In This Issue
September garden centre sales head for 20% up
Award-winning Zest 4 Leisure launch lifestyle product video support package
Woodlodge taps into trend for wildlife gardening with expansion of its Bee Kind range of containers
Santa’s Grotto at Hillmount opens for Pre-Booking
Autumn plant sales head back towards past glories
Tong appoints project manager for Food Hall makeover
Royal seal of approval for HTA #MillionPlantingMoments campaign
Turning stones into seeds at Squire’s
Hygeia’s Nature Safe range extended with introduction of new Probiotic
Dobbies takes part in Macmillan’s Coffee Morning
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Nicola Pugh joins the HTA Council
September garden products sales head for a new record
Know your onions
Growing media now less than 3% behind last year
Wild Bird Care dissapoints so far this Autumn
Prestigious prize helps Eden apprentice Patricie grow career in horticulture
Haddonstone clinch £40m Royal College of Music project
The best of last week's
Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Peacocks up for sale
Baytree celebrates 50 years
Woodlodge’s Root Indoor portfolio to grow for 2021 as consumers transform their homes into design-led sanctuaries
Hozelock’s Micro Reel gets a makeover
Grow your card sales the easy way ...
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
All the latest news from the world of pet products
Webinar Line-Up at Virtual Petindex announced
Pet wellness: why nature is the new way to nurture
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September garden centre sales head for 20% up
GTN Bestsellers weekly garden centre Epos data

Ahead of Christmas openings on a big scale, September garden centre sales are heading towards being over 20% up on last year...


 

Ahead of Christmas openings on a big scale, September garden centre sales are heading towards being over 20% up on last year. After the first three weeks of the month the GTN Bestsellers All Products volume sales index sits at just 1% below last year’s September total.

 

The big increases are for core gardening activity. Growing media continues to sell through at record levels. Garden products, especially lawn care, plant feeds, weedkillers, pest control, pots and pot feet, are all significantly up in volume sales. Autumn Veg-2-Gro lines are outselling previous years’ levels, all be it not quite at the same increases we saw during the summer. And plant sales are at staggeringly high levels for the month.

 

In the GTN Bestsellers weekly garden centre Epos data we can see that Christmas sales are running about one week ahead of last year, so it will be interesting to see if the colder weather forecast for this weekend, and wider Christmas openings, speeds up those sales too.

 

An average weekly year on year increase in sales volumes of 40% would get the GTN Bestsellers Sales index back to parity year on year, even after seven weeks of zero sales during the lockdown closure. After the sales we have seen since re-opening and the ‘we feel safer in garden centres’ goodwill there appears to be out there, who knows what could be possible?

 

Perhaps this weekend will be a good indicator after the announcement of tighter measures and the weather turning more autumnal. Watch this space for next week’s GTN Bestsellers analysis.

 

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the Glee Gathering and the Glee New Product Awards in Glee Daily News.  One thing it highlighted to us is the incredible value we all get from a live trade show event. Fingers crossed we’ll all be able to be back at the NEC next September. See you there!

 

 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 38

•           Garden Products Top 50 – up 27%

•           Growing Media Top 50 – up 44%

•           Wild Bird Care Top 50 – down 11%

•           Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 22%

 

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 38

•           All Plants with Barcode index – up 48%

•           All Items with Barcode index – up 28%

 

See the full GTN Bestsellers analysis and charts in the GTN Bestsellers printed newsletter each week.  To subscribe for only £145 a year use this link.

Award-winning Zest 4 Leisure launch lifestyle product video support package
GTN Xtra Promotion

Based on the success of virtual Glee, Zest 4 Leisure have produced a range of consumer-facing product videos that can be used by their customers to showcase their new and existing range of quality timber garden products in lifestyle settings...


 

Zest 4 Leisure is a British family-run company, which has been designing and manufacturing timber products from sustainably sourced timber for five generations.

 

Its award-winning FSC® certified garden furniture, decorative garden products, structures and fencing ranges are the result of innovative design, a true understanding of today’s customer needs and unrivalled expertise in designing and manufacturing garden products.  

 

Zest 4 Leisure sells to garden centres, major retailing groups, builder’s merchants and online retailers, and offers a complete home delivery service across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.  

 

Zest 4 Leisure launched a range of products at Glee Gathering and were delighted to win the award for the best overall new product as well as winning three best in category prizes for growing containers, landscaping and leisure and entertaining.  

 

Best New Product was the company’s Three Tier Stackable Raised Bed – also category winner in Garden Growing Containers.  Its easy build Burghley Arbour won in Garden Leisure & Entertaining category and Zest’s Cherry Blossom arch was a joint winner in the Garden Landscaping category.

 

  

 

There are over twenty new products for the 2021 season – spanning, grow your own, decorative structures and shelters, new fencing panel designs and outdoor seating and furniture, which includes the easy build Charlotte range and stylish Chepstow arbour. 

 

 

Simon Davidson, Head of Commercial Development at Zest 4 Leisure, commented: “Based on the success of virtual Glee, we have also produced a range of consumer facing product videos that can be used by our customers to showcase our new and existing range of quality timber garden products in lifestyle settings. Our national account managers are looking forward to showcasing these winning products to our customers in the next few weeks.”

 

For more information visit www.zest4leisure.co.uk

Woodlodge taps into trend for wildlife gardening with expansion of its Bee Kind range of containers
GTN Xtra Promotion

As public concern escalates over global pollinator decline and gardeners seek to transform their plots into wildlife-friendly havens, Woodlodge is extending its popular Bee Kind range of containers to draw attention to the plight of much-loved but endangered insects...


 

As public concern escalates over global pollinator decline and gardeners seek to transform their plots into wildlife-friendly havens, Woodlodge is extending its popular Bee Kind range of containers to draw attention to the plight of much-loved but endangered insects.

 

The Bee Kind range launched in 2019 amid growing concern over world-wide bumblebee decline, featuring cheerful images of bees and all designed to enhance sales of containers for attracting insects that play a critical role in pollinating flowers, fruit and vegetables. Woodlodge proudly supports Bumblebee Conservation, the charity with a mission to increase the number and distribution of bumblebees. Now, following the success of Bee Kind in its initial year, the line-up will broaden its scope for 2021 to feature eye-catching butterfly and ladybird designs, widening the brand’s appeal to consumers who are keen to garden in a manner that benefits a greater range of beneficial wildlife.

 

 

Bee Kind will continue with its mission to highlight concerns over bee decline in the new season with bold honeycomb designs added to the 2021 range. According to a BBC report, bees pollinate 70 of 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world, with honey bees alone being responsible for $30billion a year worth of crops.

 

Woodlodge’s Bee Kind range launched at a time when Friends of the Earth claimed that nearly one in 10 of Europe’s wild bee species are facing extinction while 13 species of bee have been lost since 1900 – with the conservation group warning that a world without bees would hit UK farmers with a bill of £1.8billion a year to pollinate crops, ramping up the cost of food.

 

Michael Wooldridge, Managing Director at Woodlodge, said: “Wildlife gardening was high on the consumer agenda long before Covid-19 but the pandemic and unprecedented environmental benefits brought by lockdowns across the globe has only served to heighten interest in protecting the environment and reversing the decline in pollinators that play a pivotal role in ecosystems. The expansion of Woodlodge’s Bee Kind range for 2021 will throw the spotlight on the plight of the UK’s much-loved beneficial insects which will not only help retailers to expand sales of pots and containers but, along with high impact point-of-sale materials, will champion pollinator-friendly planting, driving sales of plants that provide essential sources of nectar and pollen for insects by inspiring consumers to play their part in reversing pollinator decline by creating rich wildlife habitats in their gardens.”

 

Bee Kind – new butterfly designs for 2021

The new Butterfly Mix range of pots in Woodlodge’s Bee Kind range enhances the range’s sales appeal by throwing the spotlight onto one of the most cherished sights in UK gardens during the warmer months, featuring butterfly motifs in shades of pink, turquoise and yellow on premium quality containers. According to reports, populations of butterflies that do not fly far from their favourite habitats have plummeted by 77% since 1976, while species that are capable of travelling further afield and adapting to landscapes have still declined by 46% over the same period. 

 

With butterfly populations regarded as a barometer of the health of the environment, the charity Butterfly Conservation says that restoring butterfly populations in UK gardens and green spaces is likely to bring “substantial benefits” to innumerable other species and also to the health and wellbeing of the human population. Woodlodge’s Butterfly Mix pots, with the fluttering insects represented in green, grey and white designs, also hold high appeal for driving sales of plants that are proven to attract butterflies to gardens, such as lavender, majoram, verbena and compact varieties of buddleia.

 

Throwing a lifeline to ladybirds

The introduction of the Ladybird Mix of pots will widen the scope of Woodlodge’s Bee Kind portfolio, with orange, red and yellow ladybird characters raising the profile of one most beneficial pest-eating insects to visit UK gardens, while inspiring linked sales of ladybird-friendly flowers and herbs such as calendula, cosmos, marigolds, nasturtium, chives and parsley.

 

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, there are more than 40 species of ladybirds in the UK, known for their ferocious appetite for devouring common garden plant-wreckers such as aphids and scale insects. Attracting ladybirds is a high priority for the nation’s growing band of organic gardeners, who rely on the beetles to rid flowers, fruit and veg of pests – eliminating the need to resort to chemical insecticides. The cheery ladybird designs on Woodlodge’s Ladybird Mix of pots has been tailored to generate additional purchases of containers – even if consumers are unaware of the mission to help pollinators, the pots’ high visual appeal will still help stockists to expand category sales while supporting the work of conservation projects.

 

To find out more about Woodlodge’s expanded Bee Kind range for 2021, visit www.woodlodge.co.uk

Santa’s Grotto at Hillmount opens for Pre-Booking

With the countdown on and just three months until Christmas, the award winning Santa’s Grotto at Hillmount is now open for pre-booking online...


With the countdown on and just three months until Christmas, the award winning Santa’s Grotto at Hillmount is now open for pre-booking online.

 

A first for Hillmount, online booking will help ensure a safe visit for families to the magical grotto.

 

Renowned as one of Ireland’s largest garden centre grottos, visitors will be entertained by elves and Mrs Claus as they journey through the winter wonderland, collecting festive treats and taking part in a fun, brain-tickling quiz, before meeting Santa himself.

 

Robin Mercer, Managing Director, Hillmount, said: “We want to make our Santa’s Grotto as enjoyable and accessible as it has been for more than 20 years and that’s why we have opened online bookings for our grotto at Hillmount Belfast for the first time. We have given careful consideration to the need for keeping numbers in the grotto at any time to a minimum while maintaining social distancing and ensuring that safety is paramount for visiting families, some of whom have made visiting Hillmount Santa’s Grotto a yearly tradition.

 

“We appreciate that we are having to do things a little differently this year and we expect the slots to sell out so we would encourage people to book sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment as we adhere to restrictions around COVID-19.”

 

All children visiting Santa will receive a unique Hillmount keepsake gift and while families are welcome to take their own photos as mementos of their visit, a professional photographer will also be on hand to document the special occasion and pictures can be purchased on departure.

 

Santa’s Grotto will open at Hillmount on Friday 4 December and Santa will be in residence until Wednesday 23 December. Just before he jets off to the North Pole to collect gifts for his Christmas Eve deliveries to children across the globe he will host Santa Paws for pets on Thursday 24 December.

 

Online bookings are being made at: https://hillmount.co.uk/santas-grotto/

 

www.hillmount.co.ukwww.facebook.com/hillmountgardencentre

www.instagram.com/hillmountbelfastwww.twitter.com/hillmountgarden.

Autumn plant sales head back towards past glories
GTN Bestsellers analysis

For years, the industry has tried to get the Autumn planting season back to levels of past glories. Now, thanks to all the new gardeners and increased activity spurred on by lockdown, plant sales in the first three weeks of September 2020 have already exceeded sales for the whole month in any of the previous 4 years...


 

For years, the industry has tried to get the Autumn planting season back to levels of past glories. Now, thanks to all the new gardeners and increased activity spurred on by lockdown, plant sales in the first three weeks of September 2020 have already exceeded sales for the whole month in any of the previous 4 years.  

 

We could be looking at a 40% or even higher increase for the month when we report on the GTN Bestsellers Epos data next week.  Watch this space.

 

We do need to remember that the missed sales during seven weeks of lockdown have still impacted on year to date sales volumes, with the GTN year to date All Plant Sales Index sitting at 24% down year on year.  Plant sales values may not be down by that much, however, as more plants of a higher value have sold through this year, especially for planting in pots.

  • Cyclamen, Pansy, Viola, Calluna and Chrysanthemum are the Top 5 Bestselling plant lines for all three weeks of September so far.
  • Helleborus climbed 34 places to No 20 after doubling sales.
  • Pennisetum were the highest re-entry for last week, back in the GTN Bestsellers Plants chart at No 28.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Tong appoints project manager for Food Hall makeover

Former Nestlé senior commercial manager Sarah Dwyer will work with the team at Tong Garden Centre to deliver a new Food Hall experience at the Tong Lane site that will create at least 10 new jobs...


 

Former Nestlé senior commercial manager Sarah Dwyer will work with the team at Tong Garden Centre to deliver a new Food Hall experience at the Tong Lane site that will create at least 10 new jobs.

 

Sarah’s remit is to evaluate the current operation, identify the opportunities and to lead the delivery of the project plan that will increase the food hall area by 90%. 

 

During the course of the six-month project, she will be working on branding, sourcing (with particular emphasis on local suppliers) ranging and merchandising, along with logistics like shop fitting.

 

“I have a real love and passion for food, so I'm super excited to be working on this project. I'm most looking forward to working with the team to create a fantastic Food Hall experience here at Tong that will deliver the ambition and to seeing that vision come to life instore,” she said.

 

Tong Garden Centre's MD Mark Farnsworth is excited about the contribution that Sarah, a former colleague at Nestlé, will make to the new Food Hall experience: "One of the learnings from lockdown is that we can improve our food offering.  

 

“Sarah spent 20 years at Nestlé in a wide range of commercial roles, so we are very fortunate to have such a rounded commercial manager joining our team.

 

“This initial project is a great way for her to get involved in the business and she has all the skills to help us achieve our goals. We continue to work on other opportunities and we very much hope that we can offer Sarah an exciting career with us.”

 

When she’s not working, Sarah enjoys outdoor sports, gardening and cooking and baking for family and friends.

 

Here 20-year career at Nestlé spanned numerous commercial roles across sales, marketing, category management and latterly HR. She also worked as a Business Unit Head running the company’s gifting and seasonal confectionery business.

Royal seal of approval for HTA #MillionPlantingMoments campaign

Prince Charles planted a hydrangea in the grounds of his home at Birkhall on Royal Deeside to signal his support for the Million Planting Moments campaign...


Prince Charles planted a hydrangea in the grounds of his home at Birkhall on Royal Deeside to signal his support for the Million Planting Moments campaign.

 

The campaign, which finishes on Sunday, has been run by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and urges people to get out in the garden this autumn.

 

It promotes the physical and mental health benefits that gardening provides as well as the huge contribution it makes to our environment and communities.

 

The campaign also aims to educate budding gardeners, regardless of their gardening ability, about where their plants come from and the importance of plant health.

 

The #MillionPlantingMoments movement online is raising the awareness of the source of healthy plants, which is critical from a biosecurity perspective and because healthy plants will grow well and encourage more planting.

 

His Royal Highness is a long-time advocate of promoting plant health along with the benefits of plants on the environment.

 

The HTA hopes the scheme will also build on the army of new gardeners which emerged during lockdown with research carried out by the group finding 49% of the new generation of green-fingered fans being under the age of 45.

 

HTA president Boyd Douglas-Davies said they were happy that the campaign had the royal seal of approval. “We are very grateful for the support from The Duke of Rothesay at a time when the benefits of planting and gardening have never been more important both to our environment and climate change.

 

“Million Planting Moments aims to highlight the huge contribution that plants make to our environment. Anyone can take part, whether they have access to a community space, garden, patio or window box and they can plant anything from trees and shrubs to perennials and bedding.

 

“Gardening benefits mental health and wellbeing across all generations and this was particularly reinforced during lockdown. Our survey indicates that younger people are gardening more and we need to keep them engaged to have a positive impact on both our environment and on their health.

 

“We would encourage everyone to visit their local garden centre to find out the best plants for their space and share Million Planting Moments on social media.”

 
Turning stones into seeds at Squire’s

Children are being encouraged to turn stones into seeds this October and November at Squire’s Garden Centres!


 

Children can turn stones into seeds this October and November at Squire’s Garden Centres!

 

The garden centre is asking children under 16 to paint a pebble or stone to look like a vegetable. They can pick up a free pebble from Squire’s Information Desk, or use one of their own, then paint it at home to look like their favourite (or not so favourite!) vegetable. They could even bring it to life by adding a little face too! 

To ensure your pebble looks its best Squire’s suggest varnishing it, as the painted pebbles will be displayed outside.

 

Painted pebbles should be handed in at the Information Desk at Squire’s Garden Centres* between 1stOctober and 8th November, then children will be rewarded with a free pack of vegetable seeds! Soon your child could be growing tomatoes, courgettes, cabbages or even Brussels sprouts (seeds subject to availability). It’s a great introduction to vegetable gardening, and may even get some fussy eaters to eat their greens!

 

Sarah Squire, chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said: “This is a fun home craft and gardening activity that I think children will really enjoy, and it gives them a great introduction into the world of grow your own. Thank you to Mr. Fothergill’s and Thompson & Morgan for kindly donating the seed packs. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful creations that children make.”

 
Hygeia’s Nature Safe range extended with introduction of new Probiotic

Launched to the garden retail market in 2019, Hygeia’s Nature Safe range has proven popular thanks to its commitment to delivering products that provide eco and vegan-friendly, organic, and chemical-free solutions for common gardening jobs. Now, ahead of the 2021 gardening season, Hygeia has further expanded this benchmark setting range with the introduction of Nature Safe Probiotic...


Launched to the garden retail market in 2019, Hygeia’s Nature Safe range has proven popular thanks to its commitment to delivering products that provide eco and vegan-friendly, organic, and chemical-free solutions for common gardening jobs. Now, ahead of the 2021 gardening season, Hygeia has further expanded this benchmark setting range with the introduction of Nature Safe Probiotic.

 

Nature Safe Probiotic

We’re all familiar with probiotics for humans. The famous Japanese brand has made the notion of ‘good bacteria’ for our gut a household concept, which got Hygeia thinking – could this same concept apply to grow your own? The truth in fact is, yes! With Nature Safe Probiotic, Hygeia has isolated the ‘good’ bacteria or microorganisms, found within the soil of its homeland, Ireland. Once isolated, one billion of these good bacteria are concentrated and bottled, providing UK and Irish gardeners with a product that aids faster germination, and reduces the need for fertiliser as the bacteria do all the hard work.

 

Tom Stolworthy, Hygeia’s UK Country Manager explains: “Nature Safe Probiotic is the perfect way to supercharge organic plant growth. The billions of ‘good’ bacteria work their magic by boosting seed germination, creating stronger roots and excelling plant growth. This one simple product has the ability to appeal to a broad spectrum of consumers, including those that are new to gardening and may be unsure of the term ‘fertiliser’ or worry about the use of chemicals. The benefits of the full Nature Safe range are clearly illustrated on all our packaging, and we believe that our new Probiotic will be a real stand-out product in the coming season.”

 

About Nature Safe

With vegans cutting all animal-based products out of purchasing decisions, and growing demand for natural, organic solutions, a new generation of eco-friendly products that are free from animal derivatives and chemicals are driving change.

 

Tapping into a more sustainable style of gardening, the Nature Safe range – exclusive to Hygeia – currently includes Lawn Feed with Seed, Patch Fix Seed with Feed, Granular Plant Food, and Liquid Plant Food with Seaweed, as well as the new-for-2021 Probiotic.

 

Safe for use around children and pets, the Nature Safe range is completely plant-based, and uses no animal by-products or poultry additions. Each of the products has been designed to promote a healthy eco-system and is bee-friendly, ensuring that our essential pollinators are kept safe and sound.

 

Tom Stolworthy added: “Nature Safe is the perfect range for retailers wanting to offer their customers vegan and organic gardening solutions. The unique formulation is specifically designed to reinvigorate nature with natural ingredients and optimal micro-organisms, which means users can rest assured that each time they use a Nature Safe product, they will be putting goodness back into the earth. What’s more, these products are backed by 80 years of innovation, experience and passion, and unrivalled R&D to ensure that every product delivers quality results every time.”

 

To find out more about Hygeia please visit www.hygeia.ie / www.mygardenexpert.com

Dobbies takes part in Macmillan’s Coffee Morning

Dobbies Garden Centres has been raising funds for Macmillan’s Coffee Morning by hosting its own ‘Raise a Cup’ event nationwide...

Coffee specialist Gosia Lendzioszek took part in a special Facebook Live presentation for Dobbies customers.


 

Dobbies Garden Centres has been raising funds for Macmillan’s Coffee Morning by hosting its own ‘Raise a Cup’ event nationwide. 

 

‘Raise a Cup’ took place in Dobbies’ restaurants across the UK, with customers able to enjoy a hot drink and a cake for £5.99. There were also opportunities to make donations at the till and throughout the restaurant, plus a chance to win a cake bundle by guessing the weight of the bundle. 

 

Graeme Jenkins, CEO at Dobbies, said: “Macmillan Cancer Support deliver amazing work and we hope that our ‘Raise a Cup’ event contributes to the fantastic fundraising efforts taking place across the UK.”

 

Dobbies will give the full donation from the sale of cupcakes, collections at the tills and buckets located in the restaurants, from guess the weight of the cake bundle as well as online during the Facebook Live event. 

 

The safety of customers and team members is Dobbies’ number one priority and a number of social distancing and safety measures are in place in the restaurants. To ensure customers feel safe and have a relaxed and enjoyable time, there will be a reduced capacity to ensure social distancing is adhered to, with tables and chairs laid out to so there is a safe distance between diners.

                         

Macmillan Cancer Support offers essential care and advice for those affected by cancer; from initial diagnosis through to treatment and aftercare, as well as supporting family members and carers. The funds raised from Macmillan’s Coffee Morning allow the charity to continue to provide emotional, clinical and financial support for people living with cancer, who need the charity now more than ever before. 

 

Pictured: Coffee specialist Gosia Lendzioszek took part in a special Facebook Live presentation for Dobbies customers.

 
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Nicola Pugh joins the HTA Council

Nicola Pugh has joined the HTA Council as the Representative for the Welsh region...


Nicola Pugh has joined the HTA Council as the Representative for the Welsh region.

 

As Business Development and Marketing Manager of Pugh’s Garden Centre’s based in South Wales, Nicola is responsible for maintaining and growing the brand's strong roots, ensuring the growth of the business, implementing new garden retail concepts and adapting to an ever-growing industry.

 

Nicola said of her appointment, "Garden centre retail and marketing has been engrained in my ethos since childhood, growing up in a family garden centre business established over 65 years ago across South Wales. With a number of strong Welsh horticultural businesses in an ever-changing retail landscape, I am excited and passionate to be given the opportunity to represent them and gain a better understanding of the challenges we face as an industry.

 

"With 2020 being a year like no other I feel it is more important than ever to be committed to support each other and keep communication flowing across the different regions, to enable us to grow and learn together."

 

Nicola was also one of the expert judges for the Glee New Product Awards 2020.

 
September garden products sales head for a new record

Autumn lawn care really stepped up a mark last week with lawncare lines growing sales volumes sufficiently to occupy three of the Top 5 garden product chart places...


 

Autumn lawn care really stepped up a mark last week with lawncare lines growing sales volumes sufficiently to occupy three of the Top 5 garden product chart places.

 

Garden product sales for the first three weeks of September are almost level with the whole month’s sales for any of the past 10 years. We’ll be announcing a big new record for the month in next week’s GTN Bestsellers.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Evergreen Garden Care Evergreen Complete 360 sq m + 10% Extra Free moves up one place to No1.
  • Westland Gro-Sure Smart Seed 25 sq m moves up 30 places to No 17.
  • Smart Garden Fruitnet 25mm mesh is the highest new entry of the week at No 6.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
Know your onions

Autumn Veg-2-Gro sales continue to boom compared to last year, but not with quite the same volume sales increases as we saw in June and July for summer veg...


Autumn Veg-2-Gro sales continue to boom compared to last year, but not with quite the same volume sales increases as we saw in June and July for summer veg.

 

Maybe more explanation and promotion to ‘New Gardeners’ is required so they know that they need to plant onion sets now for harvesting next year.

 

Sales for the year to date are now 24% down on last year but 7% up on 2018. When you consider we recorded zero sales for seven weeks of lockdown that shows significant growth for veg growing. Let’s hope it continues next year.

  • Taylors Onion Sets Autumn Champion move up 2 places to take the No 1 Bestselling Veg 2 Gro line for the first time.
  • Taylors Garlic Thermidrome climbs 36 places up the chart to No 4.
  • Taylors Shallots Jermor are the highest chart re-entry at No 8.

See the full GTN Bestsellers analysis and charts in the GTN Bestsellers printed newsletter each week.  To subscribe for only £145 a year use this link.

 
Growing media now less than 3% behind last year

Growing media sales for September have already exceeded sales for the whole month for any of the past 10 years...


 

Growing media sales for September have already exceeded sales for the whole month for any of the past 10 years.  

 

Despite GTN Bestsellers recording zero sales during lockdown, cumulative sales year to date are now less than 3% behind last year. That means centres who did keep trading with deliveries and collections are now seriously up year on year. 

  • Westland Cacti & Succulent Potting Mix is the highest re-entry of the week at No 33.
  • Westland Houseplant Potting Mix with Seramis 8 litres is also a re-entry at No 38.
  • Melcourt All-Purpose Peat-Free Compost 50 litres moves up 5 places to a new GTN Bestsellers Chart high of No 24.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
Wild Bird Care dissapoints so far this Autumn

Wild Bird Care sales continue to disappoint in the GTN Bestsellers weekly Epos data, now running at down 18% on last year...


Wild Bird Care sales continue to disappoint in the GTN Bestsellers weekly Epos data, now running at down 18% on last year.  

 

Even with big increases in sales elsewhere in garden centres at the start of September that hasn’t reflected through to Wild Bird and Wildlife care sales.  

Perhaps we need a cold snap to get people back into the right frame of mind to look after their garden friends.

  • Westland Peckish Natural Balance Energy Balls 50 Tub remain the No 1 Bestselling line of the sector.
  • Gardman Fat Snax, tub of 50 are the highest re-entry of the week, back in at No 10.
  • Henry Bell No Grow Mix 12.55kg is the highest new entry of the week at No 41.

See the full GTN Bestsellers analysis and charts in the GTN Bestsellers printed newsletter each week.  To subscribe for only £145 a year use this link.

 
Prestigious prize helps Eden apprentice Patricie grow career in horticulture

Eden horticulture apprentice Patricie Zeleznikova has won The Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Horticulture for her outstanding work on a forest garden at the project...


Eden horticulture apprentice Patricie Zeleznikova has won The Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Horticulture for her outstanding work on a forest garden at the project.

 

During her two years at Eden, Patricie worked on the forest garden seen by around one million visitors a year as they wind their way towards the Visitor Centre.

 

Her apprenticeship finishes at the end of this month (September 2020) and she plans to donate the award prize towards a new forest garden in Cornwall which she and fellow Eden apprentice Liz Mortimer are planning to design together.

 

The award was made by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners in recognition of Patricie’s work in forest gardening, a sustainable approach to horticulture which makes use of the natural layering of plants found in forests, providing fruits, nuts and leafy vegetables.    

 

The Company praised her for adapting these principles to the particular climatic conditions in the UK and the specific constraints of the site assigned by the Eden Project to the apprentices.

 

It said that she demonstrated commitment to sustainable horticulture and developed her skills. Working as a team with other apprentices highlighted how horticultural practice can be developed in new ways.

 

Dr Heather Barrett-Mold OBE, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, said in awarding the honour: “The award to Patricie is particularly pleasing, just the second time since the award was set up by Honorary Liveryman HRH Prince of Wales over 20 years ago that it has gone to a winner in Cornwall, the county he is so deeply associated with.  

 

“I congratulate Patricie on her hard work and enthusiasm, and wish her well in her career in horticulture.”

Patricie was nominated for the award by Colin Skelly, Living Landscapes Educator in Eden’s Outdoor Gardens.  As part of the process she was interviewed by a panel about forest gardening. 

 

Patricie said: “I was pleasantly surprised to win the award and it means a lot to me and my fellow apprentices Liz Mortimer, Tabitha Carpenter and Tom Starley. It is good recognition for the apprentice team. We all worked really hard on the Forest Garden and it was amazing to be nominated by Colin for this award.

 

“Liz and I are now starting our new adventure in horticulture, progressing to RHS Levels 3 and setting up our own business. We already have a commission to work on a forest garden and we are looking forward to putting into practice what we have learned. We will invest the prize into the new venture.”

 

Eden’s head of living landscapes Paul Stone said: “On behalf of the whole team we congratulate Patricie on this great honour, recognising her work and that of her fellow apprentices on the forest garden and at different areas around Eden.    

 

“We wish her and Liz the very best with their new venture and thank them for all their good work at Eden.”

 
Haddonstone clinch £40m Royal College of Music project

Global leading cast stone manufacturer, Haddonstone, has been chosen to supply architectural stonework for a prestigious new £40 million Royal College of Music capital campaign project...


 

Global leading cast stone manufacturer, Haddonstone, has been chosen to supply architectural stonework for a prestigious new £40 million Royal College of Music capital campaign project. 
 
The Northamptonshire-based company produced a total of 57 tonnes of bespoke stonework for a new Courtyard at the prestigious College’s South Kensington campus.  Overlooked by the College’s distinctive Victorian Tower, the Courtyard will provide a relaxing space for visitors and students.
 
The Courtyard project is part of a £40 million philanthropic campaign, More Music: Reimagining The Royal College of Music, that will invest in new facilities and expand the College’s scholarship programme.
 
Haddonstone’s specialist craftsmen worked with John Simpson Architects and Cunningham Stone Masonry to produce a wide range of stonework that would blend seamlessly with the original redbrick College buildings. 
 
130 individual components were produced in a bespoke colour using wet-cast limestone.
 
The Courtyard was completed in January 2020.  The final College development will complete this summer.
 
Nicola Clements, Marketing Manager at Haddonstone said: “Haddonstone is delighted to have worked on The Royal College of Music’s new Courtyard project.  Our team worked meticulously to ensure the new development integrated seamlessly with this historic building and it is wonderful to see its completion."

 
The best of last week's

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


 
Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Peacocks up for sale

Reports have circulated this weekend about Philip Day putting his Edinburgh Woollen Mill empire up for sale...


Reports have circulated this weekend about Philip Day putting his Edinburgh Woollen Mill empire up for sale.

 

The Financial Times said "Philip Day’s retail empire could be broken up after the tycoon launched a review of high street chains including Peacocks and the Edinburgh Woollen Mill following a number of unsolicited offers."

 

In the Retail Gazette they reported: "High street veteran Philip Day has reportedly appointed FRP to sound out potential buyers for Peacocks.  The adviser is to provide market intelligence on the business value of the Peacocks store chain, which means it is an exploratory process.  A source close to the process told Retail Gazette that this is a valuation process for Peacocks, and not a sales process."

 

The Times yesterday said: "Day has appointed the advisory firm FRP to sound out potential buyers for the two retail chains, which employ about 7,000 people and trade from more than 900 outlets. FRP asked for offers by last Friday. Day triggered the sale process this month after an unsolicited approach for Peacocks, which is more likely to be offloaded than EWM."

 

Many of the 900 EWM outlets are based in garden centres including the one pictured above at Dobbies Mellville.

 

Philip Day was reported to have made a bid for Dobbies Garden Centres back in 2016 when Tesco plc put the garden centres up for sale and he was also rumoured to have put a bid in for Wyevale Garden Centres when that sale process started in 2018.

 

Read the full stories here:

 

https://www.ft.com/content/9c30e4a9-a7cb-4718-8d36-9d422ecd73ea

 

https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/09/philip-day-puts-peacocks-and-edinburgh-woollen-mill-up-for-sale/

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/philip-day-explores-sale-of-peacocks-and-edinburgh-woollen-mill-zgpht0vk0

 

 

 
Baytree celebrates 50 years

Quietly on the 2nd September Baytree Garden Centre celebrated 50 years of business...


Quietly on the 2nd September Baytree Garden Centre celebrated 50 years of business. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic we had planned on having a large party where customers and staff past and present and all those involved in the success of Baytree could come together and celebrate this significant milestone in Baytree’s history, alas that was not the case.

 

Reinhard Beihler and his wife Vonnie who many of you will know started Baytree as a small stall at the side of the road way back in 1970. This fledgling business soon grew a shop which sold fresh fruit and vegetables and outside there were several raised beds growing a plethora of plants. Every year after that a new building housing more gardening products would be added and here we are 50 years later as the largest independently owned garden centre in the region.

 

Throughout the years as a business we have done our best to support local charities and organisations in our community.  An especially enjoyable event for us was being able to support the Spalding Flower Parade with our vintage Baytree van festooned in flowers and supporting the Young Farmers float.

 

A particularly memorable event we used to host was the giant vegetable competition which drew monster specimens from all over the region.

 

More recently we donated Seeds and Bulbs to the local Johnson hospital as a thank you to all of the NHS workers who kept us safe during the recent lockdown. At Christmas time we raise money for charity from the donations taken in the feeding of Santa’s Reindeer. Last year alone we raised over £15000 for those local worthy causes that takes our total money raised to over £250,000 that we have donated to charities.

 

Reinhard, Vonnie and family have always loved this area and that’s why there love for the region is felt by our customers and friends who use the garden centre as a place to meet and catch up, a place to enjoy a cracking Sunday Roast, where you’ll always be met with a friendly smile and advice will always be freely given so that you can get the very best results from your garden. For 50 years Baytree has been an integral part of the community.

 

Baytree has come through recessions, global meltdowns and now the Covid-19 pandemic Baytree has been there at the heart of your garden. So here’s to the next 50 years from everyone at Baytree.

 
Woodlodge’s Root Indoor portfolio to grow for 2021 as consumers transform their homes into design-led sanctuaries

With the pandemic prompting consumers to transform their properties into stylish sanctuaries as they spend increasing amounts of time living and working from home, Woodlodge is announcing a perfectly timed expansion of its Root Indoor range of pots, pot covers and design-led accessories ahead of the 2021 season...


With the pandemic prompting consumers to transform their properties into stylish sanctuaries as they spend increasing amounts of time living and working from home, Woodlodge is announcing a perfectly timed expansion of its Root Indoor range of pots, pot covers and design-led accessories ahead of the 2021 season.

 

Root is Woodlodge’s flagship interiors range, a line-up with an enviable track record of driving retail sales by inspiring consumers to extend their passion for gardening into the home by enjoying the benefits of greenery all year-round. Encompassing floral, classic and contemporary designs, Root takes pride in its ability to offer a style that matches any home interior – providing retailers with cutting-edge designs that have been tailored to cater for a broad customer demographic.

 

Michael Wooldridge, Managing Director at Woodlodge, said: “From wow-factor houseplant stands that display specimen indoor plants at their very best, to pot covers influenced by cultures and traditions from around the globe, Woodlodge has been at the forefront of tapping into the latest fashions to emerge from the world of interior design, fusing trend-led influences with modern lifestyles to create must-have products with the potential to fly off retailers’ shelves. The pandemic has prompted the nation to take a closer look at its surroundings and we believe the movement for sprucing-up interiors will only go from strength to strength in the new season, creating an ideal environment for retailers to grow sales by unleashing the potential of an expanded line-up of Root Indoor products in 2021.”

 

Highlights of additions to Woodlodge’s leading Root indoor range for 2021

 

 

Pot covers with big personalities!

Root Indoor will feature a range of quirky pot covers for the new season that allow shoppers to express their personalities and explore the creative side of gardening indoors – all retailing at competitive price points. Designed to be key drivers of impulse sales by injecting a sense of fun, and aimed at households with a passion for houseplants, the mother and father pot covers retail at £12.99 while the child design is priced at £9.99. The covers won the New Product Award in Glee’s Garden, Home, Giftware and Clothing category.

 

 

Pot stands elevate sales to new heights

The houseplant category is the golden boy of garden retail. Not only did sales of houseplants soar by more than 17.5% last year, according to the Garden Centre Association, but the nation’s love for interior greenery shows no sign of slowing, with post-lockdown sales at garden centres in July reported to be double that of 2019. The fashion for foliage is being driven by millennials who crave outdoor space but are more likely to live in flats and apartments, demanding on-trend houseplant accessories for the perfect Instagram-worthy picture.

 

Woodlodge’s new Pot Stands in black or gold metal will capture the imagination of this emerging generation of garden centre shoppers – their sleek, slender, straight lines have been engineered to complement minimalist design; allowing foliage and pot covers to make a bold statement by elevating the entire display above ground level.

 

Send sales skywards with Hanging Pot Covers

Britain’s homes are getting smaller. According to a BBC report, the average UK home provides 85 square metres of living space but new builds commonly offer just 76 square metres. Compare that with new homes in the Netherlands (115 square metres) and Denmark (137 square metres) and the punishing extent of space constraints in the UK hits home. With floorspace at a premium while appetite for houseplants is at an all-time high, the only way to go is up. To help retailers cater for consumers who are restricted by compact living, as well as those who are keen to elevate their indoor jungles to new heights, Woodlodge is introducing its new Hanging Pot Covers. These woven, suspended planters, featuring natural tones that blend into any interior décor, offer maximum potential to boost linked sales, especially when sited close to displays of trailing foliage houseplants.

 

Global cultures inspire western interiors

Fashions inspired from cultures around the globe hold the key to driving sales of indoor decoration and houseplant accessories, while helping a younger generation of consumers to create breathtaking images that set social media ablaze. At the forefront of this interior decoration movement is Woodlodge’s new Jaipur Decorative Jugs, inspired by traditional patterns and rich earthy tones from the Indian sub-continent that are increasingly influencing western interiors, complementing the green foliage tones of indoor plant displays. Karachi Pot Covers introduce stand-out design inspired by patterns and tones that define Pakistan’s most cosmopolitan city, while bold orange tones and contrasting white floral and leaf patterns that adorn Florin Pot Covers hold timeless appeal for consumers who are seeking to create a dramatic backdrop to indoor plant displays.

 

 

 

Shine a light on LED novelties

LED technology has transformed the garden lighting category; now this attractive, easy-to-use and energy efficient means of introducing warm tones of light is to be extended into the home – ideal for adding an extra dimension to houseplant displays or creating a magical atmosphere in conservatories after dusk. New Glass LED Jar Lights come in a variety of warm pastel tones that instantly create a party atmosphere – and with an RRP of just £3.99 each, these jars of sparkling light hold the key to increasing basket spend with their novelty appeal.

 

 

To find out more about Woodlodge’s expanded Root Indoor offering for 2021, visit www.woodlodge.co.uk

 

 
Hozelock’s Micro Reel gets a makeover

Hozelock’s Micro Reel has been given a makeover, with a new design making it easier than ever to water a small garden...


 

Research* suggests that the trend for small gardens continues to develop. UK gardens now average 12m x 12m for those under 45 years old and while 77% of adults have a garden, 20% of those are a terrace, patio or balcony.

 

Hozelock’s Micro Reel has been given a makeover, with a new design making it easier than ever to water a small garden.

 

The new look Micro Reel has an original ‘Click & Go’ design. Simply ‘click’ the connector onto the tap and let the rotating drum unwind the hose as you walk. The integrated handle makes rewinding the hose quick and easy. You can water at any length by walking out the exact amount of hose required, or wind it off the reel for greater flexibility. 

 

 

Equipped with 10m of hose and a nozzle, that can be kept tidy when not connected to the tap, it is ideal for watering small gardens and balconies. This reel is light - similar in weight to a bag of sugar - and has a comfortable carrying handle. Offering the benefits of a larger reel, stored neatly in a compact size!

 

For urban garden spaces without an outdoor tap, the Micro Reel can be connected to an indoor mixer tap using a Hozelock indoor tap solution such as the Mixer Tap Connector. The reel is made at Hozelock’s head office in Birmingham, making 100% of the brand’s Hose Storage portfolio made in Great Britain and France.

 

 

*(HTA 2017)

 
Grow your card sales the easy way ...
GTN Xtra Promotion

Award-winning Fron Goch and Haskins garden centres choose Woodmansterne as their greeting card category management partners...


Greetings cards are a growth area for garden centres.  They drive footfall all year round with a good margin that supports other garden centre gifting categories.   When cards are retailed well they create a visually impactful area to grow sales.  That’s where category management plays a key role in ensuring great availability, a varied product range from different publishers, day to day management plus sales reporting and analysis.

 

GTN Xtra spoke to Kati Taylor at the Garden Centre of the Year 2019, Fron Goch, and Michelle Martin from the successful garden centre group, Haskins, to understand their recent success with card category management.

 

Card sales up by over 30% at Fron Goch

Katie Taylor, Head of Retail & Marketing at Fron Goch Garden Centre in Carnarvon, North Wales, told GTN that they were looking for an improved greeting card department because of developments at the award winning centre.

 

“Fron Goch has evolved over the last decade from a trip for a couple of plants to a chosen destination for a relaxed shopping and dining experience.

 

“Strengthening our developing departments of houseplants, well-being, cards, books and clothing alongside the introduction of new departments was the driving force behind the new £1.5m improvements project started at the beginning of the year.

 

Why did Fron Goch move to W-Select?

“Card sales had stagnated over the last few years and the ageing area no longer fitted the customers expectations in range. Changing the area, installing new fixtures and tailoring the range has had immediate results.  After extensive research and visiting various suppliers at Spring Fair we decided Woodmansterne had the range, quality and look we were desiring.”

 

What was your experience of working with Woodmansterne?

“Throughout the whole process the team remained easy natured and professional. From the initial conversation at Spring Fair, communication throughout to the installation, Woodmansterne have proven to be both professional and collaborative. Working together we designed the space and layout, colour matching with new and existing departments alongside the designated area and planned the specific card designs and collections we felt would fit our customers needs.”

 

How has the new card department at Fron Goch worked?

“Since the new department was installed the feedback from both customers and team have been incredibly complimentary.  The merchandising support has proved invaluable and despite it being such a short period of time we have seen an instant increase in sales of over 30%. The fresh range, clear signage and the ability to include a large selection of Welsh cards into the collection meant we now have a unique display that we are proud off.”

 

Would you recommend W-Select?

“Highly. The whole process has been a joy. The fit out, range of cards and back up support has been exceptional.”

 

Haskins give their cards a fresh new look

At Haskins five centres in the South of England, Michelle Martin their Gifts and Seasonal Buyer explained it was time to give the cards department a fresh, new look. “Haskins were keen to move the department forward, whilst it wasn’t broken there was an opportunity to improve the selection, improve the sales and get greater visibility of what we were selling.

 

“The Woodmansterne team were very accommodating, quick to respond to queries and questions. During the changeover and installations, Woodmansterne managed the process extremely well to make the transition as seamless as possible.

 

“Since the installation we have had very positive feedback from customers. The focus on the selection and the placement of genre’s has also had a positive impact, resulting in positive sales growth in all stores since the installation.”

 

“I would very much recommend Woodmansterne to anyone looking to improve their greetings card sales.”

 

Why Woodmansterne?

Woodmansterne are a third-generation family business supplying premium greeting cards to leading independent retailers, all designed and manufactured in the UK. They work with the very best of British talent including National Trust, Quentin Blake, RSPB, and Emma Bridgewater.

 

Woodmansterne pioneered the ‘Smart Seal’ in 2019, allowing them to remove plastic packaging from all their cards, saving a million pieces of throwaway plastic every week. Their cards are printed with vegetable inks on paper from sustainable forests and all their envelopes are made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste.

 

 

Why W-Select category management?

Woodmansterne have become experts in visual planning and category management, working with leading retailers in the UK, meaning they can offer the following services:

 

•             A bespoke assortment tailored to your customers

•             A unique caption calculator ensuring the optimum product mix

•             An assortment of designs from the very best publishers

•             Regular analysis and reporting

•             Less admin, meaning more time for you and your team

 

Get in touch!

We would love to explore how we can help your business grow

 

 

Get in touch 01923 200 600 or sales@woodmansterne.co.uk 

 

You can see more of what they do at woodmansterne.co.uk

 

 
 
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp

Haskins Garden Centre in Snowhill, Crawley, has opened its doors to customers following a 12-month refurbishment costing £15m...


Read more and see GTN Xtras photo tour of the new centre

Haskins Garden Centre in Snowhill, Crawley, has opened its doors to customers following a 12-month refurbishment costing £15m.

 

The new centre boasts a retail space of 11,813 sq.m., including an outdoor plant area and 440-seat restaurant complete with a newly installed pizza oven. Additional space has also been created to accommodate 170 restaurant guests on an outdoor patio.

 

Up to 70 new jobs have been created to accommodate the centre's expansion. Car parking has increased to 346 spaces.  See GTN Xtra's photo tour of the new centre below.

 

Chief executive Julian Winfield said the Snowhill team worked tirelessly to ensure the centre was able to remain open for the majority of the project, with minimal disruption.

 

“We can't wait to receive our customers' feedback on our new and improved facilities,” he added. “Over the years, we have built a loyal customer following and we are proud to be able to give back to them in this way with our new expanded centre.”

 

Haskins acquired the Snowhill site in 2003, inheriting a number of ageing buildings.

 

Haskins also has centres in Ferndown in Dorset, West End in Southampton and Roundstone in West Sussex. The family business recently acquired Forest Lodge Garden Centre, Bird World and Garden Style in Farnham.

 

Pictured (left to right): Julian Winfield, Jamie Haskins, Ally Haskins (married to Jamie) and Warren Haskins, the group's chairman. 

 

The opening event was attended by the current GCA Chairman Mike Burks and three past Chairs; Warren Haskins, Sue Allen and Julian Winfield.

 

 

 
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 this week are here

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


Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care 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.

All the latest news from the world of pet products


Webinar Line-Up at Virtual Petindex announced

 

The Pet Industry Federation have announced the webinar line-up so far for the forthcoming Virtual Petindex online trade show, which takes place on 11-12 October...


The Pet Industry Federation have announced the webinar line-up so far for the forthcoming Virtual Petindex online trade show, which takes place on 11-12 October.

 

Aside from browsing over 50 trade stands from the UK and overseas who are confirmed to take part, visitors to the event can also watch a range of outstanding webinars, delivered by industry experts on topics that have been specifically targeted at pet businesses.

 

There’s something for everyone in the webinar line-up - including pet retailers, pet groomers, kennels, catteries, daycare, behaviourists, trainers and dog walkers.

 

The list will be added to as further webinar speakers are confirmed.

 

The webinars will released over the course of the 11-12 October, with some being delivered ‘live’. All webinars will be available online to view after their release at any time of the day, from any device, by those registered to attend Virtual Petindex until 26 October.

 

As with registration, all of the webinars are available to view free of charge.

 

Name

Company

Seminar

Daniel Cummings

Cats Protection

Enrichment for cats in catteries or shelters

Diane James

Blue Cross

Supporting clients though pet bereavement

Dr Caroline Johnson

Vetpol Ltd

Scratch that itch!

Dr Cristina Diaz-Madronero

Vet & author

The importance of the human-animal bond in the Covid-19 world

Carla Keen

Wayland Wags Dog Grooming

An introduction to grooming the Bichon Frise

Dr Sam Gaines

RSPCA

Think 'wolf' not 'dog'!

Lynn Hart

Hart Education Ltd

Growth mindset and lifelong learning for pet professionals

Mark Robinson

Smurfit Kappa PLC

The four challenges for manufacturers in the pet food industry

Megana Nedungadi

Dogs Trust

Separation-related behaviour in dogs

Paul Allen

Woof Gang Bakery

Diversifying your business

Petra Losonczi-Kiss

Photographer

Promoting your business with mind-blowing photographs from your phone

Rachel Spencer

Rachel Spencer Writes

Finding stories inside your pet business

Sharon Edwards

Corporation of London

Transport of animals - are you legal?

Spencer Dawson

Bird Aware

Dogs and wildlife: Minimising the impact on the environment

Susan McKeon

Dogs Trust

Deciphering dog body language: An introduction to how dogs communicate

 

There will also be two live panel discussion talks, part of the Pet Industry Federation’s ‘Talk About’ series on ‘Pets & the Ageing Population. How can the pet industry respond?’ and ‘Does Covid present opportunities for the pet industry?’. These talks will provide an opportunity for listeners to take part, ask questions and put forward their views to the expert panels which will be convened. Details about these and the speakers taking part will be announced as they become confirmed over the coming days.

 

If you attended Virtual Petindex in June, there’s no need to re-register. You will automatically be sent login details again nearer to the 11 October. To register to attend the event for the first time, and for further information, please visit: https://vpi.vfairs.com

 
Pet wellness: why nature is the new way to nurture

Award-winning Podium Pet Products – the company which has brough to market Dog Rocks and the all-new, all-natural Be:Loved pet care range - digs deeper into how animal lovers are putting the ‘nature’ back into pet nurture...


Natural ingredients, hand-made products, no plastics – many of today’s fastest-growing ‘human’ lifestyle choices are now shaping how we care for our pets. Here, award-winning Podium Pet Products – the company which has brough to market Dog Rocks and the all-new, all-natural Be:Loved pet care range - digs deeper into how animal lovers are putting the ‘nature’ back into pet nurture.

 

Whisper it quietly, but pet ‘ownership’ is a thing of the past... because a new era of true pet parenting is here. Just as we’ve been making more mindful, natural and sustainable shopping decisions for ourselves in recent years, we’re now doing the same for our beloved animals. By sharing our health and wellness preferences with our pets we feel they will be well cared for, comfortable and at their best. In short we’re not only treating them as part of the family, but also, effectively, human.

 

This ‘humanisation’ trend has been highlighted by major market studies for several years. But that doesn’t mean the surge in canine fashions that emerged in the early 2000s. Today, pet anthropomorphism has matured into a responsible, environmentally aware reflection of our modern consumer values. 

 

A report into the UK pet care market by Mintel last July* shed some light on this growing trend. Of the 12.6 million pet-owning households in the UK (around 45% of all homes) 87% bought healthcare and pet accessories for their dogs, cats or other small animals in the past year, beyond their basic food, veterinary and insurance needs. Mintel also say we’re continuing to spend more money on our pets, fuelled both by our view of them as family members and by a forecast 15% growth in pet ownership by 2024 (not to mention the anecdotal number of extra paws welcomed by families during the 2020 lockdown). Jane Westgarth, a senior retail analyst at Mintel, explained: “Pets are ‘people’ too, in the eyes of most pet owners. And, just like treasured members of the family, pets are indulged with toys, stylish accessories and good quality pet care products. This ‘humanisation’ trend even stretches to pets being given their own Christmas and birthday gifts. People are also buying into technical products, such as fitness and activity monitors, again mirroring trends in the human marketplace.” 

 

Research by Euromonitor International in May this year* agrees, reporting that pet humanisation has both strengthened the bond between owners and pets, and made their animals’ health, wellbeing and happiness a major consideration. Another Mintel study last September* also revealed that a third of UK dog food buyers now believe it’s good for their four-legged friends to regularly have plant-based meals; reflecting our own increasingly vegetarian or vegan preferences.

 

For pet care items too, we are attracted to naturally formulated toiletries that pamper and clean, condition and soothe very similar to our own. One company that knows exactly what today’s pet parents are looking for in this regard is Berkshire-based Podium Pet Products. Specialising in developing entirely natural, eco-friendly pet care ranges for furry friends around the world, the company was recognised with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2016. CEO Carina Evans – who comes from a farming background and is an all-round animal lover – says it’s all about including our pets in the healthy lifestyle we aspire to ourselves.

 

“Where human priorities go, pet trends tend to follow,” she confirms. “If we feel that a product could be good for us, it will also be good for our much-loved animals. That’s why pet care ranges incorporating wholesome, countryside ingredients such as such as honey, lavender, goat’s milk and chamomile are more popular than ever, along with healthful extras like green tea, essential plant-based oils and selected vitamins.”

 

The packaging and the provenance of what we buy today is as important as the contents, she adds; with well designed, British-made ranges – in sustainable packaging – especially catching the eye of pet parents. “Whether for us or our animals, people want things in their homes that look lovely and smell delicious. British, artisan items also speak of traditional values and extra care taken to prepare them. We’re all trying to avoid unnecessary chemicals and plastics too, and that’s increasingly reflected in what we choose for our pets.”

 

To meet this growing demand, Podium Pet Products recently developed a 100% natural pet care range inspired by an old animal husbandry book discovered in Carina’s husband’s family. “My mother- and father-in-law were Dorset farmers. When money was scarce, they developed an amazing treasure trove of recipes – from soaps for grubby farming hands and paws to moisturising balms for callouses – all using nothing but what they could find in the hedgerows or from nature’s harvest. It’s these recipes and remedies that we have reimagined to give our four-legged friends the boost from mother nature they deserve.”

 

The result, Be:Loved, is an effective, luxurious range of all-natural soaps, balms, oils and scents handmade in the UK to keep animals in top condition and lovingly deal with those minor bumps and scrapes. Every product is free from synthetic preservatives, tested first on the company’s human team and is packed plastic-free. “We developed Be:Loved to delight both pets and their parents,” explains Carina. “There are four, gorgeous, goodness-filled shampoo bars for example, including antibacterial Be:Clean infused with growth-boosting green tea for the messiest coats;Be:Bugfree which includes insect-repelling citronella; Be:Vegan made with vegan hemp and chamomile that’s perfect for skin issues such as dandruff and eczema; and Be-Calm incorporating lavender and goat’s milk to help pets unwind after an adventurous day.”

 

Two, enriching nose and paw balms featuring shea butter and Vitamin E have also been formulated for on-the-go fixes: Be:Safe first aid cream with essential oils and moisturising beeswax to soothe minor grazes and stings; and Be:Loved which incorporates avocado oil and manuka honey to treat cracked paws, callouses or dry noses. To refresh a pet’s coat between washes there is also Be:Silky, a conditioning and relaxing pet massage rub featuring enriching botanical oils. And the home-owner’s comfort hasn’t been forgotten either: Be:Fresh probiotic sanitizing spray is on hand to clean, scent and protect homes and kennels; while the Be:Calmcandle, crafted with sweet-smelling lavender and chamomile, uses enzymes to eliminate odours anywhere in the home.

 

Innovative Podium Pet Products has even created Dog Rocks, a clever solution to the unsightly yellow lawn burns caused by dog urine. These 100% natural, unique igneous rocks, found only in Australian mines, are placed in a dog’s water bowl where they effectively absorb the nitrates, ammonia and trace elements in tap water that usually cause burn patches. Carina explains: “We created Dog Rocks with the health and wellbeing of dogs and other family pets in mind. Unlike other products they are totally natural and don’t change urine pH – they simply mean the animal has purer, cleaner water to drink, plus the garden stays lovely.”

 

Carina concludes: “With even more of us at home for longer in these Covid times, it’s important to make the best of what we have while treating ourselves and our animals to different things. With Be:Loved and Dog Rocks we’re proud to please both pets and their parents with affordable, versatile, responsible care products that they can all enjoy!

 

Find out more

The Be:Loved range and Dog Rocks are available from a range of retailers and leading pet stores, as well as from www.wearebeloved.co and www.dogrocks.com. You can also join the Be:Loved community on Instagram by following @belovedpetz