In This Issue
Turnaround in fortunes for Tong Garden Centre is complete with GCA membership
Eureka moment for Bestsellers at the GIMAs
Michael Cole announces retirement from Notcutts after 38 years
Stock Eden - profit from accessories
Rising Stars participants reach crucial stage in programme
Gardman Wild Bird Care partners with The Royal British Legion to raise £200,000 for the Armed Forces community
Kelkay see impressive growth of stepping stones sales
Exciting British pavilion planned for spoga+gafa
Peckish YouTube videos give birdcare advice
Assistant Merchandising Planner
Plantarea Manager (West Sussex)
Plantarea Manager (Dorset)
E-Commerce Office Manager
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Returning to the top of the GTN Bestsellers chart
Compost sales witness a slight downturn
Drop in plant sales volumes
Joe Swift announces the finalists for the APL WorldSkills UK competition
APL and HTA members bring home the medals
Get the pro look with Vitax's Green Up Enhance
Summer Evening Garden Party at Squire’s Garden Centre
Inside the July issue of Garden Trade News
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
GTN's Greatest Awards 2016
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
The Engine Room wins Silver in Taste of the West 2016
Situations Vacant
Assistant Merchandising Planner
Salary: £23,000 - £28,000
 
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Plantarea Manager (West Sussex)
Salary: £18,000 - £22,000
 
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Plantarea Manager (Dorset)
Salary: £18,000 - £22,000
 
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E-Commerce Office Manager
Salary: £20,000 - £25,000
 
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Rising Stars participants reach crucial stage in programme


Participants in this year’s Garden Centre Association Rising Stars 2016 programme, sponsored by Westland Horticulture, took part in masterclasses at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset (above) and Bents Garden and Home in Cheshire (below).

During both days they gave PowerPoint presentations to each other showing the results of their recent merchandising projects.

Ian Boardman, Director of IBBIS (UK) Limited, who facilitated the two-day-long events, said: “Some impressive results were demonstrated with sales and profits up 116% in one case and 150% in another on the products they focused on. The highest sales growth – using the principles covered in a previous workshop – was a fantastic 900% uplift in sales of hanging basket cones. For many of them it was the first time they had presented to a group and they all did very well.

“The workshop at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre coincided with a fantastic fundraising day the garden centre was hosting for Barnardo’s. So while building displays to showcase what they had learnt, delegates were boogying to a live jazz band and shimmying on their way to find props for displays. The centre was buzzing with customers too – who kept buying from their displays as they built them!

“All of this was going on under the watchful eye of a previous Rising Stars’ winner – Will Michieli. Will won in 2013 and is a team member at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre.”

While at Bents in Cheshire, the Rising Star’s visit coincided with the launch of its summer sale – with customers flocking in to pick up bargains.



Now that the Rising Stars have completed their spring projects and attended two workshops, a shortlist of the best 10 candidates will be selected for further challenges, leading up to the top five presenting at the GCA Conference in St Andrews in January.

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture, said: “This is the time of year when the competition really starts. The Rising Stars programme is a pleasure to sponsor as the standard is always high and this year is no exception. We will watch and wait to see who steps up in the final stages and is ultimately crowned Rising Star of the Year!”

Candidates’ work has been assessed throughout the year to review the various elements on which the finalists have received training. The best performers will be invited to the 2017 GCA conference where they will showcase some of their work to the audience and talk about the difference it has made. A final winner will then be voted for by conference attendees.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “Our Rising Stars programme, which is sponsored by Westland Horticulture, has been a huge success during the past seven years and once again we’re delighted with the standard of participants who all seem highly motivated.”
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