Here a quick look back at the main stories in the news.

Wyevale Garden Centres announced on Wednesday it had acquired Crowders Garden Centre, based in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. Following the acquisition, WGC’s estate will consist of 153 centres across England and Wales. Full story click here.

Lolly Lee leaves Gardman to join Petface. Full story click here.

Chris Ramsden is moving from Suttons to be National Accounts Manager at Hozelock. Full story click here.

Sad news of the death of Brigitte Canale (Europlants UK). Full story click here.

GCA Conference – 6^th Annual Greenfingers Challenge Cup. Full details click here.

GCA Conference – Day one. Full details click here.

GCA Conference – Day two. Full details click here.

You can trust GTN Xtra to bring you all the breaking news. Make sure you get your copy. Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005

The Rising Stars Programme, run by Westland Horticulture and supported by the Garden Centre Association (GCA) has been running since 2009. Its aim is to develop the best new talent in the garden centre industry through a year-long training course facilitated by Ian Boardman, IBBIS Director. The course helps the Rising Stars understand the importance of merchandising and Ian works with each candidate to show what they could implement at their own garden centres and how to measure results. 

The training programme included three merchandising masterclasses.  One of which demanded Sophie to undertake a project at Coolings.  Sophie explains “I implemented the techniques I had learned on one of our masterclasses to completely overhaul our fencing and timber area and merchandise our products in a different way.  The change created instant results to our sales and I am now completely responsible for the running, sales and purchasing of that area”.

The six finalists out of the initial 31 Rising Stars were announced back in October.  Their final challenge took place on Monday 25^th January at the GCA Conference in Brighton.  Each finalist made a presentation to an audience of over 300 in the ballroom of the Grand Hotel, covering their achievements over the past year and how they have worked to improve sales figures and customer experiences within their department. Conference delegates were given the casting vote for an overall winner which was announced at the prestigious Conference Gala dinner.

Coolings Managing Director, Gary Carvosso said “The Rising Stars programme gives promising individuals in the industry a great opportunity to develop their merchandising and leadership skills.  We are very proud of Sophie, it is a wonderful achievement.  Sophie joined us in 2010 and resonates with me in that I also joined Coolings straight from school. Sophie is a credit to our company, and was in fact the youngest finalist.  We look forward to supporting her on a long and successful career.   We are very aware of the need to attract talented people into the industry which has so many varied opportunities. This initiative, if supported by even more businesses, will have a very positive effect on the industry in years to come. Sophie’s talent has been further recognised as she has now been invited to join the judging panel for the GIMA industry awards.  We look forward to nominating more of our team in the future for the Rising Stars programme and would like to express our thanks to Westland Horticulture, the GCA and of course, her mentor Ian Boardman”.

Sophie adds: “The past year on the programme has been fantastic. I’ve grown my product and sales knowledge considerably and have enjoyed setting goals to achieve.  I love a challenge and the programme is a great opportunity for me to develop my skills.  Most of all, I’ve grown in confidence and can’t wait for some new challenges in the year ahead!”

Barton Grange Garden Centre near Preston notched up their fifth consecutive Destination Garden Centre of the Year award in the Garden Centre Association’s annual inspection audits, and the whole team were able to celebrate this week...

The result was announced at the GCA’s 50^th anniversary dinner in Brighton on Tuesday, in the presence of 17 past chairmen of the association.

Barton Grange MD Guy Topping led 15 members of his team (including his father, Eddie Topping, who founded the original business) on to the stage and announced them individually after they had been presented with the trophy by actor and comedian Hal Cruttenden.

This year, the walk covers approximately 20 miles, starting and finishing at the HTA’s offices in Theale, West Berkshire. Taking place on Garden Re-Leaf Day - March 18 - the walk is just one of many events occurring on Garden Re-Leaf Day in aid of Greenfingers.

So far, Matthew Mein, along with colleagues from i2i, GIMA Director Vicky Nuttall, Kimberley Hornby and Robbie Cumming from Hornby Whitefoot PR have all signed up to take part in the challenge.

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers Charity said: “The walk is open to absolutely everyone working in or alongside the garden industry.  Not only is it a great opportunity to raise funds for those not already involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day events, it’s fun, team building and a great way to spend time with colleagues and acquaintances away from the office.”

If you would like to register to take part in the walk, contact Sarah in the Fundraising Team by email - sarah@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or call the Greenfingers office on 01494 674749.

Garden Re-Leaf Day 2016 has already attracted top industry figures who will be staging 24 hour Plant-athons in garden centres right across the country from 2pm on Thursday 17th and finishing on Friday the 18th. 

Poplars, Adrian Hall, Old Railway Line and Sunshine garden centres have all recently confirmed they will put on Garden Re-Leaf events in store.  All new quizzes have been put together, one general knowledge for all the family and one specifically aimed at the keen gardener.

    

Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day is set to take place on Friday 18^th March 2016 - but already the fundraising has begun!  Twitter has already started buzzing with those looking to lose weight after the festive period, and Greenfingers is inviting them to feel even better about themselves by raising money to help create more children's hospice gardens.

The idea is that for each pound participants lose between now and Garden Re-Leaf Day, they can collect a pound from their sponsors, to be donated to Greenfingers after the 18th March.

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers, Debs Skilicorn, Director of Greenfingers and GTN's very own Trevor Pfeiffer are all bravely taking part and want to encourage others to step up to the challenge.

You can sponsor Trevor on his target to loose 1 stone between the GCA Conference and Garden Re-Leaf Day by clicking: https://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Pfeiffer.

If you are interested in taking part, here are a few pointers to help you get started:

• If you find it hard to lose weight then don't go overboard - aim for a realistic target
• On the other hand, don't aim too low - challenge yourself and encourage sponsorship!
• Let others know you’re trimming down so you can rely on them to hold you to account.  Post on social media, using the hashtag #Pounds4Greenfingers what you plan to do and why you are doing it.  Why not post before and after photos too?  You'll be surprised at just how much motivation it will give you knowing others are keeping an eye on your progress!
• Take up a short term gym membership, -.   or join a local sports or slimming club - there are tonnes of support group options at this time of year so you needn't be alone!

Garden Re-Leaf 2016 has already attracted eight top industry figures who will be staging 24 hour Plant-athons in garden centres beginning  their Plant-athons on Thursday 17th and finishing on Friday the 18th.  Poplars, Adrian Hall and Sunshine Garden Centres have all recently confirmed they will put on Garden Re-Leaf events in store.

Planning agent Weller Designs has sought permission to build the adventure golf course at the garden cewntre in Congresbury.

If the company’s bid is successful, the proposed course would include features such as waterfalls, ponds, a ship and a bridge.

The company said in its design and access statement that the course would provide a family-friendly activity, which would also prove an ideal ‘introduction’ into golfing for young players.

The statement said: “The proposed adventure golf facility is very much a family-orientated leisure pursuit and will appeal to every age.

“As a socially-enjoyable leisure pursuit, it is relaxed and fun and has none of the perhaps ‘intimidating’ aspects of normal golf, but does provide an introduction to the sport of golf itself with the health benefits which accompany it.

“Adventure golf is proven to be a very popular leisure pastime. It is a place to relax, have fun and spend quality time with the family.”

The proposed adventure golf course site is used by the garden centre, in Smallway, to store materials and display landscaping equipment.

Weller Designs also said the course would result in the creation of jobs at the centre and would improve Cadbury’s long-term prospects.

It said: “The adventure golf course will represent an additional customer facility that will complement the established garden centre, which is located in a rural countryside location on the edge of Congresbury.

“It is envisaged that the proposed facility could attract between 20,000 and 30,000 participants each year – some will be coming to the nursery anyway, while others will be coming to specifically play adventure golf.

“This estimated footfall requires additional staff to run and maintain the facility, with at least two additional full-time employees needed to undertake this work.

“Whilst short-term, the actual construction of the facility will require the employment of between four and six construction workers during a period of around two months, with local labouring jobs also available during the construction period.

“Furthermore, the adventure golf facility will improve the long-term competitiveness of the garden centre, which will in turn contribute to the provision of jobs and also the centre’s long-term growth.”

Pictured: crazy golf with a pirate theme is popular in Florida. Could these attractions catch on in UK garden centres?

This highly anticipated event is the pinnacle of the gardening calendar for the trade where winners of the coveted awards will be revealed at a glittering gala dinner.  

More details will be revealed next month, when the GIMA website will be open for entries. For further information call the GIMA office on 01959 564947.

Westland Horticulture is training up an army of Lawn Academy graduates who will be ready to help this coming spring. The latest of a series of five Lawn Academy sessions took place yesterday at Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston.

Daniela Constantine, Brand Manager for Lawncare said: “It’s been warm this winter so many consumers will be confused about when to mow or feed. Aside from flooding, there’s been a lot of rain elsewhere in the UK and Ireland which will wash away the nutrients in the soil, so lawns will be in need of a good feed this spring.”

In a lively and interactive session, garden centre staff were introduced to lawn gardener types with different attitudes to lawns in a fun and interactive way. They learnt everything there is to know about lawns, including differences in seed, how to create and maintain lawns and how best to advise customers. They also spent time looking at real-life lawns in order to identify exactly what good and poor lawns looks like.

Daniela added: “We now have our very first Lawn Academy graduates who are ready to head back into store and reinvigorate their lawn category!”

Further sessions will be now be held at Perth and Dublin in February.

To book up to the 2017 Lawn Academy, log onto the Westland Lawn Academy website

http://www.gardenhealth.com/lawn-academy

Burgon and Ball (6H220), a multi-award winning manufacturer of agricultural and garden tools, and Ulster Weavers (9C28-D29), a kitchen textiles company specialising in homeware, giftware and tableware, will be jointly promoting new ranges of RHS products. Their ranges use shared artwork featuring illustrations of chrysanthemums, passion flowers and roses. Both companies will also feature established RHS products on their stands, including the extended Burgon & Ball Gifts for Gardeners range. The new products were launched at Glee 2015, where they were received with great acclaim.

Carousel Calendars (3R31), the UK's largest general calendar publisher and distributor, has combined selections from the RHS Lindley Library, the world’s finest collection of botanic art, and some gorgeous RHS horticultural photography to great effect. The company will showcase both in its range of 2017 RHS calendars and pocket diaries.

Noteworthy among the cookware and ceramics companies at the show are two RHS licensees. Churchill China(9D30-E31), which has a long history of providing ceramics to hospitality and retail markets, will launch a new range of RHS vintage garden mugs in gift boxes. Another market leader in high-quality tableware, cookware, giftware and tabletop accessories, Portmeirion Group (9E30-F31), will promote its established, and very successful RHS ranges.

Wax Lyrical, the UK’s largest privately owned home-fragrancing company and a major licensing partner of RHS for many years, will be launching new products on stand 4D40-E41.

Meldhome (6G50-H51), which designs and produces stylish and functional homeware, will display an RHS gifting selection that is available to all retailers. Another RHS licensee in the gifting area is Kimm and Miller (6P45), a company that designs, manufactures and supplies unique, high-quality gift products.

Padblocks (4A20), which offers decorative stationery both for retail and custom-made for museums, galleries and stately homes, is promoting an extension of its RHS line that uses the RHS White Rose design on such products as a wire-bound notebook, a recipe scrap book and an attractive new chalkboard.

Now in its third decade, the RHS Licensing programme boasts more than 50 licensees in the gardening, gifting and homeware categories.RHS Licensing is growing in 2016 to include educational toys, apparel and accessories, and an expanded garden category. This is supported by a new RHS Licensing Style Guide based on 500 wonderful images specially selected from more than 25,000 housed in the RHS Lindley Library.

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, says: “We’re delighted to be able to announce the appearance of so many valued partners at such an important home and gift industry show. It’s a credit to the strength of the RHS brand and the quality of our licensees that so many exciting new product ranges are being developed and existing ranges extended or enhanced.”

Lucy Adams, the BBC’s former HR director, introduced GCA delegates to the so-called “VUCA World”

VUCA is used an acronym, coined by the US military during the Vietnam conflict, for a world order that is : Volatile, Uncertain Complex and Ambiguous

 “Think about your role as leaders of people,” she said. “It is really tough now and getting tougher.”

The way to manage a VUCA world more effectively involved resilience, insight, curiosity and humility.

“See employees as adults, not children,” she urged. “Modern business are moving to strong adult-to-adult relationships. When people are trusted, their creativity increases.”

Progressive businesses were more likely to know their employees, tailoring their businesses according to their needs. “Get rid of annual appraisals,” she advised. “They do not work and can even make things go backwards.”

Employers who listened and showed interest were the best leaders, she added. “If we remember to keep it human, we can’t go far wrong.”

Business commentator Martin Vander Weyer told GCA conference delegates he would came down on the side of cautious optimism despite the economic and political challenges the UK faces.

Vander Weyer, who is business editor of The Spectator, said that, although the banks were behaving better while they re-built their balance sheets, their cautious approach to lending was creating opportunities for alternatives like peer to peer lenders and crowd funding.

Interest rates, he felt would not be rising any time soon and when they did might reach only 2.5% at most.

He urged businesses to join the campaign to reform business rates to create a system that would reduce the burden on businesses and as a result increase tax revenues.

The UK, he said, was still not building enough houses, partly due to a skills shortage.

He believed Britain could have done without an EU in-or-out referendum at this moment. The “out” campaign had created a “hard-core vituperative argument”.  “Brexit is a distraction and we don’t need it,” he said.

"We need to reassure garden centre customers that they can carry on investing in lawn care as normal. There is bound to be more than a small amount of trepidation - especially in the north, in flood affected areas, and where there has been snow on the ground.  Other scare stories regarding cold weather yet to come may also have an effect, causing many customers to think much more carefully about when or even if they can start sowing.

During periods of consumer uncertainty like this, it's essential that problem solving products are pushed to the front of the shelf. 

Formulated to establish in minimum temperatures of 3˚C and still the fastest establishing ryegrass and red fescue mix on the market, Johnsons Lawn Seed's Any Time is an ideal grass seed mixture to base your spring lawn care offering around.

The 1 is the perfect product to put a consumer’s mind at ease – the quickest, fastest and hardest wearing seed on the market, whilst also requiring less maintenance.  A great premium product to recommend if a customer needs quality results fast.

Our research and development team has lead to a complete reformulation of bestsellers General Purpose, Tuffgrass, Quick Lawn and Quick Fix – which all now feature improved germination rates, establishment speed, drought resistance, wear tolerance and overall appearance - all designed to increase consumer’s confidence at the point of purchase.

On the other hand of course, we could see a marked surge in demand for lawn care as owners replace and repair their damaged lawns, so either way 2016 has the potential to be an excellent year for grass seed and related products.

There are many basic do's and don'ts considering the merchandising of your lawn care range.  Do make it easy for customers to tell the difference between similar products, for example, by highlighting a product using visual recommendation, double facing products, and price promotions. Don't assume customers know how to care for their lawn, but don't condescend either – shop floor staff on hand with reliable product knowledge is ideal, and when they aren’t around, POS showing relevant advice can also be invaluable.  The Johnsons Lawn Seed catalogue is a wealth of product information so feel free to reproduce relevant facts, hints and tips in order to stimulate sales.

Johnsons Lawn Seed's products and tips can be found on its new website, www.johnsonslawnseed.com.  Orders can be placed by calling 01386 791113 or emailing orders@johnsonslawnseed.com.

Find out more

To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed, visit www.johnsonslawnseed.com, email consumer@dlf.co.uk, or telephone 01386 791113.

On Thursday 28 January, at the IPM 2016 trade fair in Essen, Germany, Hydrangea macrophylla hybride (Hochzeits-Hortensie®) by Helmers Baumschulen GmbH, Westerstede (D) was presented with the Show Your Colours Award IPM 2016. The visitors and the professional jury selected the winner because of the beautiful white flowers and the association with a green wedding. The award was presented to Eike Helmers by jury chairman Oliver P. Kuhrt and Dessi Malakov on the BIZZ Holland stand.

Buxus sempervirens BUXUS JEANS OF GARDEN sent in by Boomkwekerij Notkamp, De Lutte (NL) on behalf of the FloraHolland buxus growers was in second place, and third place went to Gaultheria procumbens GAULTIER PEARL (‘SPECGP11’) by Special Plant Zundert, Zundert (NL) and Skimmia japonica DWARF Series by Van Vliet New Plants, Stroe (NL).

The other nominated plants were as follows: Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Blue Moon', Fascicularia bicolor GARDEN BROMELIA, Hebe GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY ('Lowag'), Hibiscus syriacus in varieties, Hydrangea macrophylla MAGICAL in varieties, Loropetalum chinense EVER RED (‘Chang Nian Hong’), Paeonia RICH AND SPARKLING (Itoh Group) in varieties, Ribes/Rubus/Vaccinium in 100% organic cardboard pot, Viburnum plicatum KILIMANDJARO SUNRISE (‘JWW5’).

The nominated plants and concepts were exhibited in two different locations. In both locations, the visitors could use special tokens to vote for their favourite plant/concept until the end of Thursday morning. In addition, they could vote online via the IPM Essen and BIZZ Communications websites. On Thursday afternoon, the entries were judged by an expert jury consisting of Oliver P. Kuhrt (Messe Essen, jury chairman), Sytse Berends (Blunt Communicatieadvies/Peak Retail), Michel Verbeek (Royal FloraHolland), Werner Oschek (journalist for various German trade journals), Susanne Blom and Dessi Malokov. The verdict of the jury, together with the votes received via the poll and the tokens, led to Hydrangea macrophylla hybride (Hochzeits-Hortensie®) being crowned the winner of the Show Your Colours Award IPM 2016.

The Show Your Colours Award IPM 2016 is a collaboration between the organisers of IPM and BIZZ Communications.

Magnus Lindkvist from Sweden, who describes himself as a trendspotter and futurologist, painted a world in which “vertical thinking” created the opportunities”

He offered a host of epithets to illustrate how how the future might pan out:

• “Ignore technology for a few decades,” he said. “Be agile, flexible and open-minded.”
• “Knowledge is dead information. Let go of it.”
• “Happiness is a rubbish measurement of well-being”
• “Be careful what you put in your head because you may never get it out.”
• “I hope you came here to become a creator. A trend is a sign that others are already doing it.”
• “Look for secrets. Look beyond the obvious.”
• “Experiment – the new way of thinking about risk is if we do the same thing for too long.”
• “You need a vision. Nokia stayed 25 years too long in the same thing and became vulnerable to a Californian fruit company….”
• The future can come from the past – by recycling good ideas.”
• “Make enemies. If people think it’s a stupid idea, you are on to a good thing.”

Olympic medallist Roger Black, who was also part of the GB 400m relay team that beat the Americans to win gold in the World Championships in Tokyo, thrilled his audience with tales and video clips from his sporting career. As it happens, he also brought his two Olympic silver medals with him… and allowed a delighted queue of GCA delegates to pose with them for commemorative photos.

GCA members have voted Taylors Bulbs as their Associate of the Year.

Described as “a popular choice”, they beat off competition from Cedar Associates (last year’s winners) and Decco, also shortlisted last year.

Taylors have won the title on a number of previous occasion, the most recent being a hat-trick of successes in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

At the associates trade show earlier in the evening, Taylors announced details of an expanded range of wax-dipped and decorated amaryllis bulbs in gift packaging at prices from £12.99 to £14.99 depending on design.

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre were presented with the GCA’s Worrall Cup for best marketing campaign or initiative.

Seventeen past chairmen of the GCA turned out for the association’s 50^th anniversary dinner at the Grand Hotel, Brighton last night.

One of them, Warren Haskins (1982-3) paid tribute to their contributions to the GCA’s development during the past half century. For 40 of those years, he said, the GCA had been in a “rather nasty conflict” with the HTA during which the two associations had not got on all that well before patching up their differences in the past two years. “That is now good for all of us,” he said.

The HTA now hosts the GCA’s headquarters at Theale.

The other 16 past chairmen present were:

Jeffrey Bernhard (1964)

Waynman Strike (1973, Strikes Garden Centres)

Richard Evans (1978, Ruxley Manor GC)

F.A.B. Newenham (1979, Millets Farm GC)

Roger Harvey (1988, Roger Harvey Garden World)

Kenn Lloyd (1992-3, Cadbury GC)

Chris Roberts (1994, Van Hage Garden Co)

Martin Stewart (1995 and 2010)

Beryl Stafford (1991, All in One GC)

Guy Topping (2000-01, Barton Grange Garden Centres)

Sue Allen (2002-3, Millbrook Garden Co)

Steve Myatt (2004-5, Warbreck GC)

David Danning (2006-07, Trelawney Garden Leisure)

Martin Davies (2008-9, Raglan GC)

Dennis Espley (2011, Squires Garden Centres)

William Armitage (2014-15, Armitages Garden Centres)

Garden Centres of Excellence (top 10 in alphabetical order not order of inspection scores), presented by GCA Chairman Julian Winfield and comedian Hal Cruttenden:

Barton Grange Garden Centre

Bents Garden & Home

Burston Garden Centre

Cowell’s Garden Centre

Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre

The Old Railway Line

Perrywood Garden Centre

Planters at Bretby

Poplars Nursery Garden Centre

Raemoir Garden Centre

The full list of GCA winners announced on Monday are:                                         

Christmas Competition (Garden Centre category) sponsored by Gisela Graham – Castle Gardens


Christmas Competition (Destination Garden Centre category) sponsored by Gisela Graham – Barton Grange Garden Centre

Environment and Community Award – Planters, Tamworth

Ruxley Rose (Garden Centre category) – Cowell’s Garden Centre

Ruxley Rose (Destination Garden Centre category) – Squires Garden Centre, Twickenham

Barton Grange Trophy for Creativity and Innovation – Webbs of Wychbold

Customer Service Award – Best Customer Service – Burston Garden Centre

The Indoor Lifestyle Award – Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Garden Centre category) – Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton

The Indoor Lifestyle Award – Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category) – Raemoir Garden Centre

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Garden Centre category) – Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category) – Barton Grange Garden Centre

Overall GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer – Barton Grange Garden Centre

Dick Allen Award (Most Improved Garden Centre) – Hilltop Garden Centre

The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Garden Centre Category) – Creative Gardens Donaghadee in Northern Ireland

The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre Category) – Frosts, Woburn Sands

Weber Outdoor Living Award – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Garden Centre Category) – Sunshine Garden Centre

Weber Outdoor Living Award – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Destination Garden Centre Category) Van Hage Great Amwell

Julian Winfield, the new Chairman of the GCA for 2016 and 2017 and Chief Executive at Haskins Garden Centres Ltd, said: “We’re a diligent, committed, enthusiastic and hardworking industry and these awards recognise the very best garden centres in the country. Well done and congratulations to all our winners.”

Consumer and shopper behviouralist Ken Hughes warned the garden industry yesterday not to ignore the digital revolution.

He urged retailers to embrace the ‘blue spot consumer’ – the modern shoppers who increasingly demand that goods comes to them.

The ‘blue spot’ alluded to the GPS location point on Google Maps.

Digital ‘natives’ – the under 35s – were seeking experiences, not products, he said, and this would increasingly become the role of bricks and mortar retail outlets. “Physical retailers are still going to be important in the digital world but how you use the space to make money from it will change.”

Modern consumer looked for solutions and inspiration.

“You guys should own summer,” he said. “And your plant areas have to deliver an experience.”

For those attending the GCA conference 2016 in Brighton, please come and support Liam and Mike from Briers who are going to be manning the #GLUVIE Photo Booth from 7-11:30pm tonight during the evenings entertainment. This is to raise awareness and funds for the children's charity Greenfingers. Donations for a fun #GLUVIE photo keepsake start from only £5!! See you then

Writer and broadcaster David Domoney made a passionate appeal to garden centres to appoint ambassadors to promote community gardening through his Cultivation Street initiative, now in its fourth year.

The Garden Centre Ambassador Scheme is designed to nurture stronger and more supportive relationships that will help to give novice gafrdeners the confidence to seek help and advice from their local garden centres. Domoney said many less knowledgable consumers were scared to visit garden centres in case they made fools of themselves.

He urged centres nominate a member of staff to be their community ambassador, as the point of contact, to build a dialogue with the community.

You can register your interest at: www.daviddomoney.com/cultivation-street/gcambassador/

Experienced international retail executive John Herbert, who now runs a global DIY trade association, addressed delegates yesterday, interspersing the ‘rags to riches’ story of his professional life with snippets of his favourite retail philosophy. It was his second appearance on the platform of a GCA conference – the first was more than 30 years ago.

In the lower turnover band of the GCA's inspection audits , Garden Wise at Dumfries (below) took their first Garden Centre of the Year title, beating Cowells of Newcastle, winners in four of the past six years, and The Old Railway Line Garden Centre at Brecon

The remaining Centres of Excellence, all scoring 70% or more, were Perrywood, Planters at Bretby, Poplars and Raemoir (their first Top 10 placing).

Barton Grange Garden Centre near Preston have notched up their fifth consecutive Destination Garden Centre of the Year award in the Garden Centre Association’s annual inspection audits.

The result was announced at the GCA’s 50^th anniversary dinner in Brighton last night, in the presence of 17 past chairmen of the association.

Barton Grange MD Guy Topping led 15 members of his team (including his father, Eddie Topping, who founded the original business) on to the stage and announced them individually after they had been presented with the trophy by actor and comedian Hal Cruttenden.

Following our visit to the Tuinzaken Garden Retail Experience event last year the Horticultural Trades Association has arranged an inspirational Study Tour to the Netherlands in February 2016 to take in the 2016 event and there is still some limited availability for for you to join us on the trip.

As well as attending the Garden Retail Experience in Boskoop for its 5^th edition, including the event’s gala dinner we will also be visiting some Dutch garden centres and a have a tour of the inspirational Edelman showrooms.

The full tour itinerary is as follows:

• Wednesday 17 Feb 2016 –Fly out in the morning to Amsterdam –from airport begin tour of Garden Centers in the Netherlands throughout the day. Tuincentrum Osdorp and a second De Bosrand in Alphen a/d Rijn. In the evening attend the exclusive Retail Experience Gala in Boskoop including speakers and entertainment.
• Thursday 18 Feb –Attend Retail Experience with full expert guided tours. www.gardenretailexperience.com
• In the evening attend a locally based meal for additional networking opportunities.
• Friday 19 Feb -Visit to Intratuin Zuidplas followed by a Tour to Edelman, lunch and in the afternoon fly home to the UK.

The cost for the entire trip is £380 per person, this covers accommodation and travel once in the Netherlands as well as lunch and Dinner on Wednesday and Thursday evening but the HTA request those attending the tour to make their own way to Amsterdam Schiphol airport as travelling from all over the UK and attendees can then organize as best suited to their location.

The tours intended start time is 11am from Schiphol airport and once in the Netherlands GTN Xtras’ Trevor Pfeiffer will host alongside Martin Simmons of the HTA.

If you would like to book on to the event or need any more information please don’t hesitate to contact the HTA – events@the-hta.org.uk

The Garden Retail Experience is a truly inspirational event, see the GTN Xtra picture gallery from last year to give you a flavour of the ideas that will stretch your thinking and give you a head start as you prepare to meet the demands of the garden centre customer of the future.  Or speak to Trevor at the GCA Conference this week and he will give you more information about the experience...

Plant Area Manager (Full time, including alternate weekends)

West Horsley KT24 6AR

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead.  An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community.  

• You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
• You must have experience and/or horticultural qualifications and garden centre retail experience.
• You will be able to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets whilst motivating your team to maximise all sales opportunities and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of customer service.
• You must have the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, have a passion for plants, be highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

Bedding Department Head (Full time, including alternate weekends)

West Horsley KT24 6AR

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead.  An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community.  

• You will be responsible for the bedding plant department at our West Horsley Garden Centre which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
• You will have extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and/or a horticultural qualification.
• A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment are essential.
• You will be flexible, enthusiastic and highly motivated, commercially aware and have the ability to create dynamic displays.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

• Support the Garden Centre Store Manager and team in all aspects of your store's day-to-day operations
• Manage the daily running of your department, enabling everyone to inspire, educate and equip customers.
• Be responsible for managing cash and other daily administrative task.
• Constantly find ways of improving your department and motivating your staff to achieve agreed company objectives.
• To drive performance maximising commercial potential.
• To promote staff ownership & accountability to create a positive & enjoyable working environment.
• To ensure that your department operates within current Health & Safety legislation.
• To contribute to the success of the business as a whole.
• Ensure the store is clean, both on the shop floor and behind the scenes
• To undertake other duties as required

• A practical, hands-on approach to Garden Centre retailing
• Natural leadership skills and the ability to motivate and support the development of the whole store team
• The willingness to go the extra mile for our customers
• Excellent people skills
• A high degree of professionalism, especially when handling difficult situations
• A proactive approach to solving problems, and the ability to deal with issues as they arise
• Preferably, previous retail management experience

Plant Area Sales Assistant (Full time, including alternate weekends)

Twickenham TW2 5PA

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

Squire’s oldest site with a new centre built in 1993, and is about to undergo a significant facelift.  A garden centre that takes a very high turnover for its size, with a strong horticultural focus in plants and sundries, often winning GCA category awards, with the recent addition of new Pets & Aquatics and Craft areas.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who is quick and willing to learn and who sees customer service as their main priority.

• The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and energetic, have a passion for plants and an eye for creating exciting detailed displays.
• Horticultural experience or equivalent qualifications desirable.
• The role will involve bending and lifting some heavy items therefore applicants must be physically fit.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

• Thompson & Morgan Runner Bean Polestar is the highest re-entry at No 11.
• Mr Fothergills Tomato Gardeners Delight is the highest climber at No 14, jumping 35 places.
• The highest new entry is Mr Fothergills Lettuce Salad Bowl Red & Green Mixed at No 18.
• Suttons Beetroot Boltardy is the highest placed seed variety at No 7.

Announcing the appointment today, CEO Pete Utting said: “James will be responsible for managing our buying groups, and also supporting our sales agents and the business with all aspects relating to garden centre independent retail channels.

Utting continued “James brings with him a wealth of experience in managing customers and teams, and his previous time here, as Deputy International Sales Director, will enable him to hit the ground running.”

James joins from STV, where he was Senior National Account Manager for the UK and international markets.

James said: “Gardman has been making huge strides in the market-place and it is an honour for me to return to the company to help them to create an even more successful future.”

• Westland Top Soil (Value Bag – 35 litres) is the highest climber, jumping 25 places to No 8.
• The highest re-entry is Scotts Levington Seed & Cutting Compost (20 litres) at No 11.
• Westland Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost (10 litres) is the highest new entry at No 45.
• Westland Jack’s Magic All Purpose Compost (60 litres)returns to the top spot.

Town & Country, has appointed a new area sales manager for the South East region. Vicky Shine has traded in a career in the city with some of the UK’s biggest investment banks, to pursue her life-long passion for gardening and a role with one of the industry’s best known brands.

Barry Page, chief executive at Town & Country says:  “Vicky joins Town & Country at a very exciting time in the company’s development. 

"The recent revitalisation of the brand, which has seen a refreshed look, new products, packaging and merchandising solutions making their way into the marketplace, is helping to create a vibrant new presence in garden centres and is already delivering tangible results for our retail partners.”

Vicky’s interest in the world of horticulture began when, as a teenager, she worked at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in Kent and also led to her volunteering for many years at Wildlife Aid, a wildlife sanctuary in Surrey.

For further information contact Town & Country on 01530 830990 or email info@townandco.com.  See the full range of products at www.townandco.com.

• Stewart Clear Saucer 11-18.5cm is the highest re-entry at No 18.
• Stewart Flower Pot Multi-Packs in 3’s, 15cm Terracotta, are a new entry at No 32.
• Another new entry - the highest this week in fact – is Gardman Gard Stakes 16mm x 210cm at No 14.
• Gardman also had the highest climber with their tap cover, moving up 22 places to No 25.

Most recently as Sales & Marketing Director at Wax Lyrical Ltd, Richard was part of the team that led the transition of Colony Candles to Wax Lyrical, which today is a well-known player in the Home Fragrance category.

An honorary graduate in Product Design and with over 20 years experience in the giftware, homeware and home fragrance markets, Richard brings with him vast experience and a wealth of personal relationships made from conducting business across a broad array of retailers.

Using his vast experience, Bolsius envisages that Richard will be well positioned to contribute to accelerating the growth of the company’s activities in the UK and Ireland.

Bolsius UK Ltd is part of the Bolsius International Group, the European market-leader in the candle category. The Bolsius brand holds strong positions within the mass-market, retail and catering channels.

Due to huge interest in their new range of Wild Bird Care, Petface are expanding their sales team and have appointed Lolly Lee as their Business Development Director looking after their Garden Centre channel. Lolly joins the company after working for Gardman.

Lolly has many years of experience in this channel with previous roles working for Sutton Seeds and more recently Gardman.

Chris Keightley also joins as Senior National Account Manager and will be looking after and developing the companies National Accounts. Chris has many year’s experience in Pet and Gardening having held previous roles with Trixie and Gardman.

Spokesman for Petface says: “As a business that is expanding rapidly, particularly with our new range of Wild Bird Care, it is important for us to be able to service our customers’ needs and with the appointments of both Lolly and Chris gives us the ability to do this.

"Both Lolly and Chris come with some great credentials and will no doubt be a great asset to our already established team.”

Finalists:

• Dunbar Garden Centre
• Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
• Langlands Leeds
• Langlands Sheffield
• Perrywood Garden Centre
• Pughs Radyr
• The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

Bronze: Waresley Park Garden Centre

Silver: Fresh @ Burcot Garden Centre

Silver: Perrywood Garden Centre

The Greatest Grotto Team 2015

Finalists:

• Arcadia Garden Centre
• Baytree Garden Centre
• Brigg Garden Centre
• Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre
• Gouldings Garden Centre
• Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
• Millbrook Gravesend
• Newbank Radcliffe
• Silica Lodge Garden Centre
• Whitehall Lacock
• Wyevale Worlds End

Regional Winners:

• South West: Chaplins Superstore
• North West: Gordale Garden & Home Centre
• North East: Woodbank Garden Centre
• Wales: Pughs Radyr
• Northern Ireland: Hillside Garden Centre
• Scotland: Hetland Garden Centre

Bronze: Chessington Garden Centre     

Silver: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

The Greatest Festive Plants Team 2015

Finalists:

• Burston Garden Centre
• Cowells Garden Centre
• Gordale  Garden & Home Centre
• Langlands Shiptonthorpe
• Millbrook Gravesend
• Munros Nurseries
• Newbank Halifax
• Pughs Radyr
• Snowdonia Nurseries & Garden Centre
• Van Hage Great Amwell
• Wyevale Gosforth
• Wyevale Swansea

Regional Winners:

• London: Aylett Nurseries
• East: Perrywood Garden Centre
• Northern Ireland: Creative Gardens Donaghadee
• Midlands: St Peters Worcester
• Scotland: Simpsons Garden Centre

Bronze: Bents Garden & Home

Silver: Barton Grange Garden Centre

The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team 2015

Finalists:

• Langlands Shiptonthorpe
• Mere Park Garden Centre
• Sunshine Garden Centre
• Van Hage Great Amwell
• Van Hage Peterborough

Bronze: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

Bronze: Langlands Shiptonthorpe

Silver: Fairways Garden Centre

Gold: Hillmount Garden Centre





A gallery of pictures (below) from the gold award winners is sponsored by Kaemingk...

The Greatest Festive Catering Team 2014

Finalists:

• Burford Garden Company
• Frosts Woburn Sands
• Haskins Snowhill
• Haskins West End
• Hilltop Garden Store
• Perrywood Garden Centre
• Scotsdales Fordham
• Simpsons Garden Centre
• Torwood Garden Centre
• Wyevale Fairoak
• Wyevale Swansea

Regional Winners:

• Midlands: Jacksons Nurseries & Tea Rooms
• South: Squires Badshot Lea
• North: Woodbank Garden Centre
• South West: Whitehall Lacock
• Northern Ireland: Hillmount Garden Centre

Bronze: Fron Goch Garden Centre

Bronze: Haskins Roundstone

Silver: Bents Garden & Home

The Greatest Christmas Supplier 2015

Finalists:

• Allensmore
• Ascalon
• Florasilk
• SnowTime
• Konstsmide
• Swift Imports
• Wax Lyrical

Bronze: Festive Decorations

Silver: Kaemingk

The Greatest Pet Christmas Team 2015

Finalists:

• Baytree Garden Centre
• Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre
• The Old Railway Line

Bronze: Raemoir Garden Centre

Silver: Planters Tamworth

Silver: Torwood Garden Centre

Gold: Bents Garden & Home

The Greatest Christmas Display Team 2015 – Small and Mid Sized Garden Centres

Small Centre Finalists:

• Blackbrooks Garden Centre
• Caerphilly Garden Centre
• Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
• Pughs Radyr

Mid-sized Centre Finalists:

• Almondsbury Garden Centre
• Birkacre Garden Centre
• Busy Bee Garden Centre
• Cherry Hill Garden and Landscape Centre
• Frosts Brampton
• Mere Park Garden Centre
• Millbrook Gravesend
• Newbank Halifax
• Sunshine Garden Centre

Bronze Small Centre: Munro's Nurseries

Silver Small Centre: Jacksons Boutique Garden Centre

Gold Small Centre: Silverbirch Garden Centre

Bronze Mid-sized Centre: Perrywood Garden Centre

Silver Mid-sized Centre: Burleydam Garden Centre

Silver Mid-sized Centre: Castle Gardens

Gold Mid-sized Centre: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

The Greatest Christmas Display Team 2015 – Large and Group Garden Centres

Large Garden Centre Finalists:

• Aylett Nurseries
• Burford Garden Company
• Burston Garden Centre
• Frosts Woburn Sands                                                           
• Gordale Garden & Home Centre
• Hillside Garden Centre
• Newbank Radcliffe
• Pennells Lincoln
• Planters Tamworth
• Scotsdales Cambridge
• St Peters Worcester
• Van Hage Gt Amwell
• Whitehall Lacock
• Woodbank Garden Centre

Group Garden Centre Finalists:

• Brigg - British Garden Centres
• Grosvenor - Blue Diamond
• Houghton Hall - Klondyke
• Squires Badshot Lea
• Wyevale Swansea

Bronze Large Centre: Raemoir Garden Centre

Silver Large Centre: Bents Garden & Home     

Gold Large Centre: Barton Grange Garden Centre

Bronze Group Garden Centre: Littleheath Garden Store - Hillview

Silver Group Garden Centre: Haskins Snowhill

Silver Group Garden Centre: Spring - British Garden Centres

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 printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2013 as well as 2014 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 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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

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

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this 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.