In This Issue
Eureka! Solar Lightbulb takes major GIMA Award
Records broken for funds raised for Greenfingers
Alton, Blue Diamond, Hillview, Klondyke and Squires are GTN's Greatest Garden Centre fundraising teams
Gallery of pictures from the GIMA Awards
Eco Aggregate Ivory – one of Meadow View Stone's Top Ten sellers is back
First half down! Will Christmas get sales back into the black?
Pelargoniums are the UK’s bestselling plant
New greetings card range gives something back
How to tackle ‘scary’ plant retailing
Plantarium releases first glimpse of show's new plants
Matthew Wilson to tell Chelsea medal story at Tong GC
If it's July, it must be Christmas for Wyevale Garden Centres
Sales agents wanted!
Nursery Technical Manager Hardy Plants
Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager (Worcestershire)
Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager (Bedfordshire)
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Animals feared to have died in garden centre blaze
Feeding plus pest and weed control help light up sales
Compost sales see upturn on the previous week
Notcutts double offer to train ten students at Thrive
Wolf trimmer earns Which? 'Best Buy'
Industry urged to adopt holistic approach to wine weevil threat
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
Situations Vacant
Sales agents wanted!
 
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Nursery Technical Manager Hardy Plants
Salary: £30,000 - £40,000
 
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Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager (Worcestershire)
Salary: £18,000 - £21,000
 
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Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager (Bedfordshire)
Salary: £18,000 - £21,000
 
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Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700
Eureka! Solar Lightbulb takes major GIMA Award


The Eureka! Solar Lightbulb from Smart Garden Products has been awarded this year's highest new product accolade – the Sword of Excellence - at the GIMA Awards. The team behind the bestselling product received their award at a special awards evening at Celtic Manor Golf Resort in Wales on Thursday...



Culminating in a sell-out event, the GIMA Awards 2016 – held at Celtic Manor – were once again the pinnacle of the garden retail industry’s event calendar. Bringing together manufacturers, retailers, members of the press and industry figures, the event celebrated the great and good, with 16 winners taking home the accolade of GIMA award winners.

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall, commented: “I would like to be the first to extend my congratulations to all of the winners.  This year saw a record number of entries to the awards, making the judges work even harder as the calibre of product on offer was outstanding. However, with some real stand-out entries, and some tough deliberation, the judges were unanimous in their final decisions – all of which are highly deserving of their awards.  My sincerest congratulations to all our winners. They have all demonstrated exceptional qualities, from cutting edge design to inspirational retail support.

This year, the GIMA judging panel was made up of Simon Bourne of Perrywood Garden Centre, Liz Brennan from Dobbies, Decco’s Chris Gladwin, Caroline Linger from Wyevale, Scott McCabe from Polhill Garden Centre, Choice Marketing’s Michelle de Lavis Trafford, Julian Winfield from Haskins and GCA Chair, Simon Wright of Stax Trade Centres, and finally Neil Pope, editor of Garden Trade News.

“My thanks also have to go to the panel of dedicated judges who gave up their valuable time to take part in this year’s judging process.  Their combined expertise and market knowledge has been invaluable throughout the judging process, and has helped to create one of the strongest list of winners.

“Finally, I extend my thanks to all those that have entered the awards in 2016, as well as our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to put on an event of this scale.”


GIMA AWARDS 2016 – THE WINNERS



GIMA Sword of Excellence

Winner: Smart Garden Products - Eureka! Solar Lightbulb

What the judges said: “The one product you want to take away and put in your garden centre”, “The strongest product in the room”, and “One of the best new products this year.”

 

GCA Supplier of the Year

Winner: Taylors Bulbs

Finalists: Decco, Scotts Miracle Gro Company, Westland Horticulture

What the judges said: “The team always strive hard to give the service we expect," and

"Simply put, they deliver a good quality product, with a fair price, and deliver on time.”

 

Gardenex Export Achievement Award

Winner: Hozelock - Hozelock Easy Drip Range

What the judges said: “Hozelock’s new Easy drip range was designed to drive international growth by developing an automatic watering system that was easy to understand, buy and ultimately use. They have grown their international irrigation business significantly in France through DIY retailers such as Mr Bricolarge and Garden Centres such as Jardiland and Truffaut. Similar successes have also been achieved across Italy, Spain, Benelux, Scandinavia, Germany and Russia.”

 

PetQuip Export Achievement Award.

Winner: Symply Pet Products - Canagan Range of Cat & Dog Food

What the judges said: “The Canagan brand of dog and cat foods was launched in the UK in 2012. Following the launch, export markets were targeted at Interzoo Germany and Zoomark Italy initially. This was followed by the Far East, Scandinavia and most of Europe. The brand ethos, product performance and rapid growth has gained Canagan a reputation as one of the leading grain free pet food brands in Europe. Canagan now enjoys distribution in 30 countries including Hong Kong, Malaysia and Japan.”


GIMA AWARDS 2016 - PRODUCT AWARDS



Garden Care

Winner: Neudorff UK - CleanLawn 20 kg

Finalists: Scotts Miracle-Gro - Miracle-Gro Orchid Mist; Scotts Miracle-Gro - Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Concentrate

About the winner: “Unlike existing 'all-in-one' lawn products, CleanLawn does not require children and pets to be excluded from the treated area after application and does not require a spreader to be applied without the risk of scorching. In addition, raking out dead moss and thatch is not necessary as these waste materials are 'eaten' by microorganisms, leaving you more time to enjoy your lush, green lawn.”

 

Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries

Winner: Hozelock - Cloud Controller

Finalists: Briers - William Morris Collection; FITT SpA - YOYO the self-extending and retracting hose; Hozelock - Hozelock Easy Drip

About the winner: “The app and technology is unique and owned by Hozelock, and is the first app operated automated watering controller to be launched in the UK. No other product is available within the UK at mass-market price level. Gardeners can control their garden watering wherever they are, with time saving, water saving and plant health benefits.”

 

Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements

Winner: Crest Garden: Kent & Stowe - Kent & Stowe Lawn Edge Trimmer

Finalists: EP Barrus (Wolf & Wilkinson Sword) - Ultralight Hedge Shear; Burgon & Ball - Groundbreaker Spade; Spear & Jackson - Dual Compound Telescopic Bypass Loppers

About the winner: “The lawn edger uses body weight for easy entry into the ground. The comfortable foot plate allows a ‘walk and cut’ rocking motion above the blade, meaning edging has finally become a quick and painless task, while always producing a clean perfect edge.”



Outdoor Leisure

Winner: Zest 4 Leisure - Bahama Round Table and Two Stool Set

Finalists: Zest 4 Leisure - Harriett Table and Two Bench Set; Fallen Fruits - Flower Outdoor Pouffe

About the winner: “The Bahama round high table and matching round stools is new to the market because of its height which makes it ideal when having a BBQ and offers an opportunity for outdoor informal entertaining. It is made from FSC pressure treated timber that can stand the test of time.”

 

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs

Winner: Hawkesmill Nurseries - 'Herbs for....' collection

Finalists: Hawkesmill Nurseries - Geum 'Scarlet Tempest'; Scotts Miracle-Gro - Miracle-Gro Gro-ables

About the winner: “New concept and new retro feel with an innovative twist, providing the combination of gardening and the outdoor leisure buzz words of the moment; barbecue, cocktails and tea. The herbs are easy to grow and the perfect selection for each theme.”

 

Garden Landscaping

Winner: Kelkay - Granite Cobble Mat Sets Quarter Circle

Finalists: Zest 4 Leisure - Brighton Corner Arbour; Forest Garden - Vale Timber Greenhouse - 6' x 4'; Forest Garden - Basil Multiplay Playhouse

About the winner: “These Granite Cobble Mats are a great alternative to normal concrete paving, they are hard wearing and can transform cracked and uneven surfaces. Great to add a feature point to patios or laid as decorative paths.”

 

Garden Clothing & Gifts

Winner: Briers - Advanced Gloves

Finalists: Burgon & Ball - Poc-kit gardener's utility belt; Town and Country - The Collection

About the winner: “Designed to bring together innovative combinations of features, materials, coatings and manufacturing techniques for garden work wear that is cutting-edge. Creating quality gloves adapted for specific tasks, in formats not previously available in the garden centre market. Ultimately driving innovation forward within this sector with cutting-edge, affordably-priced designs.”

 

Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products

JOINT Winners: Gardman - Poppy Feeder Dish & Burgon & Ball - Creaturewares

Finalists: Westland Horticulture - Peckish Easy Feeder; Petface - Loktop Squirrel Proof Seed Feeder

About the winners: Praise for Gardman: “Great for instore promotions and supporting great charities such as the Royal British Legion and Poppy Scotland.”

Comments on Burgon & Ball: “Carrying a riveted metal Burgon & Ball badge, Creaturewares tins for the first time use the element of brand to increase the perceived value of the product. The combination of high quality construction and attractive, humorous design brings real innovation to pet food storage.”

 

Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation

Winner: Smart Garden Products – Eureka! Solar Lightbulb

Finalists: Smart Garden Products - Snowdrop Solar Flower; Smart Garden Products - Bluebell Solar Flower

About the winner: “New innovative product to the market this year, taking a steer from the current trend for retro design: the good old fashioned light bulb. Solar means there are no messy wires, instant lighting and they can be hung anywhere in the garden and are easy to move around. Supplied in an attractive merchandiser.”

 
GIMA AWARDS 2016 – MARKETING AWARDS

 

Best Point of Sale Material

Winner: Crest Garden: Flopro - Flopro Gun Display Stand

Finalists: Sherwin Williams (Ronseal) - Ronseal Fencelife Plus+; Smart Garden Products - Eureka! Solar Lightbulb; Smart Garden Products - Super Bright Display; Smart Garden Products - Water Features

About the winner: “There is currently no other watering brand displaying their products in this way, bringing product off the back wall and adding drama to the watering category. The stand is space conscious measuring 42cm (w) x 85cm (l), made entirely of cardboard it's particularly easy to manoeuvre around the store.”

 

Best Consumer Product Packaging

Winner: Hozelock - Hozelock Easy Drip Range

Finalists: Kelkay - RHS Horticultural Grits & Sands; Crest Garden: Flopro - Flopro packaging

About the winner: “The packaging format is new to the automated watering market, innovatively demonstrating the application and benefits of the product and eliminating confusion in the consumer selection process. Including kits encourages gardeners to trial automatic watering and return to add and extend projects at a later time, further expanding the market.”

 

Best Marketing Communication Award

Winner: Ronseal - Ronseal Fencecare Campaign / Channel 4 Takeover

Finalists: Crest Garden: Flopro - Flopro 'No Leaks' campaign; Westland Horticulture - Not Sure, Gro-Sure campaign

About the winner: “Ronseal - Channel 4 Takeover: Literally took over a three-minute advert break during the hit show Gogglebox, where you were watching a fence being painted with its Fencelife product for the whole duration. 3.4 million people watched paint dry for three minutes. Ronseal wanted to get people talking about the ad and they certainly achieved it, with 558,136 engagements on Twitter and #Ronsealadbreak trending number one on the night.”
Records broken for funds raised for Greenfingers
Suppliers, retailers and associates from the garden industry applauded the recent announcement that the fifth annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day in March was the most successful ever, raising an amazing £140,000...



Pictured above: Presentation of cheques to Greenfingers and Perennial from money raised at ther GIMA Golf Day.



Suppliers, retailers and associates from the garden industry applauded the recent announcement that the fifth annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day in March was the most successful ever, raising an amazing £140,000.

Garden Re-Leaf Day founder Boyd Douglas-Davies announced the total raised in 2016 during the annual GIMA Awards at Cletic Manor, and praised the combined efforts of the hundreds of garden centre teams and individuals who took part.

Linda Petrons, from Greenfingers attended the GIMA Awards and expressed her gratitude to all those taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day.

Boyd announced that Garden Re-Leaf Day in 2017 will take place on Friday, March 17.

Pictured above: Presentation of cheques to Greenfingers and Perennial from money raised at ther GIMA Golf Day.





Alton, Blue Diamond, Hillview, Klondyke and Squires are GTN's Greatest Garden Centre fundraising teams
The Greatest Supplier Fundraising Team is Cadix


Alton, Blue Diamond, Hillview, Klondyke and Squires garden centres have been named as GTN's Greatest Garden Re-Leaf Day Fundraising teams for their Plantathons, and received their awards at the GIMA Awards. Cadix picked up the best supplier fundraising team award...



Alton, Blue Diamond, Hillview, Klondyke and Squires garden centres have been named as GTN's Greatest Garden Re-Leaf Day Fundraising teams for their Plantathons, and received their awards at the GIMA Awards. Cadix picked up the best supplier fundraising team award.

Gallery of pictures from the GIMA Awards


The GIMA Awards was attended by more than 400 guests and as well as celebrating the excellence of companies within the garden industry it was a fantastic evening for everyone to network and have some fun, laughing at the jokes of comedian Tim Vine. Here's a gallery of pictures from the event...

Pictures from the GIMA Awards
The GIMA Awards was attended by more than 400 guests and as well as celebrating the excellence of companies within the garden industry it was a fantastic evening for everyone to network and have some fun. Here's a gallery of pictures from the event...
 
Eco Aggregate Ivory – one of Meadow View Stone's Top Ten sellers is back
Meadow View Stone are delighted to announce that this highly sought after chipping is now once again available to its stockist...

Meadow View Stone are delighted to announce that this highly sought after chipping is now once again available to its stockist.

Ivory is a highly decorative ceramic chipping, which is produced from recycled, reject sanitary ware and has a naturally clean, almost polished surface texture.

This recycled highly decorative chipping was a staple product of the UK’s Garden Centres, providing excellent sell through rates over many years.  This was not only due to its aesthetic qualities and green environmentally friendly credentials, but also as a result of its highly competitive pricing point which offered customers real value for money.

Meadow View Stones, Ivory is supplied in highly desirable packaging that endorses the products recycled qualities, along with inspirational point of sale to ensure the product is promoted to its maximum potential in store.



For further information, please contact Meadow View Stone on Tel: 01948 841607.

First half down! Will Christmas get sales back into the black?


A wet June capped off an “interesting” first half of the year, according to the GTN Bestsellers data. Our index of All Sales ended down 2.8%, the Garden Products Top 50 volumes down 4.1%, and Veg-2-Gro Top 50 sales down 25%...



A wet June capped off an “interesting” first half of the year, according to the GTN Bestsellers data. Our index of All Sales ended down 2.8%, the Garden Products Top 50 volumes down 4.1%, and Veg-2-Gro Top 50 sales down 25%.

Only the GTN Growing Media Top 50 managed to hold its own throughout the first part of the year to end on 5.6% up on 2015.  

Normally that would be taken as welcome news, indicating plenty of growing activity taking place. However, better sales of leisure gardening products would have made all the difference.

All is not lost, however, in the pursuit of year on year growth.  All we need is a greater than 2% increase on last year’s volumes over the second half of the year and 2016 will be another record breaker.  Roll on Christmas!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
  • Garden Products - down 20%
  • Veg-2-Gro - down 1%
  • Growing Media - down 11%
  • All Items Index - down 5%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Pelargoniums are the UK’s bestselling plant
Since April we’ve published a GTN Bestsellers Top 20 Garden Plants chart and every week so far the genus Pelargonium has been No 1...



Above: Fantastic Living Label “Geraniums” at Castle Gardens helped them win a prestigious award in GTN’s Greatest Plant Retailing Team Awards.



Since April we’ve published a GTN Bestsellers Top 20 Garden Plants chart and every week so far the genus Pelargonium has been No 1. 

That of course includes all the zonal geraniums, ivy geraniums and pelargoniums.  This week despite a drop in sales the total volume of Pelargoniums is still almost double that of the No 2 bestselling plant genus; Dahlias.  At times they have sold more than three times the volumes of the No 2 Bestseller.  Without a doubt “Geraniums” are the most popular plant for UK gardens so far this year.

Pictured: Fantastic Living Label “Geraniums” at Castle Gardens helped them win a prestigious award in GTN’s Greatest Plant Retailing Team Awards. They have a living label for nearly every species of Pelargonium they sell and all their other home grown annual plants too.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
New greetings card range gives something back


A new range of greetings cards has been launched to raise money for charities Perennial and Greenfingers...



A new range of greetings cards has been launched to raise money for horticulture trade charity Perennial and the charity Greenfingers, which creates children’s gardens in UK hospices.

The Floreo card range is produced by the Great British Card Company and every card sold generates a 10p donation for both charities. It is expected that sales of the cards will generate more than £20,000 in income for the two charities in the first year.
 
The range includes 42 different eye-catching designs featuring gorgeous photography depicting a variety of colourful garden images from cut flowers and wildlife to garden scenes, carefully selected to emphasise support for Perennial and Greenfingers. The cards are available for the public to buy online and are also being sold in garden centres across the UK.


The Great British Card Company has been a long-term partner of Perennial but this is the first time that the two charities have collaborated on a product. Carol Paris, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association and Trustee of both charities was instrumental in bringing the partnership about.

She comments: “This beautiful range of cards is sure to be popular among the garden-loving public and will give consumers the satisfaction of knowing they are helping support two very worthwhile charities. Perennial and Greenfingers are two charities that I feel strongly about because they make a hugely positive difference to the individuals that they help.”

The sale of licensed products is one way that Perennial generates essential funds that allow it to support horticulturists during times of crisis, whether they are facing problems caused by financial hardship, illness, injury, poverty or old age.

Anita Bates, Perennial’s Director of Marketing and Development comments: “Funds raised through the sale of this range of greetings cards will be used to change lives for the better, but by purchasing and sending these cards more people will hear about the free, confidential advice and support we provide to those working in or retired from horticulture. It's vital that the people who are facing crisis hear about us and get in touch, then lives will certainly be changed for the better. We are delighted with the strong interest that the Great British Card Company has generated for the cards among the garden retail trade and the volume of orders that garden centres have already placed.”

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers comments: “We are enormously grateful to the Great British Card Company and to Carol Paris for bringing this partnership together and to all those garden centres who are already supporting this fantastic fundraiser. The money raised really will make a huge difference to the lives of so many, including thousands of children and families who spend time in hospices.”

The Floreo greetings cards are priced at £2.50 per card and are available to purchase at shop.perennial.org.uk

Buyers wishing to place an order to stock the Floreo range of greetings cards, contact the Great British Card Company on Tel: 01452 888999 or http://trade.greatbritishcards.co.uk
How to tackle ‘scary’ plant retailing
Scary was a keyword of the day at Plant Retailing – Fit for the Future, an HTA event which took place at Ball Colegrave in Banbury during its Summer Showcase...
Scary was a keyword of the day at Plant Retailing – Fit for the Future, an HTA event which took place at Ball Colegrave in Banbury during its Summer Showcase.

Trends, merchandising and bullet proof plants were first on the agenda:

Pippa Goodman, Commercial Director, The Future Foundation, picked up on digital and technology based trends and how they are changing consumers in the short, medium and long term. Long term, the world is moving towards automated living. Expertise will still be required, but in a programmable/digital manner. There is an opening for businesses to combine their expertise with technology to become the expert assistant.

Alyson Haywood, Specialist in Garden Centre Business Improvements, gave great insight into how to create an eye catching and memorable display both in-store and out.  The trick is to inspire customers so they think they need it and this is achieved with several key merchandising principles.

Scott Rusch, Product Group Director, PanAmerican Seeds, fascinated delegates with the secrets behind ‘bullet proof plants’. There have been big changes in trends surrounding product and development, with the focus being on improving plant performance. Breeding companies are pursuing: continued screening in landscape and container trials, interspecific hybrids for added traits for the end user, and incorporating disease resistance to mitigate impact of pathogens.

A panel session on POS and merchandising of plants had these key takeaways:

There is a correlation between value of product against how many senses it can stimulate – plants are in a strong position already.

You don’t want to sell delayed disappointment to customers. Use your loyalty scheme to keep in touch and educate them.

Provide an entry point for first time gardeners who are scared of gardening. If you start with them, they will stay loyal.

Loyalty schemes are about more than the price of products. What else can you offer? Events? Workshops? Garden doctor?

Is ecommerce a threat? Those with plant knowledge already might be tempted by the convenience of ordering online.

Don’t underestimate the online market – look what happened to books! Are the tactile elements of plants enough to drive traffic?

Peter Seabrook, Horticultural Writer and Broadcaster, closed the day with a message that there is an unbelievable opportunity to have plant sales people back in retail, particularly as customers are feeling scared and daunted when they arrive in the plant area. Whose responsibility is it to do this? Grower and retailer together.

Many thanks to the event sponsors ICL, IML and Floramedia, and the event host Ball Colegrave.
 
Plantarium releases first glimpse of show's new plants
The organisers of Plantarium 2016 (24-27 August, Boskoop, Netherlands) have released details of a number of new plants to be exhibited at the show...

Right: Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Sunrise', with its intense yellow edge.

The organisers of Plantarium 2016 (24-27 August, Boskoop, Netherlands) have released details of a number of new plants to be exhibited at the show.

Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonrise’ (below) surprises everyone with its spectacular colours. The new leaves are bright red when they emerge in spring, forming a wonderful contrast with the fresh yellowy-green leaves. In the summer, Moonrise is entirely covered with almost luminous yellowy-green leaves. The tree is not susceptible to disease, does not suffer from leaf burn and is hardy down to -22 °C. This PBR-protected plant is being introduced by Van Son & Koot BV, Kaatsheuvel.

Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Sunrise' has a neat upright habit with intense pink young shoots which change to dark red with an intense yellow edge as they mature. It reaches a maximum height of 1.5m and width of 40 cm. Bred and introduced by Gospodarstwo Skólkarskie Lucjan i Grzegors Kurowscy from Konskowola, Poland. PBR protection has been applied for.

Calluna vulgaris ‘Lisann’ is an early variety in the Gardengirls® range. ‘Lisann’ has a striking colour effect as a result of its purple buds and silvery foliage, plus an upright habit. Entered and marketed by Heidezuechtung Kramer from Edewecht, Germany, it is PBR-protected.

Daboecia cantabrica 'Angelina' has bright red flowers and is less sensitive than the established 'Amelie' during propagation and cultivation. With its large, pure pink flowers, 'Rosella’ brings a new colour to Irish heather. It is particularly suitable for adding colour to tubs and pots in semi-shaded locations. The plant likes acid soil (below pH 5) and is reasonably winter-hardy (down to -10°C). These two PBR-protected cultivars will be introduced by Heidezuechtung Kramer from Edewecht, Germany.

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Magenta Chiffon’ The Chiffon series is characterised by its profusion of flowers and numerous brightly coloured, full blooms that can reach 10 cm. The unusual double flowers make the series unique. The easy-to-look-after plants reach a maximum height of 2m and width of 1.5m. towards late summer and early autumn. With double flowers in an attractive purple-red colour, Magenta Chiffon is winter-hardy down to -25° C. and is PBR-protected. It is introduced by Boomkwekerij Ronald Roos from Boskoop.

Mandevilla ‘Bloom Bells® Yellow’ is a new yellow variant in the Bloom Bells® series. Its large, dark yellow flowers arrive early and stay on the plant for a long time, forming a unique addition to a series previously only available in red and pink variants. The plant is suitable for use in containers and hanging baskets. Introduced by De Zonnebloem Jonge Planten BV from De Kwakel, PBR protection has been applied for.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Red Cloud’ is a truly ornamental grass, selected for its wonderful red panicles. It flowers abundantly and the plant's compact habit (with a maximum height of 1m) makes the flowers even more striking. It is winter-hardy down to -23° C. Red Cloud is PBR-protected and will be available through. J.G. Cammeraat vof, Boskoop.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'JS Jommenik' is a new yellow-leaved variety and makes an unusual feature at the start of the growing season. Reaching around 30 cm, it also has attractive seed heads. Wijk en Aalburg is bringing the plant onto the market together with Empho BV from Berltsum.

Sedum x Orostachys 'Blue Elf' is the world's first Sedum x Orostachys hybrid, a breakthrough in plant breeding as two different genera were crossed. This PBR protected compact variety has the steel-blue rosettes and numerous side branches of the Orostachys genus and the sleek clusters of dark-pink flowers of the Sedum genus – plus slightly fragrant flowers that are attractive to bees and butterflies. Introduced by Gebr. Th. & W. Alkemade B.V. from Lisse.

As Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Blue Suede’ is self-pollinating, so one plant is enough to ensure a good crop of full-flavoured blueberries. This compact plant is ideal for growing in a pot on a patio or balcony. PBR protected, it is introduced by  Van Son & Koot B.V., Kaatsheuvel.

Matthew Wilson to tell Chelsea medal story at Tong GC
TV and radio gardening expert and award winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer, Matthew Wilson will revisit Tong Garden Centre this week  to share his experience of designing the show's biggest garden...


TV and radio gardening expert and award winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer, Matthew Wilson will revisit Tong Garden Centre this week (19 July) for a ‘Cream Tea and Talk' event to share his experience of designing the show's biggest garden.

Wilson was commissioned to design the Welcome to Yorkshire garden, ‘God's Own County - A Garden For Yorkshire', that was inspired by the East Window at York Minster and featured Yorkshire grown plants supplied by Tong Garden Centre.

Wilson, the former curator of RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate and respected writer, broadcaster and lecturer, will talk to Tong's customers about the inspiration behind the design, the challenges of creating a Main Avenue garden and the garden's silver medal and People's Choice award.

Tong Garden Centre, which offers a lifetime guarantee on all its hardy plants, is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars on its 17-acre site.
If it's July, it must be Christmas for Wyevale Garden Centres
 

Wyevale Garden Centres revealed their 2016 Christmas range to the national media last week in Soho with a major emphasis on Christmas Food for this season...

See our picture gallery from the preview


Wyevale Garden Centres revealed their 2016 Christmas range to the national media last week in Soho with a major emphasis on Christmas Food for this season.  Meringues, bespoke liicquors, cakes and even full frame honeycombs will feature in-store alongside the Christmas decorations ranges.

This year 3 themes will be in all Wyevale centres with 17 taking all 5 themes and a further 16 having 4 of them.

The preview, held at The Vinyl Factory in Soho, took the team 2 days to set up and drew a higher number of national press and magazine journalists along.  As a result of last years event Wyvales Christmas ranges were featured in nearly every relevant national magazine and national press supplement.

See our gallery of photos taken at the preview below:



 


Peacock Garden Supports develops, produces and sells high quality plant supports for more than 25 years. Our products are being sold in 3,000 garden centres and DIY-stores worldwide. To our product ranges belong the Pinnups plant supports, plant supports which 'grow' with plants, solid rose arches, obelisks and much more functional garden decorations.

In 2015 we succesfully launched our complete new program with stylish bird feeding holders. We also introduced our new brand Mason Mini Gardens, a beautiful collection with mini-garden accessories for creating lovely mini-gardens.

To set up our sales in the United Kingdom we are looking for:

Independent Sales Agents

to build a complete new sales force.

Can you say YES to following questions:
  • Are you active as an independent sales representative in the garden branche?
  • Are your customers garden centres, florists, DIY-shops, garden designers or garden webshops?
  • Are you looking to expand your product range with high quality products?
  • Do you want to increase sales in your area?
  • Do you want to work with a dynamic team in a growing organisation?
  • And are you an enthusiastic, driven, self-employed person with lots of persuasiveness and do you have a passion for gardening?

Then you might be one of the persons we are looking for!

How to continue:
Send your motivation and c.v. to peacock@peacock.nl and indicate in which counties you operate.

After receiving your information, we will contact you within 1 week. When there is mutual interest we will meet at the GLEE in Birmingham at Monday 12-09-2016. So save the date!

You can respond until 30-07-2016.

Peacock Garden Supports ● Industrieweg 22 ● 5688 DP ● The Netherlands ● www.peacock.nl

 
Nursery Technical Manager Hardy Plants
Salary: £30,000 - £40,000


Nursery Technical Manager Hardy Plants (ref:DS8495)

Location: Cambridgeshire
Salary: £30,000 - £40,000
Date: 13 Jul
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


This leading grower specialises in the production and distribution of quality young plants. They operate from multiple sites internationally, with a UK production facility located in Cambridgeshire. Recent improvement in company performance and growth from the links within their European group has led to expansion of the company and to an increased market share so as a result, a new opportunity has been identified for a Technical and Quality Manager.

The Role

This is a new role reporting to the Operations Manager and working closely with a small team of senior managers, which encompasses the following Key objectives:
  • Develop and enhance the technical aspects of growing quality young plants enabling them to become the market leader in the supply of top quality young bedding plants and Hardy Ornamental Nursery stock (HONS).
  • Achieve recognition as an industry pioneer, demonstrating innovation, excellence and top quality production techniques.
  • Motivate and drive a small team of young and enthusiastic growers to become a best practice growing team and to gain recognition as the industry leading producer.
  • Work alongside the Product Manager to create and expand a hardy plant portfolio second to none.
  • Maintain impeccable records for both production improvements as well as for compliance necessity where legislation dictates.
  • Manage production facilities to very high standards of cleanliness, tidiness and hygiene.
  • Monitor supplier quality to ensure the best starting material is made available.
  • Develop a culture of ownership and responsibility among a newly formed team of young growers through mentoring and training both formal and informal.
  • Represent the company among industry bodies and organisations.


The Candidate

  • The ideal candidate should have:
  • Practical hands on experience in plant production is required along with an understanding of nursery stock P&D management requirements.
  • Should have undertaken some managerial work at least at production manager level.
  • Understanding of basic computer operations including word, excel and email.
  • Ability to liaise with customers both new and existing with a view to commercial gain.

Salary:
Circa £30,000 - £40,000

Benefits:
Company pension scheme available, accident cover, death in service benefit after one years service, company telephone and laptop provided, expense card with suitable pre-set limit for travel and purchasing smaller items.

Holidays:
24 days paid holiday plus bank holidays

To apply for this role click here
 


Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager (ref:DS8503)

Location: Worcestershire
Salary: £18,000 - £21,000
Date: 13 Jul
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


Our client is one of the fastest growing new Garden Centre Groups in the UK. This young and exciting brand are seeking a Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager to join one of their new outlets in Worcestershire and provide support to the Centre Manager.

The Centre delivers a great retail experience, and has a wide product range to include plants, house plants sundries, and furniture (to name a few). Your centre will be competing against other centres across the country, and working closely with your Manager, you will help drive your centre to become the top performer.

The Role

Key expectations are:
  • Briefing staff daily on the key tasks and ensuring their knowledge is updated around each seasons product lines.
  • Ensuring excellent customer service across the teams.
  • Coordinating stock ordering and ensuring POS and merchandising is optimised.
  • Deal with day to day cashing up and petty cash.
  • Manage staff rotas, one to ones and development.

The Candidate

To apply for this role, you must have worked within a retail environment and hold some line management experience. You will be leading the Planteria team so horticultural knowledge is essential. You will also need to be flexible to work alternate weekends and additional key weekends.

Benefits of joining this fast growing brand include an opportunity to learn and develop, with the established 'Retail Academy', as well as career development opportunities as the group continue to expand.

To apply for this role click here

 


Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager (ref:DS8504)

Location: Bedfordshire
Salary: £18,000 - £21,000
Date: 14 Jul
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


Our client one of the fastest growing new Garden Centre Groups in the UK. This young and exciting brand are seeking a Deputy Manager / Plantarea Manager to join one of their new outlets in Bedfordshire and provide support to the Centre Manager.

The Centre delivers a great retail experience, and has a wide product range to include plants, house plants sundries, and furniture (to name a few). Your centre will be competing against other centres across the country, and working closely with your manager, you will help drive your centre to become the top performer.

The Role

Key expectations are:
  • Briefing staff daily on the key tasks and ensuring their knowledge is updated around each seasons product lines.
  • Ensuring excellent customer service across the teams.
  • Coordinating stock ordering and ensuring POS and merchandising is optimised.
  • Deal with day to day cashing up and petty cash.
  • Manage staff rotas, one to ones and development.

The Candidate

To apply for this role, you must have worked within a retail environment and hold some line management experience. You will be leading the planteria team so horticultural knowledge is essential. You will also need to be flexible to work alternate weekends and additional key weekends.
Benefits of joining this fast growing brand include an opportunity to learn and develop, with the established 'Retail Academy', as well as career development opportunities as the group continue to expand.

To apply for this role click here
 
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Animals feared to have died in garden centre blaze
Several animals are feared to have died in a blaze which destroyed a Norfolk garden centre...


Several animals are feared to have died in a blaze which destroyed a Norfolk garden centre.

Six fire engines and more than 40 personnel tackled Friday’s fire at Scratby Garden Centre, with flames seen rising in the sky two miles down the road.

The centre is home to animals including rabbits, fish, ferrets, chickens and birds.

Three ferrets and two dogs were seen by local residents to be helped out of the centre, but the fate of the rest of the animals has not been officially confirmed.

At the time of the blaze, Scratby Garden Centre owner Sarah Lawson was in Great Yarmouth when she heard the news.

She said: “I got there as quick as I could, I am in a state of shock. The garden centre is burnt out. Some animals won’t make it I just hope not too many.”

Scott Norman, station manager at Carrow, added: “It was a very significant fire and there is a lot of damage.

“We did what we could to preserve as much of the building as we could.”

Fire appliances were called out at 3.10pm to the scene of the fire. Six crews from Yarmouth, Martham, Gorleston, Sprowston and Stalham were on the scene as well as police and ambulance crews.

Nobody required any treatment as a result of the flames, though one or two people went into the building to try to put the fire out before the crews arrived and rescue some animals.

Fire crews remained on scene until the later hours of the evening.

Fritz Schumpf, of Beach Road, said: “I could smell the flames from my house. I went outside to see what was happening and I could see flames and really thick black smoke rising into the air. I went down there and was handed one of the cages with a ferret but there was lots of animals in there. Lots of rabbits, fish, birds, owls and more.”

Another resident, who wished not to be named, said that the fire was the “saddest thing” she could ever remember in the village and feared that many animals had died.

Investigations will continue today as to why the building went up in flames.
 
Feeding plus pest and weed control help light up sales
Plant feeding plus pest and weed control products have helped to light up sales in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Top 50 chart this week...
Plant feeding plus pest and weed control products have helped to light up sales in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Top 50 chart this week.

The notable performances in the Top 50 were:
  • Westland Eraza Slug & Snail Killer 800g was the highest re-entry at No 26.
  • Scotts Weedol Pathclear 6+2 Tube (pictured) was the highest new entry at No 38.
  • Scotts Miracle-Gro Pour & Feed (1-litres) and Bayer Toprose  (1kg) were two feeding products returning to the chart while Scotts Levington Tomorite returned to top spot.
  • The highest climber of the week was Gardman Solar Spot Lights, which jumped 22 places to No 15.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
 
Compost sales see upturn on the previous week
The majority of products in this week’s GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart have experienced an increase in sales volumes compared to the previous week...
The majority of products in this week’s GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart have experienced an increase in sales volumes compared to the previous week.

This week’s Growing Media star performers were:
  • The highest re-entry was GroWise Organic Garden Compost (50 litres) at No 21.
  • The highest climber was Westland Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost (25 litres), which moved up 22 places to No 17.
  • Scotts Levington Organic Choice Top Soil (25 litres) and Arthur Bowers Chunky Chip Bark (75 litres) returned to the Top 50.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

 
Notcutts double offer to train ten students at Thrive
A new training bursary has been created at Thrive thanks to a touching and generous donation in the name of the late Charles Notcutt who passed away in 2015 aged 81. Pictured is Charles' daughter Caroline, who presented the charity with a cheque...
A new training bursary has been created at Thrive thanks to a touching and generous donation in the name of the late Charles Notcutt who passed away in 2015 aged 81.

Mr Notcutt, OBE, was an inspirational and popular leader of the horticultural community and was instrumental in the rapid growth of the family firm, Notcutts.

The Charles Notcutt Memorial Bursary was launched in January 2016 to enable five students to complete our Award in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.

More than 50 people applied for the bursary and Thrive shortlisted ten excellent candidates – in light of that Notcutts has agreed to fund all ten places.

The Award combines two days of teaching with an eight week period of accompanied self-directed learning. The bursary will cover the cost of ten places on our specialist knowledge programme, followed by access to the Award assignment. The ordinary combined cost of this is £550.

Thrive is the leading charity in the UK that uses gardening to help people living with disabilities or ill health, or those who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable, at their four regional centres and in the community, by using plants and gardening to bring positive changes to their lives.

If you have ever marvelled at the beauty of a flower, felt that sense of excitement, then satisfaction as your seedlings start to grow or feel refreshed and rejuvenated after a long walk in nature, then you have directly experienced some of the founding principles that have given rise to the profession of social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) which Thrive is the leading authority on in the UK.

As well as helping hundreds of people each year, the charity plays an important role in training people from a wide range of backgrounds, including health, social care and horticulture or people who are looking for a new career.

Damien Newman, Thrive’s National Training, Education and Consultancy Manager, said: “More and more people from different backgrounds are deciding to embark upon a new career in social and therapeutic horticulture.

“We offer ‘Step into Social and Therapeutic Horticulture’ workshops that provide a great introduction and provide careers advice and connect people with opportunities to volunteer.

“And Thrive can help people who want to take their training further, or become professional horticultural therapists, to study courses that we run in collaboration with Coventry University and Pershore College.  In total around 700 people access our training programme each year.”

Charles’ daughter Caroline (pictured) , who was one of the judges of Thrive’s annual flower show in July, presented the charity with a cheque and was delighted to hear of the connection with Pershore College which is where her father studied.

Looking to the future, Damien describes horticultural therapy movement as being “on the crest of a wave” and as it continues to gain credibility as a proven, cost-effective treatment that could help vulnerable people with a range of support needs and save the NHS millions of pounds each year, it is little surprise that the interest of the medical profession has once again been aroused.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

There are currently around 11.9 million living with a disability in the UK. In order to ensure that many more can experience the benefits of gardening for health and well-being, Thrive believes it is essential that a new generation of professionals and practitioners are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to offer credible, high quality therapy sessions across the UK. 

Damien added: “Thrive, alongside others in Green Care, the National Gardens Scheme who recently commissioned a report by The King’s Fund; Gardens and Health:  Implications for policy and practice, the Horticultural Trades Association and RHS have been promoting gardening for health and wellbeing, making connections with the medical profession and trying to get Public Health to recognise the value of Horticulture for health and wellbeing.

“More calls for doctors to ‘prescribe gardening’ mean we could see a huge demand for people who have knowledge of horticulture and have been trained to use horticulture as a therapy in the coming years.”

For more information about Thrive and the training opportunities they offer visit www.thrive.org.uk
 
Wolf trimmer earns Which? 'Best Buy'
Gardening Which? has awarded the WOLF-Garten GTE850 electric corded strimmer a Best Buy...

Gardening Which? has awarded the WOLF-Garten GTE850 electric corded strimmer a Best Buy.

Retailing at £94.99, the trimmer gained a 74% score.

The addition of the wheels designed to provide support and help cut the grass to an even length make this trimmer stand out. The second adjustable hand grip provides extra support and control, whilst the protection guard keeps wanted plants safe.

The reviewers said the machine ran through tests quickly and efficiently, leaving a neat finish, and had no problems with long grass and rough weeds. Thanks to its unique Trim and Edge function, it also worked particularly well when edging the lawn. The lengthy 20m cable and extremely quiet operation were also noted.

Nick Hills, Wolf Garten’s Lawn and Garden General Manager said: “We are really proud to have received this recognition from Which? We believe that our electric ranges are innovative and attractive so it is nice to see them receive such a great badge of honour!”
Industry urged to adopt holistic approach to wine weevil threat
An emergency summit aiming to find an industry-led solution to the threat of vine weevil took place on Tuesday last week...

An emergency summit aiming to find an industry-led solution to the threat of vine weevil took place on Tuesday last week.

It focused on issues surrounding the vine weevil threat and the available means of control. BASF, the UK’s only producers of nematodes, played an integral part in the discussion, which aimed to produce concrete steps for the industry to take.

Rob Storer, BASF’s marketing and value chain manager, has stressed the need for the industry to work together, “Biological pest control is possible at field scale, however it should be viewed as being part of a true IPM system” he said. “Using biological products requires different thinking to conventional pesticides – a more holistic view needs to be considered and so wide IPM approaches developed”.

Also supporting the summit were the HTA, Bayer, ICL and Fargro.

Nematodes are tiny micro-organisms which occur naturally in the soil where they hunt down and attack pests, with each different nematode having their own specific prey species

In addition to a Nemasys product formulated to deal with vine weevils, there are controls designed to control slugs, leatherjackets, ants and chafer grubs.

Vine weevils are the number one pest in ornamental crops.
 
Inside the July issue of Garden Trade News
The July issue of Garden Trade News is packed full of advice and information for garden retailing professionals...
The July issue of Garden Trade News is packed full of advice and information for garden retailing professionals.
  • The story behind the sale of Dobbies.
  • GIMA Charity Golf Day report and pictures.
  • Smell the coffee - how to make your drinks offering work.
  • It's time for tea - great afternoon tea tips.
  • MasterChef - advice from the Greatest Garden Centre Chef team.
  • Service with a smile - great customer service.
  • Are you ready for Glee?
To find out how you can receive your copy of Garden Trade News every month email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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 £145.00 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 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 £145.00.

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.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk


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