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 Wyevale Garden Centres today announced it has acquired Sidmouth Garden Centre, based in Stowford, Devon, as predicted in GTN Xtra at the weekend...
Sidmouth Garden Centre is currently privately owned by Ian Barlow and has a total internal floor space of 14,558 square feet, including approximately 2,854 square feet that currently hosts an award winning restaurant. The garden centre will complement WGC’s existing offer in the region and bring the size of the WGC estate to 150 centres.
Kevin Bradshaw, Chief Executive of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sidmouth Garden Centre to our group.
"The garden centre has a wonderful reputation for its commitment to exceptional customer service and provides an exceptional variety of plants alongside garden and gift products to its growing customer base.
"The award winning garden centre is widely loved by its loyal customers and we are happy to welcome the centre’s knowledgeable staff to our group.
"Sidmouth is an ideal acquisition as it supports our strategy to grow our business by acquiring exceptionally high-quality garden centres.”
Sidmouth Garden Centre offers attractive positioning in Devon and benefits from a strong customer base as well as a popular award winning restaurant. Sidmouth’s aim to provide an enhanced shopping experience sits well within Wyevale Garden Centres.
Ian Barlow, owner of Sidmouth Garden Centre said: “Wyevale Garden Centres shares our vision of providing fantastic customer service and a well-rounded product offering to our customers.
"WGC’s ethos and values reflect our own and we believe that Sidmouth Garden Centres will continue to provide exceptional services and products to our loyal customers.
"We are confident that the group will maintain and enhance our award winning offer and benefit from the knowledge and skills of our valued staff.”
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Wyevale Garden Centres has won a major award for its coffee shop concept, Coffee Grounds, first introduced last year. The concept won the ‘Best Restaurant or Bar in another space’ UK category, at the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, which attracted 1000 entries from more than 70 countries. They are the only awards in the world dedicated to recognising the care and consideration given to the design of food and beverage spaces. The judges included leading architects, designers, brand directors and chefs from all over the world. The Coffee Ground concept was launched in September 2014 to link a wholesome shopping experience with a high quality food and beverage offer. All the coffee is organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance-certified, using only handpicked beans. WGC is the only coffee shop provider in the UK to roll out micro roasting, using automation designed in house for a 1kg roaster. “It means we can roast in small batches throughout the day, filling the air with wonderful aromas and adding the theatre of roasting to the heart of our operation,” said Jason Danciger, food and beverage director at WGC. The unique pateneted technology ensures a consistent roast set by a master roaster to the company’s own profile, to give an outstanding ‘crema’ (creamy head on the surface). “We have the exclusivity on this new technology but know that soon every single coffee shop on the high street is likely to follow us,” Mr Danciger said. WGC sends its used coffee grounds to recyclers, who use them to produce article such as tables, cake stands and garden compost. Mr Danciger said the award was testament to WGC’s growing credibility in the leisure industry and is recognition of its efforts to strategically diversify the business to cater to a growing customer base. “We are proud of this achievement and of how far our award-winning Coffee Ground has come since its initial conception. We are delighted that not only is the quality of our coffee praised but also that our design consideration and our innovative use of space has been recognised.” Earlier this year Coffee Ground won the Menu Innovation and Development Awards (MIDAS) for the best New Restaurant Concept of the year. Garden Trade News’s Greatest Awards, supported by the HTA, recently recognised WGC’s Food & Beverage head office team as the ‘Greatest Garden Centre Team’ of 2015.
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Businesses in Ivybridge, Devon, are opposing plans by Wyevale Garden Centres to more than double the space dedicated to concessions at their Endsleigh centre.
The local Chamber of Commerce fears that Wyevale’s intention is to create an out-of-town shopping centre on Ivybridge’s doorstep. Although the plans were refused by South Hams Council planning committee members in July, Wyevale has now appealed against the decision. Ivybridge Chamber of Commerce chair Margaret Punchard said: “Our feeling is, if you let them put in what they’re planning, they can just go ahead and do whatever they want. “They just don’t seem to understand that Ivybridge is struggling, even without all these new concessions they want to put in. They’re not small concessions either. It’s too close to Ivybridge for an out-of-town shopping centre.” The council has previously opposed changes allowing Endsleigh to expand what it is allowed to sell. Town centre shopkeeper Pat White, proprietor of the Footnote shoe shop in Glanville’s Mill, is doing her best to raise awareness of the appeal quickly with posters of how to respond in shops. New Ivybridge town councillor Gareth Derrick is also behind the campaign to keep Endsleigh as it is. He has launched a petition that he intends to submit to the planning inspector. “The continued expansion and diversification of Endsleigh Garden Centre acts to destroy the viability and vitality of Ivybridge’s town centre,’ he said. “In the original planning approvals in July 2000, there were significant conditions – to retain the character of the site as a garden centre and to protect the vitality and viability of Ivybridge town centre. “These conditions have already been flouted, with the centre regularly trading in goods outside the intent of the approvals. “If the appeal by Endsleigh Garden Centre is upheld, this will be in complete disregard of the clearly expressed wishes of the residents and traders of Ivybridge and those in the surrounding areas. “It would also mean that the South Hams Council planning authority failed in its duty to “recognise town centres as the heart of their communities and pursue policies to support their vitality and viability”, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework.” The petition can be found at www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-ivybridge-town. By lunchtime on Wednesday, just 24 hours after the petition’s launch, it had attracted 224 signatures and 78 comments.
A spokesperson for Wyevale Garden Centres told GTN Xtra: "Endsleigh Wyevale Garden Centre is not just a place to shop for the garden, but a welcoming space to enjoy a meal, a cup of coffee, or to bring the family. As part of our ongoing investment in our garden centres, we are in the process of applying for approval to improve the quality of the shopping experience and the choice available to customers."
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Wyevale Garden Centres unveiled its new-look Cadbury centre in Bristol yesterday (Friday) following a 13 week redevelopment. The changes have led to 41 new jobs being created.
The new-look space, which is the largest garden centre in Bristol, including an extensive outdoor area (91,221sqft) within an attractive landscaped environment, combines shopping, leisure, dining and events making it the ultimate retail destination. It has been designed to spark a love of gardening in all ages and offers a choice of thousands of different plants, shrubs and trees.
As a result of the new concessions and shops opening within the garden centre, the retail space will create 41 new jobs for the local area.
New features at Cadbury, a Wyevale Garden Centre, after its full refurbishment includes:
- New Botanic Kitchen - serving a classic twist on British dishes. Its open-plan design, within a beautiful plant-filled setting, features a new autumn/winter menu that includes delicious breakfasts, afternoon teas and warm hearty mains.
- Kids’ soft play area - tuck in whilst the little ones have a great time.
- New Walter Smith Farm Shop (22nd Oct) - offering locally-sourced produce.
- New concessions: Clarks Outlet, Christy, Mountain Warehouse, Laithwaites Wines, Craft Craft shop and Yankee Candle
Alternatively shoppers can relax and enjoy coffee, pastries and snacks from the nation’s favourite coffee shop – Costa.
Paul Butchers, Cadbury Garden Centre Manager, says: “Our new-look garden centre will not only offer quality, range and value to customers who love their home and garden; but also a unique day-out destination for all the family to enjoy.
"We look forward to welcoming new customers through our doors and are confident they will enjoy the experience.
"With the countdown to Christmas already beginning and our Christmas Preview Night around the corner, we are also looking forward to bringing the joy of Christmas to Bristol.”
Cadbury garden centre has also appointed a charity champion and an environment champion who will be responsible for building links with the local community.
James Searle-Mallon (Charity champion) – responsible for raising money for the Wyevale charity partners – Marie Curie and NSPCC as well as any local charities the centres choose to support.
Gary Upham Jones (Environment champion) – responsible for spearheading centre level campaigns to reduce the impact the business has on the environment, in line with the company wide object of being an environmentally green business.
The centre has planned a series of fun-filled events leading up to Christmas to celebrate its new look, with activities on offer for the whole family:
- Little Diggers Halloween (26th – 30th Oct) - jam packed half-term activities for the little ones
- Christmas Preview Shopping Evening (29th Oct) – Christmas lands in centre with VIP shopping night
- Santa’s Arrival with reindeer parade (7th Nov)
- Grotto including elf workshop (7th Nov)
- Breakfast & Tea with Father Christmas (14th Nov)
- Ice-rink launch (14th Nov)
- Make Your Own Tinsel (21st Nov) – with our unique tinsel machine
- Food & Drink Festival (28th / 29th Nov)
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Bonnington Plastics Ltd has been trading since 1967 and is one of the UK’s largest importers of Gardening, Housewares and Leisure products. We have our own offices and showroom in china, and Head Office and warehousing in Nottingham. We are currently recruiting Sales Agents to service Garden Centres throughout the Country.The Person: We are looking for motivated, dynamic, passionate and professional sales agents with experience in the gardening industry. The Responsibilities: - To research relevant retailers and identify new accounts for growth
- Work with the Kingfisher range to come up with a sales strategy
- Communicate with current and potential stockists to manage sales
The Requirements: - A great sales person: tenacious, assertive, resilient, with initiative and ability to communicate well.
- Good knowledge of gardening wholesale business practices
- Excellent understanding of different stockists
- Likes working in a start-up environment, and has the passion to be an instrumental part in the growth of an emerging garden centre
- Has the firm grasp of the Kingfisher brand positioning and the ability to target stockists
- You will be well presented, trustworthy and love being with customers
The Position: This is a freelance position. The sales agent will work independently in his/her own time. Required experience: Please send CV to Laura@bonningtonplastics.com Bonnington Plastics Ltd, Kingfisher House, 9 Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham, NG8 4GP Telephone: 0115 985 4119 www.bonningtonplastics.com
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Garden Centre Manager (ref:BP7713)
Location: Buckinghamshire
Salary: £28,000-£34,000
Date: 06 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
We are recruiting for a talented garden centre manager to lead the team at one of two sites in this family business. The garden centre manager will take control of an attractive destination garden centre.
The role: The garden centre manager is responsible for all of the day to day management of the site including HR and H&S. As garden centre manager you will lead your team and manage through your department heads to ensure the business trades effectively through seasonal peaks and troughs.
The candidate: We are seeking an ambitious and driven garden centre manager. You will ideally have had site management experience previously but should definitely have had duty management experience of managing teams.A passion for horticulture is essential but experience in garden retail is not. We will look at garden centre manager candidates from a more high street retail background but experience trading in seasonal and high care goods would be an advantage.
You current job title could be: Garden Centre Manager, Assistant Garden Centre Manager, Plant Area Manager, Shop Manager, Indoor Shop Manager, General Manager, Assistant General Manager.
To apply for this position click here
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Plant Area Manager (ref:BP7687)
Location: Yorkshire and the Humber
Salary: £21,000-£25,000
Date: 30 Sep
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
My client is a small garden centre group based across the North of England. They are seeking a talented plant area manager to join their team in one of their garden centres. This is a horticulture focussed business and the Plant Area Manager takes on a big role in the running of the garden centre. The garden centre has an independent feel and is a destination in the Yorkshire countryside.
The Role: The Plant Area Manager will be responsible for the day to day operation of the Plant Area in the Garden Centre. This will involve man management of a small team, ensuring retail standards are high, leading by example on providing a high standard of customer care, creating unique displays through original visual merchandising and working with the garden centre group plant buyer to consistently offer and maintain a superb range of quality plants. You would also take on duty management responsibilities supporting the Garden Centre Manager and Assistant Manager.
The Candidate: Ideally we are seeking an established plant area manager who is looking to move into a larger garden centre. We are looking for plant area manager candidates that have a superb plant knowledge, good man management experience and time spent in quality high end retail. If you think you may be suitable but are unsure of your experience please get in touch.
You could potentially be a plant area supervisor stepping up as long as you have good person management experience.
Your current job title could be: Plant Area Manager, Plantarea Manager, Planteria Manager, Horticultural Manager, Garden Centre Manager, Plantarea Supervisor, Planteria Supervisor or horticultural supervisor.
For more information please call Brad Peck on 01780 480 530 and quote Plant Area Manager BP7687.
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Plant Propagation Seeding Supervisor (ref:DS7708) Location: Hampshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
We are currently seeking an experienced seeding propagator / seeding department manager for our client.
They are a leading North Yorkshire based Wholesale Nursery and Propagation specialist who supply young plants to the nursery trade.
The role
These well respected nursery growers are currently seeking either an experienced Nursery Person who is capable of helping to run the seeding equipment in their propagation department or someone with commercial horticultural experience who is capable of learning and growing into the role.
The Candidate: For this role will have previous experience in a commercial wholesale nursery and ideally be trained in commercial horticulture up to a level 3 diploma.
- Have reasonable plant knowledge
- Be capable of working to deadlines and production targets
- Have excellent communications skills and be able to manage a team
Salary is dependent on experience and capability, they are open minded as to taking on a manager who can hit the ground running and is capable of taking on the management of the department but they will also consider less experienced growers and propagators who can learn on the job and develop into the role.
To apply for this position click here
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Trainee Technical Growing & Production Manager (ref:DS7698) Location: West Sussex
Salary: £16,000 to £20,000
Date: 05 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
We are seeking and outstanding Junior / Trainee Nursery Production, Technical Grower Manager
Our client is a leading grower of garden plants including herbs and ornamentals, marketing through a well known Group supplying independent garden centres, chains and multiples throughout the UK. They are currently looking to recruit a Junior, Graduate or Trainee Production and Technical Growing Manager to eventually take responsibility for many aspects of crop production and propagation. The successful Trainee Manager will be responsible for:
The role
- Assist in the Day to day management of growing of all crops including environmental control and watering systems
- Assist in the Management of propagation operations.
- Assist in crop protection management
- Assist in Crop planning, batch scheduling and monitoring using relevant software
- Liaison with other managers to achieve the business goals
The candidate
- Good understanding and ideally a background working in commercial horticulture, knowledge of growing principles and ability to apply them to different crops.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate others to effectively achieve goals
- Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a number of tasks at once
- Ability to supervise
- Formal qualification in Horticulture or relevant experience
- Other qualifications desireable but not essential BASIS, FACTS, First Aid, PA1&6
- Computer literacy in Excel and Word (desirable or willing to achieve)
To apply for this position click here
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Consultant and GTN Greatest Awards judge Ken Crafer is sharing his wide knowledge and experience in a new book called Garden Centre Management.
Ken's book is targeted at students, garden centre managers and professional courses in garden centre management. It provides a practical approach backed up by management theory. The text covers consumer behaviour, staff management, stock management, marketing and productivity.
It covers:
- Consumer behaviour
- Customer care
- Marketing
- Managing the team
- Developing staff
- Managing safety and security
- Stock management
- Productivity
- Future responsibilities
To find out how you can buy a copy visit http://www.cabi.org/bookshop/book/9781780643083
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Next month’s GIMA Day Conference delegates will hear from Stax Trade Centres Managing Director, David Hibbert. Taking place on Wednesday November 4th at Melbicks Garden Centre, Coleshill, delegates will also hear from Kingfisher Bonnington Plastics about how they are successfully tackling IP infringement and on-line counterfeiters. Stax has grown into one of the UK's biggest non-food cash & carry wholesaler & trade suppliers. David will talk us through the changes the business has made, particularly over the last 5 years, to cope with the distribution demands for its growing gardening category. After winning several legal cases recently, Kingfisher Bonnington Plastics are keen to share their experience and spread the word about how they’re winning the battle against the on-line counterfeiters. Their legal team will provide delegates with practical tools to help them do the same. Rebecca Hardy, Director of Client HR from Kidwells Solicitors, will also be providing delegates with an update on the latest changes to HR legislation including the recent EU Working Time Directive changes. The day conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend, with GIMA members benefiting from subsidised rates. To book your place, visit www.gima.org.uk/gima-day-conferences or e-mail info@gima.co.uk
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Six garlic varieties in the top 12 bestselling veg products
It’s 12 out of 12 for Taylors this week in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart with all of the Top 12 bestsellers being Taylors onion sets, shallot or garlic lines. There are six garlic varieties included in that figure. Sales continue to be up year on year too, so it looks set to be a good winter for homegrown onions and garlic...
It’s 12 out of 12 for Taylors this week in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart with all of the Top 12 bestsellers being Taylors onion sets, shallot or garlic lines. There are six garlic varieties included in that figure. Sales continue to be up year on year too, so it looks set to be a good winter for homegrown onions and garlic.
The star performers this week include:
- Taylors Garlic Early Purple White is the highest climber, jumping 18 places to No 11.
- Taylors Onion Sets Electric moves up four places to the No 1 spot.
- Outside the Top 12, Thompson & Morgan Green Manure Organic Mix is the highest re-entry.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Taking place at Chesford Grange, Warwickshire on Tuesday 10 November, the HTA is excited to announce its first HTA Marketing Forum.
The marketing forum is for all those involved in marketing and public relations in the garden industry, keynote speakers will include Tim Mason, renowned for launching Tesco’s Clubcard scheme, Tesco Express, Tesco.com and Tesco Personal Finance, and Gerald Ratner, former CEO of Ratners Group (now the Signet Group).
With competing interests on consumer time and cash at an all-time high, it is ever more important to ensure your business is promoting itself to its full potential. However, few businesses across the garden sector have huge marketing budgets allowing them to run extensive promotional campaigns.
In this one-day event, we take inspiration from inside and outside the industry to provide examples and case studies on getting the most out of your marketing budget. The programme includes keynote presentations, bite sized sessions on topics including loyalty schemes, TV commercials and in-store videos and using consumer segmentation and examples from the industry of innovative ways of attracting new customers on a year round basis.
Aimed at garden industry professionals, both experienced and new to marketing and promotions, the programme is designed to ensure that attendees leave with top tips and examples of the best use of new and trusted marketing methods that will bring in new customers and retain existing ones.
There will be the opportunity for networking throughout the day with delegates, speakers and exhibition partners.
To register your interest, email events@the-hta.org.uk and more information about the programme and booking will be sent to you as it is announced.
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Two orchid products dominate the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart for a second week running. The ever popular Fito Drip Feeder for Orchids takes over the No 1 spot while Growth Technology Orchid Myst slips down a place to No 2.
Other star performers this week include:
- Apta Large Pot Feet are the highest new entry, jumping straight in to No 11.
- Westland Aftercut Autumn All in One Box (400 sq m and 150 sq m) are two other newcomers to the chart.
- The highest climber is Woodlodge 5-inch Standard Spang Pot, moving up 35 places to No 9.
- The highest re-entry is Algon Organic Algae Remover Patio Cleaner at No 21
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Farmyard manure and top soil sales encouraging
Farmyard manure and top soil have been in good demand, according to the Bestsellers Growing Media chart. Westland Top Soil (Value Bag) has seen a 50% increase in sales compared to the previous week while Vital Earth Farm Manure has risen 18 places to No 3...
Farmyard manure and top soil have been in good demand, according to the Bestsellers Growing Media chart. Westland Top Soil (Value Bag) has seen a 50% increase in sales compared to the previous week while Vital Earth Farm Manure has risen 18 places to No 3.
Other star performers this week include:
- Scotts Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost (56 litres) is the highest re-entry at No 7.
- The highest climber is Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost (50 litres), jumping 32 places to No 16.
- Westland Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost & 4 Month Feed (50 litres) also returns to the chart.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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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 2013 as well as 2014 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 Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers. Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.
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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.
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