In This Issue
Xylella fastidiosa: how Italy has tackled the problem
Gardman reports £1.5m loss - but earnings soar by 50%
Durston Garden Products HOLD prices for 2018
Christmas provides an October sales boost
Edwin Meijer reveals lessons learned from Canada trip
Young GCA delegates experience garden centre retailing Canadian style
RHS move National Gardening Week to later spring date
Which new plants really stand out?
Yobs smash up community garden centre - causing thousands of pounds worth of damage
Elho makes 'grow your own' available to everyone
Wildlife website redesigned with customers in mind
Shoplifting costs retailers £800m a year says research
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Pot sales soar as gardeners get set for Autumn
Sales of festive products gather momentum
Cyclamen back on top of Bestsellers chart
Poppy-related Wild Bird Care products sell well
For peat’s sake – a conversation on compost
TV and Radio 4 gardening expert to launch gardening school at Tong GC
Revolution in 'on-demand' product labelling
Garden centres to benefit from generous PR discounts
The best of last week's
"Xylella is the most serious situation I have come across in 32 years in the industry"
Supplier rebates to exceed £1.5m for Choice members
Coolings buys Potted Garden Nursery at Maidstone
Scotts fail with claim that Westland Safelawn advertising was misleading
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Stylish new Café Bar opens at Squire’s in Shepperton
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news. 

Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700
Christmas provides an October sales boost


As Christmas has opened in more centres at the start of October, initial sales have beaten both of the past two years, so we could be in for a bumper few months of trading.

Our GTN Christmas Top 50 index is up nearly 50% on last year and that more than made up for shortfalls in garden products, wild bird care and growing media.  


Bestsellers Product of the Week

Every week when we compile the GTN Bestsellers charts from garden centre EPOS data there are products that stand out, and this week it is the Pass the Sprout from RSW International, the cracker people.

What a fun activity to add to the Christmas Dinner table; made of tissue crepe paper, guests take it in turns to unwrap the tissue to reveal a novelty gift, hat and forfeit.  It sounds great fun for all involved!

Garden centre customers clearly like the idea as it comes into our Christmas Products Chart at No 50!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
  • Garden Products - down 2%
  • Veg-2-Gro - down 18%
  • Growing Media - down 21%
  • Christmas Products - up 49%
  • All Plants Index - down 10%
  • All Items Index - up 3%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Last week GTN Xtra called in for the opening of Christmas at Scotsdales, Cambridge.  Over 700 customers attended the event and as you'll see from the pictures below, trolleys were very full by the time they reached the tills.  We particularly liked the excellent lighting area with very clear signposting of the different types of lights and the most impressive food hall.  With a busy tasting area in the restaurant it was no surprise to see the food hall being very well shopped too!
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Scotsdales Xmas Opening 111017_GTN001.jpg
Scotsdales Xmas Opening 111017_GTN001.jpg
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