Garden centres across the UK are putting the final preparations in place for their Garden Re-Leaf Day events on Friday, March 14.  The third, annual gardening industry initiative will see hundreds of garden retailers and suppliers working together towards a fun, fund-raising weekend that is also designed to pull in gardening customers after the wet winter months.

From celebrity gardener talks, quizzes and treasure hunts to competitions, planting lessons and sponsored challenges, Garden Re-Leaf Day will offer gardeners plenty to get involved in.  Many garden product and plant brands have also created special on-pack offers, promotions, displays and donation opportunities at garden centres nationwide to help raise further funds.  All proceeds will go to Greenfingers, Garden Re-Leaf Day’s nominated charity for 2014. 

The highlight at many garden centres will be a ‘star-studded’, fund-raising Garden Re-Leaf Day Gardening Quiz event for customers.  Featuring questions specially pre-recorded by celebrities including Hollywood star Jude Law, Dr Who actor David Tennant, Skyfall actress Naomie Harris, EastEnders stars Danny Dyer and Patsy Palmer, Ballykissangel star Dervla Kirwan, and impressionist Alistair McGowan, the proceeds of quiz ticket sales will go towards the cause. 

ITV gardener David Domoney and BBC science presenter and botanist James Wong will be making personal appearances at garden centres as part of the Garden Re-Leaf Day weekend. QVC viewers can also tune in to gardening guru Richard Jackson’s popular gardening product shows on March 15 and 16, to help raise money for the charity with every item sold.

Greenfingers is a small, nationwide charity dedicated to building gardens in children’s hospices around the UK.  It has created 42 magical hospice gardens since its inception and has more children’s hospices who need its help.  Since the first Garden Re-Leaf Day in March 2012, the volunteer-organised event has raised more than £116,000 for Greenfingers; enabling several life-enhancing hospice gardens to be created. 

In 2014 Garden Re-Leaf Day monies will go towards the Greenfingers ‘Rosy Cheeks’ appeal – which aims to raise £750,000 over two years to fund the creation of at least ten more children’s hospice gardens; giving children and families who use the hospices a chance to spend precious time together in a natural, beautiful environment.

Gardening broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh was one of the first to support Garden Re-Leaf Day before its launch in 2012.  “You've heard of Comic Relief and Sports Relief... now the garden industry has its own version, Garden Re-Leaf,” he said.  “It could become the biggest event in the gardening calendar."

Organisations such as The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) and The Garden Centre Association (GCA) are also active supporters of the day. Sector suppliers including Scotts Miracle-Gro, Mr Fothergill’s, William Sinclair, Westland Horticulture, Kelkay, Solus, Smart Solar, Richard Jackson’s Flower Power, Pleydell Smithyman, Bon Bon’s, Neudorff, Gardman and Briers gave financial donations towards Garden Re-Leaf Day’s marketing ‘fighting fund’.

“We are thrilled that so many garden centres and suppliers will be making the most of Garden Re-Leaf Day 2014,” confirmed Garden Re-Leaf Day’s founder and Hillview Garden Centre CEO Boyd Douglas-Davies. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to get attract customers back in-store this spring, a great staff team-builder, and helps a really worthwhile cause along the way.”

Find out more:

• To register an event visit www.gardenreleaf.co.uk
• Find the latest Garden Re-Leaf updates at @GardenReLeaf on Twitter, on Facebook and Pinterest
• To find out more about Greenfingers visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Hollywood star Jude Law and Dr Who actor David Tennant have joined the growing list of household-name celebrities to support Garden Re-Leaf Day’s popular Gardening Quiz, by recording a round of questions.  The brain-teasing audio quiz is available as a customer event opportunity to any garden centre taking part in the annual fund-raising day in March.

The two stars join Skyfall’s ‘Miss Moneypenny’, actress Naomie Harris – currently on cinema screens as Winnie Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom – in presenting a section of the questions.  EastEnders cast members Danny Dyer (new Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter) and Patsy Palmer (fiery market trader Bianca Butcher) have also lent their familiar voices to the quiz, in addition to a round recorded by impressionist Alistair McGowan – in the vocal style of celebrities John Humphrys, David Mitchell, Matt Baker, Dara Ó Briain and Stephen Fry.

David Tennant, Naomie Harris and Alistair McGowan have agreed to support Garden Re-Leaf Day’s popular Gardening Quiz.

The quiz – which includes both general knowledge and gardening rounds – can be ordered by all retailers, suppliers and other organisations participating in Garden Re-Leaf Day; with funds raised going towards its chosen charity, Greenfingers. The production of the quiz and accompanying CDs are being provided by Garden Radio, as part of its support for Garden Re-Leaf Day.

The quiz is also a ready-made opportunity to boost customer footfall, as Garden Re-Leaf Day’s founder and Hillview Garden Centre CEO Boyd Douglas-Davies explains: “We’re enormously grateful that so many mainstream stars have supported this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day quiz – it will be more popular than ever!  It’s a simple way for retailers both to take part in Garden Re-Leaf, and attract scores of customers in-store at the start of the spring gardening season.  You can make the event even more effective by running other sales promotions, refreshments and fund-raisers alongside. The organiser’s pack costs just £100 and is available by calling 01993 871456 or emailing pat@gca.org.uk”

Garden centres and suppliers across the UK are expected to take part in the third annual Garden Re-Leaf Day, held on Friday 14 March 2014 and across the weekend. Participants – who can run any number of nationally-coordinated or local fund-raising initiatives – are being urged to register their involvement as soon as possible by emailing the organising team at info@gardenreleaf.co.uk with an overview of your planned activities.  Your location and events will then be added to the Garden Re-Leaf Day website: www.gardenreleaf.co.uk.

As in its first two years, Garden Re-Leaf Day’s nominated charity in 2014 is Greenfingers; the nationwide charity dedicated to building gardens in children’s hospices around the UK. Since 2012 Garden Re-Leaf Day participants have raised more than £116,000 for the cause; enabling several life-enhancing hospice gardens to be created.

The acquisition, the group’s fourth centre, is part of a plan to grow to 10 sites over the next few years. “We’re interested in talking to low-turnover traditional businesses with potential in the right areas,” operations director Karen Gill told GTN Xtra.

An introductory sale soon after the Rutland deal was completed triggered such an influx of trade that police were called to control the traffic.

The existing employees, including manager Kevin Barker, have been retained and additional staff have been taken on, with more recruitment in the pipeline.

Mrs Gill said the group, whose main nursery facility is Chessum Plants at Biggleswade, was focusing on plants and gardening. “We want customers to feel they are in a gardener’s garden centre when they walk in the door,” she said.

The other Home & Garden sites, all trading under their local names rather than the group banner, are at Willington (Beds), Kettering (Northants) and Uttoxeter (Staffs).

Info: 01767 603990

Addressing a lunchtime gathering of retail buyers at a Classiflora Zelari open day at Waltham Abbey on Thursday, Neville Stein said poor sales ability was “the missing link”. “You have to recruit the right skills and train people well,” he said, “Customers want and need to be sold to.”

He urged his audience to share important information like the centre’s average transaction value (ATV) with sales staff and invite them to improve it. “The quickest way to grow your business is to sell more to your existing customers,” he said. “Encourage staff to seek out your customers’ problems, enhance customer desire, and deal with customers’ fears – many customers won't ask a question because they don't want to look stupid.” Good sales staff, he said, focus on product benefits rather than features.

He offered the following six-point guide to the structure of the sales process:

1.Greet, smile and make eye contact

2.Establish the customer’s needs

3.Create rapport

4.Propose solutions

5.Close the sale

6.Reinforce the benefits of the purchase

“The more conversations you have,” Stein added, “the more you sell.”

• Garden Products – down 5%
• Veg-2-Gro – up 1%
• Growing Media – down 1%
• All items index – up 7%

With daffs in flower and roses with greenfly on in certain parts of the country the better weather is driving gardeners outside and the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Chart reflects that perfectly.

The highest climber continues the trend, as Bayer Toprose jumps 38 places to No 9, and the highest re-entry is Westland Fish Blood and Bone.

There is one new entry in Scotts Evergreen Complete (360 sq m plus 10% Extra Free).

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The main display greenhouse was packed over a generous Italian-style lunch on both days to hear presentations by celebrity botanist James Wong and retail consultant Neville Stein.

James Wong offered retailers tips on how they can better connect with younger gardeners, while the theme of Neville Stein’s talk was how to improve retail sales (click here).

A plethora of tagged plants suggested that retailers were in full buying mode ahead of an encouraging mid-March weather forecast.

“We’re definitely buying today,” one garden centre told GTN Xtra “We’ve run out of trolleys for the first time ever and we’re going to need stock.”

The supermarket’s gardening offer, including online sales at waitrosegarden.com, now includes around 6,000 products. Extensions to their Alan Titchmarsh range were announced this week.

Waitrose are targeting a 10 per cent share of the garden market within two years.

Meanwhile, Next Home & Garden have announced they are to open new stores in Bristol in April and Southampton in July. They already have stores with garden centres at Shoreham (the first), Ipswich, Camberley, Wilmslow and Warrington and say they may develop another 18.

Sissons says he will be also be working with stakeholders to adopt new sales channels.

He believes understanding consumers’ needs and desires is the key to progress. “Following consumer trends is equally important. This helps businesses like ours create innovative products that attract the impulse buyer,” he explained.

Working with retailers, he said, enabled the company to develop bespoke products and display solutions to drive sales and respond to changes in consumer demand.

“We work hard to ensure that new ranges complement, rather than undermine, existing products,” Sissons continued. “We put the emphasis on adding value and individuality. This way, customers buy into the Briers philosophy of great design at affordable prices.”

Details of a new licensed range are expected shortly, complementing the GIMA award-winning Gruffalo® range of children’s gardening clothes and accessories.

Also awaited is news of a new Briers’ own collection offering quality products at attractive prices on eye-catching displays.

Briers’ merchandising experts are available to discuss in-store displays.

Plans for a new Tesco superstore and garden centre have emerged for St Oswald’s Retail Park in Gloucester but there are doubts the supermarket giants would build a Dobbies store on the site.

Tesco is planning to build a new store to replace the existing one (pictured above) – but it will focus more on food rather than household items that compete with the city centre’s shops.

Dobbies is also being touted for the site, which would be lined with an avenue of trees, but Tesco haven't confirmed that this would be the case.

The petrol station would be moved to the front of the site and there would be a bigger car park. Much of the site adjacent to the current store is an overgrown wasteland at present.

Plans are being drawn up that are radically different to the ones that were granted permission two years ago, for a £25million megastore to replace the existing one.

Tesco have said any plans were still ‘months away’ but city councillors will discuss land issues surrounding the site at a private meeting next week.

City councillor Paul Toleman (C, Westgate) spoke to residents at St Oswald’s Retirement Village last week about what was coming.

Mr Toleman said: “We found out that they were thinking to change their previous plans. It is still early days yet but we went to meet residents to keep them in the loop.

“The store won’t be as big as they previously wanted. There has been a lot of contention with the size of Tesco and the problems it creates for the city centre, but this could resolve that and there are other plans for the site.”

A garden centre would not compete with central shops, city council leader Paul James said. He added: “We want something that isn’t going to compete with the city centre and is in keeping with the type of bulky goods being sold at St Oswald’s already.

“Tesco have had a very public change in their strategy and it is no longer so much about bigger stores but they are going back to concentrating on their core business.”

A proposal from a garden centre to increase the serving capacity in its cafe has met with opposition.

The Sam Turner and Sons garden centre at Piercebridge has applied to Darlington Borough Council to increase the serving capacity in its cafe from 50 customers at one time to 70.

The application has attracted objections from nearby residents who have expressed concerns that the premises is becoming an out-of-town “destination cafe” to the detriment of smaller businesses nearby.

In a report prepared for the council's planning committee, one objector said: “Restriction was placed by the planning committee to keep the operation to a size that protected the local amenity, local businesses and restrict traffic flows on a very dangerous road section.

“None of these conditions have changed.”

Other concerns raised by objectors living nearby include an increase in food smells affecting their properties and whether there is enough parking to accommodate extra cafe customers.

Currently the cafe makes up 13 per cent of the garden centre’s overall trade and increasing the serving capacity could see a five per cent growth in that side of the business.

If permission was granted to increase the capacity, the existing café area would not need to be altered as its current size could accommodate the extra customers.

Planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval subject to conditions including the creation of extra parking spaces.

The council’s planning committee will consider whether to grant permission when it meets on Wednesday.

Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres are to raise money in aid of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, through the sale of 10,000 traditional wild flower poppies in Garden Centres across the UK throughout May and June.

Wanting to commemorate all those fallen in warfare since the outbreak of World War One, Hillier, the UK’s leading grower of trees and garden plants, has decided to grow Papaver rhoeas, known as the 'Flanders' poppy, and will donate 25p from the sale of each plant to Blind Veterans UK.

Blind Veterans UK, formerly known as St Dunstan’s, was founded in 1915 as a direct response to the large numbers of soldiers returning blinded from the battlefields of World War One. Today, the national charity still supports blind veterans by providing free, comprehensive and lifelong practical and emotional support to them and their families, however it supports blind veterans regardless of when they served or how they lost their sight - not only those blinded in conflict.

Hillier too has its own military connection; founded 150 years ago in 1864, the company’s trees were used to camouflage military operations during the Second World War. 

Larry Rynsard, Head of Marketing at Hillier Nurseries, said: “‘Flanders’ poppies are, of course, the symbol of remembrance dating back 100 years to World War One. They are wild flowers that germinate when the soil has been disturbed – the work of the plough in peacetime, and by guns in times of war. Weknow that many people will want to commemorate the centenary of World War One and feel that selling poppies to help raise funds in aid of Blind Veterans UK is an excellent way of doing this”. 

Andrew Jones, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Blind Veterans UK, said: “Blind Veterans UK is extremely excited to be working with such a well known organisation as Hilliers. Together we will be raising vital funds to support thousands of veterans whose lives have been seriously affected by severe sight loss. Every penny raised will make a real difference to those who served our country.”

The poppy promotion will take place between May 19 and June 30. Poppies will be sold in Hillier and other leading garden centres in:

Bath, Somerset, Berkshire, Bristol, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Falkirk, Flintshire, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Highland, Isle of Anglesey, Kent, Lancashire, Merseyside, Midlothian, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Roxburghshire, Staffordshire, Stirling, Surrey, West Lothian and Wiltshire.

Mr Fothergill’s Nation of Gardeners has, this month, had its first bloom of the campaign!

Mr Fothergill’s Nation of Gardeners started in October 2013 and has a network of keen amateur gardeners in all of the mainland UK regions stretching from Moray in the Scottish Highlands to North Devon and from Wales across to East Anglia.

Each month the gardeners receive a parcel of seeds, bulbs and plants and they are asked to plant them on approximately the same date. The results are compared to identify regional variation. The ultimate goal is to produce the first ever growing map of the UK, showing what grows best, where and when.

On 15 February the Devon representative reported that they had had their first broad bean bloom from their initial package from Mr Fothergill’s back in October. This was the first bloom from the whole Nation of Gardeners campaign. The Ilfracombe gardener speculated that the broad beans had perhaps been helped along the way by an incredibly mild winter or the fact that they had used a beach wind break to shelter them from the storms.

As well as being a means of comparing growth patterns and results across the country, the Nation of Gardeners has also recently taken to using the campaign as a means of monitoring the regional weather too, with the representatives in Suffolk and Pontypridd comparing weather statistics that they had recorded. They found that in January, the Pontypridd gardener saw an incredible 352mm of rainfall whereas the Suffolk gardener had 81.5mm.

Tim Jeffries, commercial director of Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, commented: “Using regions as a comparison point is a perfect example of the value and purpose of the Nation of Gardeners campaign. It is very interesting to chart how regional variations are being to show. The main purpose is to record the growth of the monthly parcels but the extra information that we receive, for example, the monthly rainfall figures really adds another dimension.”

The Nation of Gardeners compare both growing results and different methods. The gardeners are asked to plant in multiple ways, for example in pots and in open ground to see the difference between the two. This has shown that the broad beans in Hertfordshire are growing far better in the pot, which was also true of Ceredigion where the strawberries planted in pots are doing better than those in open ground.

The gardeners are also asked to trial plant variations. In November, they received two different types of strawberry runners; Buddy and Sweetheart. Early growth reports saw both types of the strawberry doing well. The awful January weather really tested them and has led to some strong variations. Many of the gardeners came to the conclusion that the Buddy plants were stronger and “better swimmers” than the Sweethearts, with both Renfrewshire and Hertfordshire losing nearly all there Sweethearts to the extremely wet weather whilst their Buddys survived.

Although the regional variations, such as the Devonshire first bloom, are fascinating they are a snapshot and do not reflect a scientifically based horticultural trial.

Follow the progress of the Nation of Gardeners at their blog at http://blog.mr-fothergills.co.uk or search #NationOfGardeners on Twitter.

As part of its strategy to be consumer-led, Gardman is investing to identify and then satisfy consumer preferences in four key categories – wild bird care, lighting, garden tools and metal hardware. 

Sarah Downing, Gardman’s new Marketing Director is leading this brand investment and has been tasked with sustaining Gardman’s market leading position.

“Our goal is to extend our leadership in these categories in what is an increasingly competitive market,” explained Sarah Downing. 

“We are researching consumer preferences and behaviours so we can develop each brand – The Ernest Charles Co, Cole & Bright, Blacksmith and Moulton Mill – and, by exploiting the insights we gain, up-trade consumers to higher margin products that have clear and appealing USPs. 

"We are identifying current and emerging trends and using them to inform the look and feel and packaging of the brands as well as the products within the range. We are also developing effective point of sale materials and a consumer marketing programme, both of which will drive sales. 

“The market is extremely competitive and we are working hard to make sure our retail partners have the competitive edge they need to drive up sales. As a supplier we have to do more than simply compete on price; we have to offer compelling products at the right price and clearly differentiate them within the market.”

Providing ‘Bright Ideas’ for nights outside, Cole & Bright already includes the widest selection of solar lights available on the market and is expected to be Gardman’s ‘shining star’ for 2014. 

Sarah continued: “We have consistently had the widest selection of solar lights in the market and this year have built on this position.  Style and elegance are at the heart of the Cole & Bright brand and we had added a lot of attractive new products to the range accordingly.  Consumers can now easily create a stunning and personalised outdoor space to relax and entertain.”

Significant investment has already been made in The Ernest Charles Co.  Enabling Gardman to offer consumers a greater depth of choice within the category The Ernest Charles Co has heritage at its heart and is dedicated to providing high quality products in premium re-sealable packaging. 

Furthermore, a range of four premium bird tables has been launched with immediate availability, allowing Gardman’s retail partners to capitalise on spring trading.  To demonstrate the brand’s commitment to design and quality each table carries a unique 15 year guarantee, is handcrafted in the UK from FSC-pine with a long lasting rot-protection treatment. 

Staff members from a Somerset garden centre have been  presented with certificates after completing their apprenticeship awards with Positive Outcomes.

The members of staff from Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton completed the training, delivered by Positive Outcomes, which aims to improve development and skills.

Norma Moore, General Manager, said: “Chloe Heilbrohn, Craft Advisor, Dan Welch, Plant Advisor, Fiona Smart, Head of Plants, Gail Macrow, Craft Supervisor, John Osment, Plant Supervisor, Richard Pimm, Marketing, Trevor Hazelwood, Groundsman and Will Michieli, Plant Advisor, all received awards for completing the course.

“I would like to congratulate everyone on receiving their certificates and thank them all for their hard work at the garden centre. The training they received is already being put to good use.

“It’s important for our customers to receive a warm and friendly welcome at the garden centre and feel that they can approach any of our staff for help and advice. It’s extremely important that every staff member receives the best training and provides the best service.”

Positive Outcomes is an independent training provider offering qualifications in a wide range of sectors including IT, Business Administration, Customer Service, Retail, Sales and Estate Agency.

Clarissa Connor, Training Advisor at Positive Outcomes, said: “All of the team at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre have proven to be great learners and have shown over the course of their apprenticeships, what excellent customer service and management skills they have.

“These qualifications have helped add to their knowledge and skills but have also benefited the garden centre as a business too. It has been a pleasure to work alongside them and help them with their development.”

Pictured: Members of Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre with their awards and (third from right) Clarissa Connor, Training Advisor at Positive Outcomes, (second from right) Mike Lind, Managing Director of the Garden Centre and (far right) Norma Moore, General Manager.

Based near Ely in Cambridgeshire, CN Seeds is a family company serving professional growers worldwide with a wide range of herb, vegetable and flower seeds.

In May last year the company sought UKTI help to explore the potential of working with key suppliers in Japan in order to develop the vegetable seed side of the business.

Export Sales Manager Craig Thomas explains:  “We had established a demand from clients in Europe and America for a new variety of broccoli which they wanted to be able to offer to their customers.  We knew that we could develop this in Asia with collaboration with various plant breeders, but we needed advice on whether we should use an agent or liaise with the companies directly.  We also wanted to gain a better understanding of the cultural differences of doing business in Japan as we’d heard it could be quite easy to make a mistake and offend someone, particular senior members of the company.”

Through the Gateway to Global Growth programme, a service that offers experienced exporters a 12 month programme of strategic support tailored to their needs, CN Seeds was able to obtain funding for two members of staff to visit Japan in December 2013 and attend The Asian Seed Conference.

Prior to the trip UKTI Trade Adviser James Gillespie gave Craig useful advice on how to navigate the Japanese business market.  “I explained the importance of gift giving and also advised him to take double-sided business cards with one side printed in Japanese,” says James, adding: “Cross cultural awareness in areas such as meeting etiquette, business protocol and approaches to doing business are ways of enhancing your business trip and maximizing your potential in Japan.  For this reason I recommended Craig work through a Japanese agent.”

“James’ advice was crucial,” says Craig.  “By following it we were able to win over a Japanese plant supplier, which has since led to more than £200,000 of sales to growers in Europe and America.”

Following the success of its trip to Japan, CN Seeds secured further funding to travel to a seed conference in the US in January and meet with existing customers in California and Arizona.

“Our aim was to expand our customer base in the US by targeting the East Coast,” says Craig.  “The funding we received from UKTI enabled us to pay for our plane tickets.  During the trip we also visited our existing growers’ farms which really enabled us to build our relationships with them and find out exactly what they needed from us.”

This one week trip to the US resulted in an additional $300,000 of orders for the company and it also secured several potential strong leads in the East coast of the USA. 

“UKTIs help and advice, coupled with funding, has allowed us to develop new markets, which has undoubtedly contributed to our overseas success,” said Craig adding: “I have a great working relationship with James.  I can always get hold of him for advice when I need it and his experience has truly benefitted the business.”

“It’s always rewarding to help open up new markets for small companies,” said James adding:  “CN Seeds is now securely on the path to global growth.”

Taylors onion sets dominate the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart this week, with five varieties selling well. Red Baron has jumped to top spot, overtaking Allensmore Rhubarb Timperly Early, with Stuttgarter Giant and Stuttgarter in 3rd and 4th places. Centurion and Sturon complete the line-up of high positions for Taylors.

It has been a good week for Suttons Seeds, who have claimed the highest climber, highest re-entry and highest new entry accolades:

• Broad Bean The Sutton Dwarf is the highest climber
• Tomato Gardener’s Delight becomes the highest re-entry
• Veg Pea Early Onward is the highest new entry

There’s been steady growth of compost sales during the last week, but volume sales of the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media Top 50 were 1% down on last year and over 20% down on the same week in 2012.

One of the biggest success stories is Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost 50 litres, which has re-entered the chart after a 100% increase in sales.

Other star performers in the Growing Media chart include:

• Westland West+ Ericaceous 60 litres
• Arthur Bowers Topsoil 20 litres
• Westland Multipurpose Compost with John Innes
• Westland Landscape Bark 100 litres

The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) is offering landscapers with a trading history of more than two years the opportunity to become members at a discounted rate if they apply by 31 March 2014.

 APL Business Development Manager Donna Hanlon comments “The APL is a fast growing landscaping community where members can benefit from TrustMark accreditation following an inspection to give added reassurance to their clients.

"Access to free advice lines provides invaluable help and support as well as listings on both the APL and TrustMark websites helping to secure new business. 

"Members can also take advantage of networking opportunities at specialised regional meetings and seminars and discounted entry fees for the annual APL Awards. This really is an opportunity not to be missed!”

 The offer is a fixed fee of £249 + VAT for an annual subscription of APL Registered Membership. Terms and conditions apply, please see the APL website for full details.

 Landscapers can find out more about this limited offer by visiting www.landscaper.org.uk

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 2012 as well as 2013 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 upto 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

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.