In This Issue
Adrian Hall garden centres close as parent company ceases trading
Notcutts looks ahead after a strong performance in 2021/22
Hozelock launches exciting new range of sprinklers
ClipGlove brand set to increase recycled content
GCA supports HTA report into reducing crime in garden centre retail
Glee crowns its first ever ESG Initiative Award winner
Vitax sponsors Botanic Garden’s 400th anniversary
GCA Chief Executive has resigned
RHS Hyde Hall reveals People’s Choice Viola Winner
The future looks bright for AMES UK
Hozelock sets its sights on the future with multi-million-pound investment
RECOUP questions growing trend for material switching
Southern Trident’s Steve Harper runs for charity
Join the London Landmark Half Marathon and support the Greenfingers Charity
Saving the planet one blade of grass at a time
Autumn Fair announces Gift of the Year winners' product showcase
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt: A trade show for growers and breeders
RHS partnership with Welsh Slate Water Features launches at retail
Deadline extended for the AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards 2023
The best of last week's
SOLEX 2023: The exhibition that's moving with the times
Grand opening for Rosebourne Weyhill extension
LOFA and The Landscape Show team up for an exciting partnership
Barrus takes new market segments by storm
Treadstone step up to the challenge at Glee
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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Adrian Hall garden centres close as parent company ceases trading

Adrian Hall Ltd, which runs Feltham Garden Centre in Middlesex and Sheen Garden Centre in South West London, has ceased trading, a statement on the company's website has announced.


 

Adrian Hall Ltd, which runs Feltham Garden Centre in Middlesex and Sheen Garden Centre in South West London, has ceased trading.

 

A statement on the company’s website reads:

 

“It is with sadness and regret that Adrian Hall Limited have had to cease trading and appoint FRP as liquidators of the company.

 

“Adrian Hall were working towards a sale of the company but regrettably the buyer pulled out and liquidators had to be appointed.

 

“Thank you to all our staff and customers for your service and custom over the years and sorry - this is not the way we wanted it to end.

 

“For any queries relating to the liquidation or outstanding orders/balances, please contact Mohammed Khan at FRP - mohammed.khan@frpadvisory.com.”

Notcutts looks ahead after a strong performance in 2021/22

Notcutts delivered a strong trading performance during the year ending February 2022. Turnover at £79.6m was up 23.8% on the prior year and operating profits grew strongly to £8.42m...


Following the easing of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the return of consumer confidence and a surging interest in gardening, Notcutts delivered a strong trading performance during the year ending February 2022. Turnover at £79.6m was up 23.8% on the prior year. Operating profits grew strongly to £8.42m underpinned by additional sales, strong gross margin and close cost control.

 

The 2021/22 financial year, ending in February, saw Notcutts resume its capital development programme with projects in Woodbridge, Solihull, Dukeries (Worksop), Ashton Park (Aston Under Lyne) and Oxford. Significant investment was also made with the commencement of two IT system replacement projects.

 

Nick Burrows, CEO of Notcutts, said: “It’s terrific to have completed phase 2 of our Woodbridge redevelopment project. Woodbridge was the first Notcutts garden centre and also the site where it all began for us when the company was originally founded by Roger Crompton Notcutt in 1897. A sparkling new entrance, a new canopy with a rainwater harvesting installation, the introduction of wild meadow zones, extended car parking and the addition of a new garden buildings showcase were all part of this project. These works have complemented our new restaurant which was completed in March 2020 and our woodland nature walk which we opened in 2019.”

 

Burrows added: “At our Solihull garden centre, we have completed a new glasshouse which has substantially increased our covered plant area. We have introduced a range of new visual merchandising displays and are now able to offer our customers wider plant selections over an extended season. As with our Woodbridge project we have also introduced a rainwater harvesting installation here.

 

“Other projects completed during the year included the first stages of planteria works which form part of our wider Oxford garden centre development project; an internal refit of Ashton Park; improvements across our Dukeries garden centre which have included a new car park, the restoration of a former ornamental pond and the introduction of new wild meadow zones.

 

“Significantly we have also invested in two new IT systems which are due to go live within our business later this year and will support new efficiencies in our core business and customer relationship management processes,” said Burrows. “Our e-commerce operation has also been strengthened with ongoing system development and the establishment of a new picking, packing, despatch and order management centre based at our Solihull garden centre.”

 

Bridget McIntyre, Chairman commented: “As we look forward to the year ahead we are delighted to have completed the acquisition of Frosts Brampton in August which becomes Notcutts’ 19th garden centre. This is a great addition to our portfolio. I’m also especially pleased to see the continuing progress we are achieving in supporting colleagues throughout the business with their personal development and skills training. We now have over 100 courses available on our My Learning platform and we are supplementing this with a variety of in-person training sessions which have included: equality, diversity and inclusion; environmental awareness; social media and digital marketing and horticultural skills where we have a three-stage learning programme available to all colleagues.

 

“A positive culture is something I believe is essential to a flourishing organisation and it was pleasing to see that, for the third successive time, our annual colleague survey showed another step forward on so many measures that contribute towards this. Recognition is an important part of the culture that we have in Notcutts and it was therefore wonderful to see the return of our annual awards dinner celebrations after a two year hiatus brought about by the Covid pandemic,” said McIntyre.

 

Caroline Notcutt, Vice Chairman, expressed great excitement about the forthcoming year: “We are continuing to look forward with a busy agenda. Bringing Brampton into the Notcutts fold will be an important area for our focus as we continue to celebrate our 125th anniversary year. The next phases of our Oxford garden centre redevelopment with a new car park and a complete interior refit; the planned restoration to bring back the beautiful Messenger glasshouses in Dukeries; new plant area canopies in our Cranleigh and St Albans garden centres; an internal refit in Solihull; and a suite of environmental projects including solar installations at a number of our garden centres, new wild meadow and wild life zones, rainwater harvesting projects and recycling projects. All these will continue the progress we have made in recent years.”

 

Caroline Notcutt added: “I’ve been especially pleased to see the huge focus that Nick and his leadership team have placed on the delivery of superb customer service by our colleagues. Our customer satisfaction scores have strengthened again this year. This is so important to me and all the Notcutt family. We will be running a company wide programme this Autumn when all colleagues will be participating in team sessions on the delivery of brilliant customer experiences. These will be engaging and uplifting occasions and we will be closing our garden centres early when they take place to enable all colleagues to participate.

 

“Our community engagement programme has also continued to flourish. All our garden centres and our Woodbridge support office support charities and community groups within their localities. We also have an established partnership with Pennies which enables customers to support charitable causes with us. At a company level we have enjoyed a rewarding partnership with Thrive through the Charles Notcutt bursary over recent years. We have now entered into a new partnership with the Green Light Trust whose mission is to ensure that everyone has equitable access to the power of nature. Embracing the themes of gardening, wellbeing, environment and nature, Green Light Trust very much reflect our values and aspirations,” commented Caroline Notcutt.

Hozelock launches exciting new range of sprinklers
GTN Xtra Promotion

For 2023 Hozelock will be extending its portfolio of watering products even further by introducing a new range of sprinklers...


 

Watering is one of, if not the, most important task for all gardeners, whether they have a small courtyard or a larger plot of land. To enable the garden to thrive, Hozelock prides itself on having an extensive range of gardening products to help a range of homeowners with differing experience and needs. 

 

For 2023 Hozelock will be extending its portfolio of watering products even further by introducing a new range of sprinklers. 

 

The leading gardening brand has overhauled its oscillating sprinkler range and will be offering two new designs to meet the demand for reliable, easy to use and sustainable sprinklers. 

 

 

The four new designs (available in 3 sizes) will replace existing models and are a sprinkler solution for any garden size and design.  The products offer innovative 3D control by avoiding wasted water, providing larger coverage and perhaps most importantly – not getting the user wet. 

 

Other key features include six individual jets which can be turned on and off depending on the coverage levels needed and a flow control adjustment to allow the user to stop water flow when moving the sprinkler to different parts of the garden.

 

Speaking of the new products Sarah Dixon, Acting Head of Marketing, said, “Throughout our 60 year heritage the Hozelock range of sprinklers have always been hugely popular with retailers and customers alike.  Whilst our existing products have great functionality, because innovation is at the forefront of everything we do it made perfect sense to revisit this category and enhance our offering.  

 

“The new products offer solutions to common problems, such as users getting wet, and also offer a more sustainable way of watering through flow control options. We are looking forward to rolling these new products out to garden centres in spring 2023 and seeing how they are received by gardeners.” 

 

For further information, visit www.hozelock.com

 

ClipGlove brand set to increase recycled content
GTN Xtra Promotion

 

Known as one of the most innovative garden glove brands in the industry, ClipGlove is set to strengthen its range to become even more progressive in 2023. Many of the developments will centre around being more sustainable, including using 30% recycled materials across the production of the glove range...


Known as one of the most innovative garden glove brands in the industry, ClipGlove is set to strengthen its range to become even more progressive in 2023. Many of the developments will centre around being more sustainable, including using 30% recycled materials across the production of the glove range.

 

An instant hit

As well as boasting a range of quality protective gloves, ClipGlove became a hit very quickly due to a first to market functionality, with each pair of gloves being held together with a carabiner clip. This clip enables gardeners to fasten the gloves onto a convenient place during and after use. This solved that age old problem, of losing gloves around the garden with the clever clip system.

 

Since Treadstone launched ClipGlove in 2019, the brand has gone from strength to strength, offering a broad range of protective gloves to use for garden and DIY jobs. More recently ClipGlove accessories have been added, with useful products such as bags, aprons, and tool belts to help gardeners whilst performing differing jobs at home and in the garden. These accessories also include the clever carabiner clips, synonymous to the brand.

 

A match made in heaven - Performance & Sustainability

Treadstone has grown the ClipGlove range to be listed in hundreds of Garden Centres in the UK and has also raised the brands portfolio by winning three BBC Gardener’s World ‘Best Buy’ product awards.

 

Now in 2023 customers can look forward to a more sustainable ClipGlove. This is because across the range it will now use 30% recycled materials, using materials in production that would normally go to waste. With the move to use more recycled materials in the range, ClipGlove are not only helping the UK’s gardeners and DIY enthusiasts keeping their hands protected but are helping the planet by reducing waste. 

 

As well as helping the environment, this move occurs without altering ClipGloves’ high-performance specification, upholding the Treadstone ‘QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE’ promise for their brands and products.

 

Merchandising to grow sales

The brands success has been fully backed up with excellent sell through rates and winning an industry GIMA award for the innovative ClipGlove “Spinner Stand” merchandiser. 

Now customers can take sales performance to a new level with the “Glove Station” merchandising concept.

 

For existing customers this means they can upgrade their existing spinner by converting it to the new “Glove Station.” Keeping the spinner as the centrepiece, the glove station provides a permanent home for the fast-selling triple packs and an impactful endcap for seasonal glove promotions. The “Glove Station” provides retailers and consumers with all their garden glove needs in one high impact, informative destination unit. 

If you are an existing customer interested in upgrading your Spinner stand or a retailer interested in stocking ClipGlove, Treadstone would be pleased to discuss your requirements with you, email sales@treadstoneproducts.com. Take a look at the Treadstone 2023 brochure (click here to view) for further information about their brands and products.

 
GCA supports HTA report into reducing crime in garden centre retail

The Garden Centre Association is supporting a new report published by the Horticultural Trades Association about reducing crime in garden centre retail. Tammy Woodhouse, Chairman at the GCA, said: “The HTA’s report on reducing opportunistic crime in garden centre retail is an interesting read and one we think our members will benefit greatly from."


The Garden Centre Association is supporting a new report published by the Horticultural Trades Association about reducing crime in garden centre retail.

 

The report reveals how costly crime is to UK garden centres and uses psychological theory and some tactics and methods to deploy to help deter crime.

 

Tammy Woodhouse, Chairman at the GCA, said: “The HTA’s report on reducing opportunistic crime in garden centre retail is an interesting read and one we think our members will benefit greatly from.

 

“The report revealed that HTA members surveyed said customer theft was one of the biggest problems they faced, with 22% of garden centres describing it as a major issue. It also reveals that in the last year, approximately £16million of HTA member garden centres’ turnover was lost to theft.

 

“The most frequently stolen items were packet seeds, followed by secateurs and other hand tools. Watering products/parts, bulbs and gifts/jewellery were reported as being vulnerable to be stolen, but on a more minor scale.

 

“The report looks into why crimes happened and using psychology, it offers advice on understanding and deterring individuals from committing them. It also gives ideas and examples of applying principles of psychology to deter crime, such as the ‘watching eye’ effect, changing mood through music and how to utilise staff, and encourage psychological ownership among employees.

 

“We are encouraging our members to have a read of the report as we feel it will be extremely beneficial to those who have problems with theft. It’s vital to stay on top of important issues like this and our members can all share help and ideas with each other on tackling the problem.”

 

The report is available to view by members at https://hta.org.uk/consumerinsights.

Glee crowns its first ever ESG Initiative Award winner

Following the first-ever June edition of the Glee exhibition, the show’s organisers have added a new initiative as part of its ‘Power of One’ campaign, introducing the Glee ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Initiative Award. This new award celebrates those brands that are taking great strides to positively impact these three critical areas of their business, with this year’s winner confirmed as Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC...


 

Following the first-ever June edition of the Glee exhibition, the show’s organisers have added a new initiative as part of its ‘Power of One’ campaign, introducing the Glee ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Initiative Award. This new award celebrates those brands that are taking great strides to positively impact these three critical areas of their business, with this year’s winner confirmed as Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC.

 

Visitors to Glee 2022 would have seen Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC in Hall 7, where the UK-based community interest company showcased its full range of boxes and houses for hedgehogs, owls, bats, small animals, tortoise, bugs, bees and nesting birds, as well as its seed ball offering.

 

What stood out to the Glee team when selecting their 2022 ESG Initiative Award winner was the fact that not only is the company dedicated to caring for nature, but it is also dedicated to caring for people. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, the company’s factory is filled with skilled joiners and wildlife-loving young adults with learning difficulties. Members of the Recovery Project team work together to design and construct wooden wildlife products, which help protect vulnerable species whilst offering employment for young people with learning difficulties and also the chance to be part of a vital conversation project - a topic which is close to the heart of Wildlife and Birdcare’s Managing Director, Sammy Holman. Autistic herself, Sammy has launched a special programme called “WoW – World of Work”, designed to help young adults who struggle to gain their first foot on the working ladder. Sammy said “We are over the moon to have been awarded the Glee ESG Initiative Award. It just proves that with a lot of hard graft and a great deal of enthusiasm amazing things can be achieved!

 

“Looking ahead we want to actively engage with companies, trusts, charities, and retailers to introduce the Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project. We are currently working to raise over £1.5million towards a new, larger site where we can benefit so many more young adults and provide even more employment opportunities.  We intend to raise these funds through contractual production work including joinery, product development, manufacturing, greeting card printing, giftware, and gardening gifts. We’re so excited for what the future holds.”

 

To hand over the inaugural ESG Initiative Award, Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, travelled to the Wildlife and Birdcare headquarters. Talking on the day, he said: “Most inspirational day yet! This company truly live their value and approach to sustainability, whilst also developing 20 young students with learning difficulties - most with autism – to get them into the workplace. It is so amazing to see. It is a vibrant work environment built on giving these young people a purpose. It was really very humbling to witness. I nearly couldn’t get my words out when I presented the award to them. They were so happy.”

 

To find out more about the work the Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC undertakes, please visit www.wildlifeandbirdcare.co.uk

 

Find out more 

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focussing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories. To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

 
Vitax sponsors Botanic Garden’s 400th anniversary

Vitax has announced its support for one of the UK’s oldest botanic gardens by sponsoring a commemorative event as part of University of Oxford Botanic Garden’s 400th anniversary celebrations. Pictured: The stunning ‘Oxford Physic Rose’ created by Peter Beales Roses for the anniversary celebrations.


Vitax has announced its support for one of the UK’s oldest botanic gardens by sponsoring a commemorative event as part of University of Oxford Botanic Garden’s 400th anniversary celebrations.

 

Attended by 120 guests, including the Chancellor of Oxford University – Baron Patten of Barnes, Vitax sponsored the Oxford Botanic Gardens ‘Act of Celebration’ luncheon to mark the final week of activities, which included a ceremonial tree planting and a full peal of bells which could be heard across Oxford.

 

Pictured: The stunning ‘Oxford Physic Rose’ created by Peter Beales Roses for the anniversary celebrations.

 

“The Oxford Botanic Garden is a fantastic horticultural resource and home to many rare and unusual plants, and we are thrilled to be part of such an historic event,” says Paul Gooding, Vitax’s chairman.

 

“The ‘Act of Celebration’ was the perfect start to the end of a year of celebrations. As one of the oldest gardens in the world, guests were not only able to fully explore the Garden and unusual plants, but also learn about the Garden’s future plans as it continues to nurture new plants and prevent the extinction of others to tackle climate change and enhance biodiversity.”

 

Founded in 1621 by Henry Danvers the first Earl of Danby KG, the University of Oxford Botanic Gardens was originally a physic garden for cultivation of medicinal plants for teaching students in the Medical School.

 

In 1840 it changed its name to ‘Oxford Botanic Garden’ - the birthplace of botanical science in Oxford. Today, it remains a place of research and teaching in plant sciences and plays a vital role in plant conservation with a collection of over 5,000 plants.

 

Professor Simon Hiscock, director of the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, says: “Over the past 12 months we have had a programme of events to highlight the magnificent plants within the Garden and Arboretum and we are delighted to have Vitax as an anniversary sponsor.

 

“As we now look to the future, we will be adding new glasshouses and cultivating new plant species to help educate students and visitors in the importance of plants and the role they will play in our future.”

 

As part of the year-long celebrations, a commemorative rose was commissioned and launched at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The ‘Oxford Physic Rose’ was created by Peter Beales Roses Ltd as part of its ‘Modern Classic Collection’.

 

The new rose has silky, shell pink blooms, which are open cup in shape and lend themselves perfectly to pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies.

 

Ian Limmer, nursery manager of Peter Beales Roses, says: “We have been both honoured and delighted to be involved in the Oxford Botanic Garden’s 400th anniversary celebrations.

 

“We hope that launching this beautiful and very aptly named rose will help support the Botanic Garden’s mission to share with everyone the importance of plants with the world.”

GCA Chief Executive has resigned

Iain Wylie, the Garden Centre Association Chief Executive, has announced he has resigned from his role to pursue other opportunities...


 

The Garden Centre Association Chief Executive has announced he has resigned from his role to pursue other opportunities.

 

Iain Wylie, who has been in the position for nine years, has grown the GCA to its highest level and has overseen the development of existing benefits and the addition of new ones.

 

He said: “It has been a privilege to work with the GCA for the past ten years and see the Association develop with membership at an all-time high.

 

“The highlights during this time have been the introduction of Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) e-learning platform, which is now used by more than 10,000 garden centre staff, organising the conference each year and being part of the team that worked to get garden centres reopened during the pandemic and seeing our wonderful industry come together with one voice.

 

“Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and it is time to pass the baton onto someone else to oversee the next phase of the GCA’s development.”

 

During his time at the GCA, Iain has also overseen the organisation of its International Garden Centre Congress and the co-ordination of the annual GCA inspections and awards.

 

Tammy Woodhouse, GCA Chairman, said: “Over the last nine years Iain has worked as GCA Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the day to day running of the GCA and in particular supporting the industry through the challenges of COVID in the last few years. We would like to thank him for this and wish him every success in the future.

 

“The recruitment process to find a new Chief Executive will begin in September and further details will be released at that time for anyone interested in the position.”

 

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

 

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

RHS Hyde Hall reveals People’s Choice Viola Winner

  

Results of an RHS People’s Choice vote on more than 220 Viola cultivars at RHS Garden Hyde Hall have returned a tie for the top spot and a three-way split in second place. Viola ‘Bel Viso Yellow Jump Up’ and V. ‘Rocky Black’ polled the most votes to take joint first place..


 

Results of an RHS People’s Choice vote on more than 220 Viola cultivars at RHS Garden Hyde Hall have returned a tie for the top spot and a three-way split in second place. Viola ‘Bel Viso Yellow Jump Up’ (pictured above) and V. ‘Rocky Black’ (below) polled the most votes to take joint first place, while V. ‘Bel Viso YTT’, V.’Deltini Blue Purple Wing’ and V. ’Deltini Honeybee’ came joint second.

 

 

While not an official RHS Trial, the RHS trials team took the opportunity to have the demonstration planting of Violaassessed by a panel of experts with a view to awarding the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to any plants that meet the relevant criteria. The results of the AGM assessment will be published later this year.

 

The Viola demonstration was on display in the Floral Fantasia garden at RHS Hyde Hall from March to June and proved very popular with visitors.

 

For more information about RHS Trials and the Award of Garden Merit see www.rhs.org.uk/trials

The future looks bright for AMES UK

AMES UK’s Managing Director, Paul North, looks ahead to what is in store for 2023...


 

With a major investment and company restructuring over the past couple of years, AMES UK and its family of brands look somewhat different to how they did in 2019. This redevelopment meant that the updated Kelkay, Apta and La Hacienda brands made their official debut together under one banner at Glee 2022, in an industry first for any exhibition.  With product innovation, updated POS and AMES UK exclusives, the company’s commitment to becoming the garden retail sector’s partner of choice is stronger than ever.

 

Here, AMES UK’s Managing Director, Paul North, looks ahead to what is in store for 2023.

 

“Glee 2022 was a big moment for us. The last few years have been best summarised as a significant period of change and development for us as a company, so showcasing this to the industry was a turning point. I believe it has helped us illustrate an AMES UK that is a little different to what people might have expected.”

 

Industry observers have cause for a pleasant surprise, as Kelkay, Apta and La Hacienda undergo something of a renaissance, with new teams, new ideas and improved access to trend information helping to shape the development of each brand. The spectacular stand at Glee revealed the start of a new chapter for AMES UK, where the refreshed ethos and customer support tools were revealed, including exclusive new concepts and added value that gave the brands an edge in a crowded marketplace.  The showcase at Glee was just a taster of what is to come, as Paul explains.

 

“Over the last two years, we have reassessed every aspect of our business and now these changes are beginning to roll out into the marketplace. One of the greatest joys of Glee was being able to share this with our customers and gain their feedback; feedback which has already helped us to make further changes to ensure that everything we are doing – from product introductions to our retail-led solutions – is hitting the mark. This is an evolutionary process and we’re not done yet - far from it!”

 

 

The partner of choice

As we head towards 2023 and beyond, AMES UK is fixed on its goal of becoming the industry’s ‘partner of choice’, something that Paul believes is entirely achievable, saying: “We are in an incredibly unique position in that we offer a genuinely unrivalled portfolio of products. From decorative aggregates to pots and planters, garden décor, heating and lawn and garden tools, the AMES family of brands has a considerable proportion of garden centre sales potential together in one portfolio. No other supplier can boast this, but we equally appreciate our responsibility to ensure that the heritage of each brand is honoured in the best possible way.

 

“To this end we have recruited some incredible individuals to our in-house teams, dedicated to researching current and future trends and identifying new opportunities. This research will inform every stage of our product development, from the product design itself to the specific colours and materials used. Everything we are bringing to market has been through a strict ‘route to market’ procedure which we hope offers peace of mind to our retail partners. This is not newness for the sake of newness, this is newness to drive growth, increase profitability and create new sales opportunities for our customers.”

 

New retail-led solutions on the agenda

One area that will be music to the ears of retailers will be AMES UK’s commitment to more retail-led solutions across point of sale and merchandising displays. Paul adds: “One key takeaway from Glee was the need to better support our retailers with content to drive sales in-store. The feedback we received was hugely insightful and now we’re working to develop our offering further.”

 

Innovative launches for 2023

With pre-season orders well and truly underway, retailers across the country are poised to take receipt of the latest introductions from Kelkay, La Hacienda and Apta’s highly curated 2023 collections. These include several AMES UK exclusive designs and, as Paul says: “If Glee 2022 was the test environment, 2023 will in many ways see the true relaunch of all our brands. We’ve taken the time to evaluate all product collections, tempering, replacing, and updating where our data tells us changes need to be made. Core ranges are now better supported by an improved product hierarchy and are also supported by a reinvigorated sales team that is waxing lyrical about the changes made. We are prouder than ever of what each of our brands offers and will be using this as a jumping-off point for more product development throughout the season.”

 

Join the journey

Paul concludes: “2023 is going to be a pivotal year for AMES UK and our family of brands. We firmly believe in what we have brought to market and know that what we have in the pipeline is going to change the game once again. It’s an exciting time to be part of AMES UK and we can’t wait to take our retail partner on this journey with us.”

 

Find out more

Further details about AMES UK can be found at https://ames-uk.com/

 
Hozelock sets its sights on the future with multi-million-pound investment

Hozelock has expanded its UK presence through the acquisition of an additional manufacturing and warehouse facility at its production and distribution base in the West Midlands...


Hozelock, Europe’s leading garden watering and plant protection specialist, has expanded its UK presence through the acquisition of an additional manufacturing and warehouse facility at its production and distribution base in the West Midlands.

 

The investment marks a significant step in Hozelock’s long term growth strategy and will enable the business to expand its UK manufacturing capabilities in direct response to increasing consumer demand, both in the UK and internationally.

 

Situated in Birmingham just off the M42, the additional 6,000 sqm will allow the business to better serve its customers. The multi-million-pound investment also includes eight additional moulding machines, increasing the total number to 63, that will produce plastic components for a wide range of Hozelock’s watering products.

 

Also housed in the new facility, which will create at least 15 new jobs, will be head office space and a purpose-built showroom, to be used for training and to showcase products to retailers and key customers.

 

Simon Davies, Hozelock CEO, said: “As an organisation, we are incredibly proud of our engineering and production capabilities, with over 75% of Hozelock products manufactured in the West Midlands.

 

“This is an extremely exciting time for Hozelock. This new facility will enable us to better serve our customers in the UK and internationally and support our future growth by increasing our production capabilities across our innovative range of products, from watering to natural gardening solutions.”

 

For further information on Hozelock, visit www.hozelock.com

RECOUP questions growing trend for material switching

Plastics recycling charity RECOUP has been at the forefront of the debate regarding the trend for material switching under the guise of plastics reduction strategies. In some cases, this is done without consideration for the effect on overall recyclability...


Plastics recycling charity RECOUP has been at the forefront of the debate regarding the trend for material switching under the guise of plastics reduction strategies. In some cases, this is done without consideration for the effect on overall recyclability.  

 

When packaging is assessed in isolation rather than as part of the overall supply chain then citizens can be lulled into a false sense of security regarding recyclability and environmental sustainability claims.

 

To highlight some of these key issues RECOUP has produced a set of case studies which demonstrate the issues and how improvements can be made to ensure maximum recovery whilst minimising the impact on the environment.  It is important that any claims made concerning sustainability are valid and not ‘greenwashing’.  

 

Kate Bedford, Packaging Project Manager, explained; “There is a need to make brand owners and packaging designers aware of the factors which need to be considered when looking at changing material. Case Studies communicate what is required.”  Paul East, Head of Packaging, Recycling and Design at RECOUP added “a growing number of companies are following the trend to change material types to claim improved sustainability and recyclability, however there are instances when product claims are in danger of lulling consumers into believing such switches are an improvement, when in some instances this is not the case."

 

The RECOUP ‘Recyclability By Design’ case studies illustrate to users and designers of plastic packaging how Design for Recyclability principles can be applied to ensure that their packaging can be recycled and can display accurate messaging to the consumer.   The Case Studies give examples of packaging where the switch of material works counter to the recyclability and circularity of the packaging.   Illustrations particularly highlight the issues with multi-material packaging such as laminated paper bottles and trays.   Often the pack had the best chance of being recycled and recovered in its original state, thus questioning to what purpose the swap was made.

 

It is envisaged that the topic will be keenly debated at the RECOUP Conference on 29th September.   Registrations can be made both for the Conference and pre-conference dinner at www.recoup.org.   

 

The case study is available to RECOUP members only, and any organisations wishing to join RECOUP are encouraged to contact enquiry@recoup.org for further information.  

 
Southern Trident’s Steve Harper runs for charity

Steve Harper, CEO of Southern Trident, is running the Lincoln Half Marathon to raise money for Perennial...


Steve Harper, CEO of Southern Trident, is running the Lincoln Half Marathon to raise money for Perennial.

 

Steve said: “To date this year I have been consistently running a 5k Parkrun every Saturday but little else, so stepping up to 13 miles in a little over four weeks is going to be a challenge. But hey, that's life right!

 

“And that's why I want to see if I can raise a few pounds for Perennial, our industry charity that supports anyone working in horticulture suffering their own challenges be it money, housing, health and wellbeing, energy support and advice.

 

“As we head into the worst cost of living crisis for at least 4 decades I am sure more of us will need help so if you can do anything to highlight my challenge I would appreciate it.”

 

To make a donation to Steve’s half marathon challenge visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-harper7

Join the London Landmark Half Marathon and support the Greenfingers Charity

In April 2022, 11 runners from the garden retail sector tackled the unique London Landmark Half Marathon, together raising funds for the children’s hospice garden charity, Greenfingers. With the 2023 event now open for registration, the charity is pleased to confirm that it has once again secured 10 places...


 

In April 2022, 11 runners from the garden retail sector tackled the unique London Landmark Half Marathon, together raising funds for the children’s hospice garden charity, Greenfingers. With the 2023 event now open for registration, the charity is pleased to confirm that it has once again secured 10 places.

 

Taking place on April 2nd 2023, there are currently just three places left to join one of the country’s most unique road races, with Team Woodlodge having already signed up to take part.

 

Entry is free though the Greenfingers fundraising team asks for a minimum fundraising target of £500. Interested parties are invited to email Linda Petrons, GreenfingersDirector of Fundraising & Communications via linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk to register their interest.

 

Linda Petrons said: “We are so pleased to have the London Landmarks Half Marathon back in our fundraising calendar for 2023. Last year’s event was truly inspiring and a race I know that our 11 fundraisers won’t forget in a hurry, so whether this is your first or last half marathon, know that you are set to have an incredible day. More than this, know that every penny raised will be hugely appreciated by all of us at Greenfingers, as well as the children, families and staff that spend time in a Greenfingers garden”

 

About the London Landmark Half Marathon

Launched in 2014, the London Landmark Half Marathon has been set up to shine a spotlight on not just London’s iconic landmarks, but also its quirky hidden gems. The route - which starts at Nelson’s Column before taking in such landmarks as London Eye, Big Ben, Downing Street, the world’s smallest police station, the largest grasshopper, Guy Fawkes house and so much more – travels through the heart of Westminster and London City, whilst celebrating the rich heritage and culture that shapes our nation’s capital. 

 

To keep runners motivated, the route will also be adorned with musical performances, DJs, dancers and themed cheer stations, including a floral themed Greenfingers one!  All roads will remain closed for the duration of the race.

 

This year runners from Evergreen Garden Care, British Garden Centres, AMES UK, and Capi Europe ran on behalf of Greenfingers, together raising over £11,000.  Can you help beat that in 2023?

 

Find out more

To find out more about Greenfingers Charity, and how to get involved in a range of fundraising events please visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/

 

You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Saving the planet one blade of grass at a time

Johnsons Lawn Seed explains how lawns and other grassy areas are truly eco-friendly…


With everything from gardens and fields to roadside verges and riverbanks covered in grass, it's easy to take the green stuff for granted, even when it's dry and crispy in the current heatwave. The truth is, though, that grasses fulfil a complex role in our ecosystem, especially in urban areas where any kind of plant life is thin on the ground. The experts at Johnsons Lawn Seed take a look at the environmental benefits of grass, from carbon sequestration to air purification and water management.

 

Did you know…?

A single hectare of grass can produce enough oxygen for 150 people to breathe, whilst also filtering dust and other particles from the air. Closer to the ground it guards against soil erosion and helps prevent flash flooding and excess water runoff by filtering water slowly into the ground. This is in stark contrast with the water damage that can be caused in areas where gardens have been concreted over, covered in fake plastic grass and the natural environment is constantly under pressure from manmade structures.

 

Like all plants, grass can also help to regulate temperatures - something we could do with a bit more of right now - and the creation of parks and community gardens in urban areas can help to keep towns and cities cool as temperatures rise.

 

Carbon capture

Perhaps most intriguingly, however, grass is an efficient means of transferring carbon to the soil. Simply put, grass leaves capture CO2 and grass roots sequestrate CO2 into the soil as carbon. 100m2 of grass sequestrates 336kgs of carbon into the soil each year - the equivalent of 1.23 tons of CO2 annually and more carbon per square metre than trees.

 

Grass – especially managed turf - outperforms forests and soil when it comes to capturing CO2. Whilst the carbon in trees is mainly locked into the trunks as lignin (woody matter) with a ratio of 80:20 above ground to below ground biomass, grass is the other way around. Denser, deeper and faster growing grass root systems produce more organic matter and hence trap more carbon. The speed at which grass can grow and the surface area that grass covers makes it a carbon capture hero of the plant world.

 

The Consumer Manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed – the UK’s oldest lawn seed brand - Guy Jenkins, comments: “Fast growing, relatively easy to maintain and with excellent CO2 sequestration properties, the environmental benefits of natural grasses are huge and should be considered by urban planners and property developers who care about the planet and want to meet their sustainability commitments. We are seeing far too much concrete, plastic and other manmade materials covering outdoor spaces – not only is this contributing to the increasing flood hazard in many areas, but it is also greatly limiting our ability to control atmospheric CO2 that would otherwise be absorbed by grass.”

 

Johnsons Lawn Seed Product Range

Johnsons Lawn Seed offers a wide range of innovative lawn seed solutions including lawn seed to tackle dog pee burn, shady spaces, lawns in need of a quick fix and those that suffer from excess moss or those that just want to win ‘lawn of the year’, including: Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance; Quick Lawn with Accelerator-treated seed; Luxury Lawn Seed; After Moss Lawn Seed; Lawn Thickener Lawn Seed with SeedBooster and Shady Place Lawn Seed

 

To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed products please visit http://www.johnsonslawnseed.com/product-range.aspx

Autumn Fair announces Gift of the Year winners' product showcase

Autumn Fair, the UK’s industry leading marketplace for wholesale home, gift, fashion, and Design & Source, at the NEC Birmingham from 4th-7th September, has announced that the September show will feature a dedicated Gift of the Year 2022 Winner’s Product Showcase...


Autumn Fair, the UK’s industry leading marketplace for wholesale home, gift, fashion, and Design & Source, at the NEC Birmingham from 4th-7th September, has announced that the September show will feature a dedicated Gift of the Year 2022 Winner’s Product Showcase.

 

Offering visitors the chance to view this year’s next best sellers, the showcase, created with the Giftware Association, will feature displays from winners across 22 Categories including Novelty, Beauty, Bath & Spa, My Gift of all Time, Home and Garden, Cards & Wrap, Kitchen & Dining, Pet Gift, Fashion Accessories, plus the prestigious Judge’s and People’s Choice Overall Winners. A selection of winners include:

 

Overall Judge’s Choice Winner 2022

The Plantable Children's Book by Willsow

The world's first plantable children's book; kids can read the story and plant the pages to meet the main character! A truly unique concept designed to teach children about sustainability and get them off technology to enjoy the great outdoors.

 

People’s Choice Winner 2022

Battersea Pop Up Cards by Cardology Ltd

Cards that give back! Beautiful charity cards, developed in partnership with Battersea, to support rescue. Impress the dog and cat lovers in your life, with these exceptional handmade Pop Up Cards, which live long in the recipients memory.

 

My Gift of All Time

The Modular Collection by Concrete & Wax

A modular, stackable collection of luxury concrete candle holders and fragranced natural wax pillar candles that let you create your own unique and personal candleware arrangement. All pieces are hand poured in small batches in Suffolk.

 

Novelty

Heinz grow your own tomatoes kit by Kimm & Miller

This fun Heinz Tomato Ketchup grow your own tomatoes kit will make a great gift for ketchup lovers and keen gardeners alike, complete with terracotta pots, a compost pellet, and - of course - Heinz's own variety of tomato seeds.

 

Design & Craft

ReCycleMe by Inside Out Toys Ltd

ReCycleMe kits are designed to create models at home using everyday household rubbish, like toilet rolls, plastic bottles and egg boxes. Children then become aware of the amount of rubbish they produce, help to reduce it, recycle it or re-use it!

 

Beauty, Bath & Spa

Remedial Aromatherapy Candle Collection by ChilliWinter Isle of Wight

Blended with pure natural essential oils, each candle is perfect for an Aromatherapy connoisseur. Available in five blends to suit your mood and enhance your wellbeing:- Breathe - Calm - Energise - Rest - Uplifting.

 

Cards & Wrap

Greens & Greetings by Shroots are greeting cards and plant pots in one. They grow tasty and nutritious microgreens, right inside the card. There is an attractive design on the front and space for a personal message on the back.

 

Contemporary Gift

Smart Moon Lamp by Gingko Design

This gravity-defying moon lamp seems to magically float above a walnut or white ash wood base and slowly rotates just like the real elliptical orbiting moon.

 

Food & Drink

Indian Spice Tin with 9 Spices and Silk Sari Wrap by Spice Kitchen

The Indian Spice Tin (or Masala Dabba as it is traditionally known) is a staple in every Indian kitchen, and for good reason. Each tin contains the core spices you will ever need to make virtually every Indian curry.

 

Fashion Accessories

Whistler Tree Cork Collection by Whistler Tree

At Whistler Tree our 'PETA Approved Vegan' accessory collections are 100% cruelty-free, Eco-friendly and ethically made using sustainably sourced Cork material that is of the highest grade.

 

Home and Garden

Window Dressing by Fallen Fruits Ltd

Bring nature indoors by creating a green window and instantly turn a window into a green oasis. The Window Dressing range is an innovative range of window decoration with a modern look in a variety of styles; window clamps with rotating tray, window flower pots with suction cup, round and rectangular hanging plant trays and handy telescopic window rods to hang the trays from.

 

Kitchen & Dining

Halo Cotton Dish Covers by Clayspoon Ltd

Halo Dish Covers - all hand-made from organic cotton. They can be machine washed and re-used over and over again. They come in a range of shapes and sizes to fit most dishes and bowls.

 

Pet Gift

Doggy Baking Co - Baking Paw-Licking Treats For Your Dog by The Bottled Baking Co

Choose from three Tail-Wagging flavours in our home baking range for dogs. - Pumpkin Seed & Banana Biscuits - Linseed, Oregano & Parsley Biscuits - Carrot Cake

 

Under £15

Dunked by Dunked

A range of three iconic British biscuit favourites available as hanging decorations, magnets, key rings and badges; the perfect stocking filler for those tea drinking, biscuit dunking friends and relations.

 

Daniel Mayhew, Event Director of Spring & Autumn Fair said; “Both Spring & Autumn Fair have a long-standing partnership with the Giftware Association and the annual Gift of the Year Awards. We were honoured to host the judging of the 2022 Awards at Spring Fair in February and are delighted to give the well-deserved winners an incredible platform to show off their award-winning products at Autumn Fair as well as create an inspirational space for buyers to discover these exciting new best sellers.”

 

The Giftware Association is a national trade representative body and is the only UK trade association serving the gift and home industry. Each year, the awards recognise the remarkable talent and creativity of the members, which range from retailers to suppliers, high street brands to individual craftspeople and many others. Since 1947, The Giftware Association prides itself on its commitment to help and support members to develop their business by offering a wide selection of services and support.

 

The Gift of the Year awards are one of the most highly respected industry accolades, aimed at recognising the best new products, talent and inspiration in our industry each year. Being crowned a category winner gives businesses industry-wide recognition and previous entrants have seen a huge boost to their sales and revenue.

 

Discover more about the Gift of the Year at https://www.giftoftheyear.co.uk/

 
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PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt: A trade show for growers and breeders

The inaugural edition of the PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt international nursery trade fair will take place in Boskoop, the Netherlands,between 24-25 August 2022...


 

The inaugural edition of the PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt international nursery trade fair will take place in Boskoop, the Netherlands,between 24-25 August 2022

 

For two days, the product of growers and breeders will be central at this AIPH-approved International Horticultural Trade Exhibition.

 

The new trade exhibition is the result of collaboration by the organisers of the PLANTARIUM and GROEN-Direkt. The pair have one aim: to provide a trade show where growers locally and abroad can gather to showcase garden plants and share knowledge, best practices, new ideas and techniques so that horticulture never stands still. 

 

AIPH Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe commented: “AIPH is pleased to have granted its approval to PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt. The exhibition will provide a unique opportunity to see the new plants being introduced from around the world and to re-connect with producers and suppliers.”

 

The total surface area of the fair is 22,000m2, and more than 200 international exhibitors are ready to participate. The green sector’s leading companies will join suppliers, alongside a selection of hardware suppliers for garden centres. Visitors will find thousands of products in all shapes and sizes on display and plenty of opportunities to place orders directly.

 

Taaf Rosbergen, owner and managing-director of GROEN-Direkt BV, said: “With PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt we have created loads of room for stands – for growers, their suppliers and stock producers, but also for gardening hardware suppliers. PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt is the most complete and attractive possible fair for our most important target group: garden plant buyers from within and outside the Netherlands. The fair will be the place to do business directly and to meet new and existing relationships.” 

 

PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt is the ideal platform to showcase the latest innovations, and it hosts more than 50 novelties entries for Best Market Release, Best KVBC Novelty in Show and Visitor Favourite.

 

The Boskoop Royal Horticultural Society (KVBC) is part of the judging panel, bringing highly experienced experts from the nursery stock industry who will mark new plants against the breeder’s brief and factor in the plant’s overall impression.

 

When evaluating the plants for Best Market Release, the criteria will be shelf life, availability, sustainability, and suitability for current market needs. Visitors also have the opportunity to cast their vote.

 

The horticultural trade show’s PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt website provides an overview of the entries. It’s not exhaustive – there’s a lot more to discover at this year’s show– but it gives an idea of the show’s wide-ranging appeal.

 

Jan de Vries, owner of Boot&Dart and chairman of the Stichting Vakbeurs voor de Boomkwekerij, added: “The autumn edition of PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt is the first one of a series high-quality events in the years to come. As we look at the number of exhibitors and also the visitors registrations, we can conclude that everyone is looking forward to a physical fair again. PLANTARIUM| GROEN-Direkt meets this need and offers a professional trade show and a nice platform for promoting the trade in outdoor greenery. We are proud to be a partner of AIPH, the international organization with a broad network of associations representing ornamental horticulture from all over the world. Our partnership helps us to promote the fair internationally.”

 
RHS partnership with Welsh Slate Water Features launches at retail

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the online retail launch of the RHS Welsh Slate Collection, a range of garden features and furniture made from handcrafted pieces of genuine natural stone in partnership with specialist design company Welsh Slate Water Features...


 

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the online retail launch of the RHS Welsh Slate Collection, a range of garden features and furniture made from handcrafted pieces of genuine natural stone in partnership with specialist design company Welsh Slate Water Features.

 

Welsh Slate Water Features hand craft bespoke natural stone water features and decorative rocks for garden designs and landscaping projects across the UK. This is the first licensing partnership that Welsh Slate has forged with any brand.

 

The RHS Welsh Slate Collection brings slate, hand-selected in Wales with an expert eye, to specially designed water features, window stones, stepping stones and slate benches as well as Japanese or Zen-themed designs. All work perfectly in traditional British gardens, and equally well when adding texture and organic tones within clean, contemporary landscapes.

 

The time is certainly right for this inspirational range. With more and more of us turning to our private gardens as havens of peace and tranquillity, the products in the RHS Welsh Slate Collection were chosen to fit a theme of mindfulness and wellbeing at home.

 

 

Every RHS Collection product is bespoke – crafted from real Welsh Slate with inherent natural qualities that make them unique.

 

The range, which launched in July, can be viewed and purchased online at https://www.welshslatewaterfeatures.co.uk/rhs-collection/. Visitors to RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey will be able to see a showcase collection in the retail space of this, the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society and one of the great gardens of the world.

 

Welsh Slate Water Features works in partnership with many garden designers and landscapers to create beautiful outdoor spaces. Its manufacturing and sourcing are entirely British, a strong attraction for the RHS whose licensing campaign often emphasises home-grown and handcrafted products.

 

Ioan Raymond, Owner at Welsh Slate Water Features, says: “For our first-ever licensing agreement we wanted to work with a property that understood the importance of gardens, gardening and home-grown craft skills. We are therefore delighted that the RHS, the UK’s favourite gardening charity and a strong supporter of British craft excellence, has lent its name to what we feel is a truly inspiring partnership.”

 

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager at RHS, adds: “The real beauty of Welsh Slate is its natural ability to enhance both traditional and contemporary settings – and nowhere is this more apparent than in this collection. The unique products in the RHS Welsh Slate Collection will truly enhance any garden at a time when gardens are more important to us than ever.”

 
Deadline extended for the AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards 2023

The deadline has been extended for the AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2023. Growers of ornamental plants, flowers, trees and bulbs worldwide now have until Monday 10th October 2022 to enter...


 

The deadline has been extended for the AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2023. Growers of ornamental plants, flowers, trees and bulbs worldwide now have until Monday 10th October 2022 to enter.

 

The prestigious IGOTY Awards are organised by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). Supported by Headline Partner Royal FloraHolland and Founding Partner FloraCulture International (FCI), the awards celebrate best practice and recognise the ‘best of the best’ in ornamentals production.

 

The awards comprise five categories:

  • Finished plants and trees
  • Young plants
  • Cut flowers and bulbs
  • Sustainability
  • Inspiring business

Within each category bronze, silver and gold awards can be won. From among these categories, only one winner will be crowned the ‘AIPH International Grower of the Year 2023’ and receive the ‘Gold Rose’ - the industry’s most coveted prize.

 

“It’s important to highlight the work of growers,” said Augusto Solano, President of the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) and jury member for IGOTY 2022. “The finalists from 2022 represented a diverse group from quite different locations, showing that successful flower entrepreneurs can be anywhere. Innovation is key for success and we’re happy to see people putting in a lot of effort for the industry.”

 

Candidates can enter the IGOTY Awards 2023 online and entry closes on Monday 10th October 2022. Judging will then take place by a panel of industry experts who will assess the entrants on five key criteria; economic performance, innovation, market insight, sustainability and human resources policy. From the entries a shortlist will be selected.

 

Winners will be announced at an Awards ceremony in January 2023; an event that brings together the industry for an evening of celebration.

 

To find out more about the IGOTY Awards and to enter, visit aiph.org/events/igoty. For queries on entering the awards please contact: events@aiph.org

 
The best of last week's

If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...


 
SOLEX 2023: The exhibition that's moving with the times

After canvassing LOFA Members the dates of next year's SOLEX will be 10th - 12th July 2023 in Hall 5 at the NEC...


After canvassing LOFA Members the dates of next year's SOLEX will be 10th - 12th July 2023 in Hall 5 at the NEC.

 

Gina Hinde, LOFA Marketing manager told GTN Xtra: "Earlier in the year we canvassed our LOFA members. As an association we know there are always new ways of doing things. Sometimes, we have to find new ways to get the job done and sometimes, the old ways are the best!

 

"We were all set to hold the exhibition in May 2023 but after canvassing our exhibitors and visitors during SOLEX whilst they were all in one place at one time,  it seems that although we made provision for SOLEX to be held in May next year it turns out that the far east market has now shifted yet again and so we have been in discussion with the NEC about leaving the exhibition exactly where it is.

 

"It suits our exhibitors, but more importantly it suits the industry, who would have difficulty knowing what products they need to purchase before July. Spring is the main season for our visitors with sales continuing right up until the end of June.  July allows them more time to make better informed buying decisions.

 

"You learn by experience, and we have learnt that SOLEX is a great show, the industry like it in July, the exhibitors like it in July so it turns out this show was great after all exactly where it was. 

 

"The exhibition industry is always in motion with markets constantly shifting and it is great that SOLEX is able to be so flexible and agile to consider the needs of its exhibitors and visitor requirements.

 

"Solex is committed to delivering an ever-growing and improving show year on year. We are constantly striving to innovate and improve our exhibition, and we believe that there is always room for improvement. We will continue to work hard to ensure that our exhibitors and visitors have the best possible experience, and we appreciate your ongoing support.

  

"LOFA and SOLEX would like to take this opportunity to say a big “THANK YOU” to everyone that attended and visited SOLEX 22, it was wonderful to be back together again after so long. 

 

"SOLEX  2023 is just around the corner, and we can't wait to do it all over again!"

 

10-12 July 2023 | Hall 5 | NEC, Birmingham

 
Grand opening for Rosebourne Weyhill extension

Horticulturalist and TV presenter David Domoney opened the new undercover extension at Rosebourne’s Weyhill store on Friday, August 5...


 

Horticulturalist and TV presenter David Domoney opened the new undercover extension at Rosebourne’s Weyhill store on Friday, August 5.

 

David was welcomed by a bumper crowd of customers who came along to enjoy the celebrations. As well as performing the official opening David gave a talk on ‘How to become a houseplant expert in 30 minutes’ providing customers with hints and tips on growing houseplants and highlighting the benefits they bring to our health and wellbeing.

 

It was a return trip for David as he performed the official opening of the Weyhill store back in October 2016. Since then Rosebourne has gone from strength to strength developing its offering across its food hall, restaurant, gift, homewares, garden leisure, gardening and plant departments.

 

 

The new undercover extension, carried out by Thermoflor, adds a further 603m2 capacity to the site, providing a new total of undercover retail space to approximately 3500m2.

 

This allows for the addition of new product ranges including a bookshop, pet (treats and bedding) alongside an extended range of gardening products and more undercover space for plants. As part of the latest phase of work, the food hall has been refurbished with stylish new fixtures making for a fresh layout and an easier-to-shop experience.

 

   

 

There were plenty of treats on the day with customers enjoying samples from suppliers including Warners Gin, Southern Wines,  Fatherson's cakes, Lucy’s Dressings and delicious sausage rolls from the Rosebourne Kitchen. There were also demonstrations from Ooni Pizza Ovens and Traeger Grills.

 

Also in attendance was 10-year-old entrepreneur Rory Fricker with his fox red labrador, Hattie Bean. After making Bean a neckerchief and bow tie Rory was inspired to make some more and persuaded his mum to buy him a sewing machine. Rory & Bean was born and Rosebourne is the first retailer to stock bow ties, bandanas and also shampoo, cologne and travel sets.

 

Rosebourne CEO Carol Paris comments:“This extension adds to our overall shopping experience and enables us to showcase a greater range of fantastic products to our customers. Together with our refurbished food hall and new layout, our customer journey through the store is enhanced and we have been delighted by the positive response received from customers on the day.”

 

Rosebourne – a fresh approach
With three stores (Aldermaston in Berkshire, Weyhill in Hampshire and Hampton-in-Arden in the West Midlands) Rosebourne provides a unique shopping and dining experience all under one roof.  

 

Our restaurants deliver a top-quality menu in a relaxing environment that makes the best of seasonal produce. Our cakes and afternoon teas are second to none! Our stores at Aldermaston and Weyhill include an extensive food hall showcasing everyday food essentials, quality produce and local suppliers. 

 

The garden nursery is filled with a huge variety of indoor and outdoor plants and garden ornaments to suit all styles, tastes and seasons, along with all your gardening needs. We have an extensive range of garden furniture to ensure that you can relax and dine in your garden in style.

 

Find out more at www.rosebourne.co.uk

 
LOFA and The Landscape Show team up for an exciting partnership

2022 is the start of a great partnership for LOFA and the LANDSCAPE Show...


A new partnership between LOFA and the LANDSCAPE Show has been announced:

 

"The synergy between these two shows is undeniable. They both work to promote great products and innovation within the outdoor industry. This partnership will be sure to bring a new level of excitement to both events.

 

"The indoor-outdoor phenomenon is taking over all types of living spaces, from country homes to city apartments, and trade events dedicated to this collaboration are popping up all over the world. Garden designers, landscape architects, architects, architectural technologists, and contractors are all coming together to find market-leading products that can be used in high end projects. This partnership between the outdoor leisure industry and the indoor living space industry is creating a new focus for architecture and technology. Thanks to weatherproof rugs, outdoor kitchens, showers on the terrace and sofas in the garden, we can now enjoy the best of both worlds. No longer confined to our homes, we can now relax and entertain outdoors without sacrificing any of the comforts of indoor living.

 

"For the first time in its history, the LANDSCAPE Show and LOFA (Leisure & Outdoor Furniture Association) are collaborating. This partnership is a coming together of two great organisations with the common goal of championing the outdoor industry. By joining forces, we will be able to offer an even wider range of benefits and services to our visitors and members. This collaboration is an exciting step forward for both the LANDSCAPE Show and LOFA’s bespoke exhibition SOLEX (Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition).  We are looking forward to working together to support the continued growth and success of the landscape and outdoor leisure industries.

 

"Be sure to check out the LOFA stand at the landscape show this year! You’ll be able to see some of the best products from some of the most innovative members of LOFA. And if you’re looking for more reasons to visit SOLEX, be sure to check out the LANDSCAPE Shows Garden Exhibit at SOLEX in July 23."

 

Register today for the

 

LANDSCAPE Show 28/29 September 22, Hall 3, NEC, Birmingham

&

SOLEX Exhibition 10-12 July 23, Hall 5, NEC, Birmingham

 
Barrus takes new market segments by storm

Barrus unveiled plans to further progress its market share with the introduction of over 60 new and exciting products under brands Town & Country, Wilkinson Sword, WOLF-Garten, and Velcro at this year’s Glee...


 

Barrus unveiled plans to further progress its market share with the introduction of over 60 new and exciting products under brands Town & Country, Wilkinson Sword, WOLF-Garten, and Velcro at this year’s Glee. 

 

At a time of uncertainty, with post-Covid implications being felt across the industry, this reiterates Barrus’ resilience and confidence in its products. The industry giant has unlocked doors to new market segments, with product innovation and development continuing to take place across the brands, as it enters new areas of the industry and develops engaging customer solutions.

 

The Town & Country portfolio, famed for its ever-growing collection of shoes, gloves and boots range, is further expanded into new categories with the introduction of a new propagation collection, supporting the ongoing movement towards sustainable living, with Grow Bag & Utility Trays, Potting Trays, a Garden Sieve and Electric Greenhouse Heaters now available.  Also new for Town & Country is a range of brooms, brushes, and indoor and outdoor mats, as well as a new innovative grab rake that helps to clear and collect with one tool for ease and efficiency.

 

 

Glee 2022 also allowed Barrus to get another award under its belt. To add to the award-winning Wilkinson Sword Ultralight Digging Spade and Town & Country Buckingham shoes, Barrus celebrated a win at the coveted Glee New Product Showcase with the newly launch Tiered Planter range winning in the Garden Growing Containers category.

 

Mark Hewett, divisional sales manager, commented: “We’re excited about our new innovations and developments for the Barrus brands and are looking forward to further exploring these new sectors of the gardening world with Town & Country, having long been established in the footwear and gloves segment. We had some fantastic feedback and responses at the show and are exciting for the coming months.”

 

For further information about the new products please visit www.barrus.co.uk or contact your Barrus sales representative.

 
Treadstone step up to the challenge at Glee
GTN Xtra Promotion

Treadstone Products have experienced an incredibly positive response from the Glee show in June. Despite only having nine months to prepare for Glee Birmingham, Treadstone were able to showcase over 30 new products across their brand portfolio. Their stand was constantly busy, with a real buzz created from some unique concepts launched at the show...


 

Treadstone Products have experienced an incredibly positive response from the Glee show in June. Despite only having nine months to prepare for Glee Birmingham, Treadstone were able to showcase over 30 new products across their brand portfolio. Their stand was constantly busy, with a real buzz created from some unique concepts launched at the show.

 

ClipGlove’s evolution

 

One of the biggest attractions on the stand was to see the evolution of the ClipGlove glove offering. Treadstone were proud to unveil that an average of 30% recycled materials will be used across the ClipGlove production of gloves in 2023. This move sees another sustainable commitment from Treadstone by using materials in production that would normally go to waste. Furthermore, the show saw the launch of the new ClipGlove “Glove Station”. This is an opportunity for customers to upgrade their existing spinner by converting it to the new “Glove Station”. Keeping the spinner as the centrepiece, the glove station provides a permanent home for the fast-selling triple packs and an impactful endcap for seasonal glove promotions. The “Glove Station” provides retailers and consumers with all their garden glove needs in one high impact, informative destination unit.

 

Treadstone are no strangers to selling recycled products, with Recycled Pots being a popular product in recent years. As well as this range getting further exposure at the show, so did the new range of Recycled Storage. This range has been developed in conjunction with the SmartStore brand and uses post-consumer and industrial plastic waste to provide an environmentally friendly way to store! Unlike some cheaper inferior products, the boxes and baskets are rigid, durable and offer superior strength and high impact resistance, which is why they carry a 10-year guarantee against defects. Baskets and boxes are ideal for Home, Shed, Garage and Greenhouse use and like all Treadstone products there is a display stand with chalk board effect POS to helps reinforce the eco message to consumers.

 

 

New Boots, Gloves and Trellis

 

The level of innovation at the stand was a real draw to visitors, who were sure to see something different. Further additions to the ClipGlove range were extremely well received, in the form of Recycled Bottle Gloves and Activity Boots. 

 

The new Recycled Bottle Gloves feature a stylish collection of Men’s and Ladies’ gloves made using recycled plastic bottles! The knitted glove is made from 95% recycled plastic bottles, with just a little added elastic for comfort. These gloves are then dipped in natural latex to provide grip and protection from dirt and water. The fun, colourful printed designs add a touch of style whilst giving a nod to the “bottle heritage” of the gloves. Within the range are two variations, Bottle Glove and Bottle Glove Plus, which has an extra layer of latex.

 

Made from durable PVC to provide tough, comfortable, and excellent value wellington boots, Activity Boots are packed with many features. Available in both men’s and ladies’ styles, the contoured boot top – adds style and comfort. The “Easy-on” features makes for a better user experience, the Ladies’ version features stylish hand grip apertures on each side of the boot, whilst the Men’s version features a pull loop on the back of the boot to aid getting the boot on. The smart two-tone look is impactful, whilst the comfortable insoles offer support for feet. Every pair is supplied with the ClipGlove giant carabiner clip – perfect to keep the boots together and to hang them up for storage. 

 

Arguably, the star of the show was the new Rope Trellis range. This clever product is hand made using natural materials creating flexible trellis which can be used all around the garden. It can be easily fixed to walls or fences, or simply tie it between two wooden posts to create a stunning garden feature and plant support. It is made from natural Jute and is available in five sizes from 6x2ft to 6x6ft. Retailers loved the sustainability of Rope Trellis, twinned with the space efficient merchandising concept available.

 

Treadstones unique approach to gardening products is continuing to win over buyers and retailers in the industry. In fact, Treadstone have reported meeting many new prospects and creating new leads at Glee 2022. These have included several accounts that have been targeted for some time.

 

All the latest innovations unveiled at the show are now featured in the Treadstone 2023 brochure (click here to view). DARE TO SELL DIFFERENT and contact Treadstone today at sales@treadstoneproducts.com to discuss your requirements for 2023.

 
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 newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 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 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care Bestsellers chart for last 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 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 £100m.

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@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

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