In This Issue
Rosebourne Aldermaston opens - GTN Xtra photo tour
St Johns buy Wyevale Ashford Barnstaple
St Johns buy Wyevale Ashford Barnstaple
UK’s first recyclable pots arrive at Hillier Nurseries
UK’s first recyclable pots arrive at Hillier Nurseries
Zest 4 Leisure launches new products
More extremes for Christmas?
Small space, wide range from Wagner
Bestselling Christmas Storybooks are back for 2018
Storms hit plant sales
When Wyevale Sudbury became Perrywood: the work behind the takeover
When Wyevale Sudbury became Perrywood: the work behind the takeover
Former Gardman and Solus chief takes helm for new owners at Primrose
Former Gardman and Solus chief takes helm for new owners at Primrose
Lechuza undergoes re-branding project
New forums aim to help garden and DIY manufacturers to face post-Brexit challenges
PATS Telford breaks 2,000-visitor mark…AGAIN!
Poundbury Gardens sows seeds for school garden competition success
Here's your Christmas pressie from Kelkay...
Sales Representative - North West
Furniture / Christmas Retail Managers
Home Retail Manager
Plant Area Manager – Hardy Plants
Buyer/Category Manager (Home)
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
New sheds and planters from Keter and Stewart Garden
Plant support products fly off the shelves after high winds
Perrywood fined £104,000
Perrywood fined £104,000
Veg gardeners know their onions are electric
Velcro® Brand Demonstrates its Sticking Power with New Fix-Pro® Mounting Tape Range
Will this week be a bumper weekend for growing media sales?
Wild Bird Care looks forward to colder weather
Last chance to book for GIMA sales workshop
Rosebourne Aldermaston opens - GTN Xtra photo tour
The best of last week's
The best of last week's
Wyevale sell Sidmouth to Kings and Solihull to Rosebourne, 2 others go to developers
Wyevale Christmas Trees are the Best
Wyevale Nurseries hunts for new staff to help it grow
Peter Seabrook receives Honorary Degree at Writtle University College Graduation ceremony
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
New look Café Bar at Squire's in Badshot Lea
lunch! celebrates another year of record-breaking attendance
Situations Vacant
Sales Representative - North West
 
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Furniture / Christmas Retail Managers
40 Hours per week, Full Time Permanent Position
 
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Home Retail Manager
40 Hours per week, Full Time Permanent Position
 
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Plant Area Manager – Hardy Plants
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Buyer/Category Manager (Home)
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When Wyevale Sudbury became Perrywood: the work behind the takeover

The bottom line when moving in to a new garden centre is to make the takeover seamless, almost invisible to the customer – apart from the obvious improvements that being ‘under new management’ promises to bring. That means hiding, as far as possible, a whole load of hard work behind the scenes.

 

At 5.30pm last Monday, the Bourne family at Perrywood Garden Centre officially took over the Sudbury centre acquired from Wyevale Garden Centres. On Tuesday morning, Hannah Powell tells GTN Xtra, the centre was able to trade as normal – thanks to advance preparations. The first customer is pictured right.

 

“The work included a communications plan (temporary roadside signs up Monday night, website live on Tuesday, some internal signs replaced, ahead of a full signage audit planned for this week), facilities and health and safety (new fork lift truck, electrical checks etc),” said Hannah. “A new epos system and tills went in on Monday night, linked to our stock system although they won’t be fully integrated for a while. Then we made sure we had staff from the Tiptree site available for training on the till system through the week.

 

“We did some work to ensure that from week one, it felt more like Perrywood and had similar standards, so we brought plants across from Tiptree, moved houseplants to near the entrance and so on.

 

“The restaurant is closed, and will reopen as a coffee shop once we have done some work to improve it. We are having one-to-one meetings with all staff this week and next to get to know them and to map out where any skills or rota gaps might be. Next week we will look at resourcing. Publicity and PR will follow when we are confident we have the staff and stock in place.

 

“We will start to bring in stock from existing Perrywood suppliers from next week. So it’s been a busy week – but we’ve loved the enthusiasm and positivity from the team there, who are excited about being part of the Perrywood family. We didn’t know what to expect as we have not done this before, and we have certainly learnt a lot!

 

There are lots of decisions to make, but our suppliers of stock and services have been brilliant too, helping us along the way. Having trusted partners definitely helps.”

 

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Peter Seabrook
I will be interested to see the Sudbury Garden Centre, having worked there in the late 1950's, when the Rose Nursery Director reduced the weekly trade magazine to tiny pieces after he had read it, so staff would not see the job adverts!