In This Issue
Blue Diamond acquires Mere Park Garden Centre
Christmas slows but total sales grow
Royal Canin to launch new Sensory feline wet range
Garden centre sales level out but still ahead of 2019 says HTA
LifestyleGarden joins fight against plastic pollution and world poverty
OASE wins two new product awards at AQUA 2021
Honeyfield's unveils 'industry first' bird food eco-packaging at PATS Telford
Poinsettia growers predict best-ever Christmas sales
New-look café bar and food hall for Squire’s Wokingham
Alan Roper wins Director of the Year Award
Tickets selling fast for Cherry Lane’s festive events 
Time to get potting says elho
Keter expands popular shed range to offer more selling options to retailers
British Garden Centres to sponsor Illumination Street for second year
Glee-full time at the NEC - GTN October 2021 Issue available on-line
Garden Project Manager – Greenfingers Charity
Plant Area Manager – Full Time – Alternate Weekends – Twickenham
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
Our Gardening Club is a big hit says T&M
Julia joins Wyevale Nurseries trainee management scheme
The best of last week's
Former LOFA secretary Phil Gibbs receives prison sentence for fraud
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
Situations Vacant
Garden Project Manager – Greenfingers Charity
Salary: Negotiable
 
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Plant Area Manager – Full Time – Alternate Weekends – Twickenham
Salary: £40+ Depending On Experience
 
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Blue Diamond acquires Mere Park Garden Centre

The Blue Diamond Group has added to its portfolio of garden centres with the acquisition of Mere Park Garden Centre in Newport, Shropshire...


 

The Blue Diamond Group has added to its portfolio of garden centres with the acquisition of Mere Park Garden Centre in Newport, Shropshire.

 

Blue Diamond managing director Alan Roper said: “Mere Park Garden Centre has excellent A1 retail planning permission and is a quality freehold asset. The site has strong potential and Newport has a strong AB1 demographic.”

  

Owner David Brierley said: “I am delighted to have sold Mere Park to the leading garden centre operator in the UK and look forward to watching the business thrive as part of the Blue Diamond Group.”

 

According to the garden centre’s website, Mere Park’s 12-acre retail park offers a full range of products and services that meet its customers’ shopping and leisure needs. 

Christmas slows but total sales grow

Garden centre sales stayed ahead of 2020 levels for the second consecutive week, during the second week of October, however the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Christmas Products Index was down by 18% on the same week for both 2019 and 2020... 


Garden centre sales stayed ahead of 2020 levels for the second consecutive week, during the second week of October, making a solid recovery following the effects of the petrol shortages.

 

The build towards the Christmas sales peaks is well and truly underway with total garden centre sales for last week up by 27% on the same week in 2019, however the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Christmas Products Index was down by 18% on the same week for both 2019 and 2020. 

 

Many garden centres are still waiting for Christmas stocks to arrive, there appears to be a particulat issue with Christmas lighting non-availability, and some GTN visited last week were only just starting to create their Christmas displays. 

 

Let’s hope half term sees and increase in footfall and the arrival of much needed Christmas stock.

 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 42.

  • Garden Products Top 50 – down 10%
  • Growing Media Top 50 – down 2%
  • Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 42%
  • Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 16%
  • Christmas Top 50 – down 18%

 

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 42.

•           All Plants with Barcode index – down 3%

•           All Items with Barcode index – up 4%

 

 

See GTN's full analysis of September Bestsellers EPOS data in the pages of GTN October issue below and take advantage of the GTN Bestsellers Subscription offer to make sure you stay ahead of the changes in garden centre customer buying patterns for the year ahead.

 

 
Royal Canin to launch new Sensory feline wet range
GTN Xtra Promotion

Royal Canin Sensory feeds cats’ senses

 

Royal Canin is introducing a new a feline wet range - Sensory - with three new sensorial stimulations of Smell, Taste and Feel developed to excite cats’ senses. The new range will launch throughout August and September...


Royal Canin Sensory feeds cats’ senses

 

Royal Canin is introducing a new a feline wet range - Sensory - with three new sensorial stimulations of Smell, Taste and Feel developed to excite cats’ senses. The new range will launch throughout August and September.

 

The Sensory range was developed using the latest research from cat experts. Cats have an instinct for new experiences and diverse aromas, textures and tastes in their diet so Sensory mealtimes will not only be nutritious, but also sensorially rich, filled with novelty and discovery.

 

With over 600,000 new cats entering the market each year and three-quarters of cat owners mixed feeding with wet, the Sensory range represents a great opportunity to reach into the cat market. As part of a mixed feeding routine, Sensory can be fed alongside dry food from Royal Canin’s Exigent, Sensible, Outdoor, Fit and Indoor ranges.

 

The three new varieties are available in boxes of 12 x 85g pouches in gravy or jelly, alongside side a 12-pouch gravy multipack with four of each of smell, taste and feel.

 

The Sensory range will be supported by extensive marketing including a large consumer sampling activation, a wide-reaching online presence and varied point-of-sale materials so pet owners are able to navigate the range easier on and off shelf.

 

 

Royal Canin Customer Marketing Lead Ben Hurley said, “Cats’ senses are their gateway to the world. How a cat’s sense of smell, taste, and touch are stimulated determines how they feel. Our feline experts researched cats’ senses and took what they learned to develop Sensory.”

 

Talk to your Royal Canin Business Manager today, call us on 0330 6781 520, or click here to find more information about Sensory.

Garden centre sales level out but still ahead of 2019 says HTA

Garden centre sales have begun to level out after the gardening boom of 2020 but remain high when compared to 2019, says the HTA in its latest Market Update...

 


Garden centre sales have begun to level out after the gardening boom of 2020 but remain high when compared to 2019, says the HTA in its latest Market Update.

 

Sales from September were up 29% from the same month in 2019, but down 7% from 2020. However, economic factors are threatening consumer confidence – something the association says retailers should be aware of in the coming months.

 

 

The report shows that a rise in inflation rates has negatively impacted consumers’ confidence in their finances, with household incomes under pressure from inflation, fuel and tax price hikes in the lead up to Christmas. It says the consumer confidence index has decreased by five points from August to September. Last month, consumer price inflation rates had their highest recorded month-on-month increase, partly a result of last year’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which decreased prices.

 

Fuel prices have increased for another consecutive month, and price increases have affected through the horticulture supply chain (and the wider economy) caused by the continued rise in shipping container prices.

 

When asked an open question on what the top issues facing the UK are today, 24% of British adults surveyed reported feeling concerned about the economy.

 

The HTA says the mood amongst member businesses remains positive about prospects for the next 12 months: 61% expect sales volumes to increase, 59% expect to invest in skills and staff training, 54% expect to invest in new products/services, 47% expect to target new customers.

LifestyleGarden joins fight against plastic pollution and world poverty

Sustainable furniture manufacturer LifestyleGarden has teamed up with the Plastic Bank organisation in its campaign to clear the world’s waterways of plastic waste and improve lives of impoverished communities....

 


Sustainable furniture manufacturer LifestyleGarden has teamed up with the Plastic Bank organisation in its campaign to clear the world’s waterways of plastic waste and improve lives of impoverished communities.

 

To date the collaboration has enabled LifestyleGarden to create a new version of its iconic Nassau collection (see picture on opening page), made exclusively from materials known as Social Plastic®.

 

Sustainability and appositive environmental impact central to LifestyleGarden’s approach, from reducing waste and lowering consumption of resources and energy, to ensuring that employees are well-educated about environmental issues. As many retailers will know, LifestyleGarden shook up the outdoor furniture market with the introduction of its DuraOcean chair in 2019, repurposing plastic marine waste into stylish garden furniture. Since its launch, DuraOcean has helped to recycle more than 204,000kg (240 tonnes) of ocean plastic. The new collaboration with Plastic Bank and the use of Social Plastic gives consumers the chance to effect real change in the lives of people who are struggling, helping to help build a brighter future for people in poverty.

 

 

What is Social Plastic®?

Social Plastic is a game-changing initiative. It is ethically sourced recycled material that drives environmental, social and economic impact. Local collectors in vulnerable coastal communities exchange plastic waste for premiums to help them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance. Plastic Bank is virtually turning plastic waste into gold by creating ethical recycling centres in coastal communities across the globe, where the materials can then be reprocessed for reintroduction into the manufacturing supply chain.

 

In simple terms, local people join Plastic Bank as collectors, gathering plastic waste that has been dumped in coastal locations. The materials are sorted by colour and type, and are weighed. The value is then exchanged for premiums. Collected material, reborn as Social Plastic, can then be sold to manufacturers, creating a closed-loop supply chain.

 

Plastic Bank has targeted countries with extremely high rates of plastic pollution and poverty – currently Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt, and Haiti – where the lack of disposal infrastructure and greater dependency on single-use packaging results in a disproportionate amount of pollution. It refers to this global network of mini recycling markets as an ecosystem that empowers disadvantaged communities and helps them to transcend poverty by providing an opportunity to collect and trade plastic waste as a currency.

 

So, what’s the catch?

There isn’t one. Even though Social Plastic costs a little more than virgin plastic, it’s perceived as value for money because it provides a social benefit - a path out of poverty for its collectors. Lifestyle Garden believes that stockists demonstrating social responsibility in this way will reap the rewards of added consumer respect.

 

LifestyleGarden has now launched a range of Nassau Social Plastic furniture boasting all of the same benefits as the original Nassau collection – a stylish, vibrant set of outdoor and indoor furniture with extreme weather resistance and complete recyclability at end of life. Within this new collection, every Nassau chair will be made from the equivalent of 175 recycled plastic bottles, with each chair directly contributing to vulnerable communities supported by Plastic Bank. The company has set a target to recycle five million plastic bottles through this range in 2022.

 

Lifestyle Garden offers these tips about how businesses can make a difference

  • Educate yourself  As well as ‘No Poverty’ and ‘Zero Hunger’, one of the United Nation’s (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals is ‘Life below water’, a target to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular, from land-based activities. Consumer concern in the UK with the environment, pollution, climate change and social responsibility has been steadily rising over the past 30 years. According to the HTA, “this concern has not been hit by the pandemic and is as high as it has ever been!” Consumers will continue to expect more from the brands they buy and the retailers they buy from. Take time to find out more about some of these issues via organisations like Greenpeace and Plastic Bank, or join the UN this month with its virtual commemoration of The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
  • Reduce your own plastic usage According to a recent Greenpeace report, the UK is a major contributor to the world’s plastic crisis, generating more plastic waste per person than any other country, except the USA. Our recycling system is already overwhelmed with plastic waste and is now causing harm to citizens and the environment in other countries. As the volume of plastic waste generated each year vastly exceeds the UK’s capacity to recycle it, individuals and businesses need to actively reduce their usage now. Calculate your plastic footprint here and you may be in for a surprise.
  • Work with organisations that are making a difference. There are plenty of opportunities to partner with or support charities and enterprises that are effecting change in the world.  From small things like making regular donations or offsetting your plastic footprint, to something that will have an even bigger impact, like a business partnership.
  • Provide your customers with socially responsible ranges

Shape your offer so that you are giving your socially responsible and eco-savvy customers a choice of products that adhere to their values. And, be sure to shout about it! These consumers translate their concern for social and environmental problems into their purchasing decisions and consumption, so if you want them to spend money with you, show them that you are taking action and making responsible decisions about the brands and ranges you sell.

OASE wins two new product awards at AQUA 2021

Aquariums and fish keeping sundries supplier OASE picked up two new product awards at the recent AQUA 2021 exhibition...

 


Aquariums and fish keeping sundries supplier OASE picked up two new product awards at the recent AQUA 2021 exhibition.

 

The Freshwater Equipment & Aquaria category award went to OASE’s CrystalSkim Aquarium Skimmer range. Designed to provide a clear water surface for tanks from 350L to 600L, it utilises a floating ring to indicate when maintenance is required whilst the integrated basket or “baby saver” offers peace of mind that fish are protected from becoming trapped in the system.

 

Above: OASE National Sales Manager Andy Bond (left) receives one of two new product awards at Aqua.

 

The judges said: “It’s a well-built, solid piece of equipment with an acceptable price point. It feels new and innovative. An outstanding winner of this category.”

 

In the Reptile category, the winner was OASE’s biOrb EARTH vivarium. These fully automated vivariums are designed to take the hobby of vivarium-keeping to the next level, providing the kit required to match the habitat to the needs of the reptiles or amphibians. All biOrb EARTH units are controlled via a mobile phone app, where users can create a fully self-controlled atmosphere with minimum effort, adjusting the light spectrum, humidity, temperature and ‘rain’ needed to allow the habitat to thrive.

 

The judges said: “This is an outstanding vivarium with everything you could possibly need. Every aspect of this product’s environment – temperature, humidity and lighting – is controllable via an app.”

 

OASE’s national sales manager, Andy Bond, said: “It’s great to pick up new product awards at an exhibition like AQUA. When we’ve won accolades in the past, they have definitely helped to promote the new launches, so hopefully these awards will give the CrystalSkim Aquarium Skimmer and biOrb EARTH an additional boost in the marketplace. We had lots of positive feedback on the look and appearance of our stand and our wide range of products, including the 230 lines joining our product portfolio in 2022. It has been a very good and busy show for us.”

 

Information: 01256 896886 or email uksales@OASE.com.

Honeyfield's unveils 'industry first' bird food eco-packaging at PATS Telford

WHM Pet Group says its new eco-packaging design for the Honeyfield’s wild bird care range is an industry first...

 


WHM Pet Group says its new eco-packaging design for the Honeyfield’s wild bird care range is an industry first.

 

Unveiled at PATS Telford, where its stand had a ‘Peace, Love & Sustainability’ theme, the packaging uses what it describes as “the first truly biodegradable plastic technology”.

 

Dressed in 1970’s ‘flower power’ outfits, WHM Pet staff highlighted the company’s commitment to a greener future. The Honeyfield’s bird care bag is made from 100% post-industrial recycled material which is also 100% recyclable and is 100% biodegradable, naturally breaking down comletely within a year, leaving no micro-plastics behind.

 

Honeyfield’s becomes the first wild bird care brand in the UK to use biodegradable and fully recycled plastic in its packaging. The new biodegradable formula is the world’s first technology capable of delivering full decomposition on polyolefin packaging materials in the open environment. The strength and durability of the bag has been maintained and the materials tested to international standards as well as British standards in real-life open-air environments.

 

WHM Pet was able to demonstrate its investment in UK manufacturing and trade. Not only does the new packaging conform to British standards, but is also sourced and printed within 50 miles of the Honeyfield’s manufacturing site in Lincolnshire – a major benefit to the local economy, as well as significantly reducing WHM Pet’s carbon footprint.

 

The company says the new bags, displaying strong eco-branding, were a massive hit at PATS. The new design shows off Honeyfield’s Fair to Nature message, which has a strong resonance with consumers. Iconography on the reverse details the type of habitats created and the species helped by Fair to Nature farms.

 

In-store solutions on view included wooden display stands featuring wall, gondola and plinth options, all offering colourful PoS.

 

Information: sales-support@marriagesmillers.co.uk or call 01430 875853. Website: click here

Poinsettia growers predict best-ever Christmas sales

Poinsettia growers are gearing-up for what could be their busiest season ever. Soaring interest in indoor plants, driven by social media and the fashion for filling homes with greenery, is driving the market for more natural festive décor, according to Stars for Europe, which represents leading European poinsettia breeders and champions the poinsettia – an established festive favourite – across 22 European countries...

 

 

 

 


Poinsettia growers are gearing-up for what could be their busiest season ever. Soaring interest in indoor plants, driven by social media and the fashion for filling homes with greenery, is driving the market for more natural festive décor, according to Stars for Europe, which represents leading European poinsettia breeders and champions the poinsettia – an established festive favourite – across 22 European countries.

 

According to Data Bridge Market Research, the houseplant market worldwide is forecast to grow by 4.37% from 2021-2028. This rise in market value is attributed to a range of factors, including rising awareness about the benefits of indoor plants, such as their ability to increase humidity and oxygen levels, whilst keeping temperature down and cleansing the air of pollutants, plus rising disposable income and greater knowledge about plant care.

 

Whilst lockdowns over the past year had different impacts on different countries and their local economic sectors, depending on what restrictions were put in place, the overall trend for plant sales over the past few years indicates a huge market boom across Europe.

 

In what proved to be a very strong year for flowers and ornamental plants in Germany, the market sector grew by a volume of 5.2% in 2020 according to the Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI), accounting for a €9.4 billion increase at retail level. This followed on from strong growth of 3.1% in the previous year. Poinsettias are incredibly popular in Germany, where they tie for second-third place with roses (depending on the time of year) as the most popular houseplant after orchids.

 

Across the border in The Netherlands – one of the biggest markets for plants in Europe – there was a 1.7% increase in plant sales, despite an overall fall in market revenue of 2.9% due to lockdowns, according to Royal FloraHolland. The overall plant and flower sector in The Netherlands is worth some €4.7 billion in annual revenue.  

 

Over in Spain, where the pandemic and lockdowns both struck hard, sales across the plant and floral market increased by 115% in 2021 compared to the same period last year. Sales abroad of live plants and cut flowers in the first four months of 2021 amounted to €241.7 million, of which indoor plants amounted to 45.1 million euros (+ 46%).

 

In the UK, where consumer demand for houseplants has been steadily climbing for years and finally went through the roof during lockdown, 2019 was the year of the houseplant according to the GCA’s Barometer of Trade (BoT) report. The houseplant sector saw the biggest increase in sales at garden centres across the country with an increase of 17.6% compared to 2018.  It is estimated that the millennial generation is responsible for one third of all houseplant sales. Year-on-year sales increased by 48% in October alone.

 

There was a similar picture in Poland, where even during the weeks of forced isolation due to Covid-19 the garden centres were always open and made storming sales as summer progressed, to the point that some even ran out of supplies.

 

 

Plastic Free Christmas

Beautifully coloured poinsettias also tap into the growing trend for plastic-free Christmas decorations, proving that the season of excess doesn’t have to take its toll on the planet. Not so long ago, the aftermath of Christmas left landfill bins overflowing with non-recyclable waste; however, poinsettias will still be going strong long after the decorations have come down on 12th night – if treated with care. And if they don’t continue to thrive, you can rest easy knowing they will naturally biodegrade like any other plant.

 

The backlash against single-use plastics and wasteful packaging, combined with huge growth in craft projects during lockdowns, is seeing families embrace a plastic-free Christmas – from home-made Christmas cards to real Christmas trees and natural decorations made from holly, cones and twigs. Poinsettias, which can last until Easter and beyond, are ideally positioned for the eco-conscious shopper and make an ideal, natural, packaging-free gift for anyone who’s determined to stamp out waste this Christmas.

 

Kindness to the environment does not stop at biodegradability. Poinsettias are highly sensitive to cold temperatures and don’t travel well when fully grown, so the great majority of these seasonal favourites are grown locally for sale in their home markets. This enables consumers to support regional producers, giving a boost to their local economy without racking up thousands of transit miles.

 

Many greenhouse operators throughout Europe are highly dependent upon poinsettias, which not only sell in huge quantities but enable commercial growers to stay full operational all year long, as poinsettias start to grow when most other high cash crops and plants have stopped flourishing. Poinsettia breeders and growers around Europe have been working hard to achieve the best possible growing practises, which when it comes to the crucial sustainability agenda means lower emissions during production, economical use of water and the least possible amount of waste.

 

To find out more about Stars for Europe, and to access its library of advice, aspirational imagery and content please visit starsuniteeurope.eu/en/

New-look café bar and food hall for Squire’s Wokingham

Squire’s Garden Centre at Wokingham is to open a new look café bar and enhanced food hal, including a butcher and bakery, in November...

 

 

Above: : artist’s impression of the new café bar (left) and food hall (right) at Squire’s Wokingham


Squire’s Garden Centre at Wokingham is to open a new look café bar and enhanced food hal, including a butcher and bakery, in November.

 

The café bar will have a brand new kitchen allowing a wider range of dishes to be prepared, plus a pizza oven. The seating will have a stylish new look and offer a choice of air-conditioned areas inside, plus a new outside terrace.

 

The food hall will be extended and updated, offering a choice of everything from store cupboard essentials and fresh fruit and vegetables to cakes and biscuits, as well as local beers, wines and spirits. The focus will still be very much on local produce, with many products sourced from suppliers across Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire.

 

In the food hall, JL Butchers is re-locating from its current shop in West Byfleet. Voted ‘Butchers shop of the year’ in the Surrey Life Food & Drink Awards 2019, it is known for its top-quality British meat and great customer service. Cavan Bakery will offer baked goods such as artisan breads, croissants, pastries, cakes, savoury pies and sausage rolls.

 

Sarah Squire, chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said: “Supporting local suppliers has been part of our philosophy for more than 85 years, so I am very pleased to welcome Cavan Bakery and award-winning JL Butchers to Squire’s. I also can’t wait for customers to come and enjoy our new café bar, which will be a great meeting place for the local community.”

Alan Roper wins Director of the Year Award

The Institute of Directors (IoD) in Guernsey has announced that Alan Roper, Managing Director at Blue Diamond Group is the winner of this year’s IoD Director of the Year Awards...


The Institute of Directors (IoD) in Guernsey has announced that Alan Roper, Managing Director at Blue Diamond Group is the winner of this year’s IoD Director of the Year Awards, sponsored by JT.  The winners were celebrated at this year’s IoD Guernsey Annual Convention.

 

Roy McGregor, the Director of the Year Award’s coordinator, said: "The calibre of the winners’ submissions was of a brilliant quality. I’m very pleased that the winner represents the best of Guernsey directors.

 

"Guernsey has some of the finest directors I know and it’s important they get recognition for their efforts.  I would like to thank everyone who supported and entered this year’s awards and the judges who gave up their time to help."

 

The IoD Director of the Year Awards were set up to recognise excellence in leadership, proven governance skills and the individual's positive impact on the culture and success of their organisation. 

 

Daragh McDermott, Managing Director at JT Channel Islands, the sponsors of the Director of the Year Awards, said: "The role of leaders is constantly changing and evolving - just like the world around us, which is why JT are pleased to support this important award.  Leadership brings many challenges, and success is built around a leader’s ability to adapt, enable and empower their team to achieve collective and individual goals. The winners of this award demonstrate those skills which clearly have been central to their success, alongside a level of confidence, commitment and ambition which then followed through in their business strategy and values."

 

The large business award was presented to Alan Roper, as it was evident that he directly contributed to an increase in turnover and profitability across the Blue Diamond Group. He also utilised his deep industry knowledge and leadership skills to inspire and retain their local, loyal workforce.

 

The Director of the Year Award’s judges consisted of Stuart Falla MBE, Carol Goodwin, Roy McGregor, Gordon Wilson and Charlotte Denton. All have extensive experience across a variety of sectors.   

Tickets selling fast for Cherry Lane’s festive events 

Value garden centre chain Cherry Lane says its schedule of festive events is already booking up fast...

 


Value garden centre chain Cherry Lane says its schedule of festive events is booking up fast.

 

Events include breakfast and tea with Santa, Santa’s Grotto, wreath making workshops and a Santa Paws event for dogs.

 

For the first time this year, Cherry Lane Podington is hosting a Sensory Santa event – a party specially designed for children who are sensitive to noise, crowds, and bright lighting.

 

The Barnett Hill garden centre is hosting Cherry Lane’s first New Year’s Eve party, which will include an afternoon meal with games and a disco before ‘ringing in the new year together’ with the bells for 2022 chiming at 5pm.

 

Santa’s arrival at Cherry Lane in November will mark the start of the garden centre’s winter events season. The company is encouraging customers to book in advance online.

 

Laura Chapman, the events manager, said the response from customers had already been “fantastic”. “After COVID-19 put a dampener on so many Christmas plans last year, we’re looking forward to bringing a bit of extra festive cheer. People seem keen to get in the spirit early again this year and are already making plans to join us.”

 

Cherry Lane is offering its largest ever range of recyclable gift wrap, bags, gift tags and sticky tape this year, while each store will be stocking real potted Christmas trees, energy efficient LED lights and artificial trees made from 100% recycled plastic (see picture, right).

 

Cherry Lane is part of the family-owned QD Group, whose 47 outlets include 27 QD stores, 14 garden centres, plus Lathams of Potter Heigham, five Thing-Me-Bobs branches and three online stores.

 

Information: click here

Time to get potting says elho

With the autumn potting season under way, sustainable plant pot manufacturer elho has a variety of pots made from recycled materials, for indoors and outdoors...

 


With the autumn potting season under way, sustainable plant pot manufacturer elho has a variety of pots made from recycled materials, for indoors and outdoors.

 

The green basics range offers a variety of shapes, sizes and colours of pots and bowls, all at reasonable prices. The green basics bowl (27cm) and is lightweight bowl offers great drainage, and comes in traditional terra, as well as a stylish black and leaf green.

 

The pots and bowls in the vibia campana range are must-haves for the urban gardener, in a selection of shapes, sizes and colours, suiting gardens, balconies and outside nooks, whether contemporary or classic. These pots are also frost-resistant.

 

elho’s vibes fold roundis elegant yet natural, with ribbed detailing emulating shapes and textures found in nature. This pot comes in a variety of sizes, including 35cm, with practical wheels for transporting larger houseplants for easy watering, repotting and light-positioning. Two other sizes – 14cm and a mini 9cm – are also available.

 

elho’s b. for original range has a finger on the pulse of interior trends. The contemporary pots balance matte and gloss textures to offer a truly ornamental effect for the home. The classic b.for original is available in on-trend colours such as leaf green, warm grey and ochre, to suit the style-savvy plant owner.

 

Information :click here

Keter expands popular shed range to offer more selling options to retailers

 

 

 

One of Keter’s best-selling shed ranges is being expanded to give more buying options for consumers wanting durable and hassle-free storage in the garden...


One of Keter’s best-selling shed ranges is being expanded to give more buying options for consumers wanting durable and hassle-free storage in the garden.

 

The 6x4 ft Darwin shed, which launched in 2020, has been one of the brand’s most popular sheds, is now joionmed by an 8x6 ft version.

 

Made with the same durable evotech™ composite material as the smaller version, the 8x6 ft Darwin shed has the traditional look and feel of ‘panelled wood’ but does not rot or fade. In a flat-pack that will fit in most large UK cars, it can be fully functional in under two hours using basic tools.

 

Darwin has double wall panels for greater strength and rigidity and features a window and ventilation ducts. It’s lockable and a heavy-duty floor panel is included as standard.

 

Kerry Murfin, European marketing director at Keter says the success of the first Darwin model has driven the development of more options for retailers to be able to provide outdoor solutions for homeowners. “The Darwin takes the traditional garden shed to the next level, it keeps the panelled look that everyone associates with a shed, is weather resistant and doesn’t come with the hassle of yearly maintenance,” she said,.

 

The Darwin carries a 15-year warranty, reflecting its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions.

British Garden Centres to sponsor Illumination Street for second year

British Garden Centres group has taken exclusive sponsorship of the national Christmas campaign Illumination Street for a second year...

 

 


British Garden Centres group has taken exclusive sponsorship of the national Christmas campaign Illumination Street for a second year.

 

The campaign motivates people to brighten up their front gardens with the spirit of Christmas usinglights, plants and community spirit and co-incides with National Illumination Street Week from from 6-12t December.

 

 

Launched by Broadcaster David Domoney and backed by the Daily Express, Illumination Street enjoys hundreds of entries from all over the nation, in all shapes and sizes, some for fun and others for charity. Illumination Street entrants have raised more than £200,000 for various charities – and the prize money assisted them in reaching their targets.

 

Illumination Street will be launched from 1 Novem ber, when the public will be able to start entering their displays. Camopaign publicity has included TV, national newspaper coverage, TV news, online blogs, advice, and a full package of social media platforms to encourage the nation outdoors and to engage with their communities.

 

David Domoney, the campaign’s founder, said: “Illumination Street is a campaign that encourages, recognises and rewards the incredible efforts that homeowners and communities go to lighting up their homes and streets for Christmas. The Illumination Street national campaign, now in its third year, gives free advice and support to the nation to brighten up their front gardens, streets, and homes to spread the festive cheer that is much needed after the tough year we have all had. So many of the Christmas displays aim to raise money for charities that are close to their communities’ hearts, which adds even more magic to this time of the year, and we want to help promote and support their masterpieces by showing the nation their hard work. This is why there is also an Illumination Street Competition – to find the best of the best. A good way to get started is to go on a trip to your local garden centre, which are the best ports of call for advice when creating a spectacular Christmas display in your home and garden, they will give you good free advice on many aspects of outdoor illumination.”

 

 

Boyd Douglas-Davies, director of the British Garden Centre Group, said “We are incredibly excited to support Illumination Street for the second year running. The campaign brings so much joy to our streets, with support from all over the country for creative displays that inject that festive feeling. The transformations are heart-warming and continue to lift our spirits after a tumultuous couple of years. Many raise money for good causes and I am really looking forward to seeing this year’s displays.”

 

 

Prizes totalling £5,000 in British Garden Centre vouchers will be split across the following categories:

  • Best Front Garden Large Outdoor Display
  • Best Front Garden Small Outdoor Display
  • Best Community Display
  • Best Children’s Display
  • Best Front Door Wreath Display:
  • Online Best Front Door Display:

 

Information: click here

Glee-full time at the NEC - GTN October 2021 Issue available on-line

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.

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

 

 

A once in a career opportunity has arisen to join our flagship garden centre at Twickenham.  You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department. This is an outstanding department which has won GCA Ruxley Rose competition on several occasions and has a reputation for excellent plant quality and the highest standards of plant care and advice. you will line manage two assistant plant department heads and a number of full time and part time colleagues who make up a motivated, responsible and committed team.

 

If you are energetic, highly motivated, have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate a passion for plants, are commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays this could be just the opportunity for you. 

 

If you have garden centre retail experience and, ideally, horticultural qualifications, the ability to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets, the ability to inspire your team to offer the highest standards of plant quality and customer service we look forward to hearing from you.

 

Hours: Full Time, including alternate weekends.

Rewards & Benefits

  • Employee Discount – 50% in Restaurants and10% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 20% after 3 months service, 25% after 2 years’ service and 30% after 5 years’ service.
  • Holiday (including bank holidays) – 5.6 weeks on joining increasing to 6.2 week after 2 years’ service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years’ service.
  • Bonus – We reward our employees with a non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year.  (first year is dependent on start date)
  • Pension – We are all aware of how important it is to save for our retirement. We offer a Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees. If you pay into the plan and meet the government criteria, the company will too, and these contributions will be invested.
  • Attendance – Our employees with 100% attendance in a financial year, are rewarded with Squire’s gift vouchers.
  • Made A Difference Scheme (M.A.D) – a reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through; outstanding customer service, over and above normal duties or initiatives that have grown / inspired the business. There is a monthly winner and a ‘team member of the year’. All winners select a gift to receive.
  • Learning & Development -You can look forward to a wealth of learning opportunities with us that will enhance and develop you with the skills and confidence you need.
  • Free parking – available to all employees in the designated parking areas on our sites.

Interested in this role? Call 01252 356860 or email hrtraining@squiresgardencentres.co.uk

 

About us

Squire’s is a family-owned group of 16 garden centres 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. Our company is over 85 years old, and Twickenham was the first garden centre we opened way back in 1964. It was one of the first garden centres in the country and holds a very special place in the hearts of the family and at the heart of our business. Plants and core gardening remain central to our business.

 
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Our Gardening Club is a big hit says T&M

Thompson & Morgan says its Gardening Club, launched earlier this year, has proved a huge success with new and existing customers...


Thompson & Morgan says its Gardening Club, launched earlier this year, has proved a huge success with new and existing customers.

 

For an annual membership fee of £10, members get access a number of benefits and offers, including a 10% discount on T&M own-brand purchases, free vouchers, plus gardening tips and exclusive deals.

 

The discount is automatically applied when ordering online. Members also receive four £5 vouchers to use against online purchases over £20.

 

Other benefits include seasonal emailed gardening tips and priority new variety previews.

 
Julia joins Wyevale Nurseries trainee management scheme

Julia Giermaniuk has joined Wyevale Nurseries as a management trainee...


Julia Giermaniuk has joined Wyevale Nurseries as a management trainee.

 

The 24-year-old has started a two-year programme working across all departments of the family-run business, including supply chain, container production, transplants and its head offices.

 

Julia said: “I was fortunate to join Wyevale Nurseries earlier this year in the spring, when I gained experience in growing, potting and propagation, so it’s wonderful now to be progressing in this way.

 

“It will be great to continue expanding on my horticultural knowledge with such expertise around me and seeing how the other departments are run across the business. My first year will mostly be in Hereford and I will be working with the container production and supply chain teams.”

 

For her second year, Julia will transition to the transplants and trees divisions.

 

The Aberystwyth University graduate, who is originally from Augustów in Poland, holds an undergraduate degree in plant biology and a master’s degree in biotechnology.

 

Prior to joining Wyevale Nurseries, she worked in the hospitality sector in the county at Café Bodega, Mowchak and Yates.

 

In her spare time, Julia enjoys walking her dogs, Iva, a one-year-old German Shepherd, and Ash, a nine-year-old Labrador and tending her indoor and outdoor plants.

 

Carol Dickinson, head of business support, said: “Julia is a very welcome addition to our team here at Wyevale Nurseries. We’re delighted that she’s part of our management trainee scheme. She already has great experience and has fitted in seamlessly since she joined us earlier this year.”

 
The best of last week's

If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...


 
Former LOFA secretary Phil Gibbs receives prison sentence for fraud

On the 14 October 2021 – Phil Gibbs, former LOFA Secretary was given a 27-month custodial sentence for Fraud by abuse of position – fraud act 2006 between 01/08/2013 and 31/12/2018...


On the 14 October 2021 – Phil Gibbs, former LOFA Secretary was given a 27-month custodial sentence for Fraud by abuse of position – fraud act 2006 between 01/08/2013 and 31/12/2018.

 

Read the full story in The News: https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/crime/royal-navy-veteran-jailed-for-siphoning-charity-cash-in-ps117000-waterlooville-business-fraud-3423028 

 

A LOFA statement issued today reads:

 

He had been made redundant in October 2018 as LOFA needed a greater marketing input, and there were some serious concerns and disciplinary actions relating to his poor financial reporting as requested by the previous Chairman Mark Osborne and Pravin Patel.

 

A former Secretary seconded in an interim term discovered suspicious paperwork which then prompted the launch of a full investigation. The board appointed an accountant to conduct a full forensic investigation going back several years and once the Fraud squad were involved there was an enormous amount of work carried out over many months to retrieve the facts and allow the Fraud Squad at Portsmouth to build a solid case. Phil Gibbs was calculating and conniving and had duped a professional company of auditors for over 6 years, there are suspicions his devious activity started even earlier than has been proved.

 

Phil Gibbs mis-appropriated a substantial amount of money from LOFA /SOLEX and even stole money allocated by the Board at LOFA to be donated to various charities, he was arrested in 2019 but still continued to evade the legal system until the overwhelming strength of the case was relayed to him by his council and finally led to him pleading guilty. The sentencing too was delayed by his actions before justice was finally served.

 

Pravin Patel (current Chairman) commented: "We are saddened and appalled that someone in such a position of trust could abuse the people and the organisation that had looked after him so well. We at LOFA have already ensured that the charities who were deprived of vital donations have been sent the funds allocated to them, the long fight to retrieve some of the money stolen from LOFA and SOLEX now begins."

 
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week

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


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

 

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.