In This Issue
Investment company set to buy Kent garden centre
Hampshire garden centre sold for undisclosed sum
Half-term spending in garden centres hits a high
10 great ideas for Garden Re-Leaf Day fund-raising
Grange Fencing's new Harwich hub creates 30 local jobs
Hare Hatch Sheeplands finally loses battle with planners
Bord na Mona is Wyevale group's supplier of the year
Chance to attend PlantFest at Hereford nurseries
Doris doesn't mess with Europlants
Andy McIndoe receives top horticulture award
Gardman's daffodil bird feeder campaign aims to top £200k
Dobbies and Decco CEOs to speak at GIMA day conference
New Dubai garden company to meet suppliers
Cardwell GC offers free meeting place for local community
A new lease of life for Longburton Flower Show
The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk will be a doodle for this pair
Plant Assistant Manager
Plantaria Assistant – Lincoln
Garden Centre Manager
EPOS Manager (Staffordshire)
Garden Centre Manager (Kent)
Sales Support Advisor - Amenity (Hampshire)
Amenity Account Manager South (Home Counties)
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Plant feeds light up gardening sales
Death of former Country Gardens director David Good
Turtle Mat bought by Kleentex
SBM invests in marketing to drive growth
Young plants and herbs boost Veg-2-Gro sales
Manure sales up as gardeners get active
Primula lead the way as sales more than double
Thrive announce second charity ambassador
Scotts new charitable foundation will focus on environment and communities
BOPP achieves Resembling Status to GLOBALG.A.P.
New partnership with Thrive and Chiltern Seeds produces stunning Zinnia ‘Lilliput Purple’
Wilkinson Sword support charity attacked by arsonists
Pictures from the Greatest Christmas Gold-winning teams
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Special Afternoon Tea Party at Squire’s Hersham
Pugh's granted permission to build new farm shop
Four award winning products from Casual Dining Show
Situations Vacant
Plant Assistant Manager
Competitive salary
 
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Plantaria Assistant – Lincoln
Salary to be discussed at the interview
 
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Garden Centre Manager
A Competitive Salary
 
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EPOS Manager (Staffordshire)
Salary: £20,000 - £25,000
 
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Garden Centre Manager (Kent)
Salary: £30,000 - £32,000
 
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Sales Support Advisor - Amenity (Hampshire)
Salary: £18,000 - £22,000
 
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Amenity Account Manager South (Home Counties)
Salary: Excellent package
 
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Investment company set to buy Kent garden centre
Kent garden centre operator Bill Cox is in the process of selling Alkham Valley Garden Centre near Dover to an investment company...


Kent garden centre operator Bill Cox is in the process of selling Alkham Valley Garden Centre near Dover to an investment company.

Working with agents Alexander Mackie Associates, the business will change hands on 1 March, and the sale transaction is due to complete next Tuesday (February 28).

Mr Cox and his wife Caroline and their two young children are planning to move to the Westcountry, where they will start a new non-gardening venture.

It is understood the new owners will continue to operate the business as a garden centre and tea rooms.

The Coxes have run the business for 14 years.

“We have built up a loyal customer base over the years,” Mr Cox told GTN Xtra, “and fully anticipate that the new owners will build on this and continue to grow the business.

"The centre will benefit from the recent closure of Wyevale's Folkestone centre. The centre will be restocked over the coming weeks ready for the new season.”

Alkham Valley will be the fourth garden centre to be sold by Alexander Mackie Associates this year.

Hampshire garden centre sold for undisclosed sum


Alexander Mackie Associates have sold Maple Ridge Garden Centre & Country Store (formerly known as Aylings Garden Centre) in Hampshire on behalf of the administrators, Opus Restructuring LLP, to Club Green for an undisclosed sum.



Alexander Mackie Associates have sold Maple Ridge Garden Centre & Country Store (formerly known as Aylings Garden Centre) in Hampshire on behalf of the administrators, Opus Restructuring LLP, to Club Green for an undisclosed sum.

Alexander Mackie say the company are excited by their acquisition and intend to invest and develop the garden centre into a destination site.

Established in 1982, Club Green has grown to be one of the UK’s leading importers and distributor of Wedding Favours (Bomboniere), Craft and Celebration products.
Half-term spending in garden centres hits a high


One good week in February doesn’t make the Spring a foregone conclusion but the sales performances indicated by GTN Bestsellers for the first half-term week of the year certainly show that when the opportunity is there customers are happy to get back into garden centres and spend money on plants and gardening big time...



One good week in February doesn’t make the Spring a foregone conclusion but the sales performances indicated by GTN Bestsellers for the first half-term week of the year certainly show that when the opportunity is there customers are happy to get back into garden centres and spend money on plants and gardening big time.

All four charts show great growth with plants leading the way.

But the charts also indicate we might be missing out on some early season linked sales opportunities. Have you got all your hotspots stocked with the right products?  And are your teams briefed to ask that all important question “is there anything else you need today?”

Serving customers well, early in the season, should be a top priority to make sure they tell others about their experience.

Garden Re-Leaf Day on Friday 17th March is now the next great opportunity to drive footfall and local marketing. What do you have planned for the day?

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 7):

  • Garden Products – up 19%
  • Growing Media – up 30%
  • Veg 2 Gro Products – up 15%
  • All items index – up 7%
All Plants volume sale change week on week: up 132%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
10 great ideas for Garden Re-Leaf Day fund-raising
The sixth annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day take place nationally on the 17 March, with many events continuing throughout the weekend. The 24hr Plant-athon, which was a runaway success last year, is being rolled out to more garden centres, and the Garden Re-Leaf Walk boasts a huge uptake in registrations and aims to be both more inclusive and challenging. Here are the top 10 fundraising ideas...

The sixth annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day take place nationally on the 17 March, with many events continuing throughout the weekend. The 24hr Plant-athon, which was a runaway success last year, is being rolled out to more garden centres, and the Garden Re-Leaf Walk boasts a huge uptake in registrations and aims to be both more inclusive and challenging.

Top 10 fundraising ideas

Over the past six years, a host of garden centre fundraising ideas has been launched, tried and tested.  Here are the top 10, with tips on how to make them a success in your garden centre…

24 hr Plant-athon

Alton Garden Centre, Blue Diamond, Hillview, Klondyke, and Hillier have already committed to the event for a second year running.  Orchard Park in Dorset is the latest to sign up, with more expected to follow between now and the 17 March.  But time is running out! If your garden centre is looking to register for Garden Re-Leaf Day, contact Linda at Greenfingers as soon as possible, via linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or by calling the Greenfingers office on 01494 674749.

General Knowledge Quiz

Independent garden centres with a loyal local following, such as Perrywood in Essex, have turned this into an annual evening long event, providing food and allowing participants to bring a bottle. The questions don’t have to be about gardening, and as it’s St Patrick’s Day you might want to make that your theme!  Drinking responsibly of course…!

Raffle

It’s a popular choice for a reason and that is that it raises a great deal of money, and can be done in conjunction with suppliers.  Last year,Monkton Elm in Taunton (pictured, below) experienced an increase in footfall and sales as a direct result of their raffle.  Shoppers bought tickets, and the winners returned to collect their prizes – resulting in further money spent in the café, and on plants and other items on the way out.

Bake or book sale

If you’ve got a café and a farm shop this is ideal – but even without either you can still put on a bake sale.  Or a book sale.  Or a mixture of the two! The more creative the better. Fairweather’s in Hampshire are keeping it on-brand - selling special green Garden Re-Leaf cakes throughout the weekend.

Sponsored cycle

Whether your staff members are fitness freaks or salad dodgers – a sponsored cycle is the perfect excuse for exercise!  You can set yourselves a challenge that links in with a theme – for example, Coolings cycled 220 miles to Buckingham palace last year to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. A great way to entertain and engage with your customers, who can sponsor and donate as they shop.

Create a display from trade promotions

Suppliers such as Gardman sold a range of products last year, with a Greenfingers Charity Tree Mat and Cole & Bright Solar Hanging Jars raising 50p from each item sold, as well as 20p from each Hanging Basket Coco Liner. This year, Deco-Pak has pledged to donate 5p from each small bag of their new play sand on orders placed in March.

Open garden

Alan Down at Cleeve Nurseries is opening up his private Hellebore collection (click here) – why not organise something similar with a local garden writer or private landowner?

Wishing Tree

The premise is as simple as it is effective - place a potted tree within the main sales area, accessible enough so that children and adults can easily and safely add a note – or write a wish on the back of a star in the case of Whitehall’s in Bristol.  Customers will enjoy being able to express their wishes and will eagerly donate for the privilege.

Coffee mornings/afternoon tea

Cafés are usually busy whatever the weather, so holding a coffee morning can be a real winner, and works well in tandem with bake sales.   Last year Barton Grange in Preston sold afternoon cream teas, with £5 donated for each one sold.  This year Squire’s at Hensham are including an afternoon tea party as part of their weekend-long spring launch in aid of Greenfingers.

#Gluvies

More for awareness than fundraising – or can it be both?  Once you’ve taken a picture or a selfie of your team – or with your customers – you can post to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #gluvies and tagging @GardenReLeaf - or post galleries on Facebook tagging participants to spread the word.  But also the gloves themselves (Briers’ Greenfingers All Seasons Gardener gloves) can be sold in the same way as the famous red noses to raise funds; 35p from each (medium or large) pair is donated to the charity by Briers – who now also have a Greenfingers kids’ gardening kit to further raise funds. Last year the #gluvies hashtag reached 20,000 people on Twitter, but this year we’re aiming for twice that amount!

Last year, Greenfingers launched its ‘A Million Moments Appeal’, aiming to raise £1 million, over three years.  With the help of events such as Garden Re-Leaf Day, the charity is aiming to provide at least 5,000 children and their families that rely on hospices to enjoy spending precious time together outdoors.

Here's a link to the Garden Re-Leaf Day 2017 Countdown e-mail newsletter:  http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gardenreleafday2107/1qwi8xn073m

Grange Fencing's new Harwich hub creates 30 local jobs

Grange Fencing has established a brand new distribution site at Harwich, creating over 30 jobs for the local area...

 

Grange Fencing has established a brand new distribution site at Harwich, creating over 30 jobs for the local area.

The site at the Essex port comes as the result of a significant investment from Grange’s Polish parent company, Stelmet, with the location being favoured for its excellent supply links to Stelmet’s recently opened £30m manufacturing facility in Grudziadz, Poland.

Grange MD Neil Taylor said the site would enable them to improve distribution across the board, creating operational efficiencies across the company. “The fantastic positioning of the Harwich site in relation to the manufacturing base in Grudziadz will help to shorten lead times and will enable Grange to create a stronger distribution network, working in tandem with our Telford headquarters. This increase in our supply chain efficiency is central to the company’s ability to deliver growth across all aspects of the business, from product development to improved customer service.”

Covering nine acres, it is expected that over 2.5m Grange products will be distributed from the new base during its first year.

For more information, visit www.grangefen.co.uk
Hare Hatch Sheeplands finally loses battle with planners
Business as usual while owner considers options

Seven concession businesses at Hare Hatch Sheeplands garden centre in Berkshire have finally lost their battle to stay open...

 

Seven concession businesses at Hare Hatch Sheeplands garden centre in Berkshire have finally lost their battle to stay open.

They will have to leave the site by May following a High Court ruling that their presence was unlawful.

Enforcement action has been ongoing since 2012, when owner Rob Scott was accused by Wokingham Borough Council of breaching the green belt and extending a café and play area unlawfully.

The council said the business only had planning permission to operate as a plant nursery, café and farm shop, not a full garden centre. Mr Scott could not prove the unauthorised operations had been running for 10 years or more and thus came outside the rules.

The council said it had no choice but to take legal action after Mr Scott ignored an enforcement notice.

Mr Scott and the businesses appealed the notice and the case was heard at the High Court last month.

In a written judgement issued this week, judge Karen Walden-Smith granted an injunction against the garden centre, obliging it to comply with the enforcement notice and close any unlawful activities by 1 May.

She said Mr Scott had completely exhausted the planning process and rejected his argument that the notice was flawed.

Mr Scott was ordered him to pay the council’s costs, with an initial payment of £20,000 within 28 days.

Judge Walden-Smith said: “There is a clear need for the local planning authority to be able to enforce planning control in the green belt in the general interest of the public.

“Even if there is a general and widespread support for this business, as I am told there is, that support does not circumvent the need for planning control.”

She conceded that her ruling would adversely affect businesses on the site but said Mr Scott and other occupiers had shown “a clear and wilful intention to breach planning control” and that he had been warned about the council’s intentions over a considerable period of time.

 “It is clear from the evidence that this was an issue fraught with difficulties. Mr Scott has heavily invested in the site and I am told that the effective closure of the business would result in extreme personal hardship.

“The council was seeking to uphold its planning obligations, protecting the green belt and resisting creating a precedent. The local planning authority has an obligation to enforce planning control for the greater good, particularly where they are protecting the green belt from harm.”

Judge Walden-Smith asked the council to redraft the injunction notice so it would be “understandable” to the businesses.

After the ruling, Mr Scott said he had not given up hope.He said: “The next step is for my legal team to view the reworded document and advise me on what action we can now take. I will not know what that is until we have all had a chance to get together and discuss the options.” On the garden centre website, he reassures customers that it is business as usual in the meantime.

The centre had drawn support from hundreds of customers as well as several Wokingham borough councillors and even Prime Minister Theresa May who, at a public meeting in 2014 when she was Home Secretary said she shopped at the centre and offered to broker a deal between the business and the council.

Last year, more than 4,800 people signed a petition started by Mr Scott.

In September, a public inquiry refused a separate appeal by Mr Scott against the council’s refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use.

 

Bord na Mona is Wyevale group's supplier of the year


Bord na Móna UK was  nominated ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the recent Wyevale Garden Centres Spring Show...

Bord na Móna UK has been nominated ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the recent Wyevale Spring Show...

Bord na Móna UK has been supplying Wyevale Garden Centres with an own brand range of growing media since February 2016. With a total of 19 SKUs, the Wyevale own brand label covers a wide variety of peat-based and peat-free options, including specialist blends and multipurpose formulas.

Bord na Móna’s head of marketing, June Dowling said the accolalde was "testament to all our efforts over the past year. Bord na Móna has really hit the ground running in 2017 and we are keen to continue providing the very best in product quality and customer service."

This newest award follows the recent results of the annual Which? Compost Report in which two products under the Wyvale own brand label were cited as best buys by the consumer ratings magazine. June continued, "We are incredibly proud to have produced such award-winning formulas on behalf of our customers. Bord na Móna UK is all about providing market leading products and we are delighted that our aspirations have led to the recognition of the company as Supplier of the Year."

Bord na Móna UK is part of the Bord na Móna plc, which specialises in eco-fuels, growing media, recycling, resource recovery and renewable energy.

Chance to attend PlantFest at Hereford nurseries


Retailers are being invited to two nurseries in Hereford to attend their PlantFest. Wyevale Nurseries and Allensmore Nurseries will hold the joint open day on Wednesday, March 8 from 9.30am until 5pm...



Retailers are being invited to two nurseries in Hereford to attend their PlantFest. Wyevale Nurseries and Allensmore Nurseries will hold the joint open day on Wednesday, March 8 from 9.30am until 5pm.

Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We’re holding the open day event again in collaboration with our neighbours Allensmore Nurseries and customers are encouraged to come and visit both sites in one day.

“This year we have decided to make our open day more of a plant festival and will be loading our despatch glasshouse with stunning, eye catching displays of topical spring stock for immediate order. There will also be special discounts on the day.

“As product innovation is still a top priority for us Ben Gregory, our Product Development Coordinator, will be heading up our ‘Introducing Stage’ showcasing new and exciting product in the running for future introductions.”

The PlantFest will allow attendees the opportunity to see these lines first and cast their vote on how commercially viable they think they will be. One such line is a brand new Phormium, the name of which will be revealed at a later date.

Ben explained: “It is an exciting new Phormium, which breaks the mould and will make you rethink its sterotype.”

The event is aimed at any plant retailer, both existing customers and those who may not have been supplied by either nursery.

Mark Taylor, Managing Director at Allensmore Nurseries, said: “We are delighted to be part of this joint venture as it allows us to launch our innovative new marketing approach for specimen plants, bringing together strongly branded signage with eye catching and informative labelling.

“We believe this is our strongest promotional package to date and we are confident that it will give our customers a real advantage in this competitive marketplace.”

At Wyevale Nurseries there will also be an interactive survey on current market trends and what attendees think the future of plant retailing will hold.

 

Adam added: “During the day a hot lunch will be served and nursery tours will also be available. The general feel of the day will reflect the relaxed festival vibe and our sales team will be on hand to offer a warm welcome and a memorable day out for all attendees.”

 

The PlantFest at Wyevale Nurseries and Allensmore Nurseries will take place on Wednesday, March 8 from 9.30am until 5pm.

 

For more information or to book a space at the PlantFest, please contact the nurseries direct via adam@wyevale-nurseries.co.uk or jane@allensmore.co.uk or visit their websites www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk or www.allensmore.co.uk.
Doris doesn't mess with Europlants


Even storm Doris couldn't keep customers away from the Europlants Open Days last week...

See GTN Xtra's picture gallery


Over 500 industry buyers attended the 2017 EuroplantsUK Ltd Open Days that were held on Wednesday and Thursday last week. Even storm Doris couldn't keep customers away from this much loved, warm and sociable two-day industry event hosted by Renato Canale and his dedicated team. 



Customers were able to view the nursery bursting at the seams with stunning display, including Vanucci's new eye catching shaved Chamerops Excelsa plants, which along with other large specimens were being secured by garden centres to create great focal points in the planteria as well as potential high value sales.

On offer over the two days were the new "Jackpot" specimen plant offers as well as the Open Day trolley deals and other opportunites available during the event. 

Thanks to Europlant's customer generosity, the event, which was compared by ITV's Love Your Garden David Domoney, raised a whopping £2,800 for "Perennial", the horticultural benevolent society. 

Any customers who were unable to attend either of the open days are very welcome to visit, please call Freddie, Oscar or Gabby on 017076 49996 to arrange your visit.
Andy McIndoe receives top horticulture award


Garden writer, broadcaster, designer and former Hillier Director, Andy McIndoe, has been awarded the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal, one of the highest accolades in the world of horticulture....



Garden writer, broadcaster, designer and former Hillier Director, Andy McIndoe, has been awarded the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal, one of the highest accolades in the world of horticulture.

Sir Nicholas Bacon, President of the Royal Horticultural Society, presented Andy with the Veitch Memorial Medal at the prestigious RHS Awards ceremony in London in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the practice of horticulture.

“I am overwhelmed and delighted to be awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the RHS,” said Andy.

“During the past forty years, I have had so much pleasure sharing my love of plants and gardens with new and experienced gardeners alike.

"I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to help others on their career path in this wonderful industry and to encourage those that enjoy gardening as a pastime. The RHS is an amazing organisation which brings us all together, and I am honoured to be part of it.”

 Andy has had a lifelong fascination with plants. He studied horticulture at Bath University before joining the world-famous Hillier Nurseries & Garden Centres in 1978, working his way up from garden centre manager to be the first Managing Director from outside the Hillier family.

Andy designed a staggering 25 Gold medal-winning gardens for Hillier at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in as many years, and has lectured worldwide, written nine gardening books and contributed to countless gardening broadcasts and publications.

Since stepping down from Hillier in 2015, and now aged 60, life for Andy is busier than ever. He runs a thriving and varied business as a garden designer, book author, radio presenter, garden writer and horticultural consultant, and gives gardening courses, lectures and tours Europe-wide. Andy is a trustee of Greenfingers, the charity that creates gardens for children’s hospices.

In the summer months, Andy and his wife, Ros, also welcome groups to their stunning two-acre naturalistic garden at Sandhill Farm at Sherfield English in Hampshire.

 
Gardman's daffodil bird feeder campaign aims to top £200k

Following the huge success of Gardman’s poppy bird feeder campaign last year, which raised £218,359 for The Royal British Legion in just four months, Gardman is hoping to repeat the success in a new charity partnership with Marie Curie...

 

Following the huge success of Gardman’s poppy bird feeder campaign last year, which raised £218,359 for The Royal British Legion in just four months, Gardman is beginning a new charity partnership with Marie Curie, the UK’s leading charity for people living with a terminal illness and their families.

The money raised through the sale of the #GardmanDaffodil will allow Marie Curie to help more people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance. Last year, Marie Curie cared for and supported over 50,000 people affected by terminal illness across the UK.

The Cast Iron Daffodil Bird Feeder will retail at £6.99 and will be sold alongside Marie Curie branded premium Wild Bird Seed Blend, ideal for garden lovers and for those who love to feed birds. The feeder is suitable for all year round feeding with universal appeal to a variety of different birds. The Wild Bird Seed Blend retails at £4.99 (1.8kg pack) and £14.99 (12.55kg pack).

Gardman will donate 50p for every sale of its #GardmanDaffodil and 50p for each pack of 1.8kg bird feed and £1.50 per pack of its 12.55kg charity Wild Bird Seed Blend. The brand hopes to raise donations in excess of £200,000 for a second year.

Gavin White, marketing director at Gardman, said: “The striking design of the Gardman Daffodil Bird Feeder is inspired by Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, and we are proud to have launched such a beautiful and decorative product to not only brighten gardens across the country, but more importantly benefit thousands of families requiring end of life care.”

Nicky Read, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Marie Curie, said: ‘We’re delighted to be partnering with Gardman this year. We’re incredibly grateful to have their support and look forward to working with them.”

 
Dobbies and Decco CEOs to speak at GIMA day conference

John Cleland, CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres and Charlie Lacey, CEO Designate at Decco will both be speaking at the next GIMA day conference...

 

 

John Cleland, CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres and Charlie Lacey, CEO Designate at Decco will both be speaking at the next GIMA day conference.

The event is on Thursday 23 March at Horticulture House, in Oxfordshire

Following the sale of Dobbies to Midlothian Capital and Hattington Partners, John was appointed CEO in July 2016. Having now been in the role for 8 months, Cleland will set out his vision for Dobbies, one of the UK’s largest chains of garden centres in the UK.

Charlie Lacey takes over the reigns at Decco when John Findlay retires at the end of March.  Charlie will be providing delegates with an overview of the business and the value they can add for GIMA Members as a line of supply to the retail sector.

Joining the line up of speakers is Trevor Pfeiffer who will be sharing some award winning garden centre retailing trends from a year of GTN's Greatest Awards visits, plus Matthew Mein from Glee who will be updating delegates about the show and the recently announced Glee Spring Fair concession.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director, said ‘I’m delighted with the line up of speakers and we hope to announce more very soon.  We’ll also be providing delegates with an update on some of the exciting things we’ve got planned for GIMA and its membership’

The Day Conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend, with GIMA members benefiting from subsidised rates. The GIMA AGM will precede the Day Conference and is open to fully paid up GIMA members only.

To book your place, click this link, contact the GIMA office on 01959 564947 or e-mail here

 
New Dubai garden company to meet suppliers
Gardenex ‘Meet the International Buyers’ day scheduled for 15 March 2017
A recently launched online garden business in Dubai is the latest company to accept an invitation from the Gardenex export association to participate in its next popular ‘Meet the Buyers’ event...

A recently launched online garden business in Dubai is the latest company to accept an invitation from the Gardenex export association to participate in its next popular ‘Meet the Buyers’ event.

Other influential buyers taking part will be from Ireland, Norway and Sweden.  The event will be held at the association's head office in Brasted, Kent on 15th March 2017.

The event is the latest in a series of highly successful ‘Meet the Buyers’ initiatives that provide UK suppliers with the opportunity of meeting overseas buyers on a one-to-one basis.  The invited buyers have already expressed an interest in the product areas to be presented to them, and the format of the event has proved to be highly successful for both suppliers and buyers over a number of years.

The international garden product buyers travelling to the UK to meet with British suppliers are:

  • A Dubai online garden company and distributor that is a newly-launched sister company of a leading pet food and accessories distributor.  The latter already supplies customers throughout the Gulf region and sources from over 35 international suppliers, including from some members of Gardenex' sister association, PetQuip.  The new company’s key product categories comprise indoor and balcony, outdoor and gardening, and children’s gardening.  The main sub categories within these sectors include pots and planters, gardening tools, soils and fertilisers, watering systems, seeds, decorative items, chicken-keeping, footwear, clothing and wild bird products.  In addition to sales direct to consumers, the company provides a distribution service to other retailers, landscapers and interior designers.  The buyer will be looking for quality garden products suitable for the UAE market.
  • An Irish wholesaler supplying hardware stores, decorators' and builders’ merchants, garden centres and lifestyle stores across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The company’s garden range includes garden chemicals and organic solutions, insect repellents and pest control, watering/spraying equipment, tools, incinerators, planters and hanging-baskets, as well as outdoor grills and accessories.  The buyers are looking to expand their range.
  • A Norwegian online store selling quality products for garden and home.  The company’s product range includes greenhouses, sheds, garden storage, children’s outdoor play equipment, planters, furniture, outdoor lighting and cooking accessories.  The buyer is looking for all type of products for house and garden that activate grandparents, parents and children to take part in healthy activities.  The company is also seeking any products that will add attraction to the house and garden environment.
  • A Swedish online store selling direct to the general public, as well as acting as importer/distributor for several UK companies.  The product range includes all types of practical equipment and accessories from tools, pots and plant protection to hydroponics and irrigation; greenhouses and accessories; pond liners, pumps, lighting and fountains; garden decoration, gazebos and pergolas; and wild-bird items.   The buyer is looking for grow-your-own accessories and equipment, plant care and garden maintenance items, as well as landscaping and garden decoration.  The company is also seeking a new supplier of products for garden ponds/water in the garden.

To ensure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to apply for 25 minute one-to-one meetings with any of the buyers on 15 March, or to find out more about future ‘Meet the Buyers’ events for both the garden and pet sectors, contact theresa@gardenex.com as soon as possible.

Further Gardenex/PetQuip ‘Meet the Buyers’ events in 2017 are to be held on 7 June and 20 June. The meetings will be held in Brasted, Kent.  Two leading German mail order buyers are already confirmed for the 7 June meeting, and a Canadian mail order and retailer buyer will be attending the 20 June meeting.

Cardwell GC offers free meeting place for local community


Local community groups, clubs and societies are being offered a place to meet free of charge at Cardwell Garden Centre. A newly-launched Knit and Natter Group has already met in a specially sectioned-off area at the centre’s Patio Restaurant.



Local community groups, clubs and societies are being offered a place to meet free of charge at Cardwell Garden Centre.

A newly-launched Knit and Natter Group has already met in a specially sectioned-off area at the centre’s Patio Restaurant.

And now other organisations can take advantage of the offer from bosses at Cardwell, near Gourock to provide a place to meet up during weekdays.

The Knit and Natter Group meets every Thursday at 10.30am and one of the organisers, Pauline Locke said:

“It’s known that Einstein would knit to help him relax and clear his mind, but you don’t have to be a genius to know that this is a great place to have our weekly get-togethers.”

Paul Carmichael, Cardwell’s retail general manager said: “We’ve been part of the community for many years and we’re always looking for ways to help out local people.

“Our Patio Restaurant is an ideal place for people to get together during weekdays. We’ve plenty car parking spaces and a regular public bus service drops passengers off at Cardwell Garden Centre.

“We hope to welcome local clubs and groups to Cardwell where they can meet up in comfortable surroundings free of charge.”

Anyone interested should email info@cardwellgc.co.uk or call 01475 521536.

A new lease of life for Longburton Flower Show


After more than a decade, members of the Longburton Garden Club successfully revived their village Flower and Produce Show, thanks to the award-winning Flower Show Forum, an initiative launched by The Gardens Group in 2016 with the aim of helping the traditional flower show to survive and thrive...



After more than a decade, members of the Longburton Garden Club successfully revived their village Flower and Produce Show, thanks to the award-winning Flower Show Forum, an initiative launched by The Gardens Group in 2016 with the aim of helping the traditional flower show to survive and thrive.

Christine Squires, chairwoman of Longburton Garden Club, explains; “The Flower Show Forum at Castle Gardens gave us the tools we needed to run a successful show once again. What’s more, knowing that there is a community of knowledgeable individuals out there, including the Royal Horticultural Society’s Affiliated Societies, all willing to offer support and advice along the way, gave us real confidence when relaunching the show after 10 years. The day was a huge success and we are delighted to say that the show will be returning on Saturday 19 August 2017.”

Dennis Hewitson from the Dorset Judges Guild and National Vegetable Society, who was on the panel at the first Flower Show Forum, adds; “It gave me great pleasure to see Longburton Flower and Produce Show revived following the Flower Show Forum. I judged the exhibits and found that for a new show, with few or any of the exhibitors having any previous experience of showing, that it was a good attempt, and hopefully to be repeated.”

Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group and founder of the Flower Show Forum, says; “The whole idea of the Flower Show Forum is to identify ways to inspire more people to take an interest in gardening and keep the traditional flower show alive, so I was delighted to discover that the forum helped Longburton Garden Club get its show back on track. One of the key findings at the Flower Show Forum was the need to entice younger people and less experienced gardeners in with alternative categories, and this is exactly what Christine and her team did. By involving local art and craft groups, the organisers made the event inclusive and accessible for the whole community.”

The next Flower Show Forum will be held at Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset on Thursday 30 March from 6:30pm. This third forum, which is free to attend, will look to initiate a new relationship between schools and their local gardening clubs with the announcement of a new free pot scheme for local schools.
The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk will be a doodle for this pair


After helping with support duties last year, Trevor and Karen Pfeiffer vowed to do The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day walk in full in 2017, so Labradoodles Olly & Floyd thought they’d better join in...




After helping with support duties last year, Trevor and Karen Pfeiffer vowed to do The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day walk in full in 2017, so Labradoodles Olly & Floyd thought they’d better join in to pull them towards the finish as the miles clock up and their feet and legs are hurting.

Olly & Floyd are brother Labradoodles who love walking and getting dirty so they are really looking forward to the 20 mile walk from Scotsdales Garden Centre in Horningsea to Scotsdales Garden centre in Shelford Cambridge.

It’s a shame they won’t be able to walk through Jesus College garden or The Cambridge Botanic Gardens, but there is a special route around the outside of the gardens that Karen and Trevor can run around the to make sure we don’t lose any time.

We’re looking forward to meeting all the fellow walkers – both 2 legged and 4, and making lots of friends as we walk through Cambridge on March 17th.

Please sponsor us, or Trevor and Karen if you must, using our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/OllyandFloyd. 

We really do want to raise as much money as possible to help create another Greenfingers garden at a children’s hospice.  Then we can go and visit that too and meet some of the wonderful children, parents and carers who gain so much benefit from spending time outside in a Greenfingers garden, which has been magically designed and created to help them.

Woof woof.

Olly and Floyd

Here's a link to the Garden Re-Leaf Day 2017 Countdown e-mail newsletter:  http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gardenreleafday2107/1qwi8xn073m

 
Plant Assistant Manager
Competitive salary


An exciting opportunity exists for an enthusiastic team player to join Bristol's Largest Independent Garden Centre as our Plant Assistant Manager.

The Ideal Candidate will possess excellent people management skills, Great Communication Skills and be able to lead and organise your team whilst maintaining excellent customer service sales and service.

You will require an exceptional knowledge of plants and have a proven track record in the horticulture industry.

The role requires an outstanding merchandiser standards as well as being able to motivate teams to achieve exceptional achievements.

This is a full-time position and will require working weekends and bank holidays.

In return, we provide a competitive salary, a friendly working environment, staff discount scheme, subsidised social events and a benefits package commensurate with a progressive company.

To apply, please download (http://almondsbury.co.uk/careers-almondsbury) and submit the application form below to enquiries@almondsbury.co.uk..Please include your current CV and a covering letter explaining why you would be an excellent recruit for this role, including examples of how you could be an asset to our business.

For more information, please call Judy Holbrook on 01454 457300 or email enquiries@almondsbury.co.uk
 
Plantaria Assistant – Lincoln
Salary to be discussed at the interview


PLANTARIA ASSISTANT – LINCOLN

PERMANENT POSITION REQUIRED TO HELP IN OUR VERY BUSY GARDEN CENTRE WORKING MOSTLY IN THE OUTDOOR PLANT AREA

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD HAVE
  • EXCELLENT PLANT KNOWLEDGE AND GOOD GARDENING EXPERIENCE
  • GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS
  • BE HELPFUL, POLITE & COURTEOUS
 
HOURS OF WORK
  • MONDAY TO FRIDAY
  • 8.30AM – 5.30PM (EVERY WEDNESDAY OFF)
  • EVERY OTHER SATURDAY 8.30 – 5.30PM & SUNDAY 10.00 – 5.00PM
  • AVERAGE 39 HOURS PER WEEK

START DATE: IMMEDIATE

RATE TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE INTERVIEW

Applications should be made using the application form which can be downloaded here JOB APPLICATION FORM

Applications must be received by February 28th 2017 FAO Christine Burnell or via email to Christine@pennells.co.uk
 
Garden Centre Manager
A Competitive Salary


Pennells Garden Centre at Lincoln is looking for a Garden Centre Manager following retirement for its modern destination Garden Centre at Lincoln.
 
Pennells is one of the oldest garden companies in the country and is probably the oldest still in the same family ownership. The business was founded by a Richard Pennell in 1780. Today the company is run by the seventh and eighth generations Richard Pennell and his son William Pennell. In addition to the centre at Lincoln Garden Centre the business has a Garden Centre at Cleethorpes. The Lincoln centre has been extensively extended over the last few years and has an internal floor area in excess of 6000 sq meters, a Rovero canopy covering the 3300 sq m  outdoor plant area as well as a restaurant seating over 425 people.
 
Job Description
The manager will have day to day responsibility for the management of the retail (non restaurant) parts of the centre
  • •Lead and motivate the team to success
  • Control costs on a daily basis to ensure the profitability of the store
  • •Maintain the high standards expected of the centre
  • Be able to deal with staff issues efficiently and compassionately
  • • Increase profitability
 
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have:
  • Good plant and garden product knowledge
  • Be forward thinking and not scared to try new things
  • Be target driven
  • Have a good understanding of computers
  • An enthusiastic and positive attitude
  • Good customer service skills.
  • Less than 6 points on their driving license and own a car as they will be expected to travel to trade shows and other events.
  • Have worked in other garden retail environments and be able to bring new ideas to the business.
 
Benefits
  • Paid Monthly
  • A Competitive Salary
  • 32 days holidays
  • Staff discount
 
Applications should be made using the application form which can be downloaded from www.pennells.co.uk/jobs
 
Applications must be received by February 28th 2017 FAO Christine Burnell or via email to Christine@pennells.co.uk
 
EPOS Manager (Staffordshire)
Salary: £20,000 - £25,000


EPOS Manager (ref:DS9097)

Location: Staffordshire
Salary: £20,000 - £25,000
Date: 16 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a leading garden centre chain who are looking for an analytical minded candidate with excellent computer skills to join an established retail team. They have this vacancy in three of their garden centres in Staffordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

As Manager you will be charged with looking after the sites Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) system. Inputting data and ensuring that it syncs with available stock etc.

Candidate requirements:
  • Excellent skills with programs such as Excel and a head for numbers is a must.
  • Experience working with EPOS would be advantageous.
  • Retail knowledge is desirable.
  • Demonstrable management skills are also required as the successful candidate will be managing a small team.
To apply for this role click here
 
Garden Centre Manager (Kent)
Salary: £30,000 - £32,000


Garden Centre Manager | Kent (ref:DS9089)


Location: Kent
Salary: £30,000 - £32,000
Date: 15 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


This innovative and friendly family run garden centre are part of a small Kent based group who pride themselves in the great customer service that their loyal staff provide to their customers. They are now seeking a well organised leader with a can-do attitude to head up their garden centre team and inspire them to take the centre to the next level. A full job description is available but in a nutshell:

Job Purpose:
  • To manage the running of the centre enabling everyone to inspire, educate & equip customers.
  • Constantly find ways of improving the centre & motivating your staff to achieve agreed company targets & objectives.
  • To drive performance maximising commercial potential.
  • To promote staff ownership & accountability to create a positive & enjoyable working environment.
  • To ensure your centre runs within budget and achieves agreed targets.
  • To ensure that the centre operates within current Health & Safety legislation.
  • To contribute to the success of the Group as a whole.

They are seeking:
  • Ideally someone who has worked within the horticultural retail trade and understands the seasonal challenges that a business like this can face and can plan and organise staff and goods to respond to this.
  • Great communication skills, a motivating and inspiring leader who can instil confidence in staff and get them to perform at their best.
  • Someone who is a planner and can look ahead to insure that stock is available when needed, displays are always topical and can respond to the challenges of every season.
  • A superb people person who has a passion for Garden Centres.
In addition to salary the other benefits offered for the role are:
  • Enrolment into company pension scheme within 3 months, 5% employer & employee contributions.
  • Private Healthcare after 12 months premium paid by employer.
  • Non - contributory health scheme after 12 months to cover osteopathy, dental, optical, access to consultants, and many more. Premium paid by employer, invoice settled by employee and subsequently reclaimed from insurance.
  • 28 days holiday inclusive of 8 statutory days
  • Employee discount after six months (20% garden centre, 50% café)
  • Net profit bonus

To apply for this role click here

 
Sales Support Advisor - Amenity (Hampshire)
Salary: £18,000 - £22,000


Sales Support Advisor - Amenity (ref:DS9088)


Location: Hampshire
Salary: £18,000 - £22,000
Date: 14 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


This prestigious client is a leading UK horticultural nursery stock producer who is seeking a Sales Support Advisor to work within its busy Amenity Department based at its Hampshire Office.

Primary responsibilities will be to maximise sales opportunities and deliver high quality customer service through obtaining a clear understanding of defined market sectors and associated customer bases. Working closely with Account Managers and deputising for Account Managers when necessary you will provide sales support to deliver customer requirements providing all related administration.

Other duties include:
  • Ensuring quotes are issued within 24 hours of receipt of customer enquiry.
  • Converting quotes to orders.
  • Issuing pro-forma invoices for non-credit clients.
  • Liaising with customers to ensure delivery information is correct.
  • Managing the Order Book so that customer orders are delivered when requested.
  • Following up quotes and orders advising Account Managers of status and actions required.
  • Undertaking outbound marketing campaigns (telephone/email).
  • Raising and processing invoices.

The successful applicant will be a driven, outgoing and enthusiastic team player who has the ability to work on their own initiative with:
  • Experience of outbound sales in a fast-moving customer services environment.
  • A demonstrable achievement in improving customer service.
  • The ability to work to tight deadlines.
  • Excellent communication, negotiating, IT/computer and telephone skills.
  • Accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Excellent plant and horticultural knowledge.

The successful applicant can expect a salary of £18,000 - £22,000, pension after a qualifying period, training, free parking and staff discount. Working hours 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday 08.30 - 17.00

To apply for this role click here

 



Amenity Account Manager South | Home Counties (ref:DS9067)

Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: Excellent package
Date: 10 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


Our client is a leading UK horticultural nursery stock producer who are seeking a dynamic, driven Account Manager for its Amenity division to expand its customer base within the landscape contractor, local authority and landscape architect's sectors in the UK.

For this role you will have a minimum of 5 years' B2B field sales experience within horticulture with strong commercial skills as well as financial and business acumen.

You will also have experience of selling into landscape contractors, local authorities and landscape architects, a knowledge of trees, as well as proven experience in securing new customers.

Outstanding customer service is required as is the ability to create and develop customer relationships. Excellent communication, IT skills, attention to detail and the ability to work on your own initiative and manage your time effectively is essential.

You will be able to demonstrate achievement in meeting and exceeding challenging sales targets through completing quotes and tenders and negotiation to achieve the required level of profitability.

This position is home based and you will ideally live in the Beds, Bucks, Herts area with easy access to the M1 to ensure accessibility to the customer base.

Reporting to the Sales Director, you will be part of a professional and ambitious team and will be required to attend meetings at head office on a regular basis.

The successful applicant can expect a competitive package including company pension, private health insurance and company car.

To apply for this role click here

 
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with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox...



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

Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
 
Plant feeds light up gardening sales
Plant feeds from Vitax, Scotts Miracle-Gro and Westland saw big sales increases last week to match another week of increased garden lighting sales and result in a good week of growth for garden products...
Plant feeds from Vitax, Scotts Miracle-Gro and Westland saw big sales increases last week to match another week of increased garden lighting sales and result in a good week of growth for garden products.

Mind you the increase doesn’t get anywhere near the increase in plant sales so how will you make sure you are maximising on garden sundries?
  • Scotts Evergreen Complete 360 sq m + 10% Extra Free was the highest re-entry.
  • Gardman Solar Rockspot was the highest new entry.
  • Growth Technology Orchid Myst was the highest climber.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

 
Death of former Country Gardens director David Good
News has only just reached us of the death at the end of January of former Country Gardens garden centre group director David Good. He was 83...

News has only just reached us of the death at the end of January of former Country Gardens garden centre group director David Good. He was 83.

A familiar figure in garden centre retailing in the 1990s, he was a director of Country Gardens, later sold to Wyevale, between 1991 and 1999 and had previously worked with his brother Dudley at Beacon Garden Centres. Earlier he had worked for the family dairy firm.

He was also a shareholder at Country Homes and Gardens, also now part of Wyevale.

Country Gardens could be said to have pioneered concessions in garden centres. The group’s Brighton centre was one of the first to sign up Pets Corner in 1991.

Despite being born with only one forearm, David Good became a skilled and highly successful amateur motor racing driver and in 1961 won the British Hill Climb Championship. He was a keen tree climber and cricketer before discovering motorsport.

He died in hospital in Swindon, following treatment for cancer. A funeral service was held at St Michael’s Church in Bray, Berkshire.

Mr Good is survived by his wife Camilla, children Melissa, Jeremy and James, and three grandchildren.

Pictured: David Good, with son James, in his Championship-winning Cooper-JAP at the 60th Cooper Anniversary meeting at Prescott in 2006. [Picture courtesy of the Hillclimb and Sprint Association].
 
Turtle Mat bought by Kleentex

The Turtle Mat Company Ltd, popular suppliers of doormats to garden centres, has been acquired by Kleen-Tex Holdings (UK) Ltd...

 

The Turtle Mat Company Ltd, popular suppliers of doormats to garden centres, has been acquired by Kleen-Tex Holdings (UK) Ltd.

"With Turtle Mats, we are gaining a strong retail brand for our company portfolio, especially in the UK market," said Kleen-Tex Europa MD Jürgen Teubenbacher. "For both companies, there are very positive synergies - on sales, marketing, and distribution."

With a shared mission to provide tried, trusted and innovative products to their customers and with a focus on excellent customer service, Turtle Mat was an excellent choice to grow Kleen-Tex's position within the UK.

Turtle Mat has a thriving e-commerce and mail-order business, and more than 300 trade customers, including leading John Lewis, Lakeland and Countrywide, as well as masn y garden centres. The move offers opportunities for Kleen-Tex, a European and global manufacturer of high quality mats, to bring their extensive product offerings into these areas.

“We are very happy to join the Kleen-Tex organisation. Kleen-Tex has a wealth of product expertise and market knowledge, which puts us in a strong, competitive position.” said Susan Leaver, director and general manager of Turtle Mat.

 
SBM invests in marketing to drive growth
SBM Life Science Ltd has expanded its marketing team as part of its strategy for growth – Ioana Codreanu has joined as Assistant Brand Manager and Angharad James as Marketing Assistant...


SBM Life Science Ltd has expanded its marketing team as part of its strategy for growth – Ioana Codreanu has joined as Assistant Brand Manager and Angharad James as Marketing Assistant.  

Their appointment follows the recruitment of Andy Reffold in December as South East Territory Manager.  

Ioana joins the company with a track record of working across Europe for high profile brands including Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive and Mars.  Her focus is the development of the iconic Baby Bio®, Phostrogen® and Toprose brands, supporting product development and innovation.  

Angharad, who trained as an advertising and marketing specialist, is focusing on the chemical and synthetic categories, while also supporting SBM’s wider marketing activities including its social media campaigns and the GLEE trade show.  Her first project has been the development of a new, simple website – www.sbm-lifescience.co.uk - designed to give retailers an insight into SBM Life Science’s scale, know-how and ambitions.

SBM Life Science has stated its intention to become a worldwide leader for home and garden solutions, offering an innovative portfolio that will meet the evolving expectations of our customers. 

Christina Bouzala, Group Brand Manager of SBM Life Science explained: “Our plans are ambitious.  Ioana and Angharad are passionate marketers and they are keen to add value by bringing their new perspective to the gardening category.

"We’re delighted to welcome then into our team and look forward to expanding our offer to the UK market by introducing new products that will meet the needs of consumers and our customers.”
 
Young plants and herbs boost Veg-2-Gro sales
As new stocks of young Veg-2-Gro plants come into stock they are selling through and helping the week-on-week sales of the GTN Top 50 grow by over 60%...
As new stocks of young Veg-2-Gro plants come into stock they are selling through and helping the week-on-week sales of the GTN Top 50 grow by over 60%. As a result, week 7 this year is the best for the past five years.  

There’s still no sign of a massive rush to buy lettuce and other salad leave seeds – the highest placed pack would have been at No 85 if we had room to print a Top 100.

The main highlights this week were:
  • Kapiteyn Onion Sets Centurion was the highest new entry at No 34.
  • Farplants Strawberry Cambridge Favourite was the highest re-entry at No 7.
  • Thompson & Morgan Tomato Shirley F1  was the highest climber, jumping 33 places to No 13.
  • Taylors Onion Sets Stuttgarter moved up to the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
 
Manure sales up as gardeners get active
Manure sales lead the way as more gardeners get active with a 176% week-on-week sales increase. That’s a surefire indication that this could be a great year for growing...
Manure sales lead the way as more gardeners get active with a 176% week-on-week sales increase. That’s a surefire indication that this could be a great year for growing.  

But are you matching cat repellent sales with manure sales? We’re not seeing that yet in the GTN Bestsellers data but it was a clear linked sale in past years.

This week’s highlights were:
  • Westland John Innes Repotting No.2 (30 litres) was the highest climber, moving up 25 places to No 14.
  • Scotts Levington Multipurpose Compost with John Innes (55 litres) was the highest re-entry at No 17.
  • Another product returning to the Top 50 was Scotts Levington Ericaeous Compost (56 litres).
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
 
Primula lead the way as sales more than double
Plant sales really kicked into gear last week, more than doubling in volume to match mid-October levels...
Plant sales really kicked into gear last week, more than doubling in volume to match mid-October levels. All but Cyclamen in the GTN Top 50 increased their sales week on week with Primula dominating once again.

Primula sales grew by 130% to stay in the No 1 spot but their share of total plant sales dropped to 42% as many other genus came into stock and started selling through.
  • Pelargonium lead the way in plug plant sales re-entering the chart at No 9.
  • Tulip sales give them a leap up 20 places to No 8 as beds indicate a promise of early colour.
  • The popularity of Fuchsias to grow on at home means they re-enter at No 19.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
 
Thrive announce second charity ambassador
Garden designer Mark Lane has become an ambassador for the charity Thrive...
Garden designer Mark Lane has become an ambassador for the charity Thrive.

Kent-based Mark is the UK’s first recognised wheelchair-bound garden designer and the first BBC TV gardening presenter in a wheelchair.

Mark is passionate about good garden design that suits everyone and wants to show what disabled people are capable of. Like Thrive, he looks at the ‘ability’ in disability.

Mark said: “Garden and landscape designs should be inclusive by default, but it is rare. I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting Thrive’s Reading site this year, and it was so good seeing how productive the walled garden is, how social a space it is, but above all how horticulture and gardening are changing lives.”

Thrive CEO Kathryn Rossiter, said: “We are thrilled to have Mark Lane championing Thrive as he is such a passionate supporter and campaigner for good garden design for people with disabilities.

“At Thrive we know the people we help want the same choices, opportunities and outdoor experiences as everyone and our horticultural therapists work to enable this through gardening therapy.

“I am sure Mark will be fantastic at showing his support for us through the work that he does and will help us to further enhance our own practices at Thrive.

“Mark will be working with Thrive’s training team to further develop the course the charity offers to garden designers to take into account accessibility when designing a garden.”

Mark added: “Without gardening and garden design I would certainly be a different person today. I have bad days. Days when even getting out of bed is too difficult, or my pain is unbearable, but if possible my partner will help me to go outside and straight away I can feel the benefits of nature and being in the open air.

“I truly believe in what Thrive does and am looking forward to supporting them and championing their work wherever and whenever I can.”

Over the last year Mark says he has had more enquiries from hospitals, rehabilitation centres, hospices and charities with a dream to create an outdoor space that patients, relatives, friends and staff can enjoy.

Last year Mark was interviewed by Monty Don at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and presented segments from Hampton Court and BBC Gardeners’ World. He will continue his presenting work with BBC Gardeners’ World in 2017.

Celebrity Television Gardener and Chartered Horticulturalist David Domoney is Thrive’s first gardening ambassador. Gardening helps cultivate hope and wellbeing, and David is very proud to support the charity in a variety of ways.
Scotts new charitable foundation will focus on environment and communities
As it preparers to mark its 150th anniversary, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has announced the formation of a charitable foundation with a core focus on environmental issues, the creation of community gardens and greenspaces and the development of high-potential, under-served students through education...

As it preparers to mark its 150th anniversary, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has announced the formation of a charitable foundation with a core focus on environmental issues, the creation of community gardens and greenspaces and the development of high-potential, under-served students through education.

“This decision is a testament to our culture and our proud history of supporting the environment and the communities where we live and work,” said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and CEO. “As we prepare to celebrate our 150th anniversary, this is the right time to create a foundation. Such a milestone should do more than simply reflect on where we’ve been, it should focus on where we’re headed. The creation of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation marks a long-term commitment to a series of important causes we hold dear and that we trust the next generation of leaders and associates will proudly build upon.”

One of the first major programs to be supported by the Foundation will take place March 22, which is World Water Day. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and The Everglades Foundation will co-sponsor a national Impact and Innovation Water Summit, which will address concerns around the growing problem of water nutrient pollution, particularly from excess phosphorus in waterways. The event, which will be held in Florida where nutrient issues have become a significant concern, will mark a formal collaboration from both groups towards supporting bold and lasting designs for water protection.

Summit attendees will include representatives from the public and private sector, academic experts on water quality issues, as well as other water-related environmental organizations from across the U.S., including a dozen charitable organizations whose work The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will also fund.
 
BOPP achieves Resembling Status to GLOBALG.A.P.
The British Ornamental Plant Production (BOPP) Certification Scheme has recently once again been recognised as a Resembling Scheme to the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Standard...
The British Ornamental Plant Production (BOPP) Certification Scheme has recently once again been recognised as a Resembling Scheme to the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Standard.

This means that growers who gain certification to the BOPP Grower Standard in the UK conform to a large extent to the GLOBALG.A.P. requirements, and demonstrates that BOPP members are working to globally recognised standards of Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.). This is a four-year cycle of benchmarking when a new version of the IFA Standard is released, and BOPP now resembles Version 5.

BOPP Certification provides assurance to buyers in terms of quality management, safety, employment and environmental standards. The scheme chose to benchmark the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA Standard to provide additional recognition for the Grower Standard in terms of global crop safety and sustainability standards, and enable members to access the international market. This maintains one of the core objectives of BOPP to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach for certification and reduce audit fatigue for members.

Anna Cook is the BOPP Scheme Manager and she believes that the benchmarking process is important to ensure BOPP delivers its strategy to Raise Standards in Ornamental Horticulture in the UK. “The Scheme decided it was important to maintain its benchmarking status with GLOBALG.A.P. to provide assurance to UK customers that BOPP members are working to the highest standards of good agricultural practice. This sets BOPP level with other international assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor, MPS, KFC and Florverde. We hope this helps members to meet the requirements of their customers through one audit.”

Members will continue to be inspected by UKAS accredited certification body, NSF Certification, and members can chose to meet the additional requirements in the GLOBALG.A.P. supplement (BOPP Annex 2) to gain full equivalency and registration within the GLOBALG.A.P. Database. There will be a six-month transition period to allow members time to comply with the requirements of the new Grower Standard, and additional technical support will be provided by the Scheme via templates and guidance notes.

For further information contact Anna.Cook@hta.org.uk or visit www.hta.org.uk/bopp
 
New partnership with Thrive and Chiltern Seeds produces stunning Zinnia ‘Lilliput Purple’
Thrive is celebrating a new partnership with Chiltern Seeds which is selling a stunning new Zinnia ‘Lilliput Purple’ in aid of the charity, which uses gardening to help people with disabilities and ill health...
Thrive is celebrating a new partnership with Chiltern Seeds which is selling a stunning new Zinnia ‘Lilliput Purple’ in aid of the charity, which uses gardening to help people with disabilities and ill health.

With 2017 being named ‘Year of the Zinnia’ Chiltern Seeds was confident ‘Lilliput Purple’ would be a winner, and in just a few months it is already the seed company’s best-selling new item!

Zinnia 'Lilliput Purple' has abundant, small and perfectly formed pompom flowers on strong, medium height, perfect-for-cutting stems.

£1.50 from each packet sold is being donated to Thrive and the seeds are only available from the Chiltern Seeds website or via their catalogue.

Sally Redhead from Chiltern Seeds, said: "We became interested in the work that Thrive do after researching the link between mental health and the positive effects of gardening for one of our latest news articles for our website.

"We think the work they do is fantastic, bringing positive changes to people with disabilities and mental health problems through gardening.

"Last year we donated seeds for their veg box scheme that they ran in Birmingham and then donated the profits from our Christmas Cards.

"We thought a good way of raising money and awareness would be to sell a particular item in our catalogue.  We chose the Zinnia because they are generally popular plants and easy to grow, and purple is one of the charity’s colours so thought it would make a good choice.”

What's adding to their popularity at this time is that 2017 is the year of the Zinnia. Every year, Fleuroselect – the organisation which trials new seed varieties in European conditions – choose a flower of the year to focus their efforts on.

Zinnias are already much more popular now than they were 30 years ago and are widely grown in British gardens. Loved for being similar to, yet completely independent from, the dahlia and the daisy and their bright, vibrant colours, zinnias are set to come into their own in 2017.

Kathryn Rossiter, Thrive CEO, said: “We are so pleased with this new partnership with Chiltern Seeds and thrilled to hear that the Zinnia is already proving so popular.

“As the plants are easy to grow, long-living and produce such wonderful bright blooms we think they are a good choice for getting people interested in gardening and developing a lasting interest which can be a route to a more healthy lifestyle.”

So it's perfect timing to buy the delightful 'Lilliput Purple' and grow this long-lasting, colourful annual.

They need to be sown in the protection of a greenhouse or a propagator on a bright house windowsill in mid to late spring. When they’re large enough to handle, prick them out individually and grow on before transplanting outdoors when all risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, they can be sown direct once the frosts have passed.

Zinnias make brilliant cut flowers for vibrant bunches in the house. Cut the main flower stem out for an arrangement and more flowers are soon produced from side shoots further down; strip the bottom leaves off the stems before placing them in water.

For more information visit www.chilternseeds.co.uk
 
Wilkinson Sword support charity attacked by arsonists
When Wilkinson Sword were contacted by the Trafford Veterans Mess Charity advising that their portacabin had been attacked by arsonists, the garden tool company decided to see what they could do to help...



When Wilkinson Sword were contacted by the Trafford Veterans Mess Charity advising that their portacabin had been attacked by arsonists, the garden tool company decided to see what they could do to help.

The charity consists of a group of volunteers who have a connection with, or have served in, the Armed forces or Emergency Services. Through sharing their experiences they are able to help one another to settle back into civilian life, and recover from various mental health issues that sadly come with being a member of uniformed services.

They have found that their members find gardening very therapeutic, and are in the process of developing their facilities to further this offering. On the evening of August 24th, however, the portacabin was set alight, putting all of their hard work back, and leaving the members without this essential resource.

Wilkinson Sword wanted to do something to help them get back on their feet, and to help them to continue with growing their beneficial gardening resource, and sent them a selection of tools including two Carbon Steel Digging Spades, two Carbon Steel Digging Forks, a Felling Axe and a Grenade to help to split logs.

Nick Hills, Garden Division General Manager for Wilkinson Sword, commented: ‘We were shocked when we heard what had happened at the Trafford Veterans Mess Charity, and wanted to do something to help. We hope that the tools we have sent will enable the charity to continue with the important work that they do, and to go towards turning their orchard into the memorial garden that they have dreamt of’.

Further information about Wilkinson Sword’s range of garden tools can be found at www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk.

 
Pictures from the Greatest Christmas Gold-winning teams
Garden centre teams excelled with their Christmas displays and grottos in 2015. Below we reveal galleries from the gold-winning teams. Click on each garden centre to see their galleries...

Aylett Nurseries
Barton Grange
Bents Garden & Home
Brookside Kent
Castle Gardens
Chessington
Creative Gardens
Fryers (Blue Diamond)
Hayes Garden World
Mains of Drum
Pughs Radyr
Silverbirch
Walkers Nurseries

 
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 printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £195.00 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 Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro 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.

 
Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters delivered via the post for only £195.00.

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 £120m.

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.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.

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

All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering

Special Afternoon Tea Party at Squire’s Hersham


Squire’s Garden Centre in Hersham is having an official opening of their new look garden centre on Friday 17th March - which is 33 years to the day that it first opened in 1984...



Squire’s Garden Centre in Hersham is having an official opening of their new look garden centre on Friday 17th March - which is 33 years to the day that it first opened in 1984.

The Mayor of Elmbridge Councillor Tannia Shipley will open the newly extended garden centre at 3.30pm, then customers can come and celebrate with Squire’s by booking a special one-off “Gardener’s Delight” Afternoon Tea.

Hosted by Colin Squire, the delicious gardening themed menu includes a glass of Prosecco with Hibiscus, an allotment of petit fours, a selection of finger sandwiches (beetroot infused salmon & horseradish crème fraiche, plus free range egg & cucumber with light chive mayonnaise), lemon & basil scone with lemon curd and clotted cream, and a pot of loose-leaf tea.

Customers will be entertained during the afternoon with live music from guitarist John Canham in the Café Bar - which is now 20% bigger and has been completely refurbished with new furniture, kitchen, and a new decked verandah with views over the plant area.

Tickets cost £15 per person and include afternoon tea, a glass of Prosecco, and a gift. Squire’s will donate 10% of the price to the charity Greenfingers, who create magical gardens at children’s hospices.

It is also enjoy Squire’s first “Seasonal Planting Masterclass” on Friday 17th March at 10am & 2pm, where customers can create their very own “Herbal Bath”! A stylish zinc alloy bath trough can be filled with a wide selection of herbs, and for interest add some strawberry plants to create a beautiful cocktail of flavours.

The Herbal Bath Masterclass lasts about 45 minutes and costs just £20. This is fantastic value, as it includes tuition from Squire’s gardening experts, the container and compost, plants, tea or coffee and cake, plus 10% off all additional plants purchased on the day!

To book the Herbal Bath Masterclass or Gardeners Delight Afternoon Tea (or both!) call 01932 247579 or book in person at Squire’s on Burwood Road, Hersham, KT12 4AR. www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

 
Pugh's granted permission to build new farm shop
A new farm shop, complete with a coffee shop and deli at Pugh’s Garden Village has been given the go-ahead by local planners...

A new farm shop, complete with a coffee shop and deli at Pugh’s Garden Village has been given the go-ahead by local planners.

While planning permission was given for a new building at Morganstown, Cardiff, last year, there were issues with positioning of drainage pipes. New plans were created so that access to a manhole for those pipes can be maintained.

Four award winning products from Casual Dining Show
These could also be winners for garden centres too


Despite the ravages of storm Doris the GTN Food Xtra team managed to get to London on Thursday last week to check out the Casual Dining Show at the Islington Design Centre...

See 4 winning ideas from the show


Despite the ravages of storm Doris the GTN Food Xtra team managed to get to London on Thursday last week to check out the Casual Dining Show at the Islington Design Centre.

Whist the show is mainly taregtted at the pub and restaurant chain market, the clue in the name of Casual Dining means there was plenty of interest for garden centre folk looking for new ideas.  After all it is possible that garden centre's represent a bigger share of the "Casual Dining" market.  The show guide lists the Top 20 Casual Dining brands - Pizza Express at No 1 and Giraffe at No 2 - who have 3,033 outlets between them.  Assuming a universe of 1,500 garden centre restaurants puts us at the same size as 50% of the Top 20 Brands.  And if Wyevale Garden Centres were included as a Casual Dining Brand, they would be at No 7.

With so much to see we've focussed on 4 of the Innovation Award winners who were voted for by visitors on the first day and then had to pitch to a panel of judges on the Thursday.

Grab a Pizza the action - easliy...



Ascentia won a Gold Innovation Award for their F1 countertop "rapid cook" stone bake pizza oven.  With no extraction required and it doesn't use microwaves this could be the ideal way to add fresh pizza to your menu without having to build a full scale pizza oven.  The smaller version (see picture gallery below) can even be used using a normal 240V supply so that would be great for a "pop up" cafe out in the planteria this summer.  E-mail: neil.mantle@ascentia-fse.co.uk.  Website:  www.ascentia-fse.co.uk

Double Dutch - Refined, high quality soft drinks and mixers



If you're looking for a different range of mixers to sell alongside your wines, spirits in your food shop then the 100% natural, british made, range from Double Dutch could deliver with fruity and botanical links to boot.  Double Dutch Pomegranate + Basil makes a slightly sweet on the tongue drink comined with gin or vodka.  Cucumber + Watermelon is refreshing and soothes your gin or vodka.  Double Dutch Premium and Slimline Tonic Waters are made with the highest quality quinine and a subtle twist of botanical flavours.

E-mail: sales@doubledutchdrinks.com  Website: www.doubledutchdrinks.com

Fun pasta for "little customers"



With catering for young children becoming an even bigger opportunity on the back of soft play installations in garden centres the Amichetti with cheeses by Laboratorio Tortellini Kids could be a great way of keeping children and parents happy while eaing well and healthy.  All of the ingredients used to prepare the Amichetti are organic.  They are filled with cheese because "all kids love cheese" and the turtles, geckos, fish and ducks can be combined with almost any sauce to make meal time fun time.  We can see this on soft play cafe menus as well as special items for summer kids activity days.

E-mail: surgital@surgital.it  Website: www.surgital.it

Karma Cola is a Natural Winner



Karma Cola, Gingerella ginger ale and Lemony lemonade were Gold Award winners at the show and we reckon this range of 100% natural soft drinks can be a winner in any garden centre wanting to maximise on environmental, ethical, natural and wellness concepts.

The Karma Kola story began on a beach in New Zealand but since the cola nut comes from Africa a company was formed to find ingredients that were good for the land, good for the people who grow them and good for the people who drink and eat them. Karma Kola have built a bridge in the village where the project started in Africa and now provides funding to encourage other entreprenurial activities from the community that grow the ingredients.

Oh, they taste great too and boy were we happy to have some bottles with us to drink as we sat on a very slow train home.  As the Karma Cola story says "What goes around, comes around."

Email: sam@karmacola.co.uk  Website: www.karmacola.co.uk




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