The Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) results for July (2013) revealed people were continuing to make the most of the sunshine by improving their outdoor living spaces.

Barbecues and furniture sales were up 72.75% for the month as compared to July 2012. The category now stands at 12.22% up for the year to date.

Peter Burks, Chairman of the GCA, explained: “July was the fourth consecutive month of good sales for our member garden centres, with overall sales up 14.61% up as compared to the same period last year. The overall year to date figure now stands at 3.21% up.

“Other good sellers in July were outdoor plants, 15.84% up, garden sundries, 22.88% up, hard landscaping, 24.87% up and food hall/farm shop, 10.4% up.”

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement.

The BoT reports produced by the GCA allow member garden centres to compare their trading positions with other centres.

Julian Winfield, Chief Executive of Haskins Garden Centres, whose stores all performed well in the furniture and barbecues category during July, said: “Having possibly under-performed in recent years we have worked hard, with fewer suppliers, to get the price points right all the way through the range.

“We have not shied away from the higher priced ranges and encouraged our centres to do special customer orders for non-standard product lines. However, furniture sales are still substantially down on 10 years ago.”

For further information, please call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.