In This Issue
Greenfingers Garden at Chelsea - thank you for your support
How to grow sales of horticultural products
Garden Pride – Spring Success!
Eco Friendly? TMD has it in the bag!
SOLEX launches new website
Garden centres take part in National Children’s Gardening Week
Evergreen Garden Care returns to Chelsea to create a ‘Supersized World’
Hillier celebrates 74th consecutive Chelsea gold medal
Burgon & Ball wins five stars at Chelsea
25th gold for David Austin Roses at "very special" Chelsea
Easter heatwave sets sales of furniture and BBQs alight
Gardening accessories sought by Canadian and Spanish buyers
Leading Canadian brand unveils UK Influencer programme to encourage better barbecuing for Brits!
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Richard Moore is Young Horticulturist of the Year
Johnsons adds to its ranges for 2020 Season
Wyevale Nurseries appoints Amenity Sales Executive
Garden centres to gain from May bank holiday weekend spending
The best of last week's
Wyevale Garden Centres agrees the sale of three more centres
Greenfingers garden wins Silver-Gilt - Golds for Taylors Bulbs, Hilliers - See GTN's photos from a star studded Chelsea Press Day
Blue Diamond profits grow by 18% to £10.8m
Garden Centre Tour - Mahoney Garden Centre, Boston, USA
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Notcutts Norwich
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Hillier Botley
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Baytree of Hilgay
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Forest Lodge
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Easter heatwave sets sales of furniture and BBQs alight

 

Garden  centres across the country enjoyed positive sales in furniture and barbecue departments thanks to one of the hottest Easter breaks on record.

 

Sales of furniture and barbecues were up 28.36% compared to the same month the previous year (2018), according to the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) report.

 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “The weather was certainly on our side during April and we enjoyed fantastic record-breaking temperatures over the Easter break, which meant customers flocked to their local garden centres. The contrast between this April’s weather and the first half of April 2018 couldn’t have been greater.

 

“Easter Monday in particular was a huge hit for us as it was the hottest on record in all four nations of the UK according to the Met Office.

 

“As well as furniture and barbecues, we also saw strong sales in outdoor plants as these were 11.74% up compared to the same month last year. Hard landscaping sales were also up 17.71% and food hall and farm shop sales were positive at 13.21% up.

 

“We have been very lucky after already enjoying a positive March and to also enjoy good weather in April too. It just gives everyone a real boost.”

 

Houseplant sales were also up 18% and sales in garden sundries were up 8.62%.

 

Iain added: “Catering sales were up 5.75% and gift sales were up 4.1%. Seed and bulb sales were down -6.54%, clothing sales were down -2.28% and pets and aquatics sales were up 0.75%.”

 

Overall sales for the month were up 10.69% with a year to date change of 17.49%.

 

Gary Carvosso, Managing Director at Coolings Garden Centre, said: “Easter sales exceeded all expectations with four days of clear blue skies. People were certainly in the mood for gardening in earnest and have been in fact since the warm spell in February.

 

“Our new plot to plate garden, which is growing fresh salads for Arthur’s restaurant, has inspired many and Easter saw Grow your Own vegetables jump by over 50% on Easter 2018 and house plants being back in vogue saw a 70% leap.”

 

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

 

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

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