In This Issue
Wyevale Crowland Garden Centre to close
Industry pioneer Mike Dunnett dies
"The unifying energising effect it has is priceless." Alan Roper on the Blue Diamond Awards evening
Dobbies signs with Nisa for everyday groceries
The best of March is still to come, says GTN Bestsellers
Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk and Cycle Challenge boasts record numbers
Bord na Móna boosts its credentials with triple award win
Highlights from Garden Re-Leaf Day around the country - UPDATED
Developer submits plans for homes on Bromsgrove garden centre site
Garden Re-Leaf Day: a big thank-you to all the sponsors
US jury says glyphosate caused man's cancer - and EU sets up its review panel
Falkirk garden centre raises £4k for cancer charity
Fire destroys West Midlands garden furniture warehouse
MP cuts ribbon for Worcestershire centre's new shop
New EASYGarden Range Transforms Outdoors Surfaces with Ease
Team Klondyke to take on the 3 Peaks Challenge
B&Q to close some UK stores as Kingfisher looks for new CEO
Wiltshire grower wins £1,000 BPOA Peter Seabrook Bursary
2018 Glee New Product winners – where are they now?
February warmth stoked online gardening sales
Stewarts Garden Centres name hospice as Charity of the Year
Robin retires after 39 years with Wyevale Nurseries
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
GCA Garden Centres see surge in outdoor plant sales in February
Let's not get carried away with plant sales
Ball Colegrave plans more Speedplanters to meet heavy demand
Making the most of growing on
Grow your own activity drives compost sales
HTA Catering Conference: first steps and next steps
Veg to Gro doubles sales
Turf shortages possible this year says Squire's
Wild Bird Care drops
The best of last week's
Fermoys and Le Friquet are the Garden Centres of the Year at Blue Diamond
Smart confirms transfer of five from Briers
Charity shop and garden centre takings slump to £3 because of road closure
Dobbies director to address GIMA Day Conference in April
After Red Nose Day it's time to Go Green for Garden Re-Leaf Day
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700






GCA Garden Centres see surge in outdoor plant sales in February
 

The latest Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) report shows the positive start to 2019 continued into February (2019) as GCA garden centres across the country saw outdoor plant sales soar.

 

Sales in outdoor plants were up 61.1% compared to the same month the previous year (2018).

 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “This year’s sales figures just prove what a difference the weather can make. In February 2018 we were greeted by the Beast from the East followed by an early Easter washout, which made for a very miserable start to the year, however this year the weather has been much milder, with only a dusting of snow very early on in the month.

 

“Gardeners have been able to get on with readying their plots for the season. They’ve also been working on hard landscaping as sales are up 58.79% compared to last year.”

 

Christmas sales were also up 54.92% during February and furniture and barbecue sales were up 33.61%.

 

Sales in garden sundries were up 29.66%, seed and bulb sales were up 24.5% and houseplant sales were up 16.96%.

 

Iain added: “So far we have had a very positive start to the year, and long may it continue. Both retailers and suppliers will be mindful of the big figures that came last year when the weather improved in May. Those figures will be difficult to beat.”

 

Sales in pets and aquatics were up 3.58%, gift sales were up 2.17% and catering sales were up 12.87%.

 

Clothing sales were up 5.88% and food hall and farm shop sales were up 2.87%.

 

Overall sales for the month were up 19.91% with a year to date change of 13.71%.

 

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 GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

 

For further information, please call 01244 952170. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.

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