In This Issue
Who are the latest businesses to take on former Wyevale centres?
Can Hansa Animatronic Reindeers save Christmas?
Four weeks to make or break the year
More new products from Wildlife World
Houseplants provide seasonal sales increases
Nursery Supply Show finds new home at Stoneleigh Park
RHS and Half Moon Bay announce new Shruti collection
Highfield Garden World take part in Purple Tuesday
Thetford centre in fake banknotes scam
Too much plastic say gardeners - and pots top the list
Commercial nursery Johnsons named as 'top business'
Mr Fothergill’s staff ‘smarten up’ for Children in Need
Santa’s grand arrival at Squire’s Garden Centres
Outdoor plant sales are the highlight in October
Gardening and wildlife go together says HTA report
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Garden decorations are a hit, says GTN Bestsellers
Manure leads the way for growing media sales
Are you ready for the Christmas rush?
New communications agency launches with gardening industry background
SBM Life Science and E. P. Barrus join forces to offer new merchandising service
Ferry Breugem joins Smiemans Projecten team
Darlac appoints new agents
Dutch exports to UK fell in hot summer of 2018
Young Horticulturist of the Year contest launched
Keep the centre safe during winter weather
The best of last week's
Five more garden centres sold by Wyevale
Notcutts and Thurrock GC cancel reindeer over welfare worries
Winter is in the air. Will it spark a rush for Christmas?
Personalisation now a key retail strategy says expert at HTA-GIMA event
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Supervisor reaches final of Catering Rising Stars initiative
Casual Dining show announces more Keynotes – including Pizza Hut UK’s CEO Jens Hofma & Mowgli founder Nisha Katona
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Outdoor plant sales are the highlight in October

Sales in outdoor plant areas at garden centres across the country performed better than other categories in October according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade report.

 

Compared to last year (2017) sales of outdoor plants were up 11.93%. Houseplants sales followed close behind at 11.21% up.

 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “For the past two months sales in houseplants departments have been coming out on top, but during October outdoor plants have just pipped them to the post. The milder autumn weather was the catalyst to allow people to keep gardening.

 

“Autumn/winter is most often associated with trees turning to soft coppers and burnished golds, yet there are flowering autumnal plants that take their colour into winter long after the trees have been laid bare – winter pansies, hebes, outdoor cyclamen and primulas give splashes of many hues. There are also several compact container shrubs that give added value with their bright berries and heathers, evergreens and ivy are also very popular at this time of year.”

 

Seed and bulb sales were up 9.57% and garden sundries were also up 6.65%.

 

Sales were also up in furniture and barbecue departments at 4.82% and gift sales were up 1.45%.

 

Iain added: “Hard landscaping sales were up 17.21%, pets and aquatic sales were down -0.13%, food hall and farm shop sales were up 5.24%. Clothing was up 3.26% and catering was up 6.88%.

 

“The increase in plant sales was at the expense of early Christmas sales, which should come as no surprise. Nonetheless, sales in Christmas departments were down only marginally by -0.59%, however there is still the opportunity to catch up and forge ahead when it turns colder as we approach late November and December.”

 

Overall sales for the month were up 5.31% with a year to date change of 2.18%.

 

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.

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