In This Issue
Easter Fortnight 2019 is best since 2015
The Davies's buy back Raglan from Wyevale
Become a GARDENA ambassador store and watch sales grow
Was the Easter gardening rush the antidote to Brexit?
Sallyanne leads Taylors Bulbs team to show triumph
Thomas Hardy theme for David Austin Chelsea launches
A look ahead to Glee 2019
Charles Taylor breaks records post-Easter
Raglan bought back from Wyevale by previous owner
Wyevale Nurseries renews its 'UK sown and grown' credentials
Squire's add floristry at Badshot Lea
Perennial Legacy Garden scoops Premier Gold at Harrogate
Cordless push at Dobbies with Greenworks brand
Slugs really are hardened boozers....
LifestyleGarden setting new standards for sustainability
Planteria Retail Assistant/Manager
Category Manager for Horticulture
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Pot feet, garden lights and hose connectors grow Easter sales
Frankie is Hambrooks Gardening Hero
Bedding Geraniums double to go to No 1
New head of retail at RHS Wisley
Veg growers making up for last year
Late Easter spells subdued growth for online retail in March
Easter growing media sales see double
Sally takes over Neudorff office admin
Warm Easter for Wild Bird Care
The best of last week's
Easter records broken at garden centres across the country
Sales up 72% YOY at Primeur following GIMA and Glee award wins
Matthew three-wheels around Bents
Wyevale Garden Centres announces changes to Loyalty Scheme
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Baytree of Hilgay
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Hillier Botley
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Forest Lodge
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Notcutts Norwich
Situations Vacant
Planteria Retail Assistant/Manager
Salary will reflect level of experience
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The Davies's buy back Raglan from Wyevale
The restaurant will be our number one change, says boss

Having bought back the business he sold to Wyevale Garden Centres four years ago, Martin Davies was holding a ‘Getting to re-know you’ session at Raglan Garden Centre when GTN Xtra spoke to him on Friday as he contemplated the transition from corporate branch to family business.

 

“There are quite a few new faces,” he said. “as there aren’t very many of the old staff left, so my priority is to get to know them better before deciding what changes we might make.”

 

For now, he said, very little needs to change except the restaurant. “This will absolutely be the number one job, to return it to everything being home-made on the premises, which is not the Wyevale way. Once we have done that, everything else will follow. It is really key.”

 

With fond memories of the business he and his wife Jean had built together, Martin (pictured right while chair of the GCA in 2008) confirmed his company, Coldbrook Ventures Ltd, had joined the bidding process when Wyevale Garden Centres put its centres up for sale last year. “I remember there being a little tearful farewell when we left,” he recalls, “so I am delighted to be back.”

 

In the intervening four years, Martin and Jean have run a commercial investment business, focusing on high street retail, and spent time extending their home.

 

A bonus following the re-acquisition is the opportunity to introduce their son Alex, who gave up his career in corporate finance last year, to the business with a view to taking the reins in the long-term.

 

Martin has not ruled out re-applying for membership of the Garden Centre Association.

 

In the meantime, he says, he can’t wait to get stuck in.

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Glyn
Great to see Martin and the family back
It's not been the same since they left
So much soon that I hardly ever go there now
But that will soon change
Good luck
Robin Tuppen
It's good to see the old independents being returned to private owners and I wish all of them good luck for the future. I have already received orders from some of my old customers that left me when they were bought by Wyevale.
Huw Williams
I wish him good luck Wyevale has damaged many formerly great garden centres over the years.