In This Issue
HTA Chairman calls on industry to celebrate efforts of 2020 and look toward 2021 from a position of preparedness
GCA Chairman's New Year message: "I am looking at 2021 with optimism"
New Year predictions from the "Bunker Booth"
HTA President says we must make sure we understand the modern gardeners needs
The GTN Xtra Top 100 Most Read Stories of 2020
No 1 Most Read Story 2020 - Garden Centres close their doors "We want to be part of stopping the spread of Coronavirus"
No 2 Most Read Story 2020 - Trading update from this weekend - UPDATED
No 3 Most Read Story 2020 - Garden centres in England and Scotland can stay open - now is the time to review Covid-19 safety
No 4 Most Read Story 2020 - Exeter garden centre stays open but cannot sell plants - Cherry Lane close all centres
No 5 Most Read Story 2020 - Dobbies remain open and social media gets heated
No.6 to No.10 Most Read Stories in 2020
Who will be the winners in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards? There's still time to enter before the New Years Eve closing date
GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer reviews 2020 with Peter Seabrook
The New Environmentalist - Nature will become ‘second nature’ to future generations
Over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Stax emerges strong from a trying year
Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA launch new initiative following Brexit trade deal
The best of last week's
Decision to close Scottish garden centres ‘disappointing’
Local community saves Thetford Garden Centre from flooding
Record entries to popular Illumination Street contest
Christmas decorations made from natural materials
Get set for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021!
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
British Garden Centres open their 58th centre at Thatcham
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
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Stax emerges strong from a trying year

Stax Trade Centres’ dedication to helping keep the supply chain open in 2020 has paid dividends, as the company’s annual financial reports revealed a strong and profitable performance despite the year’s challenges. Stax is a leading supplier to the UK gardening and hardware sector.

 

The report shows that in the year ending 29th August 2020, turnover reached £135.4 million (up from £116.0 million the previous year) whilst an operating profit of £4.6 million (up from £0.2 million the previous year) was achieved. The EBITDA also grew to £5.7 million (up from £1.2 million in 2019).

 

“We are delighted that the figures reflect the tremendous amount of work we have put in and the strong and stable position in which the business now finds itself,” comments Joint Managing Director David Hibbert, pictured above.

 

“Despite the difficult trading conditions that have prevailed for much of this year we have grown our overall sales, significantly enhanced our cash position and improved our working capital management performance. That has left us in a strong position to face future challenges, which is good news for us, and for the independent retailers and trade professionals across the UK who rely on us for wholesale support.”

 

When the UK was plunged into lockdown back in March, Stax focussed heavily on developing their website and even launched their annual Big Brands Trade Show, in an unprecedented online format, in response to pandemic restrictions.

 

Increased consumer spending across a series of key product categories reflected the full-year trading impact of various business developments such as the acquisition of ironmongery supplier MP Smith & Co, and a new Solus distribution agreement with gardening products supplier, SBM Life Science. They also confirm that Stax has overcome the effects of a cyber-attack which affected the company early in 2019.

 

“During the pandemic, many of the UK’s hardware stores were deemed as essential suppliers and allowed to remain open,” adds David. “We were, and still are, absolutely committed to keeping supply chains open so that our customers can continue trading, and we’ve been able to achieve that whilst following all the government guidelines to protect our staff and our customers.”

 

David’s also quick to point out that his team has one eye firmly on the future: “The situation regarding the UK’s departure from Europe is obviously still causing uncertainty, but we have been carefully evaluating the impact which this process might have on specific customer and supply chain issues. We feel that these will be manageable, and we have careful plans in place to mitigate any effects on ourselves and our customers.

 

“One thing we can rely on is that new challenges will continue to be thrown at us in the future. However, the figures clearly show that whatever we are faced with, the business is resilient, adaptable and able to come back fitter and stronger than before.”

 

 

Stax is the UK's largest non-food wholesaler and provides genuine trade-only wholesale support for a wide range of independent retailers and tradespeople across the country. It supplies many different market segments, including gardening, hardware, building, decorating, electrical, plumbing, homeware, bathrooms and kitchens.

 

For more information on Stax, visit www.staxtradecentres.co.uk

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