huge challenges over the past two years. It will be good to get out and visit Pengelly Garden Centre, in Hewaswater, Sticker, and see for myself the excellent work they are doing as we seek to recover from the pandemic. There is no substitute to getting out and seeing local businesses to better understand the challenges they face and how I can best support them as their MP. Thanks to Sarah Daniel for the invitation. I would encourage as many of you as possible to make time to visit the centre, I am sure you can pick up a Christmas present or two at the same time!”

Sustainable decking brand, Composite Prime, has announced it is expanding into the United States along with a 211% increase in turnover and more than a 25% growth in stockists in 2021. 

Marking a monumental milestone, Composite Prime will initially start retailing its HD Protect and Abzorbit products in the vast decking and cladding American market. 

Fuelled by a rise in home improvements during the pandemic, the company experienced a surge in demand for its products and added 137 new stockists to its expanding network of authorised suppliers since January 2021, including Grass Direct and Travis Perkins.

To accommodate the brand’s rapid growth, Composite Prime has strengthened its customer service, marketing and research and development teams, with the recruitment of six new staff members, bringing the total company headcount to 14. 

Charles Taylor, director at Composite Prime, said: “We’re delighted that despite a challenging year with the pandemic and shortages of raw materials, we have been able to grow the business significantly. The growth of the business in 2021 has surpassed all previous year’s and significantly exceeded the projections outlined for 2021. We’ve also agreed a two year partnership with the National Buying Group,  which will be pivotal for our future growth. 

“Since the conception of Composite Prime in 2014, the American market has always been a goal for us. Decking and outdoor living is a huge consumer interest in the States,  and homeowners trends show an interest in larger, more elaborate decks with the introduction of specific trends such as pergolas, fire pits and outdoor kitchens. 

“In the UK, the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns presented some positives for us as homeowners were driven to reevaluate their homes and consider how they could make sure all the space available to them. This hasn’t been the sole reason for our growth though, we’ve had a phenomenal year of change with new point of sale materials distributed to all of our stockists, launched Prime Design, a full 3D design software for Composite Prime accredited installers, invested in our marketing and improved our full range of products.” 

The firm’s recent success has also led to a significant expansion in office space at Composite Prime’s headquarters in Yorkshire, where the business has increased its facilities by 1,280 sq ft. 

Charles Taylor added: “Having outgrown our offices at The Grove, we’re thrilled to have secured two new additional office suites that will allow us to continue to grow. We’re all incredibly excited for the future at Composite Prime.”

Founded in 2014 by Domenic Harrison and Charles Taylor, Composite Prime manufactures a range of nine products, including cladding, decking and flooring, which are tested against the latest requirements to measure strength, impact resistance, weathering, extreme temperature cycles, UV resistance and water absorption.

The company is dedicated to producing sustainable materials. Each square metre of composite decking contains the equivalent of more than 3,000 plastic bottle caps or 280 plastic bottles. In the six years of operation the brand has saved the equivalent of 151 million plastic milk bottles from landfill.

In this Glee Review issue of GTN:

• Vitax increases range and capacity
• Remembering Eddie Topping MBE
• Capturing the essence of Autumn at Chelsea
• Get Grilling with Traeger
• Glee 2021 – a special return
• Glee Buyers Power List
• Glee New Product Awards
• Sustainability Award – Southern Trident
• Glee 2021 Gallery
• Floral Thursday for Greenfingers Charity
• GTN Bestsellers Subscription Offer
• GTN Bestsellers – September garden centre sales analysis and charts
• Garden Centre Books
• HTA Column – Tales of the unexpected
• GIMA Column – The future is looking bright.

Salary: Negotiable

Location: Flexible

Deadline: 29th October 2021

Hours: 21 hours per week

Benefits: We can offer flexible working, 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays (pro rata) and a work-place pension.

Job Type: Permanent Part Time

Working as part of the Greenfingers Gardens Team, this role is to project manage and support the design and build and ongoing maintenance of Greenfingers gardens in children’s hospices.  

You will need to:

•   be an excellent project manager with a garden/landscape qualification
•   be an enthusiastic team player but also have the ability to work independently
•   have strong written and verbal communication skills
•   have strong IT skills (Word, Excel, Power Point, Vector Works)
•   have the ability to build excellent relationships
•   have a positive can-do attitude

At Greenfingers Charity, we are all about creating magical and inspiring gardens in children’s hospices across the UK, gardens in which a million precious family memories can be created.  If you have a passion to make a difference through horticulture, we’d love to hear from you. 

For more information or to apply for this role, please email your CV, along with a covering letter to Sally Jenkins, Director of Finance & Resource: Sally@greenfingerscharity.org.uk. 

with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox.  The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.

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Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire is on track to finalise its planteria redevelopment, complete with revolutionary opening roof, before the end of the year. With a similar new roof reportedly having resulted in a 25% plant sales uplift elsewhere, many in the industry are watching Highfield’s project with extra interest.

With heritage dating back to 1920, Highfield Garden World was founded by the Greenway family, and today has five family members across three generations working within the business. In a rare moment when all five (six including Bobby the dog!) were in the same spot at one time, the photo shows the family inspecting the cleared planteria area before the first steels were installed for the new build. 

Five family members across three generations work within the business at Highfield. Left to right:  Emma Russan, Tim Greenway, Saffron Weaver, Joan Greenway, Sue Weaver + Bobby the dog/

Transforming the look and feel of the planteria

Director Tim Armstrong explained;  “The new retractable roof promises to transform the way our planteria feels for customers and staff.   Whatever the great British weather is doing, we can open and close the roof in sections on demand so that no day is too hot, too wet, or too windy.  It means customers will be more tempted to browse our plants, trees and gardening products all year round come rain or shine.  It also means staff won’t swelter on sunny days.”  Tim continued;  “We’re planning a number of other new features as well, and have decided to keep the one-way system throughout the site which we originally introduced due to COVID.  The customer’s journey has flowed more freely since the one-way path was introduced, and it helps ensure they have a chance to enjoy every department without missing any out during their visit – including the planteria.”

Fully retractable roof brings tangible benefits all year round

The Rovero roof’s flexible functionality brings other benefits too.  Tim explained a couple of them;  “Here at Highfield, we have wonderful views but being on the top of a hill also brings a fair amount of wind which knocks taller plants over at times.  The new roof will put paid to that problem.   Another benefit is that, because the roof’s 12 bays can each be opened or shut individually, when it’s raining we can let the rain water the plants which need it, while covering those that don’t.  We’re also looking at introducing flood benches for plant irrigation, and we’re installing a 216,000 litre tank which will capture rainfall when the roof is closed. This approach to maximising rainfall is not only more environmentally friendly – it reduces the need to water by hand as well as reducing the health and safety risks posed by water spillages whilst watering by hand.”

The garden centre and rural business development specialists Malcolm Scott Consultants worked alongside the Directors at Highfield to develop the concept and apply for the planning permission. Work on the new planteria began in September and the project, when complete, will cover an area of 3240m2 .

The end of October saw some dramatic movements in the GTN Wild Bird and Wildlife care Chart with a line from Marriages toppling RHS Suet Balls off the top spot and hedgehog food seeing a big increase.

All that activity couldn’t stop Top 50 sales volumes for the month being 17% lower than October 2020. 

Highlights of the week were:

• Marriages Honeyfields Half Coconuts Feeder stays at No 1 for the second week.
• Tom Chambers Hungry Hedgehog Blend 0.75kg moves up 30 places to No 14.
• Henry Bell Superior Suet Cake Variety 3 Pack is a new chart entry at No 47.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

October garden product sales closed 4% down on 2020 and 2019, which may in reality be closer to static year on year when you take the drop in business caused by the petrol shortages into account.  

The start of a cold snap definitely caused sales of certain products to boom along with a significant shift towards houseplant care.

Highlights of the week were:

• Smart Garden Anti-Freeze Tap Cover moved up three to the GTN No 1 spot.
• Growth Technology Orchid Myst 100ml was the highest chart re-entry at No 16.
• Woodlodge Terracotta Pot Feet climbed 34 places up the chart to No 2 and the Woodlodge Standard Spang Pot 4" was a new entry at No 6.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

The unprecedented changes that have taken place in the AMES UK & ROI businesses over the past 2 years have been clearly evident to their customers. 

Behind the scenes, however, the tranformation has gone well beyond business processes, systems and manufacturing investment. 

The entire workforce has seen an extensive employee engagement programme developed and implemented to support them through the business transformation.

AMES UK have invested in a generous employee rewards programme, upgraded tools and equipment and created a strong leadership team. They have transformed internal communications and delivered a measured culture transformation.

Thanks to this focus on the welfare of their people, AMES UK were shortlisted in the 2021 Engagement Excellence Awards for recognition as a business that has delivered ‘Most impactful business transformation to support their workforce’. The awards are held annually by Reward Gateway who specialise in employee engagement programmes and work with some of the UK’s largest organisations.

A group of employees from all parts of the business were chosen to attend the awards ceremony at Tate Modern on Thursday 4 November. Each person travelling to the awards was singled out for their special contribution to AMES workforce engagement.

Nicola Sykes, AMES UK People Director commented: “Our people are at the core of our future growth and success, so it’s critical that we put employee engagement and reward at the centre of our strategy. It’s especially rewarding to have our success recognised by an external and independent organisation.”

Pictured: AMES UK team celebrate at Tate Modern on Thursday 4 November.

October sales volumes of products in the GTN Bestsellers Top Christmas chart were down by 5% on October 2020 and down by 15% on October 2019.

Sales grew by nearly 30% during half-term week with all but six lines in the GTN Top 50 increasing sales. While personalised decorative items dominate the Top 10 again it was traditional pick lines, Chritsmas games and sweets that were amongst the biggest movers.

Highlights of the week were:

• Jeno Holly and Cone Pick in Silver and Green was the highest new entry at No 8.
• Playwrite’s 7cm Rudolph's Cube re-entered the Top 50 at No 17.
• The Belfine Santa with Red Hat Lolly 35g climbed 30 places up the chart to No 19.
• A brand new personalised Christmas line from Stands Out – Wooden Tree Decorations – was a new entry at No 49.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Dobbies has launched a new campaign to share some joy in the run up to Christmas.

Not Your Average Community will see three local groups from across the UK win £1,000 to spend on trees, lights and decorations to brighten up their local area for Christmas. The campaign follows on from the successful Not Your Average People and Not Your Average Gardener campaigns, which saw Dobbies recognise outstanding and talented individuals making a difference in their local areas.

Now Dobbies is looking to celebrate special community groups, charities, clubs or neighbourhoods who deserve some festive treats.

A member of the Dobbies’ team will help each winning group select their Christmas items, providing expert advice on the best trees, lighting and decorations to make the most impact. As part of this visit, the winning groups will be invited to enjoy afternoon tea in their local Dobbies’ restaurant.

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “With Christmas just around the corner, we’re looking to spread some festive joy with our next community initiative. We are looking forward to hearing from community groups from across the UK who want to brighten up their local area for their friends or neighbours. Whether they need outdoor lighting, Christmas trees or festive finishing touches, our teams will be on hand to help them make the most of their prize.”

Not Your Average Community is open to community groups, clubs, charities and neighbourhoods, where they will be invited to complete a simple application form online telling Dobbies about their community group, why they are important to their local area and what trees, lights and decorations they would need to make a difference to their space.

Entries will close for all applicants at 5pm on Monday 22 November, and winners will be selected and contacted by the end of November. Prizes will be collected at the start of December.

For more details on Not Your Average Community and how to get involved, visit Not your average community | Dobbies Garden Centres

Growing media sales in October dropped by 4% on 2020 levels but were 46% higher than the same month in 2019.

If we hadn’t had the lull caused by the fuel ‘crisis’ it may have even been up. Compared to all pre-pandemic years there is a lot more autumn gardening going on!

Highlights of the week were:

• Westland John Innes No 3 30 litres is the biggest mover in the GTN Top 10 this week, moving up 5 places to No 6.
• Westland Jack's Magic All Purpose Compost 50 litres moves up 12 places to No 13.  Is this the result of ‘panic’ buying as Jack’s Magic moves to a 50% peat mix for 2022?
• Westland Container & Basket Planting Mix 25 litres is a new entry at No 37.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Value garden centre Cherry Lane, is hosting its first Sensory Santa event this year at its Podington garden centre. The special event is for families whose children may find a traditional meeting with Father Christmas overwhelming.

Taking place on 15th December at the garden centre near Wellingborough, Sensory Santa has been designed for children who are sensitive to noise, crowds, and bright lighting. By creating a quiet, calm environment in which they feel comfortable, children can enjoy meeting Santa in person and take part in sight, sound, smell and touch activities. The event will also include a Christmas sensory story with festive smells, lights, snow machine, music and textures, which is signed throughout.

The event is being run for Cherry Lane by Karen Harvey, a children’s entertainment expert and qualified storyteller, who specialises in supporting children with additional needs.

Karen Harvey, host of Sensory Santa, said: “These events are important to enable everyone to make memories and share the magic of Christmas together with an experience that is enjoyable for all. I am really looking forward to sharing this special sensory event with families at Cherry Lane.”

Laura Chapman, events manager for Cherry Lane, said: “We are really pleased to hosting Cherry Lane’s first Sensory Santa event at Podington. Christmas itself and a visit to Santa’s Grotto can be a very overwhelming experience and we are pleased to be able to put on this event which will allow families to be together and get in the festive spirit in a way that is comfortable for them. We hope our Sensory Santa event will be well received and something we can consider for more of our garden centres in future.”

Tickets for Sensory Santa cost £10.99 per child and £6.99 per adult and can be purchased online at www.cherry-lane.co.uk. Spaces for every event are limited so customers are advised to book early.

Podington Garden Centre by Cherry Lane is on High Street, Podington, Wellingborough NN29 7HS and can be contacted on 01933 353656. Free car parking is available.

As part of its ongoing partnership with the Retail Trust, the Spring Fair team hosted a Halloween themed afternoon tea for 60 residents at the Retail Trust’s supported living estate in North London.

The Spring Fair team, including Managing Director Julie Driscoll, volunteered to host the afternoon tea, bake cookies, and spend the day with residents reminiscing about their time spent in the retail industry, including former John Lewis sales assistants, House of Fraser buyers, hosiery sales agents and Tesco sales advisors.

Stuart Thomas, Head of Global Partnerships, Hyve Group plc, said “Myself and some of my colleagues hosted a wonderful Halloween tea for the retirement home residents at Marshall Estate and it was truly incredible to hear so many wonderful stories from the residents and their time working in retail. It was a fantastic way to cement the work we are doing with the Retail Trust and our commitment to supporting the industry. I feel very humbled and proud to be a part of it.”

Marshall Estate is one of five Retail Trust supported living estates in the UK. It is a hidden gem located in the leafy suburb of Mill Hill in North West London offering 72 properties and an on-site housing support team ensuring residents can relax and enjoy peace of mind in their retirement. Creating hope, health and happiness for everyone in retail, the Retail Trust has been caring for and protecting the lives of people working in retail since 1832. Spring Fair and the Retail Trust are working on a host of other projects like this, and to raise money for the charity, in the next few months.

Half term week saw plenty of fruit plant sales as gardeners prepare for their 2022 growing. That and the slightly later sell through of onion sets meant Veg-2-Gro sales for October were 42% higher than in 2020 and more than double the pre-pandemic level for 2019.

Highlights of the week were:

• Boulton's Strawberries in Variety stayed at No 1 for the second week.
• James McIntyre Raspberry Polka was the highest placed re-entry at No 15.
• James McIntyre Gooseberry Hinnonmaki Green debuted in the GTN Top 50 at No 24.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Corby + Fellas Ltd has announced that Gates Garden Centre, of Cold Overton near Oakham in Leicestershire, has recently updated its IT systems with the installation of WinRetail, the innovative and comprehensive EPoS and Retail Management package.

The system, installed in August 2021, brings the number of garden centre businesses using WinRetail to 50, operating in over 200 locations throughout the UK and Ireland.

Gates, a destination Garden Centre that is currently number 12 in the GCA top 150 garden centres, replaced an existing system with WinRetail to better handle the burgeoning needs of their business.

The new system is well able to handle the particular needs of Gates’ large farm shop, as well as its restaurant and coffee shop. 

In addition, Gates are able to benefit from the use of WinRetail’s advanced Warehousing Module, which features a sophisticated ‘pack-tracking’ feature, giving the company precise control over the purchase, receipt, storage, movement, sales and distribution of stock.

To further increase the usefulness of WinRetail, the package was enhanced to include the new Order Delivery Visualisation program, which assists dispatchers in organising the delivery of customer’s sales orders in an efficient and timely manner.

Corby + Fellas Ltd.  01493 658800 

www.corbyfellas.com

Rainbows for the NHS, Mary Poppins and the natural world are among this year’s new Christmas display themes at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, Castle Gardens in Sherborne and Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester.

Having been in the planning since January and constructed behind closed doors throughout September, these magical Christmas displays are now open to the public seven days a week until Christmas Eve. 

With hundreds of glass baubles, paper decorations and wooden ornaments on show, along with twinkly LED lights, visitors can escape the daily routine to wander through magical autumnal woodland scenes, enjoy a trip on safari and venture under the sea.

Taking people and planet into consideration, the displays have been constructed using repurposed and recycled materials, such as timber, fabric and cardboard.

Many of the decorations have also been sourced from small scale makers and fair-trade businesses, with the hope that they last a lifetime and are passed down through families. 

Covid-safety measures, such as hand sanitising points, one-way systems and more space to allow for social distancing are all still in place at each of the Christmas displays to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. 

The GCA Barometer of Trade reveals furniture and BBQ sales continued to remain strong and were up by 58.27% year-to-date according to its recently released figures for September.

Proving demand didn’t slow during the month, the report shows a year-to-date increase in 12 out of 13 categories.

GCA Chief Executive, Iain Wylie explains: “Our members’ September figures remained consistent. Once again, BBQ and furniture sales topped our BoT report. Normally at this time of year we’d be packing up our outdoor spaces and preparing for cosy entertaining indoors, but the late Indian Summer allowed people to continue enjoying their outdoor living spaces.

“We’ve embraced alfresco living as a nation, post-lockdowns, and even if there is a chill in the air and it’s dark, dining is now accompanied with twinkling lights, throws and firepits. Social occasions outdoors with friends and family no longer seem unusual. Of course, demand for staycations has also continued to be a contributing factor for boosting the need for outdoor accoutrements, whether for homes or holiday lets.

“Catering also remains steady despite continuing to face some difficulties. We’re confident our members’ cafés and restaurants will once again become social hubs of their garden centres this autumn, as visitors opt for warming beverages and a bite to eat while shopping and enjoying being amongst the greenery.”

The year-to-date figure for catering is up at 3.1%, although this still needs to be tempered against last year’s events.

Iain adds: “As the nation’s gardeners prepared for autumn planting in September, outdoor plants remained favourites with sales up 42.54% year-to-date. Similarly, houseplants were also up at 40.36%. This demand may be due in part to the impact of the first autumn-based Chelsea Flower Show in September, where experts showcased ideas that can be implemented regardless of the size of space available. The buzz around the event encouraged novice gardeners to help keep up the hobby and has also helped reinvigorate those who have been gardening for years.

“As the nights grew darker earlier and the leaves started to change outside, September was also the perfect time of year for bringing some much-needed greenery and colour indoors using houseplants. They’re great accessories and provide a dose of Vitamin G – ideal for boosting mental health and wellbeing.”

The remaining categories that performed well, year-to-date, in September were gift sales up 37.56%, clothing up 33.91%, food hall/farm shop up 32.37%, hard landscaping up 32.03%, garden sundries up 27.24%, pets and aquatics up 23.93%, as well as seeds and bulbs up 11.4%.

Iain continues: “We’re thrilled that this month’s figures have remained steady. Many members started October by unveiling their festive displays to meet demand and we’re anticipating a buoyant Christmas sales period.”

Overall sales in September were down for the month by -0.29% when comparing 2020 with 2021.

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.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

The Greenfingers Charity is looking to expand its team with the appointment of a new part-time Garden Projects Manager.

This new role will see a dedicated, passionate and experienced individual help the Greenfingers Charity to realise its ambitious plans to create even more much-needed garden spaces at hospices throughout the country.

The Garden Projects Manager will have a pivotal role to play in the planning and development of each garden build, working in accordance with a statement of works for each garden, and will also act as a vital point of contact between the hospice, designer, landscaper and Greenfingers.

Experience in the technical delivery of landscape projects, working with masterplans and technical drawings, site inspections and working with independent contractors is essential, as is a qualification in Landscape Architecture or Landscape/Garden Design. The right applicant will also need to demonstrate the ability to work under pressure, complete work to the highest standard and precise deadlines and be able to work both autonomously and as part of a team, including liaising with principal sponsors, stakeholders, the Greenfingers Director of Fundraising & Communications, the Garden Committee and all other members of the Greenfingers Charity team, including freelance contractors.

Whilst not essential, horticultural and plant knowledge, knowledge of Vectorworks 3D and Sketch-up, as well as being a registered Landscape Architect with the Landscape Institute, are all desirable skills that may help the right candidate stand out from the crowd.

Sally Jenkins, Director of Finance and Resources said: “The role of Garden Project Manager is an exciting one for both us as a charity but also for the person who joins our team. We have ambitious plans for the coming years and our new Garden Project Manager will be a pivotal part of this longevity and a vital conduit for the development of our gardens programme.”

Find out more

To find out more about the role or to apply please contact Sally@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Far from being a serene hideaway where brands of a certain ‘nostalgic persuasion’ connect with naturally inquisitive artisanal food & drinks audiences, garden centres are fast becoming a vibrant destination for ambitious, British born brands who have moved away from ‘arms-length’ supermarkets, opting instead for more collaborative partnerships with influential garden centre chains who give brands much greater scope to express themselves.

Today it’s all change, with the very best garden centres treated more as a fine food destination than a tucked away backwater, an essential weekend port-of-call where plant lovers, gardening enthusiasts, ‘pet parents,’ café loungers and fine food lovers all mill around enthusiastically. 

Popcorn Kitchen is the perfect example of an ambitious small food & drinks disruptor who’s discovered that its steadfast commitment to small batch production, best-in-class all-natural ingredients, head-turning flavours and eye-catching gifting formats resonates with this most appreciative of small producer audiences.

There are countless reasons why garden centres have been able to so emphatically reinvent themselves in recent years.  For one thing there’s a surprising depth of products on display, coupled with a peaceful meandering mindset that often accompanies such a weekend trip.  More importantly perhaps is the fact that garden centres are very receptive to added value gift offer and all-singing product displays.

According to Popcorn Kitchen co-owner Andy Valentine, ‘Whether working through wholesale partners like Cress, Cotswold Fayre or directly with the likes of Squires Otter or British Garden Centres, we’ve found that our specialist ranges – Yard of Popcorn, Giant Bottles and a NEW for 2021 Variety Box go down especially well in the festive period an outcome that fits perfectly with our ongoing commitment to championing top tier garden centres as priority partners.’ 

Popcornkitchen.co.uk 

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care and Wildlife Bestsellers chart for last week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

Pets at Home CEO Peter Pritchard is stepping down from his role with the company after spending 11 years in the business.

The move, which will take effect next summer, follows as successful turnaround of the business, in which he developed and implemented the group’s pet care strategy, in support of its ambition to become the best petcare business in the world. 

Pritchard will remain fully engaged in his role until late May 2022, to oversee the presentation of the group’s 2022 preliminary results to investors and to ensure a smooth transition period to his successor. 

The search for his suitable successor has commenced across internal and external candidates, and a further announcement will be made in due course. 

Pritchard said: “I have loved my time at Pets at Home. It is a privilege to lead such a talented and passionate group of colleagues on this journey and I am incredibly proud of the results we have collectively achieved.

“We are the market-leading pet care business which, supported by a highly capable executive management team, has really good momentum and is primed to continue growing its share of market for many years to come. 

“Having completed everything that I set out to achieve in 2018, next summer is the right time to take well-earned rest and to hand over the reins to a new leader who will continue this journey in becoming the best petcare business in the world. 

“I would like to thank the board for their support, and I look forward to maintaining the strong momentum in the business through the next few months and working with them to find and appoint a suitable successor.” 

In the four years since his appointment as CEO, Pets at Home’s share of the pet care market has grown significantly and its market capitalisation has increased almost fourfold, with the exceptional progress being made recognised externally through numerous awards including Transformation of the Year (PLC Awards 2020) and Best Place to Work and Best Retailer (Retail Week Awards 2021).  

Underpinning this turnaround and Pets at Home’s future growth has been strong investment in capacity and capability, creating a best-in-class data capability around an award-winning VIP loyalty club of more than 6.5m active members and, more recently, the £20m investment into building a unique, proprietary digital interface that seamlessly connects the group’s ecosystem of products and services for customers across all channels. 

The opening of a purpose-built, highly automated warehouse in Stafford in 2023 will enable a significant further increase in capacity and productivity to serve the UK’s growing pet population, and the development of the new pet care centre format is the cornerstone of the group’s revitalised physical estate. 

Ian Burke, chairman of Pets at Home, said: “I would like to thank Peter for his significant contribution to Pets at Home since becoming CEO in 2018. His tireless work and dedication as leader of this great business has given it a very firm foundation for growth long into the future, for which we are all very grateful. We will all be very sorry to see Peter go, and he will leave us next summer with all our best wishes.” 

Eco company Project Blu has secured international investment as it continues on a mission to drive sustainable change across the global pet industry.

The funding will come from leading US manufacturer and distributor Central Garden & Pet Company.

Central, which posted fiscal 2020 net sales of $2.7bn, operates multiple distribution centres across America, and intends to offer Project Blu eco-friendly products to its US bricks-and-mortar and online retailers.

Project Blu produces a range of sustainable accessories, including beds, collars and leads. Launching in May 2019 its original mission was to reduce global ocean-bound plastic waste by converting it into sustainable fabric designs. It has since established itself as a global leader in tackling the pet industry’s wider environmental issues, including reducing carbon emissions and water waste.

Geryn Evans, Project Blu founder and CEO, said: “If every pet owner in the UK decided to swap their traditional dog beds to a sustainable alternative, it could save over 175,000 tons of CO2 and the equivalent of over 300 million bathtubs of water every year. It would also save over 30,000 barrels of crude oil. This highlights the significant difference that can be achieved by raising awareness and making small changes to our daily activities.”

Jon Balousek, president of corporate development at Central, commented: “Our company strives to partner with industry-leading companies of tomorrow, and we are thrilled to be working with Project Blu, a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing premium durable pet accessories while also preserving and caring for the environment. At Central, we are committed to creating a sustainable future for all, and we look forward to working closely with Project Blu to make a difference.”

Project Blu has been assisted by the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme, which provides targeted support for growing firms. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

Since signing up to the programme in 2019, the company has received mentoring and specialist advice on market analysis, funding and planning for growth.

“As a young, agile company, it has been invaluable to have the support of our relationship manager and other experts,” admitted Geryn Evans. “The advice and expertise have helped me enormously as I’ve grown the business from an ambitious start-up to a global leader in the sustainable pet accessory space.”

New research from pet portrait specialists, Purr & Mutt, has found that UK pet owners are spending an average of £378 a year on their furry friends - that’s a national total of £4.5 billion every 12 months. 

Unsurprisingly, dogs (67%) and cats (46%) are still the most popular pets in the UK, however perhaps more shocking is that pet birds (5%) now outnumber guinea pigs and hamsters (2%). This is especially true in Liverpool, which has the highest percentage of pet birds in the UK. 

Average annual spend by pet is as follows:

Despite snakes making up less than 1% of all pets owned, that still accounts for around 48,000² households keeping snakes as pets in the UK. On average, snakes are the most expensive pets to own at £420 a year. 

Aside from necessities such as food, drink and insurance, gifts for pets also seem to be a priority, as 57% of owners said they’ll be buying their pet a gift this Christmas, with dog owners most likely to purchase a present. 

Purr & Mutt have a great range of portraits available for Christmas - the perfect gift if you want to treat a family member (furry or not).