While garden centre footfall and total volume sales continue to run at levels up on both 2017 and 2018 garden centre management teams’ thoughts are turning to next year and looking forward to Glee.
In the September issue of Garden Trade News you’ll read the Expectations for Glee from a number of retailers and exhibitors and there is a common theme of looking for sustainability and green credentials in products they want to be selling next year.
Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries explained: “2019 has been a great trading year so far with customers showing real interest in all ‘green’ aspects of the products they are buying. Never before have I dealt with so many queries on the detail of all products in terms of their environmental impact. There is a real ‘head of steam’ behind consumers’ desire to improve their environment and to reduce their footprint at all levels. Curating the correct range of products for this changing market will be challenging but bring opportunities.”
With entries steadily coming in for the New Product Showcase at Glee, which we organise, we will be watching to see how many of those entries are making the most of the opportunity Adam refers to.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 32) Garden Products - up 70% Growing Media - up 7% Wild Bird Care - up 10% Veg-2-Gro - up 1% All Plants Index - down 19% All Items Index - up 8%
