In This Issue
Maximising your potential - masses of marketing input in only one day - Tuesday November 8th
How to build a successful brand without a big marketing budget
The Art of Story Telling
Marketing Strategy and the Marketing Mindset
Using content solutions to increase brand awareness
Top tips to improve customer engagement on Social Media
Hitting above your weight in the PR field
Planning events to drive sales
Garden Relief Day 2017...the No 1 marketing and PR opportunity for the start of the gardening year
Who will be the winners of GTN's first Greatest Marketing Team Awards?
Online vs offline retail in garden centres
How to supercharge your sales with Facebook Advertising
QVC provides opportunities for the gardening industry
Gardening on television – the present and future
Marketing Forum at Whittlebury Hall next door to Silverstone
"Smiles per metre" is a hit - HTA Futures follow up comment from retailers
Half-term week sales could make it a record October
Area Sales Managers
Brand Manager
Sales representative, South East
Nursery Grower Technical Manager
Garden Centre General Manager
Garden Sundries Retail Manager (Berkshire)
Nursery Grower Manager
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Top 6 plants sell more than 50% of all sales
HTA relocates to Oxfordshire
Christmas sales are booming this month
Orchid and lighting products in big demand
Growing media sales still doing well
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
GTN's Greatest Awards 2016
Situations Vacant
Area Sales Managers
Salary: Very attractive salary, bonus, company car and benefits
 
Read more»
Brand Manager
 
Read more»
Sales representative, South East
 
Read more»
Nursery Grower Technical Manager
Salary: Excellent
 
Read more»
Garden Centre General Manager
Salary: Excellent
 
Read more»
Garden Sundries Retail Manager (Berkshire)
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
 
Read more»
Nursery Grower Manager
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000
 
Read more»
Useful Links
Send to a Friend »
Subscribe »
Issue Archive »
Update your Profile »
Print All Articles »
Subscribe to RSS »
Visit Our Website »
Example of a Flyer »
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
 
Maximising your potential - masses of marketing input in only one day - Tuesday November 8th
Marketing is of vital importance to any business. But with so many different aspects from market research and advertising to sales promotion, public relations and sales getting the marketing mix right for you can be tricky.  The HTA Marketing Forum delivers a huge range of marketing insight and ideas in one action packed day next week at Whittlebury Hall next to Silverstone...

Marketing is of vital importance to any business. But with so many different aspects from market research and advertising to sales promotion, public relations and sales getting the marketing mix right for you can be tricky. The HTA Marketing Forum delivers a huge range of marketing insight and ideas in one action packed day; Tuesday 8th November 2016, Whittlebury Hall next to Silverstone in Northamptonshire.

Come along to the HTA's one-day event aimed at all those involved in marketing and PR across the garden industry. There will be masses of insight, inspiration and top tips in bite sized sessions to ensure you are maximising the potential of your marketing spend.

The Programme includes:

Keynote speaker Mark Palmer, Group Marketing Director for Pret a Manger (and formerly of Burger King and Green & Blacks) looks at the importance of brand and how, at Pret, they focus spending on mproving the instore experience rather than spending on traditional media.

• Marketing consultant Nigel Temple explores the importance of having a Marketing Strategy and the need for a Marketing Mindset.

• In conjunction with Horticulture Week, Creative Solutions, Haymarket’s in-house creative agency will provide inspiration and best practice examples demonstrating the value of digital marketing as part of an overall marketing strategy

• Sally Cornelissen from Burleydam Garden Centre and Alan Down from Cleeve Nursery show how they use innovative events and community activity to reach out to new audiences
Instore – the power of visual merchandising

• Inspiration from outside the industry from ex-Liberty visual merchandiser Maxine Groucutt and trend watcher and green stylist Romeo Sommers will talk about using storytelling to help market your products, especially plants

• Pete Doyle from Social Retail will provide the latest know how on making the most of social media

• Wildfire Agency will demonstrate the effectiveness of advertising on social media in reaching new audiences

• Richard Jackson from QVC will look at online shopping and the way in which they often sell large volumes of product at strange times!

• Matt Young, Executive Producer of Spun Gold (ITV’s Love your Garden) will look at the challenges of getting more gardening on TV

The event will also incorporate the inaugural GTN's Greatest Marketing Awards

Programme

  • 8.30 Registration and refreshments
  • 9.30 Conference starts
  • 12.45 Lunch and networking
  • opportunities
  • 1.35 Afternoon session begins
  • 4.30 Conference close

Book now at hta.org.uk/marketingforum

HTA member rate
£149.00 plus VAT
Non HTA member rate
£199.00 plus VAT

For more information, details about sponsorship
opportunities and to book your place:
Phone: 01189 303132

events@hta.org.uk

hta.org.uk/marketingforum

How to build a successful brand without a big marketing budget


Mark Palmer has led the marketing for two award winning clearly differentiated brands - Green & Black's organic chocolate and Pret a Manger. Mark will discuss how with a clear targeting and positioning, these brands invested in customer experience ahead of advertising to develop customer trust and fast growing sales...

Mark Palmer.jpg

Mark Palmer has led the marketing for two award winning clearly differentiated brands - Green & Black's organic chocolate and Pret a Manger.

Mark will discuss how with a clear targeting and positioning, these brands invested in customer experience ahead of advertising to develop customer trust and fast growing sales.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
The Art of Story Telling


Storytelling is our oldest form of communication and the visual merchandiser must play on the senses to add value to products and brands...

Maxine Groucott.jpg

Designing the customer shopping experience in an ever evolving omni-channel retail environment has never been so important to increase brand awareness, loyalty and connect with the customer on a deeper level.

Storytelling is our oldest form of communication and the visual merchandiser must play on the senses to add value to products and brands.

Seductive merchandising facilitates the path to purchase and makes the experience memorable.

Focusing on Liberty Renaissance, Maxine Groucutt, Visual Merchandising Consultant, will examine why telling the story was so successful.


Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum

Marketing Strategy and the Marketing Mindset


Nigel Temple, marketing consultant, trainer and author and Founder of The Marketing Compass, will provide an overview of current marketing thinking and how to embrace the Marketing Mindset...

Nigel Temple.jpg

Nigel Temple, marketing consultant, trainer and author and Founder of The Marketing Compass, will provide an overview of current marketing thinking and how to embrace the Marketing Mindset. 

Nigel will discuss the importance of strategic thinking, the customer and the use of technology to meet sales and marketing objectives. 

This thought-provoking session is suitable for those who are new to marketing as well as seasoned marketing professionals.


Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum

 
Antje Derks.jpg
Using content solutions to increase brand awareness
If you think about the constant flood of advertisements and marketing jargon a consumer is exposed to on a daily basis, you would think it's almost impossible, as a marketer, to stand out amongst the noise. Haymarket Media Group's Tim Lomas and Antje Derks will reveal ways to make your mark...
The main question most marketers or business owners are asking themselves on a daily basis is, what type of outreach will help to keep their business alive and thriving?

If you think about the constant flood of advertisements and marketing jargon a consumer is exposed to on a daily basis, you would think it's almost impossible, as a marketer, to stand out amongst the noise.

On average, one person is exposed to more than 5,000 advertisement and brand exposures per day.

So, what more can you actually do? How can you effectively reach a targeted audience at the right moment and stand out amongst the estimated 5,000 ads a person is exposed to in just one day?

In a world where most of us retrieve news and information from search engines, blogs and social media, it is important now more than ever for brands to curate quality content that reaches their relevant audience and communicates (in the right way) who they are as a brand.

In this session, which will be introduced by Tim Lomas, Commercial Manager (Energy and Environment Division) at Haymarket Media Group, Antje Derks, Senior Content Manager & Social Media Editor, Haymarket Business Media Content Labs will look at content solutions from two sectors (Supply Management and the Third Sector) to see how they were used to raise the brand or charity’s profile through informative and educationally useful content - whether in the form of an expert report, a webinar or video content.


Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
Top tips to improve customer engagement on Social Media



Pete Doyle, Founder and CEO of SocialRetail Group, has been in retail for 30 years and is an experienced Twitter specialist. He will impart his top 5 tips to help you get closer to your customers...



Pete Doyle, Founder and CEO of SocialRetail Group, has been in retail for 30 years and is an experienced Twitter specialist.

He has been training large scale retailers on how to improve their engagement on social media for the last 8 years.

During his talk, Pete will impart his top 5 tips to help you get closer to your customers using your in house teams.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
Hitting above your weight in the PR field


Alan Down, Partner, Cleeve Nursery will illustrate how Cleeve Nursery has hit above its weight in the PR field...

Alan Down.jpg

Alan Down, Partner, Cleeve Nursery will illustrate how Cleeve Nursery has hit above its weight in the PR field.  

How sometimes quirky projects have led to a high level of engagement with the local and regional media.

In turn, this has led to a high level of brand awareness in the community both with gardeners and with non-gardeners.

Alan’s presentation will show a range of community projects that Cleeve Nursery have been engaged with over the last 5 years.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
 
Sally Cornelissen.JPG
Planning events to drive sales
Sally Cornelissen, Director of Burleydam Garden Centre, will talk about how to choose events that please your current customers and how to plan events that can drive new customers to your business...
In a challenging and competitive market, garden retailers need to build loyalty; creating a calendar of interesting events can help to do this.

In this session, Sally Cornelissen, Director of Burleydam Garden Centre, will talk about how to choose events that please your current customers and how to plan events that can drive new customers to your business.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
Garden Relief Day 2017...the No 1 marketing and PR opportunity for the start of the gardening year
GRLD 2016 Plantathons Squires 1.png

Trevor Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Garden Trade News, will explain that taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day can help your business as well as raising funds for Greenfingers Charity...

GRLD 2016 Plantathons Studley 1.jpg

Earlier this year, thanks to all those who took part, Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day raised over £140, 000 for Greenfingers Charity. 

The funds raised are already being put to good use, enabling Greenfingers Charity to continue its work creating magical gardens for children who spend time in hospices.

As well as raising funds for Greenfingers Charity, taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day can help your business; Trevor will explain more.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
Who will be the winners of GTN's first Greatest Marketing Team Awards?


As part of GTN's Greatest Awards 2016, Garden Trade News will celebrate excellence in garden centre marketing by hosting and presenting fhe first ever Greatest Marketing Team Awards at the conference...

Spoga+gafa 16 050916_GTN060.jpg

As part of GTN's Greatest Awards 2016, Garden Trade News will celebrate excellence in garden centre marketing by hosting and presenting fhe first ever Greatest Marketing Team Awards at the conference.

Who will be the inaugural winners in the following categories?
  • The Greatest Social Media Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Marketing Event of the Year
  • The Greatest Marketing Innovation of the Year
  • The Greatest Supplier Marketing Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Garden Centre Marketing Team of the Year

The awards will be hosted by Trevor Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Garden Trade News, and Carol Paris, HTA Chief Executive

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum

Online vs offline retail in garden centres


Romeo Sommers, Founder and Chief Executive, byRomeo and Green Your Day, will explain why he thinks garden centre retailers should be open for change and how to develop new business models, in particular how to combine offline and online...

Romeo Sommers.jpg

“Garden centres look too much through their green gardener’s glasses and too little through their retail glasses," says Romeo Sommers, Founder and Chief Executive, byRomeo and Green Your Day. 

In this session, Romeo will explain why he thinks garden centre retailers should be open for change and how to develop new business models, in particular how to combine offline and online.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
 
How to supercharge your sales with Facebook Advertising
Mark Mars, Managing Director, Perceptive Flow, will give an overview on how to set up effective, targeted Facebook advertising to extend reach, raise brand awareness and ultimately increase sales and website click-throughs...



Mark Mars, Managing Director, Perceptive Flow, will give an overview on how to set up effective, targeted Facebook advertising to extend reach, raise brand awareness and ultimately increase sales and website click-throughs. 


Mark will also share insights on how Facebook Advertising has helped National Garden Gift Vouchers promote their seasonal activities.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum

QVC provides opportunities for the gardening industry


Richard Jackson is the Gardening Presenter on QVC UK. He discusses the background to this shopping phenomenon and the opportunities for the gardening industry...

If you’ve seen the film ‘Joy’, you might have a slightly folksy view of QVC. And you might wonder why Kelly Hoppen, Liz Earle and Michael Dell, amongst others, bother to appear on the shopping channel.

Quite simply, it’s because QVC is the world’s leading multi-category video and e-commerce retailer and it can help them sell huge quantities of their products, not just on QVC but in-store too.

Richard Jackson is the Gardening Presenter, as well as the biggest garden supplier, to QVC UK. He discusses the background to this shopping phenomenon and the opportunities for the gardening industry.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum

Gardening on television – the present and future
 

Matt Young, Executive Producer at Spun Gold TV, and Katie Rushworth, gardener and garden designer at The Queen of Spades and presenter on ITV’s Love Your Garden, will discuss ways in which programme makers and the commercial sector can work together to entice the next generation of garden owners to watch gardening on TV and spend money on their gardens...

Katie Rushworth.jpg

Gardening has had a presence on our television screens for more than 40 years and still remains one of the most watched pastimes on TV. Even in today’s ultra-competitive television market.

So what opportunities exist for the industry when it comes to today’s gardening output and what will the relationship be like in the future?

How can programme makers and the commercial sector work together to entice the next generation of garden owners to watch gardening on TV and spend money on their gardens?  

Matt Young, Executive Producer at Spun Gold TV, and Katie Rushworth, gardener and garden designer at The Queen of Spades and presenter on ITV’s Love Your Garden, will discuss ways in which programme makers and the commercial sector can work together to entice the next generation of garden owners to watch gardening on TV and spend money on their gardens.

Book your place now at  www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
Marketing Forum at Whittlebury Hall next door to Silverstone


The venue for next week's HTA Marketing Forum is Whittlebury Hall, just next door to Silverstone...



The venue for next week's HTA Marketing Forum is Whittlebury Hall, just next door to Silverstone, near Towcester in Northamptonshire.

HTA Marketing Forum 2016 will be held at Whittlebury Hall, Whittlebury, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8Q www.whittleburyhall.co.uk 

Situated in rural Northamptonshire and next to the Silverstone Circuit, Whittlebury Hall is close to the A43, M40 and M1. Whittlebury has exceptional modern and purpose-built facilities for meetings, conferences and events, and has a luxurious leisure spa area, making the hotel popular both during the week and at weekends.

Programme

  • 8.30 Registration and refreshments
  • 9.30 Conference starts
  • 12.45 Lunch and networking
  • opportunities
  • 1.35 Afternoon session begins
  • 4.30 Conference close

Book now at hta.org.uk/marketingforum

HTA member rate
£149.00 plus VAT
Non HTA member rate
£199.00 plus VAT

For more information, details about sponsorship
opportunities and to book your place:
Phone: 01189 303132

events@hta.org.uk

hta.org.uk/marketingforum
"Smiles per metre" is a hit - HTA Futures follow up comment from retailers
HTA Futures121016_GTN051.jpg

Two weeks on from HTA Futures, GTN Xtra asked a handful of retailer delegates what they had gained from attending what was in our opinion one of the most thought provoking and inspirational garden industry conferences of recent years...

HTA Futures121016_GTN043.jpg

Two weeks on from HTA Futures, GTN Xtra asked a handful of retailer delegates what they had gained from attending what was in our opinion one of the most thought provoking and inspirational garden industry conferences of recent years. 

At a time when there is more change and uncertainty on the horizon we asked:  What was the most useful thing you learned from HTA Futures?  What/who inspired you to make radical changes back at the centre in the coming months?  Have you already been able to use the content to motivate your team and get new thinking going for next year and the future?

Here are the responses we received:

Gary Carvasso, Coolings

“I totally valued the time out. The HTA team worked hard I felt to deliver and succeeded.

“As a mature, successful and profitable business we could easily be in danger of losing the art of start-up and introducing new services in particular. Leonard Diepenbrock, the German family business entrepreneur challenged our thinking and flagged up the dangerous path we could find ourselves taking as a business. The truth is we are so caught up in making things better and cheaper that we miss great opportunities.

“Dr Ross Cameron, from the University of Sheffield examined the climate predictions for the UK and looked at how this will affect gardening and garden retail, and has spawned an idea to include in our future.

“PY Gerbeau who has an impressive track record of turning around failing enterprises. The four things you need in order to survive: flexibility, adaptability, agility, and common sense. Leaders must remember that their best asset is not their product or their business strategy, but their people. We are currently working on a 10-year plan for our business and it helped me put in context the relationship between investment required for capital projects and the significant investment we need to plan for, in terms keeping AND adding the right people. It is our people who deliver the experience.

“Our management meetings will need to focus more about the future, and in fact 9 of us spent some time this morning considering this in light of the provocation from Leonard. How do we create an environment of a freedom to fail, possibly creating a start-up fund that our teams can pitch for? Paul Playdell suggested a good business is like a table with many legs and that led me to think what other services are we not offering on and off site, that make sense and offer solutions to our customers. Ideas are flowing already. He also reminded us that experience is vital when almost every product is available elsewhere:  We must make customers laugh and cry, we need to be daring and memorable.

“As ever the value of meeting new people, catching up with suppliers and others in the garden retail trade, always produces bags of stuff that is useful in shaping your thinking.”

Julie Wigglesworth, Aylett Nurseries

“My thoughts are:  To use a new measure: “smiles per square metre” to measure customer experience, and remember to tell the story rather than just put product on a shelf.  The research into plant breeding and the future use of plants in our cities, thinking of trees as air conditioning units, and climbing plants as insulators. 

“ Never do anything radical - customers do not tend to enjoy it! Continue to evolve and change, remember to keep up with ever changing technology - I had never heard of Amazon dash now I would like a button on my washing machine too!

“Continue to think about what we can do to make our customers life better.

“I think the day should be thought of as a training day, opening eyes and ears to different ideas, that can be used in the future. Not sure I have had time to put any of it into action yet but it is all in my mind and who knows when it may be useful. It is very easy to stay in your centre, getting caught up with the mundane and forget what a broad and fantastic industry we work in! The day should be used to motivate yourself, gaining an insight into many different ideas, it can be quite lonely at the top (or bottom depending how you look at it) and after a day like that, you hear that other people have the same frustrations and concerns and you are not alone. If the leaders remain motivated the team will follow.

Simon Fraser, Ben Reid

“It is the biggest investment in my personal development a year, so crucial to the business. I felt I had a full return on investment by the first coffee break this year so good was the content!

We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction. - Bill Gates

“Never has this been more true!

“The most useful thing I learned from Wednesday HTA Futures:  Keep being the best, and make sure the team believe it too! The tale of the Boots employee sending PY to spec savers is such an important lesson for all retailers.

“Ibrahim Ibrahim and the future foundation guys inspired me to make radical changes back at the centre in the coming months: Understanding the many routes-journeys to buying and how we can engage with the consumer going forward.

“I’ve been on holiday this week but when I get back we will discuss how we can continue to add fun and knowledge into our product mix. I came home and signed up to Garden Connects personal email scheme!”

Tim Godwin, Fosseway

“The one who did it for me was Lenard Diepenbrock who has transformed his business by looking outside the box and being honest about the business to see that the was little opportunity to revolutionise what he was successfully doing already.

“I thought there was some good content from Ibrahim. I loved the measuring “smiles per square metre” as something a progressive garden centre should be measuring. With some very interesting stuff from the future foundation especially Joshua and his view of what might happen through this uncertain time. The digital age is upon us but good staff are a very strong key to the door.

“I have put a team together with a budget to look at what we could be doing and should be doing to develop the business over the next 10 years and have some answers by the end of January 2017. I feel doing this over the busy period will concentrate the mind further.” 

Adam Wigglesworth, Aylett Nurseries and HTA President

“Remember the value of the front facing team - they actually deliver the service.

“These conferences are vital so you can get out and get ideas, it’s really difficult to be thinking strategically and managing the risks to your business when you are embroiled in the everyday hub-bub like most of us.

“It’s one day and a dinner - you and your businesses deserve it!

“Quite often you have a kernel of an idea and someone at these days will help you distil it.

“If you think what professional advice costs these days are really good value.

“We have an amazing industry and people share so much if you are not there you do not hear it!” 

GTN Xtra comment:

In a market sector where independent retailers still hold the majority of outlets we wonder why more of the small to medium sized businesses do not take advantage of conferences such as these?

The HTA are doing great things to help everyone involved in our industry and the biggest potential benefactors are retailers.   Our industry needs, and does have, a vibrant and helpful trade association but why are more members not attending events such as HTA Futures and making the most of their membership?

If you’d like to share your thoughts with us, please use the comments button below or e-mail: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

 

Read Mike Wyatt’s reports from HTA Futures in the November issue of GTN that will be arriving in your post next week.

 

 

 



GTN Bestsellers predicts that half-term week will make this October a record month.  

Our current data is showing all sales running currently 6% up on last year. With the weather forecast staying good for Halloween weekend, prospects for garden centre trading are far from scary.

With Christmas sales running at 33% up year on year, sales volumes overall could get back to parity for the whole year if trends continue at the present rate. Good news indeed.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
  • Garden Products - down 7%
  • Growing Media - up 5%
  • Christmas Products - up 35%
  • All Items Index - up 7%
Below is the UK Bestsellers All Garden Products Top 20.

 
Area Sales Managers
Salary: Very attractive salary, bonus, company car and benefits



The Company:

Apta is the leading supplier of quality flower pots and accessories to the UK garden trade, under its own brand and iconic UK brands, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Laura Ashley.

The company has achieved very considerable growth and now wishes to strengthen its sales team with the recruitment of two motivated and ambitious sales professionals.


Job titles: Area Sales Manager

Territory 1: Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire.

Territory 2:  Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northants.   

Salary: Very attractive salary, bonus, company car and benefits.

Progression: There will be opportunities to progress to senior sales positions.


The Role of Sales Representative:

Our new Sales Representatives will have responsibility for:

  • Ensuring that every sales appointment has an objective
  • Driving sales growth and tracking performance
  • Building upon strong partnerships with existing customers
  • Developing new customers and securing sales orders
  • Working with head office and a team of merchandisers to ensure that customer experience is always exceptional
  • Planning and working to an effective journey plan, maximising customer contact


The person for this Sales Representative opportunity:

We are looking for high calibre, ambitious and self motivated Sales Professionals with excellent communication skills. Specific qualities will include:

  • Proven experience of working as a successful Sales Representative or Area Manager
  • Experience closing sales with a decision maker
  • Proven business development skills
  • Skilled at fact finding, questioning and verbal clarity
  • Strong negotiation and objection handling skills
  • Empathy and the ability to build strong working relationships
For more information and to apply please contact Paul Sykes, Managing Director, paul.sykes@apta.co.uk  or telephone 01233 621090 for a confidential discussion.
 
On 5 October, following the completion of the sale of Bayer Garden to SBM Développement, we started our exciting journey and have now launched SBM Life Science Limited.

The business is now investing to realise our vision of creating a worldwide leader for home and garden solutions, and as a result we have created an exciting opportunity for a Brand Manager to join our commercial team. 

The role offers a rare opportunity to take the reins of successful brands with a long heritage, such as Baby Bio & Phostrogen, where you can make a real difference.

For more information, please contact Christina Bouzala;
Christina.Bouzala@sbm-company.com.
 
On 5 October, following the completion of the sale of Bayer Garden to SBM Développement, we started our exciting journey and have now launched SBM Life Science Limited.

Key to realising our vision of creating a worldwide leader for home and garden solutions is the desire to increase our focus on collaboration with our garden centre retailer partners. 

The business is therefore increasing its investment into market sales representation to support our customers and introduce them to the new opportunities presented by SBM Life Science.   

We are seeking a full-time, talented industry sales representative to help us expand within the South East region.

For more information, please contact Scott Williams;
Scott.Williams@sbm-company.com.
 


Nursery Grower Technical Manager (ref:DS8734)

Location: West Sussex
Salary: Excellent
Date: 06 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


Based in West Sussex this leading Ornamental Plant Nursery are looking for an enthusiastic person who can work on their own and as part of a wider management team as their Technical Growing Manager. The nurseries have the reputation as high quality innovative businesses growing container garden plants for retail sale in Garden Centres and Multiples across the UK, with a combined production total circa 5 million pots, total growing area in excess of 25 acres - glasshouses, polythene tunnels, and outdoor production.They are looking for someone who can pay excellent attention to detail, is self-driven, able to question their own actions and learn from their own and others experiences.

The Role

As Technical Manager you must contribute positively to developing and improving staff and be directly accountable to the joint Managing Director of the nursery businesses.
  • You will have overall decision-making authority on Crop Protection matters.
  • You will benefit from attending events, training days and conferences and working within a team including growing departments across the nurseries (Propagation, Plant Breeding, Trials and Crop Growing).
  • Liaise with external consultants who provide regular crop walks and advice.
  • Also be part of group committees and working groups including external organisations such as the AHDB, APHA and the HTA.

Other key performance areas include managing workloads using bespoke/off-shelf decision support
software and databases; setting and reviewing cost budgets; health, safety and security; working with
internal departments on accreditation and assurance schemes, e.g. BOPP and LEAF. You must also maintain and
develop relevant qualifications e.g. BASIS, FACTS, PA1&6 , first aid.

The Candidate

For this role they are looking for someone who has previous experience within the commercial growing sector and ideally you will be educated to degree level and hold BASIS and FACTS qualifications combined with a proven track record in senior management.

To apply for this role click here

 
Garden Centre General Manager
Salary: Excellent


Garden Centre General Manager (ref:DS8731)

Location: Essex
Salary: Excellent
Date: 05 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


Are you an ambitious and inspirational manager with a proven track record in delivering high levels of commercial performance within a large aspirational retail environment? If you are then our client is looking for a candidate just like you to run one of their leading garden centres.

Sited in Essex this traditional garden centre originally started life as a family-run nursery and our client now has ambitious plans to transform this site from its current format, which generates £3m in sales per year, into a purpose built Garden and Living Centre capable of generating £10m+. This new centre is due to be developed during 2017/18 and once completed it will offer customers a truly unique retail experience, showcasing the very best in garden and home living products. With our clients unique store design, product range and exceptional standards in visual merchandising, they will be the destination garden centre for North London.

In line with these developments they now have an exciting opportunity for a strong and inspirational retailer to manage and lead this centre in its current format, through its re-development and onwards.

Can you offer their customers a truly unique retail experience in an aspirational environment where they can enjoy engaging with and buying fantastic products and receive exceptional customer service?
Are you the dynamic and retail focused Centre Manager who can lead and develop a dedicated team?

You will have a fantastic opportunity to take full advantage of the redevelopment to ensure the team and the Centre reaches its maximum potential. They empower all of their Centre Managers to manage their centres as though they were your own businesses whilst enjoying full support from Head Office. As Centre Manager you will be responsible for all aspects of the centre including:
  • Driving sales and maximising profit in order to consistently meet your KPIs .
  • You will deliver exceptional standards of customer service.
  • You will identify trends in sales and profit opportunities and you will translate these into sound retail action points.
  • You will be at the helm leading, developing and motivating your team with a clear focus on driving exceptional performance and managing all controllable costs.
  • You will ensure high standards of stock management and control are constantly maintained.
  • And you will carry out daily floor walks of every department.
  • You will understand and be able to easily connect with their AB1 customer demographic with an ability to ensure that retail standards and service levels constantly exceed their expectations.

If you are interested in this opportunity then please send your CV to us to discuss this opportunity further.

To apply for this role click here
 
Garden Sundries Retail Manager (Berkshire)
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000


Garden Sundries Retail Manager | Berkshire (ref:DS8711)

Location: Berkshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 26 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


We are currently seeking an outstanding Garden Sundries Retail Manager to manage the Shop Area of this Berkshire based garden centre that are part of a Nationwide group that are continually growing and developing their leading garden centres across England and Wales.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a cutting edge Garden Sundries Department. The ideal candidate will have a background in seasonal products or garden centre retail with excellent garden sundries product knowledge from seeds to clothing. They will manage seasonal changes and have the ability to present and merchandise their department to the highest standard.

The Candidate

Team leadership skills are essential as is the ability to communicate well with customers delivering excellent standards of customer care. Working in a busy retail team environment means you will have to have a hands-on approach to all duties within this department.
Candidates must have a background in retail, be able to merchandise and manage rapidly changing stock.
Knowledge of garden products and garden chemicals etc. would also be an advantage but additional training can be given.
If you are passionate about garden sundries and would enjoy sharing this enthusiasm with our client's customers, we would love to hear from you.

To apply for this role click here
 
Nursery Grower Manager
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000


Nursery Grower Manager (ref:DS8768)

Location: Surrey
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000
Date: 21 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Based on a 30 acre site in Surrey this quality driven nursery company buys, grows and supplies a stunning range of plants for sale direct to the consumer and also through to leading supermarket. They have a great reputation in the industry and have won over 20 Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. They are currently looking to recruit a Nursery Manager, Grower Manager with a good track record of producing quality stock and managing and inspiring a strong team.

The successful candidate will require the following skills;
  • Strong commercial growing background preferably from within the Hardy Nursery Stock sector.
  • Experience of planning and coordinating nursery production.
  • Experience of managing and supervising staff.
  • Hands-on, can-do attitude
  • Strong communication skills
  • A commitment to quality.
  • The ability to prioritise tasks.
  • A strong level of plant knowledge.
  • Good IT skills
  • Pesticide qualifications (PA1 & PA6)
  • The ability to show initiative.
  • A desire to develop within an innovative and growing business.
  • Knowledge of irrigation systems
  • A driven and positive leader who can inspire and manage a dedicated team.
They are happy to look at candidates from strong commercial production as well as large plant retailing backgrounds.

To apply for this role click here
 
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox...



with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox.  The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.

Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
 
Top 6 plants sell more than 50% of all sales
The Top 6 Bestselling plants – Pansies, Cyclamen, Erysimum, Viola, Calluna and Primula – remain the same this week, contributing over 50% of all plant sales...
The Top 6 Bestselling plants – Pansies, Cyclamen, Erysimum, Viola, Calluna and Primula – remain the same this week, contributing over 50% of all plant sales.

Their cumulative sales dropped by 12% week on week against all plant sales slipping by 14%.
  • Matthiola – stocks moved 22 places up the chart to No 27.
  • The biggest percentage increase went to Santolina to enter the chart at No 26.
  • Ornamental Brassicas increased sales by 57% to enter the Top 10 for the first time.
 
HTA relocates to Oxfordshire
The HTA has moved into its new offices and the new address is Horticulture House, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RN. The main contact number for member enquiries and orders is 0333 003 3550 (8.30-5.30 Mon-Thurs and 8.30-5 Fri).


The HTA has moved into its new offices and the new address is Horticulture House, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RN. The main contact number for member enquiries and orders is 0333 003 3550 (8.30-5.30 Mon-Thurs and 8.30-5 Fri).

Alongside the light and airy office space for staff and partner organisations on the first floor Horticulture House provides a great facility which is available for the industry to use (at preferential rates for HTA members). In addition to a members’ lounge (available for use free of charge) there are six meeting rooms, showroom space and a conference room (seats 100) available. Newly refurbished and with a modern décor these will be ideal for client meetings, training workshops, product launches and regional roadshows.

HTA Chief Executive Carol Paris comments, “We are up and running in our new premises which provide a great facility for the organization and the industry. We are delighted that the AIPH (International Association of Horticultural Producers) and CIH (Chartered Institute of Horticulture) have moved with us and GCA will have a meeting room at Horticulture House – making it a real horticultural hub and vibrant space for the industry.”

She adds, “In our first week alone we have hosted the Garden Industry Marketing Board, APL Awards judging, Amenity Suppliers and BOPP Committee meetings to name but a few! We also hosted the planting of a Bramley apple tree (and accompanying crab apple) to mark the 25th anniversary of the European Nurserystock Association (ENA) – not bad going for week one!”

There are a couple of opportunities coming up to view the facilities.

Firstly, there will be a manufacturers/suppliers open day over the coming weeks where you are welcome to pop by and find out more about a look at the facilities available to hire.

The HTA AGM will take place on Tuesday 6 December at Horticulture House at 11.30 am. AGM papers will be available on the HTA website in November – www.hta.org.uk/htaagm2016.

To register interest in receiving further information about the facilities, rates and the open day please email bookings@hta.org.uk

Pictured: Atree planting ceremony to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the European Nursery Stock Association was the first event to take place at the new HTA offices.
 
Christmas sales are booming this month
Christmas sales are booming in October – up 33% on last year, and Christmas Mugs have usurped Personalised Christmas Baubles to take the No 1 Christmas Besteller spot. A washable Christmas doormat also storms into the Top 5...


Christmas sales are booming in October – up 33% on last year, and Christmas Mugs have usurped Personalised Christmas Baubles to take the No 1 Christmas Besteller spot.

A washable Christmas doormat also storms into the Top 5. There’s also a ‘Bake-off’ influence with square Christmas cake boards joining round ones in the Top 50. Here are the highlights:
  • Kaemingk Christmas Porcelain Mug with Spoon and Chocolate Grater was the highest new entry.
  • Culpitt 10 inch Round Christmas Cake Board was the highest re-entry.
  • JVL Christmas Machine Washable Doormat is at No 4.
 
Orchid and lighting products in big demand
Orchid related products and garden lighting continue to dominate the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart, contributing 24% and 20% of the Top 50 sales volumes...
Orchid related products and garden lighting continue to dominate the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart, contributing 24% and 20% of the Top 50 sales volumes.

First signs of frosts in the north see fleece lines increase sales and at the bottom of the chart traditional Autumn planting related products are starting to accelerate.

The main highlights this week were:
  • Growth Technology Orchid Pot Clear 15cm was the highest re-entry at No 11.
  • Creative Products Clean Sweep Rubber Broom, jumping 31 places to No 10.
  • Gardman Solar Filigree Table Light LED Colour Changing and Gardman Gard ‘n’ Fleece Bags (Assorted Sizes) Green returned to the Top 50.
  • Fito Drip Feeder For Orchids 32ml retained the top spot.
 
Growing media sales still doing well
October sales of the Top 50 GTN Bestsellers Growing Media products are up 12% on last year...
The great October gardening weather is encouraging plenty of planting, replanting and re-potting activity. As a result October sales of the Top 50 GTN Bestsellers Growing Media products are up 12% on last year, which was a record in itself.

This week’s highlights were:
  • Kelkay RHS Horticultural Potting Grit was the highest re-entry at No 34.
  • Westland John Innes No3 Mature Plants (35 litres) was the highest climber, jumping 18 places to No 24.
  • Scotts Levington Multipurpose + John Innes (56 litres) retained the top spot.
 
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 printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £195.00 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 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.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 Christmas Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this 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 delivered via the post for only £195.00.

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 £120m.

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.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.

Buy your subscription today and start receiveing the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

GTN's Greatest Awards 2016



Catering Awards - June 7th @ HTA Catering Conference
Plant Retailing Awards - June 22nd @ National Plant Show
Outdoor Living Awards - Sept  5th @ spoga+gafa
Garden Centre Awards - Oct 12th @ HTA Garden Futures
Marketing Awards - Nov 8th @ HTA Marketing Forum

Sponsored by














Send your nominations to: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

For sponsorship opportunities contact: mandy.davies@tgcmc.co.uk


Newsletter Marketing Powered by Newsweaver