There are only 10 days left for you to make your submission to the DEFRA consultation that could result in the biggest government intervention in gardening and garden retailing we have ever seen...
There are only 10 days left for you to make your submission to the DEFRA consultation that could result in the biggest government intervention in gardening and garden retailing we have ever seen.
At the HTA orgainsed "Town Hall" events last week we were advised that numbers of submissions do count, so now really is the time for all individuals involved in garden retailing to make sure their views are included in the consultation.
It takes about half an hour to complete the survey and you'll be asked about your views on:
A voluntary approach to ending the use of peat in Amateur Horticulture
Mandatory reporting of the volume of peat sold
Banning the sale of peat
A point of sale bag charge for the purchase of any growing media bag containing peat
Once completed you then receive a copy of your submission.
At the HTA event last week, The Growing Media Association said it would be working on key facts, such as the carbon footprints of different types of compost by this summer. As this vital information will not be available for this DEFRA cosultation it is important that as many views are heard in the meantime, that's where you come in.
As well as completing the survey as part of the consultation we are being urged to write to our MP's to make them aware of the situation.
Real estate company Savills has brought to market the freehold interest in Noyces Home and Garden Centre in Kingsbridge, Devon at a guide of £1.5m. It is the first time the asset has been offered to market in over 20 years...
Savills, on behalf of a private client, has brought to market the freehold interest in Noyces Home and Garden Centre in Kingsbridge, Devon at a guide of £1.5m. It is the first time the asset has been offered to market in over 20 years.
Noyces Home and Garden Centre is a long established family business. The garden centre includes a well-stocked DIY department with Dulux paint mixing alongside a full range of garden essentials, outdoor pots and locally sourced plants. The retail area is set out over two separate buildings, with additional covered outdoor space and extensive outdoor selling areas. There is also a homewares store and café with parking for at least 38 vehicles.
Noyces Home and Garden Centre is situated within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, beside the Kingsbridge and Salcombe Estuary and at the mouth of Bowcombe Creek. Its location on the edge of the busy market town of Kingsbridge means that Noyces is a well-loved retail destination serving the whole of the South Hams district. The business is directly accessed from the A379 which links Dartmouth and Torcross through to Salcombe, and offers excellent opportunity for passing trade.
The South Hams area is hugely popular with both second home-owners and tourists. The community of Kingsbridge has an excellent secondary school, a large primary school, a wide variety of independent businesses, supermarkets, a filling station, and a number of pubs and restaurants.
Chris Sweeney, Director in the Leisure and Trade Related team at Savills, says: “This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a profitable business with further development and growth opportunities.”
Weed control is an important aspect of garden maintenance, as without regular attention they can take over a garden and not only do they look unsightly, but they can also cause harm to plants and flowers.
Weed control is an important aspect of garden maintenance, as without regular attention they can take over a garden and not only do they look unsightly, but they can also cause harm to plants and flowers.
A dilemma that many gardeners face is choosing the most appropriate method of weed control for them and with environmental issues and sustainability an increasing priority across the nation, gardeners are looking for chemical-free weed removal methods. This presents an opportunity for garden centre retailers to raise awareness of the benefits and promote the latest innovations in chemical-free weed control, which includes the new Green Power Turbo Gas Weeder from Hozelock.
The new Green Power Turbo Gas Weeder is an ideal product for garden centre retailers looking to diversify their weed control product offering, as the infrared technology allows users to remove weeds in a ‘green’ way. The flame within the product heats the ceramic plate, which sits within a safety shield, up to 800°C, causing a thermal shock to kill the weed, without the use of chemicals.
To offer gardeners complete choice and flexibility, the 2-in-1 product can be used with a gas
cartridge or gas cylinder and has a run time of up to 122 hours when used with a gas
cylinder.
The new Green Power Turbo Gas Weeder has also been designed with superior features which include an ergonomic handle and wheel to offer great freedom of movement, as well as the inclusion of a large 12 x 20cm ceramic plate – making it ideal for use on patios or gravel.
Available from April 2022, the Green Power Turbo Gas Weeder, which is it is four times more economical than a standard gas weeder and two times faster*, has an RRP of £169.99.
The Blue Diamond Group has announced to their 4000 plus employees, that in order to show solidarity to the people of Ukraine, the Group are to donate 100% of sale proceeds from the ‘Peace’ rose to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal...
The Blue Diamond Group, the UK’s second-largest Garden Centre Group, last week announced to their 4000 plus employees, that in order to show solidarity to the people of Ukraine, the Group were to donate 100% of sale proceeds from the ‘Peace’ rose to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
The ‘Peace’ rose was named in 1945 to mark the end of World War II. At the inaugural meeting of the United Nations, held in San Francisco in late 1945, ‘Peace’ roses were handed out to each of the delegations with a note that read “We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting World peace”.
The Group has approximately 2200 Peace roses, worth £43, 978 at full retail price, which have been grown on their nursery to sell. A strong Social Media awareness campaign will be launched this week and continue until the stock of these roses has sold out and the full retail value donated to the appeal.
The ‘Peace’ rose is available in all Blue Diamond Garden Centres and online at www.fryersroses.co.uk, whilst stocks last.
Darlac, the cutting tools expert, has secured a distribution deal with one of the UK’s largest garden centre retail chains, Blue Diamond...
Darlac, the cutting tools expert, has secured a distribution deal with one of the UK’s largest garden centre retail chains, Blue Diamond.
Blue Diamond has recently acquired Mere Park in Newport and Blackdown Garden Centre in Taunton. The group has also announced plans to build two new garden centres in Elvedon, Norfolk and at Scotch Corner, swelling its network to 41 garden centres.
Working with Blue Diamond, Darlac has produced bespoke stands for the stores that reflects the quality of experience Blue Diamond wanted for its customers as well as creating a series of retail display stands to showcase Darlac’s tools beautifully.
All stores are to carry the Darlac ‘two-metre’ cutting range of tools and includes best sellers such as the DP400 Lightweight Shear and the DP1030A Expert Bypass Pruner, where the range focusses on the cutting tool needs of hobby gardeners with pruners, snips, shears and loppers to cover a wide range of tasks in the garden. The ‘three-metre’ range features additional tools for heavier-duty jobs, with tools such as the DP1583 Expert Geared Anvil Tree Pruner and the DP1570 Expert Giant Telescopic Pole that are suitable for tree maintenance work in the garden.
Taylor Baines, category manager - gardening, of Blue Diamond Group, said: “We are really excited about this partnership; we were looking to offer a more premium range of tools to our customers and this partnership ticks all those boxes.
“The history of the brand and the company’s values, coupled with the excellent quality you get with the Darlac tools range made this a really easy choice. We wanted an experience that went beyond ‘just another stand’ in stores to give our customers a richer educational and shopping experience. The resulting creativity that has been applied to the retail displays has been a great collaboration between the two companies that our customers are going to love.”
Chris Owen, general manager for Darlac, said: “We’ve been working with Blue Diamond on this deal for a while, and are really pleased to be able to announce the partnership as we head into 2022.
“With an increase in interest in gardening during Covid19, many people who were new to gardening during 2020 have stuck around, carrying on their new-found interest in gardening post-lockdown.
“Having Darlac available in Blue Diamond garden centres across the UK is a key partnership for us that will help us more readily meet increased consumer demand for our tools.”
The Horticultural Trades Association has published a white paper outlining the key areas for action that would enable UK ornamental horticulture to maximise its full potential in combatting the climate and biodiversity crises...
Nature-based solutions to climate change such as plants for urban greening and tree planting are one of the most effective ways of mitigating the impacts of climate change at scale and speed, and more can be done to access these solutions by enabling UK ornamental horticulture to maximise its full potential in combatting the climate and biodiversity crises.
The Horticultural Trades Association has published a white paper outlining the key areas for action that could set in train what’s needed to enable this.
It develops the sustainability themes and issues discussed at an HTA roundtable event, sponsored by Easitill Ltd. The meeting saw leading industry figures from horticultural and environmental organisations collectively examine the opportunities and challenges that sustainability presents for horticulture.
David Denny, HTA Director of Research and Insights, who chaired the event, said: “Our event provided a forum for people from inside and outside of horticulture to discuss the challenges of achieving greater sustainability and the opportunities it presents. The white paper summarises that discussion and we're using it to inform our plans for taking our Sustainability Roadmap for horticulture forwards. It considers how much we could achieve -there are some great things going on in horticulture, but there’s so much more opportunity for us. That’s especially so where greater sustainability can be accelerated by working with government, policy makers and environmental organisations to achieve common goals.”
Summarising the key moments of the discussion, the white paper highlights where industry and policymakers could work together to ensure the contribution to the planet from horticulture is maximised in a sustainable way.
These included:
Innovative and creative ways of financing sustainable growth in the UK’s horticultural output would yield huge benefits – it is time for government to facilitate and support investment in the UK horticulture industry.
Gardening and gardeners have a role to play in mitigating climate change, and gardening habits are already changing. The horticulture industry has a responsibility to cultivate and promote sustainable gardening, and policy makers have a role to play in facilitating this.
Sustainability presents an opportunity to inspire the next generation of greener gardeners. As the role of gardens in fighting climate change becomes more widely known, this will inspire more people into gardening as a hobby or horticulture as a profession.
Industry research and development could bring new products and gardening concepts to market that benefit the environment. To accelerate this, the industry must align with the government on further understanding the natural capital value of gardens and green spaces.
The horticulture and landscaping industry has huge potential to benefit the UK economically, environmentally and socially and the capacity to underwrite half of the goals of the UK government’s 25-year environment plan. Net zero presents an opportunity for the UK horticulture industry to expand its output, but this expansion needs to be sustainable, and the industry must build on its work to reduce waste and its responsible use of resources, with government playing a key part in accelerating this.
A key take-away from the white paper is that there is real benefit in individual businesses collectively making small changes to make a valuable difference and together gaining substantive progress as a sector.
Keith Plekker, Director of Easitill Ltd, said: “Sustainability not only improves the quality of our lives, protects our ecosystem, and preserves natural resources for future generations, but should now be a fundamental and crucial part of any company strategy.
Fundamentally, it's about the ripple effect. Small or big changes from even one company can have an impact on the environment and influence others to follow suit.”
Garden Centres have been working with their local communities to help with appeals for Ukraine refugee supplies. Some are even creating their own fundraising events and activities including donating all proceeds from sales of Peace Roses at ISE Garden Centre near Kettering...
Garden Centres have been working with their local communities to help with appeals for Ukraine refugee supplies and some are even creating their own fundraising events and activities including donating all proceeds from sales of Peace roses at ISE Garden Centre near Kettering.
Elsewhere, the response to an appeal at Baytree Garden Centre was so great they had to move the collection point to Weston Church, where a team of volunteers were on hand to sort the donations into various lots prior to shipping.
At Okells Garden Centre, top picture, they have promised to match donations up to £5,000 to double the impact.
And Bonnetts Garden Village is sending a lorry load of aid to Ukraine.
The storms in the middle of the month may have dented garden centre sales but they came roaring back last week to cap off a fabulous month. Total garden centre sales volumes were up by 36% on 2021, up by 25% on 2020 and 19% on 2019...
The storms in the middle of the month may have dented garden centre sales but they came roaring back last week to cap off a fabulous month. Total garden centre sales volumes were up by 36% on 2021, up by 25% on 2020 and 19% on 2019.
That just illustrates the strength of appeal garden centres have at the moment, not just for plants and gardening lines, but also for their wonderful catering offerings and the plethora of other lines, including kitchenware, gifts and food.
With Garden Re-Leaf Day on 19th March and Mother’s Day on 27th March we have two wonderful opportunities to build on this strength and kick off the season with a spring in our step.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2021: week 8.
Garden Products Top 50 – up 2%
Growing Media Top 50 – down 21%
Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 21%
Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 25%
GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2021: week 8
All Plants with Barcode index – up 2%
All Items with Barcode index – down 3%
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
February plant sales grew back to 2019 levels despite the storms in the middle of the month. In the GTN Bestsellers Epos data the volume of plants sold in February 2022 was up by 50% on 2021 levels, when we were still in Lockdown #3 and up by 27% on February 2020 when storms also affected plant sales...
February plant sales grew back to 2019 levels despite the storms in the middle of the month. In the GTN Bestsellers Epos data the volume of plants sold in February 2022 was up by 50% on 2021 levels, when we were still in Lockdown #3 and up by 27% on February 2020 when storms also affected plant sales.
The prospect for March is interesting with Mothers Day at the end of the month. Have you been offered plants stocks fmr Holland at greatly reduced prices yet? It appears that due to the war in Ukraine, surplus stocks that would have been destined for Ukraine and Russia are now being offered to retailers in the UK and Europe.
After the week of storms this year, plant sales bounced back big time, up by 136% on the previous week. At the top of the chart sales of both Primua and Narcissus both doubled and planty of plant groups trebled or quadrupled sales.
Primula remain the No 1 Bestselling plant of the season, last week selling 42% of the GTN Top 50 plants volume.
Rose sales almost quadrupled to climb 13 places up the chart to No 18.
Calibrachoa were the highest placed re-entry, back in the GTN Top 50 at No 17.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
Garden Re-Leaf Day is fast approaching – March 18th – and brands and individuals from across the garden retail sector are getting ready to FUNdraise for the Greenfingers charity...
Garden Re-Leaf Day is fast approaching – March 18th – and brands and individuals from across the garden retail sector are getting ready to FUNdraise for the Greenfingers charity.
The Garden Re-Leaf Sponsored Walk & Cycle Challenge
Whether its walking 10 miles or cycling 75 miles, the Sponsored Walk and Cycle challenge remains one of the best attended events in the Garden Re-Leaf roster.
This year the event will see representatives from Glee, Evergreen Garden Care, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds (Team ‘The Lightening Seeds’), Capi Europe, DLF, Hornby Whitefoot PR, Hozelock, Woodmansterne and Linford Forum (Team ‘The Proclaimers’) tackle the walk. Elsewhere, cyclists from Greenfingers, Westland Horticulture, Rivington Garden Designs, Hozelock, Frosts Garden Centre, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds and Evergreen Garden Care will tackle the picturesque course which will take in the sights of the Buckinghamshire countryside.
Big thanks must also go to those who have kindly volunteered to support this year’s FUNdraiser, including Dobbies, the host of this year’s event, Hozelock, our sponsor of the water bottles, LOFA, which has once again sponsored refreshments, whilst Jane Lawler, Mark Butler and Colin Wetherley-Mein will be on hand to steward the walkers and cyclists.
Garden centre support
Each year, garden centres from across the country pull out all the stops to celebrate Garden Re-Leaf Day and use this as the ideal opportunity to kick start the gardening season. In fact, many make it a Garden Re-Leaf weekend to help maximise the FUNdraising total across three days.
This year, many retailers have pulled out all the stops to ensure their FUNdraising goes with a bang…..
British Garden Centres across the country will be holding a range of events, including raffles, treasure hunts, cakes sales, pebble painting, staff will be going green and so much more to put the FUN into FUNdraising.
Braintree Garden Centre will, throughout March, be selling raffle tickets to customers. Each ticket will provide a chance to win a selection of prizes. Perrywood Garden Centres has confirmed that it will be holding its much loved Garden Re-Leaf quiz on March 18th, whilst Klondyke will be holding a special ‘TeLeaf for ReLeaf’ event over the Garden Re-Leaf weekend (19th – 20th March).
Haskins will be holding daily raffles and tombolas from March 11th to 20th with a range of top prizes up for grabs. Raffles will also be the order of the day at Longacres from 12th to 22nd of March.
Bellis Brother Farm Shop & Garden Centre has confirmed it will be holding a ‘Bellis Bake Off’ event on March 23rd. With staff often bringing in homemade cakes to be enjoyed in the staff room, the team have decided to add a fun (sponsored) competitive element to the day with their very own Mrs Bellis taking on the role of Mary Berry!
Over at The British Garden Centre Group and Millbrook Garden Centres both will once again be supporting.
Other activities
Greenfingers Trustee, Rob Jones (of The Garden Design Company) will also be offering complimentary garden blitzes or free garden design consultation to anyone that makes a £250 (suggested) donation to the charity. Places are strictly limited so Rob is asking any interested parties to contact him directly to secure one of these highly coveted prizes.
The team at Garden Blueprints - award winning specialists in garden design, landscape and planting – has confirmed it will be taking on a five to 69 mile walk around Calke Castle, whilst Evergreen Garden Care and Woodmansterne will be holding cake sales in the office.
Finally, leading brands QVC and AMES UK will also be showing their support, watch this space for more information.
How to get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2022
Registration for the 2022 event is now live and Greenfingers is still on the look-out for sponsors of the event. To get involved visit the website, to find out more about sponsorship opportunities please contact Linda Petrons by emailing linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk
Leon Boots have raised money for Greenfingers by offering a percentage of all sales generated from Glee last year...
Leon Boots have raised money for Greenfingers by offering a percentage of all sales generated from Glee last year.
"It was our first experience of Glee as a new exhibitor and we wanted to support Greenfingers by offering a percentage of ALL sales generated throughout the show," explained Kevin Burgess of the Somerset based boot company.
Linda Petrons · Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers was understandably delighted.
"On behalf of us all at Greenfingers Charity, I would like to say a huge thank you to Kevin and the team at Leon Boots for choosing to support Greenfingers Charity. The funds raised from the orders taken at Glee will certainly help as we work towards bringing more gardens in children’s hospices to life this year.”
This Garden Re-Leaf Day (March 18th) the teams from Kelkay, La Hacienda and Apta - part of the AMES UK family - will be “freezing” their businesses, switching off their computers and picking up their spades as part of a special volunteering day to kickstart AMES UK’s exciting new charity partnership with Greenfingers...
This Garden Re-Leaf Day (March 18th) the teams from Kelkay, La Hacienda and Apta - part of the AMES UK family - will be “freezing” their businesses, switching off their computers and picking up their spades as part of a special volunteering day to kickstart AMES UK’s exciting new charity partnership with Greenfingers.
To-date over 115 members of AMES UK have confirmed their attendance at this special team-building and fundraising experience, which will see them scattered across the country to attend nine children’s hospices; hospices that have previously enjoyed the introduction of a therapeutic garden space designed and funded by the Greenfingers charity.
Throughout the day the AMES UK teams will be joined by the hospice staff and on-site gardening teams to breathe new life into these garden spaces, many of which have not been updated for several years. From an overall spring clean to introducing new planting schemes and ensuring the site is ready to thrive throughout the coming seasons, the time spent will pay dividends for those children who call these hospices home, as well as the families and staff who visit these spaces to remember lost loved ones.
Talking about the day, AMES UK’s Managing Director, Paul North, said: “We are passionately committed to supporting the Greenfingers charity and have big plans for doing so over the coming years, but what better way to truly kickstart this new partnership than on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2022! We are truly honoured to be able to visit a selection of hospice gardens that have previously enjoyed the benefits of the incredible work Greenfingers does, and to help breathe new life into them ahead of the season.
“Not only this but getting out of the office will also benefit our staff, many of whom have not previously met face-to-face because of the pandemic. We talk often in our business about the positive mental and physical wellbeing that gardening can provide, so being able to put this into practice will undoubtedly boost staff morale and provide a better understanding of why gardening remains one of the nation’s most popular hobbies.”
The Greenfingers gardens set to get the special AMES UK treatment will be Andy's at St Andrew's Hospice, Grimsby; Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, Huddersfield; Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, Loughborough; Ty Hafan, South Wales; Richard House Children's Hospice, London; Keech Hospice Care, Luton; EACH The Treehouse, Ipswich; EACH Milton, Cambridge; and Jigsaw, Cumbria's Children's Hospice, Carlisle.
Paul North added: “We are extremely excited to get on site on March 18th, and hope that this will be the first of many such days. We also strongly urge other brands to think about volunteering time to helping Greenfingers onsite at both new and existing garden builds. It really is a superb way to support the charity that remains at the very heart of our industry.”
Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers, said: “Our sincerest thanks to AMES UK for their incredible generosity of spirit, manpower and, of course, fundraising. The Garden Re-Leaf ‘give back’ day will be a truly wonderful experience, and we are also so excited to see how this new partnership grows and develops in the coming years.”
Neudorff, pioneer of natural gardening since 1854, is helping retailers to ramp-up sales growth for the 2022 season by unveiling a freshly redesigned product line-up that has been enhanced to leverage maximum sales potential...
Neudorff, pioneer of natural gardening since 1854, is helping retailers to ramp-up sales growth for the 2022 season by unveiling a freshly redesigned product line-up that has been enhanced to leverage maximum sales potential.
The company’s marketing experts have re-engineered bottles and label designs across much of the portfolio – including Neudorff’s leading BugFree Bug and Larvae Killer which is a proven sales driver in the plant protection category, as well as Organic Multipurpose Plant Food, Super Strength Seaweed Extract, Fast Acting Moss & Algae Killer and CleanLawn Moss Control for Lawns. The move strengthens Neudorff’s brand identity while making it easier for consumers to recognise and select products that meet their gardening requirements.
Increased use of eye-catching yellow on labelling and bottle caps will further draw consumers’ eyes to the product offering, securing Neudorff’s range the go-to choice for novice and seasoned gardeners alike. Strengthened labelling design is being bolstered with the introduction of new easier-to-handle spray bottles that feature improved orientation, tailored to enhance merchandising opportunities and drive sales at the point of purchase.
The bottle of BugFree Bug and Larvae Killer Concentrate is now made from 90% recycled plastic, with more changes to recycled materials to follow. This latest development underpins Neudorff’s ongoing commitment to sustainability across all areas of its business and meeting the needs of eco-savvy consumers who increasingly demand responsibly sourced packaging that’s kind to the environment.
Guy Jenkins, Consumer Manager at Neudorff’s UK distribution Partner, DLF Seeds Ltd, said: “Since entering the UK market in 2012, Neudorff has developed a
first-class reputation for offering stockists the highest quality products that are gentle to people, pets and the environment. The company, however, is not content with resting on its laurels and has undertaken an extensive review of its portfolio, bringing labelling up-to-date to communicate the range’s USPs in an even clearer manner.
“The switch from curved to upright bottles provides the range with a contemporary appeal while a more ergonomic design ensures that each product is easier for the consumer to select and handle. The line-up has evolved but Neudorff’s ethos remains the same: to help stockists meet the needs of consumers who strive to garden in a kinder manner by providing products that build brand loyalty via their effectiveness and efficiency,” Guy added.
Neudorff, which led the market over 20 years ago by using wastepaper for its packaging, believes its enhanced product offering for 2022 will strengthen its reputation as a leader in natural gardening. In line with the company’s philosophy, Neudorff continues to work with active ingredients from plants and other natural resources and does not use glyphosate or neonicotinoids in any of its products.
Following a period of range expansions and updates, Sipcam Home & Garden – the brand behind innovative plant care, cleaning and pet products – has further boosted its offering to the garden retail market with a bigger team and new offices to facilitate exciting future growth opportunities...
Following a period of range expansions and updates, Sipcam Home & Garden – the brand behind innovative plant care, cleaning and pet products – has further boosted its offering to the garden retail market with a bigger team and new offices to facilitate exciting future growth opportunities.
Expanded team
Best known for its leading product portfolio, which includes the ecofective®, SPOT-ON, FITO and GET OFF brands, the Sipcam Home & Garden team has recently welcomed a new Supply Chain Manager, Natalie Murgatroyd, and Financial Controller, Jason Linwood. These latest appointments reflect the company’s ongoing growth and increased market share within the garden and pet sectors.
Elsewhere within the business, Sales Administrator, Leah Monteath, was recently awarded the accolade of ‘Young Apprentice of the Year’. Leah, who has been with Sipcam Home & Garden since 2020, was selected from more than 400 apprentices across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire to win this highly coveted prize. Leah, who has been studying Business and Admin Administration, has become an integral part of the Sipcam family; all of whom are extremely proud of her achievement.
New offices
Leah’s win, however, is just one reason why the Sipcam Home & Garden team is celebrating. In an exciting move, the company’s UK head office was recently relocated to a new site.
The new office facilities, located in the centre of historic Derby, provide Sipcam with over 50% more floor space than its previous location, allowing for plenty of additional room to house the full team, plus vital space to grow in the coming years.
Nigel Thompson, Head of Sales at Sipcam Home & Garden said: “The past two years have been interesting but best defined by the incredible growth we have experienced. Our entire brand portfolio has witnessed increased sales and stockist numbers, which in turn has led us, as a business, to also enter a new chapter. Our newest team members highlight the importance we are placing on improving the way we support our supply chain and customer needs, whilst our new office space demonstrates our commitment to building on our current successes. We are excited about what the future holds and about working with our customers in order to help them build more profitability and consumer loyalty via our market-leading products that tackle common problems and tasks in the home and garden.”
Find out more
To find out more about the leading product range from Sipcam Home & Garden, visit www.sipcamhg.co.uk.
Tong Garden Centre has created a new role to spearhead food and drink initiatives as it prepares for future growth...
Tong Garden Centre has created a new role to spearhead food and drink initiatives as it prepares for future growth.
Sarah Dwyer, who led the development of Hearty's Food Hall from concept to its completion in 2021, has been appointed to the new Head of Food position.
In her new role, Ms Dwyer will head up both Hearty's food hall and the Blooms Kitchen and Mezzanine at Tong and all restaurants at the Tingley garden centre that is due to open later this year. She will be responsible for creating customer experiences through dining concepts, complementing the Hearty's range and building on Tong's ‘known for' offering created by the in-house butchery and bakery teams.
"Given the growth and success of our dining offer at Tong to date, the expansion of our Tong prep kitchen, the redevelopment of our Foodhall to Hearty's and our exciting expansion plans with Tingley, it's the right time to put a specific Food structure in place to take our food proposition forward and Sarah is the perfect person to lead this," said Tong's MD, Mark Farnsworth.
Ms Dwyer is excited about the challenges that she faces in her new role: "This is a great opportunity to understand food trends, leverage our food supplier base and create a cohesive approach with our restaurant concepts and Hearty's. With the help of the food team, we will be championing Tong made products including customer favourites from vanilla slices to meat pies, plus our extensive range of food and drink from local and artisan suppliers.
"I'm looking forward to working with our amazing food team across all restaurants and Hearty's to enhance and evolve customers' food and drink experience, both here at Tong and at Tingley in the near future."
Pictured: from left to right: Andy Bradley, Sarah Dwyer and Cath Westmoreland.
The iconic plant food brand, Phostrogen, which has been helping British gardens grow for 60 years, has launched a new on-pack incentive offering families a variety of discounts on days out across the country this summer...
The iconic plant food brand, Phostrogen, which has been helping British gardens grow for 60 years, has launched a new on-pack incentive offering families a variety of discounts on days out across the country this summer.
Launching in March, the Great British Days Out initiative will provide consumers with access to discounted entry at a host of leisure destinations when they purchase any pack of Phostrogen product.
Shoppers will be able to choose from a wide range of activities with their voucher, including castles, gardens, museums and more, ensuring every family can enjoy the perfect day out for them thanks to Phostrogen
The promotion will be available in retailers while stock lasts until 30th September 2022. Consumers will be able to redeem their voucher any time after purchasing until 31st December 2022, and can use their vouchers any time before 30th June 2023.
To redeem their voucher and select a day out, all consumers need to do is visit www.phostrogendaysout.com, upload their receipt to be validated, select a venue and present their Great British Day Out Voucher on arrival.
The initiative coincides with the launch of a range of new Phostrogen fertilisers certified by the Organic Farmers & Growers Association (OF&G), including an Organic All Purpose Plant Food, Organic Tomato Food, Organic Lawn Food, and Organic Ericaceous Plant Food.
As well as extending its range, Phostrogen’s popular All Purpose Plant Food has also unveiled a fresh, modern look for the iconic original fertiliser, which will be available to purchase alongside the organic range.
It comes as the brand announces a host of wider marketing activity to support retail, including the debut of its first broadcast campaign which will air across lifestyle channels including ITV this spring. It will also introduce new in-store point of sale display units to command space, attract interest and catch the eye of consumers, including archways, pallet wraps, hot spots, and gondola ends.
James Ramnought, Head of Marketing for Phostrogen commented on the launch: “We are thrilled to launch the Great British Days Out promotion this season. As a British brand with over 60 years heritage, we are passionate about encouraging families to spend quality time together, whether it’s in the garden or out and about, and we hope that the fantastic offers available will enable consumers to enjoy one of their favourite days out on us.
“What’s more, we hope that the campaign will help increase brand awareness and drive footfall, supporting our retail partners throughout the key season alongside our wider marketing activity planned.”
Dobbies is helping Britain’s green spaces blossom this spring with the return of its much-loved Helping Your Community Grow initiative, with an enhanced sustainable focus for 2022...
Dobbies is helping Britain’s green spaces blossom this spring with the return of its much-loved Helping Your Community Grow initiative, with an enhanced sustainable focus for 2022.
Launched in 2010, the initiative encourages people across the country to take care of their green spaces. For 2022, Dobbies is seeking local groups that are striving to help their community space flourish in a sustainable way. Whether it’s a community allotment project to get kids eating more fruit and vegetables, a wildflower garden with pollinating flowers for bees and insects or a calming outdoor space for boosting mental health, Dobbies wants to help communities transform their local areas.
Helping Your Community Grow will provide 69 local groups with advice, products and time to help transform their outdoor spaces, using their sustainable product ranges wherever possible. This could include peat-free compost, recycled and recyclable pots, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products.
This year, the little dobbies city centre stores will also be taking part, providing a houseplant makeover for five lucky community groups to help them bring the outside in. In addition to the 74 regional winners, one national winner will receive further support.
Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies said: “Community is at the forefront of what we do at Dobbies and we’re proud to be relaunching our Helping Your Community Grow initiative again this spring. We had a brilliant variety of applications last year and it was great to see local community spaces, school vegetable patches and memorial gardens benefit from our support.
“This year we are particularly keen to hear from projects who have a sustainable focus to their work and our teams will share their knowledge of sustainable products and practices, to ensure a truly eco-friendly approach.”
Claire Blowers from Noadswood PSA, the national winner from 2021, said: “We really benefitted from entering Helping Your Community Grow in 2021. We had invaluable support and advice from the team, along with products that enabled us to transform our space. I would highly recommend community projects submitting entries for this year’s initiative.”
In addition to Helping Your Community Grow, there will be further opportunities for community groups looking to brighten up their local areas, with access to small grants from their nearest Dobbies or little dobbies store. Community groups are invited to contact their local stores for details.
Getting involved couldn’t be easier. Eligible projects must be located within 20 miles of a Dobbies store or 5 miles of a little dobbies store.
Sales volumes of the Top 50 Garden Products in February 2022 grew by 20% on February 2021 and 21% ahead of 2020 levels...
Sales volumes of the Top 50 Garden Products in February 2022 grew by 20% on February 2021 and 21% ahead of 2020 levels.
That meant sales were ahead of pre-pandemic 2019 levels but not quite matching the levels seen in 2018.
Last week saw variouse sales increases linked to the storms with high volumes of tree ties and greenhouse accessories being sold.
Evergreen Garden Care Levington Tomorite 1L + 30% Free was the No 1 Bestselling Garden Product line for 3 of the 4 weeks in February.
Smart Garden Briers All Seasons Gardener Gloves Blue Large were the highest placed re-entry last week.
Garland 61cm Tree Ties climbed furthest up the chart, up 33 places to No 15.
Garland Greenhouse W Clips, pack of 25 were a new entry at No 35, also a post storm sales boost no doubt.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
If growing veg at home is a key indicator to the levels of interest we may see for the rest of the year then February sales volumes of Veg-2-Gro lines point to a bumper year ahead...
If growing veg at home is a key indicator to the levels of interest we may see for the rest of the year then February sales volumes of Veg-2-Gro lines point to a bumper year ahead.
Record sales of the GTN Top 50 Veg-2-Gro lines saw sales for the month beat last year’s previous record by 19%.
Boulton's Strawberries in Variety stay at No 1.
Taylors Seed Potatoes Maris Piper 2.5kg were the highest chart re-entry at No 11.
Taylors Seed Potatoes Maris Bard 2.5kg moved furthest up the chart from No 43 to No 13.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
February Growing Media sales volumes got back to parity with 2019 levels...
February Growing Media sales volumes got back to parity with 2019 levels.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 volumes were up by 20% on last year and 39% up on 2020.
Whilst more peat free lines are appearing in the GTN Top 50 the Top 4 in the chart for the last week of February, which accounted for 40% of the total top 50 volume, were traditional compost lines.
Evergreen Garden Care Levington Multi Purpose Compost 40L stays at No 1.
Westland Erin Multipurpose Compost 50L is hard on its heels at No2.
Bathgate Topsoil 25L is the highest new entry at No 42.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
While wild bird care sales for February were down by 8% on 2021 sales were up by 9% on 2020 when we were also hit by storms during the month...
While wild bird care sales for February were down by 8% on 2021 sales were up by 9% on 2020 when we were also hit by storms during the month.
What promotions are you putting place to maximise Wild Bird Care and Wildlife sales even if we have a mild and sunny spring?
Henry Bell Essentials Seed Mix 2kg has been the No 1 Bestselling Wild Bird care line for all of February.
Johnston & Jeff Peanuts 12.75kg are a new entry this week at No 11.
Westland Peckish Winter Warmer Mix 1kg is the highest placed re-entry at No 19.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is championing inclusive gardening and will celebrate the healing power of trees in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace from 4 to 9 July 2022...6
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is championing inclusive gardening and will celebrate the healing power of trees in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace from 4 to 9 July 2022.
The relaxed festival atmosphere is the perfect summer’s day out to discover new flowers and plants, gardening advice or to enjoy the exquisite location surrounded by nature’s splendour.
New areas are being introduced for 2022 that will appeal to a wide range of interests, from families with budding young growers to foodie fans.
The River Cottage Market Garden is an immersive walk-through garden, designed by their Head Gardener Adam Crofts that will focus on growing organic vegetables, fruit trees, botanicals and wildflowers for pollinators. This new area will showcase country crafts, including beekeeping and willow weaving as well as the pleasure of cooking and eating outdoors. Founded by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, River Cottage’s commitment to the ethical and sustainable production of food aligns with the RHS’s Planet-Friendly Gardening campaign to encourage everyone to make small steps that will make a global impact.
For anyone needing encouragement to begin their gardening journey, the Get Started gardens aim to inspire people of all ages and abilities to get planting whatever their budget, lifestyle or space. Self-taught gardener Sue Kent recently retired as a massage therapist to concentrate on gardening projects and presenting on BBC Gardeners’ World. Born with an upper limb difference, Kent’s concept #knollingwithdaisies is a low maintenance garden using re-purposed materials and native planting, specifically designed for people with limited physical dexterity and strength, or for those with busy lives who want to garden but don’t have lots of time.
Visitors in need of peace and tranquillity will flock to the RHS Forest Bathing Garden designed by Dave Green and the Sanctuary Area will provide a healthy dose of solace through natural therapy. Forest bathing is the practice of settling the mind and meditating within a natural setting that can help with relaxation and wellbeing. Green is incorporating surprising ways to engage the senses in a quiet retreat surrounded by field maples, hornbeams and the Palace’s mature limes, together with tactile planting, from hostas through to ferns and grasses.
The serene environs of the Sanctuary Area will see Ditton Avenue transformed into an enchanting, immersive woodland featuring the Sanctuary Yurt. Family friendly activities include exploring the wonders of fungi and world of natural habitats to keep inquisitive minds active. And a new acoustic music stage will add to the chilled-out festival vibe with performances by up and coming artists.
Renowned designers make a welcome return to showcase their creative talent and expertise. The accolade of RHS Iconic Horticultural Hero is presented to Sarah Eberle, acknowledging her professional contribution through a career spanning over 40 years. A recipient of five RHS Hampton Court Palace Gold Medals, Eberle’s design is an immersive garden of sustainable landscapes featuring native and wild world plants, including species that are not only beautiful and sustainably grown in the UK, but reflect our cultural heritage and the health benefits of plants.
Further Show gardens this year include the Connections garden by designer Ryan McMahon whose family has been affected by dementia. In support of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the garden aims to highlight the intertwined relationships within families and friends when a loved one is diagnosed, and represents the condition at a cellular level. A yarn bombing installation of knitted patches will be made by volunteers to commemorate someone close to them who has been affected. And Charlie Bloom and Simon Webster’s Sunburst garden has been designed to showcase their love for colour, fun and theatrical planting.
A special RHS Rose Tea Garden designed by Pollyanna Wilkinson will commemorate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Attached to the popular Festival of Roses, seven roses have been chosen to represent each decade of the monarch’s reign and will be installed within an enchantingly romantic space that will offer a themed afternoon tea to entice visitors with delicious treats.
Following the success of last year’s RHS Allotment, and with continued interest in grow at home gardening, this practical arena supported by Miracle-Gro, features more than 10 community allotments and will provide talks and advice to demonstrate what can be achieved with no formal training or big budgets.
Festival favourites will also be back - the Floral Marquee, supported by St. James’s Place will be brimming with over 60 exhibitors bringing an array of species and cultivars, with Todd’s Botanics named as RHS Master Grower; Plant Village will feature 20 nurseries displaying and selling seasonal plants and bulbs and on the Get Growing stage, celebrities and renowned gardeners such as Monty Don and Adam Frost will discuss their gardening stories and a panel of experts will be on hand to demystify visitor’s conundrums. A new garden design clinic run by The Society of Garden Designers will allow visitors to book a one-to-one consultation for those in need of creative and practical help.
Rebecca Welti, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Manager, said: “As we begin to adapt to a normal way of life post-pandemic, this year’s festival aims to offer visitors the choice to experience the holistic power of gardens and the positivity it can bring across different aspects of our everyday lives. Whether you want to learn something new from an expert, be inspired to start a gardening project or enjoy spending quality time with friends and family, there is so much more to discover this year.”
Made from 3.5kgs of recycled ropes and nets from the maritime industry, to-date the ground-breaking DuraOcean chair from LifestyleGarden has helped to recycle over 240,000kgs (240 tonnes) of ocean plastic. Now, contemporary trend lovers across the country will be pleased to hear that there is a new colour joining the mix – introducing the stunning mint green DuraOcean....
Made from 3.5kgs of recycled ropes and nets from the maritime industry, to-date the ground-breaking DuraOcean chair from LifestyleGarden has helped to recycle over 240,000kgs (240 tonnes) of ocean plastic. Now, contemporary trend lovers across the country will be pleased to hear that there is a new colour joining the mix – introducing the stunning mint green DuraOcean!
Whether its evoking summer days spent on the beach with cotton candy striped deck chairs or enjoying some mint choc chip gelato as you stroll around Lake Garda, mint green is full of cheerful energy and makes for a great statement colour in both interior and exterior styling.
In colour psychology, mint green evokes feelings of freshness and lightness, and has the ability to brighten any space and demonstrates surprising versatility, making it a great choice for both contemporary and traditional styles of living. The colour green also relates to being kind, generous and compassionate – something that DuraOcean offers in bags as every chair plays a part in helping to reduce the ocean pollution crisis, which is currently seeing over eight million pieces of extremely harmful plastic reach our oceans every single day, killing huge swathes of the fish and creatures that call the ocean home.
Since its launch in 2019, DuraOcean has set the standard for responsible material innovation and has drawn support from leading organisations including the Eden Project, one of the world’s foremost environmental and educational charities. The range has also been awarded a number of prestigious awards.
Where to buy
The all-new mint DuraOcean – fully recyclable at the end of its lifecycle – is priced at just £299 for a two-seater bistro set which also includes a table topped with the same innovative recycled material.
Four- and six-seater sets are also available priced from £499. Shoppers can also buy a set of two chairs to add to their existing dining table set-up or to add colour to a balcony or seating area, priced at just £179 for the two.
The stunning mint green DuraOcean – which is joined by both dark green and black designs - can be purchased from a wide range of UK garden centres, as well as via the Eden Project’s online store and exclusively via Robert Dyas on the high street.
Hillier has announced that its new charity partnership for 2022-24 is with children’s cancer support charity, Abby’s Heroes...
Hillier has announced that its new charity partnership for 2022-24 is with children’s cancer support charity, Abby’s Heroes.
During this partnership, Hillier aims to raise funds, provide support and help the charity through multiple fundraising activities.
Abby’s Heroes supports children receiving cancer treatment and their families, including those that have lost loved ones, who come under the care of the Piam Brown and the Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) wards at University Hospital Southampton. The charity offers financial assistance, to those across the South Coast, as well as practical measures and programmes to help those facing the harsh reality of childhood cancer. Abby’s Heroes also offer an opportunity to make lasting memories for the children and their families.
Hillier pledges to support the charity over the next two years, both through raising donations as well as providing time, advice and expertise. Based in Southampton, but supporting families in the south of the country, Abby’s Heroes is located in close proximity to a number of Hillier Garden Centres and through this Hillier hopes to bring support by raising awareness of the fantastic work that the charity does in the local area.
Chris Francis, Hillier Garden Centre and Wholesale Nurseries Director, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting Abby’s Heroes as our charity partner for the next two years. The work they do to support brave children and their families when diagnosed with cancer is vital and we want to help raise awareness as well as donations for them.”
Sally Randall, who founded Abby’s Heroes in the name of her daughter, just six months after losing Abby to cancer, said: “I am extremely proud to have been chosen as the charity partner for Hillier and we are very much looking forward to the support of their amazing staff and customers over the next two years. Abby’s Heroes began in memory of our own daughter but now it’s about supporting every single child and young adult who is diagnosed with cancer from across the region. With the support of Hillier, we know that we can make a difference to the lives of some very special children and young people, together with their families.”
British Garden Centres have announced today the arrival of the groups 60th garden centre. Trebaron Garden Centre in Lancashire, and team, joined the BGC family on Friday 4th March 2022...
It has been a busy few weeks for the team at British Garden Centres (BGC) with them announcing today the arrival of the groups 60th garden centre. Trebaron Garden Centre in Lancashire, and team, joined the BGC family on Friday 4th March 2022. The centre, just outside Lytham St Annes (on the B5261 to Blackpool), will as with all the centres in the group carry a local name - Lytham St Annes Garden Centre.
Phillippa Stubbs, Director of BGC South said “This is a landmark day for us all. We have known the Withers family for many years and for their centre to be the 60th to join the British Garden Centres family is very special. Over the last few years we have grown our business in the north west through our other centres; Leyland, Townley & Bolton to name a few. Adding Lytham St Annes to the family gives us even more opportunities to serve the local gardeners. We are looking forward to working with the team to develop the business further and build on its heritage.”
Trebaron Garden Centre has developed over the last 40 years into the locals’ favourite garden centre and bistro. Having started life as a Tomato Nursery the site has evolved over the years, and this looks set to continue with BGC investment. Speaking of the sale, Andy Withers – son of the founder – said, “We, at Trebaron, are delighted that the British Garden Centre group is taking over the business. BGC shares our values of service to the local community and I am confident the centre will continue to flourish in the future.”
Lytham St Annes Garden Centre is just 2 miles north of Lytham town centre, 5 minutes from the M55 and 5 miles from the heart of Blackpool.
To work alongside the existing team, Lytham St Annes will be recruiting for a number of additional colleagues, go to www.britishgardencentres.com where full details will be found. As a growing business, in every sense, BGC provides great career opportunities to all skill levels. With 60 garden centres, 2 nurseries and 3 distribution centres the opportunities for progression are numerous.
Peter Seabrook was buried last week in the Churchyard of St Michael's Church on Galleywood Common, Essex, next to his wife Margaret, who passed two years ago...
Peter Seabrook was buried last week in the Churchyard of St Michael's Church on Galleywood Common, Essex, next to his wife Margaret, who passed two years ago.
Many from the horticultural and media world were amongst the 150 strong congregation at the Service of Thanksgiving where Howard Drury described Peter as "the greatest horticulturalist of all time."
At the gathering that followed the committal, RHS President Keith Weed spoke of the incredible influence Peter had on gardening for all.
In lieu of flowers, donations, if wished, be made to the David Colegrave Foundation, supporting the development of students studying horticulture in the UK and Ireland, or to Alzheimer’s Society c/o T Pennack & Sons, 1-3 Maldon Rd, Chelmsford, CM2 7DW.
Equally, Peter's family would be delighted for people to plant a tree (and perhaps upload a virtual plaque to www.queensgreencanopy.org) as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy jubilee celebrations.
Read GTN's tributes to Peter Seabrook in the latest issue of the magazine below or via this link:
A host of new jobs have been created at Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre, following its recent acquisition by value garden centre group, Cherry Lane...
A host of new jobs have been created at Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre, following its recent acquisition by value garden centre group, Cherry Lane.
Vacancies are now available for a variety of permanent roles including assistant manager, warehouse supervisor/colleague, horticultural colleagues (full-time and weekends) and sales assistants (part-time and weekends). Cherry Lane is also seeking a number of spring/summer temporary workers for part-time and weekend contracts.
A recruitment open day is being held at Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre on Saturday 5th March. Anyone interested in applying for a role at Cherry Lane is invited to come along on the day to find out more.
Cherry Lane currently employs 18 staff at the garden centre, which is located on Bar Road, Saundby. The recruitment drive is running as part of Cherry Lane’s plans to build on the site’s current offering, with new departments being created and extended product ranges added to deliver the full Cherry Lane experience.
Cherry Lane offers full training on the job and ongoing career development opportunities, not to mention many other benefits including staff discounts, company pension and additional holiday days for long service.
Lee Jackson, manager at Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre by Cherry Lane, said: “We have exciting plans here at the garden centre to expand and enhance the shopping experience for our customers and we need some extra colleagues to help us do this. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to join a busy, interesting retail environment, owned by a family-run business. Whether you’ve got green fingers and a passion for plants, or are just looking for a great new place to work with excellent career prospects, the recruitment day will provide a chance to find out more about the roles available and to apply. We’re looking forward to welcoming new team members to work alongside our fantastic existing employees.”
Following the acquisition, Cherry Lane confirmed changes to Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre offering will include new product ranges including outdoor furniture, solar lighting, water features and barbecues, not to mention indoor furnishings and homewares. A brand-new Scallywags pet shop is also coming. The garden centre’s well-established homegrown hanging basket operation is being continued and will work alongside Cherry Lane’s existing four nursery operations where they produce the popular Grown By Us range, which is sold across all Cherry Lane garden centres. A new menu is being developed for Citrus Café too, including customers’ existing favourites.
Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre by Cherry Lane is located on Bar Road, Saundby, Retford DN22 9EU. For more information, visit www.cherry-lane.co.uk.
Hamac are encouraging all customers to confirm pre-season Christmas orders by the end of February...
Hamac are encouraging all customers to confirm pre-season Christmas orders by the end of February.
We are currently holding 2021 prices until the end of February. Place your order now to lock in prices. Contact our Sales office for more details.
The below link which will provide with our display catalogue.
Hamac Displays is your one stop shop for Display, we have the widest range of realistic life-sized models, Animation and Vinyl Backdrops in Europe.
Hamac are the Exclusive distributors in the UK and Ireland of Animation brands Creation Group and Hansa Creation.
Hansa Creation the World’s Most Realistic Plush Animal Productions. Producing over 7,000 products with over 500 lines carefully selected for our UK stockist.
Creation Group Animatronics “where there is a story behind every product”. Creation Group are the world’s leading manufactures in Animated Figurines with over 55 years of experience in the industry so there’s no doubt they know how to create fascinating animated displays.
InLiteFi products have the unique combination of fiberglass, coloured aluminium and LED lights giving customers an incredible experience both day and night!
Home to the biggest brands in gardening, plus a host of exciting new innovators, Glee 2022 is set to be THE place to boost your retail offering for the year ahead...
Home to the biggest brands in gardening, plus a host of exciting new innovators, Glee 2022 is set to be THE place to boost your retail offering for the year ahead.
Last year the show welcomed highly transactional and quality buyers from a host of multiple and independent garden centres, high street and department stores, builder’s merchants, and online retailers, and this year is set to be no different as the popularity of gardening continues to soar.
With so much to see, there has never been a better reason to ensure that Glee 2022 is firmly in your diary but, if you still need persuading to get out of the office, here’s ten reasons not to miss what is set to be the biggest Glee for many years!
No substitute for face-to-face – After several years of communicating and showcasing new products virtually, the reopening of events in 2021 proved that there is no substitute for face-to-face interaction. Whilst normality has largely resumed, exhibitions are continuing to ride this wave of popularity, as reflected in the high levels of bookings that are taking place. To-date Glee 2022 is over 80% booked and, when full, will represent the largest gathering of new and existing garden and outdoor living brands under one roof anywhere in the UK. Can you afford to miss out?
A new dateline to suit your buying needs – In 2021 the Glee team undertook an in-depth consultation with key stakeholders, representing suppliers, retailers and trade associations. The outcome of these discussions was that moving Glee to a different time of year would better reflect and support the ongoing development of the garden retail supply chain and associated buying cycles. As a result, Glee will now take place in late June 28th – 30th,helping retailers to place orders at a time to suit extended lead times.
Eight product sectors to choose from – Glee 2022 will be home to hundreds of exciting brands, together covering eight core product sectors – Garden Care, Landscaping & Garden Decoration, Outdoor Entertaining, Plants, Home, Gift & Clothing, PAW (Pet & Animal Wellbeing), Retail Services & Experiences, and Food & Catering. With so many brands under one roof, retailers can expect to see the biggest profile of new products and innovation as thousands of new range additions are earmarked to exclusively launch ahead of the 2023 season at this year’s Glee event.
The importance of newness – Differentiating yourself from the competition is an important part of retailing. Stocking new and unique brands is an easy way to ensure you are offering something different, which is why a trip to Glee will always pay dividends. From the dedicated Innovators Zone - home to inventors and entrepreneurs offering exciting grass-roots product development and one-off design ideas - to the 100 plus new brands that will be making their Glee debut in 2022, every step around the show will be sure to uncover something exciting.
The return of big brands - Glee 2022 will also be welcoming back several brands that have not exhibited for a number of years. These brands will include UK Garden Buildings, Smart Garden, G Plants, Scheurich, Kadai, Panacea, STV and long-term Spring Fair exhibitor, PMS International.
Network, network, network – Whether it’s a working lunch, joining a GIMA Buyer Connect speed networking session, or meeting with new and existing suppliers, a few hours at Glee will deliver much more value than hours spent on the road. No other opportunity within the year delivers so much value under one roof.
Get connected - Let the Glee Connect app help guide you to new products and personalised exhibitor recommendations. This pocket-sized interactive guide to the show uses intelligent AI- functionality to help visiting retailers to better measure – and even increase - their ‘Return on Time’ spent at the show.
Education & celebration - As always, Glee will offer visitors a free three-day seminar programme which will provide an enriched programme of expert business and garden retail advice to help grow your business through challenging trading conditions. This content will be derived from extensive industry research and is set to tackle key talking points, struggles and successes. In addition, the Glee New Product Awards and Buyers Power List will celebrate the best our industry has to offer.
Get ahead of the curve – With hundreds of brands together launching thousands of new product launches, PLUS an unrivalled seminar programme, and leading trade association support, Glee is the place to come to see exactly what trends are shaping consumer demand. A day spent at Glee will provide detailed insight into the trends, colours and issues that are shaping garden retail and that will keep the tills ringing the year ahead.
Access trade association support - As the central networking hub for the garden retail industry, Glee will once again play host to vital trade associations including GIMA, HTA, Gardenex, GCA, PetQuip and Pet Industry Federation, all of which will be welcoming existing and potential new members for the duration of the show, offering invaluable advice and expertise to those who need it.
Glee 2022 will take place on June 28th – 30th. Exhibiting floorspace is filling up fast with over 80% now sold. Brands and manufacturers interested in exhibiting are being urged to do so now to avoid missing out.
Find out more
To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2020 call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.
Burford House (BGC), Brigg (BGC), Squire Badshot Lea, Silverbirch, The Old Railway Line and Bents have picked up Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Team golds in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, presented at Spring Fair on Monday. Kaemingk walked away with The Greatest Christmas Supplier gold...
Burford House (BGC), Brigg (BGC), Squire Badshot Lea, Silverbirch, The Old Railway Line and Bents have picked up Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Team golds in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, presented at Spring Fair on Monday. Kaemingk walked away with The Greatest Christmas Supplier gold.
Here are all the winners:
The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team - kindly sponsored by Woodlodge
The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by Woodlodge
Smaller Group Centres
Gold:Burford House - BGC
Silver: Albrighton – BGC
Bronze: Blue Diamond Newbridge, Little Dobbies Richmond, Thatcham – BGC
The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by Woodlodge
Larger Group Centres
Gold:Squires Badshot Lea, Brigg – BGC
Silver: Blue Diamond Cadbury, Blue Diamond Derby
Bronze: Braintree – BGC
All Group Centre Finalists: Albrighton – BGC, Blue Diamond Cadbury, Blue Diamond Derby, Blue Diamond Newbridge, Braintree – BGC, Brigg Garden Centre – BGC, Burford House – BGC, Little Dobbies Richmond, Squires Badshot Lea, Thatcham – BGC
The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by DCUK
Gold:Silverbirch
Silver: Newquay Garden Centre
Bronze: Pengelly Garden Centre
Finalists: Hillmount Cheshire, Newquay Garden Centre, Pengelly Garden Centre, Pughs Wenvoe, Silverbirch
The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by DCUK
Gold:The Old Railway Line
Silver: Fron Goch
Bronze: Woodlands Garden Centre
Finalists: Bosworths, Fron Goch, Perrywood Sudbury, Tates South Downs, The Old Railway Line, Woodlands Garden Centre
The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by Festive
Watch out for The Greatest Christmas Awards photo tours of the centres in future issues of GTN Xtra, starting this coming weekend and in the next issue of GTN magazine.
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.
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.
The new Green Power Turbo Gas Weeder is an ideal product for garden centre retailers looking to diversify their weed control product offering, as the infrared technology allows users to remove weeds in a ‘green’ way. The flame within the product heats the ceramic plate, which sits within a safety shield, up to 800°C, causing a thermal shock to kill the weed, without the use of chemicals. 
The bottle of BugFree Bug and Larvae Killer Concentrate is now made from 90% recycled plastic, with more changes to recycled materials to follow. This latest development underpins Neudorff’s ongoing commitment to sustainability across all areas of its business and meeting the needs of eco-savvy consumers who increasingly demand responsibly sourced packaging that’s kind to the environment.
Elsewhere within the business, Sales Administrator, Leah Monteath, was recently awarded the accolade of ‘Young Apprentice of the Year’. Leah, who has been with Sipcam Home & Garden since 2020, was selected from more than 400 apprentices across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire to win this highly coveted prize. Leah, who has been studying Business and Admin Administration, has become an integral part of the Sipcam family; all of whom are extremely proud of her achievement.
Made from 3.5kgs of recycled ropes and nets from the maritime industry, to-date the ground-breaking DuraOcean chair from LifestyleGarden has helped to recycle over 240,000kgs (240 tonnes) of ocean plastic. Now, contemporary trend lovers across the country will be pleased to hear that there is a new colour joining the mix – introducing the stunning mint green DuraOcean! 
