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Alton, Chessington and Fosseway Garden Centres collected their Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team awards at spoga+gafa yesterday.on Monday.
After a summer of visits to garden centres meeting nominated teams GTN MD Trevor Pfeiffer and HTA CEO Carol Paris announced and presented the second Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team Awards during the UK exhibitors and visitors reception held in the Gardenex area of spoga+gafa. Jack Whitely of Glencrest Seatex, sponsor of the overall Outdoor Leisure Sales Team awards presented Chessington Garden Centre with their award earlier in the day and the team from Alton Garden Centre received their Greatest BBQ Sales Team award on the Weber stand just before the World Launch of the new range that was also revealed on Monday evening. GTN’s Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team Awards, sponsored by Glencrest Seatex The Greatest BBQ Sales Team
- Gold Award – Alton Garden Centre
- Silver Award – Hillmount Garden Centre
The Greatest Inspiration for Outdoor Living Team - The Love the Plot You’ve Got Award
- Gold Award – Fosseway Garden Centre
The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Suppliers of the Year
- Gold Award – Bramblecrest
- Silver Award – Kadai by Wilstone House
The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Teams, sponsored by Glencrest Seatex
- Gold Award London and South East – Chessington Garden Centre
- Gold Award South West – Whitehall Lacock Garden Centre
- Gold Award Midlands – Van Hage Peterborough
- Gold Award North of England - Bents
Watch out for a Greatest Awards Special after Glee when we will publish judges comments and pictures from our experts visits.
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Bramblecrest and Kadai, Wilstone House received the Gold and Silver Outdoor Leisure Supplier of the Year Awards at spoga+gafa on Monday.
The result of the votes from all of the garden centre teams nominated and visited by GTN’s team of experts for The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team Awards resulted in a win for garden furniture supplier Bramblecrest, with the team from Wilstone House who supply Kadai collecting silver.
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Four Oaks Trade Show up for sale
It has been announced at the Four Oaks Trade Show taking place this week that the event has been put up for sale. The show is now in its 46th year...
It has been announced at the Four Oaks Trade Show taking place this week that the event has been put up for sale.
Iimothy Lea & Griffiths Commercial are the selling agents and are present at the show on stand E188.
An announcement to exhibitors reads:
“Richard Harding realised when he bought the business in 2002 that Pat Coutts (event director) was essential to the future of Four Oaks and she then became the owner of 20% of the Trade Show. Richard has decided that as he will be 73 years old next year, he must make sure that Pat can benefit from her shareholding and this can only be achieved by an outright sale of Four Oaks.
“Pat of course wishes to continue in her role as the Event Director after a change in ownership and the aim is to achieve a seamless sale to protect the future of the Trade Show which will take place in 2017 on September 5-6th.
“Exhibitors are assured of continuity. The 2017 website will be live by Thursday morning and Priority Re-Bookings can be made on line or by the fax back form attached. The exhibitor information with floorplans is also attached and the rates for 2017 are unchanged.
“Thank you for your continued support. We hope you have a successful show and look forward to seeing you at Four Oaks 2017.”
Four Oaks is a commercial horticultural show now in its 46th year. The venue is a 23 acre nursery site in Cheshire UK, close to the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope. The exhibition covers an area of 17,000m² under glass with additional outdoor areas.
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Lolly Lee is leaving Petface to join Briers as Sales Director.
Jackie Eades (pictured above with her team exhibiting at spoga+gafa) confirmed to GTN Xtra that Lolly would be joining them as Sales Director.
GTN understands that the opportunity to join Briers was "too good" to turn down as Lolly looked for a new challenge after successfully completing the project she joined Petface for earlier this year.
See GTN Xtra's picture gallery from the worlds biggest garden trade show
  
GTN Xtra has just returned from spoga+gafa and after walking miles, it really does live up to it's biggest garden trade show in the world reputation, we bring you our photo gallery to give you a flavour of what was on offer.
GTN joined the HTA Study Tour to the show that also includes visits to German garden retailers today.
Our picture gallery includes the EFSA Concept Store where they were making european reatailers consider providing many more garden solutions to their customers rather than just selling products. "How many gardens have you sold this week?" The massive array of BBQ's in Hall 7 featured many wood burning ovens and grills and the Heston Blumenthal Hub BBQ concept from everdone was a big crowd puller. (The soft toy hamster on a rotisserie on another stand was also proving a big photo opportunity.)
Garden Decoration was a big and bright as ever at the show with pots and pots and pots filling Halls 10.1 and Hall 9.1. Elho had one of the neatest pots on display - a development from their popular balcony hang over planters a clever designer has developed the doorstopper pot. Fill it with colourful plants and you can easily wheel it into position to hold outside doors open during the summer - very clever.
The halls and halls of furniture had plenty of weave but also a noticeable future trend of more upholstered garden furniture, even somewith built in LED lighting... Resin also seemed to be having a renaissance in Europe.
Exporting UK companies were well represented in the Gardenex area of Hall 9 and elsewhere around the show. All that GTN Xtra spoke to reported good levels oninterest, orders and new leads from the show.
Hozelock launched a host of new lines at spoga+gafa including their new Pico pressure washer which should prove an extra sales opportunity for garden centres.
Weber also chose spoga+gafa for their World launch for 2017. Unfortunately they were keeping it all under wraps and wouldn't let any trade press take photos ofthe new models. Jay Bunker from Alton Garden Centre, winner of GTN's Greatest BBQ Sales Team Award told us after the VIP only evening event "they have completly changed the Genesis and Spirit ranges, with new colours, new specifications and new price points." I guess we will have to wait until Glee next week to see for ourselves.
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Grange plans to stop manufacturing production at Telford
Leading UK timber fencing company Grange is proposing to restructure its production model, including the closure of manufacturing at the company’s site in Telford. The company’s new production facility opens this autumn in Grudziadz, Poland, although Telford will remain as Grange’s UK headquarters, focusing on sales, marketing and distribution.
Following significant investment from its Polish parent company Stelmet S.A., leading UK timber fencing company Grange is proposing to restructure its production model. This proposal includes the closure of manufacturing at the company’s site in Telford as the company’s new production facility opens this autumn in Grudziadz, Poland. Telford will remain as Grange’s UK headquarters, focusing on sales, marketing and distribution.
The new Polish site will enable further commitment to quality, product development and consistency of materials as Grange continues to focus on product differentiation.
In the last eighteen months since Stelmet acquired Grange, Polish manufactured products have proved successful. It is intended that the proposed changes will increase Grange’s production capacity for products such as the Ultimate Panel, as well as the remaining core products in their catalogue currently produced in the UK.
Grange’s planned new distribution site in the South East of England, announced in June, will also enable improved distribution across the UK. This will also aim to shorten lead times, enable further improvements in customer service and create a stronger distribution network working in tandem with the Shropshire distribution site. Overall the suggested plan will ensure a considerable increase in supply chain capacity, complementing Grange’s market leading manufacturing capability.
Commenting on the latest developments, Managing Director of Grange, Neil Taylor said, “Since the relaunch of the Grange brand in 2015 and its refocus on new product development, the company has experienced significant growth. Grange is now increasing both its production capacity and its supply chain efficiency in order to ensure it can continue to grow with its customers – old and new.
“We are pursuing market leadership and the Grange team is committed to continuous improvement, offering consistent products, a quality service, speedy efficient distribution and a real opportunity for growth.”
Retailers interested in working with Grange should contact the company on 01952 588 088 or email sales@grangefen.co.uk.
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A better than average August for garden centre sales
Despite August sales volumes being 6% down year on year, a rally in the last week ending 28th August meant the month ended up 6% above the average volume sales index over the period 2011 to 2016 according to the Epos data analysed every week by GTN Bestsellers...
Despite August sales volumes being 6% down year on year, a rally in the last week ending 28th August meant the month ended up 6% above the average volume sales index over the period 2011 to 2016 according to the Epos data analysed every week by GTN Bestsellers.
If you cast your mind back to the summer of 2102 then this August has been positively wonderful, up 26% on that cold and damp summer holiday period.
As this issue of GTN Bestsellers goes to press the weather forecasters are proclaiming the first official day of Autumn. Let’s hope we have an Indian summer to keep plant and other gardening sales rolling on at good levels before Christmas kicks into gear.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - up 10%
- Veg-2-Gro - up 4%
- Growing Media - up 6%
- All Items Index - up 2%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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An exciting opportunity exists for an enthusiastic leader who has a real passion for Food and Drink to join Bristol's Largest Independent Garden Centre as our Restaurant Manager.
The Ideal candidate will have a passion for cooking, possess excellent people management skills, Great Communication Skills and be able to lead and organise your team whilst maintaining excellent customer service sales and service.
The role requires a good motivator, who is happy working weekends within our fantastic new restaurant.
In return, we provide a competitive salary, a friendly working environment, sociable retail hours, staff discount scheme and subsidised social events.
To apply please submit an application form with your current CV and covering letter explaining why you would be an excellent recruit for this role, including examples of how you could be an asset to our business to Andy Hart, Almondsbury Garden Centre, Over Lane, Bristol, BS32 4BP.
For more information, please email enquiries@almondsbury.co.uk to request an Application Form. Visit http://www.almondsbury.co.uk/careers-almondsbury
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Horticultural / Plantarea Manager | Lancashire (ref:DS8615)
Location: Lancashire
Salary: £20,000 - £24,000
Date: 19 Aug
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
This Nationwide Group of Garden Centres are looking to recruit an outstanding plants person for one of their leading Lancashire based centres.
The Role
They are seeking a top Plantarea or Horticultural Manager with great merchandising and retail skills to take on the role of Manager of one of the largest departments within the centre. As Horticulture / Plantarea Manager you will look after the day to day merchandising and maintenance of the plant stock as well as motivating the team to provide the highest standard of customer service. The role will also have duty management responsibility across the entire centre.
The Candidate
Candidates MUST HAVE strong horticultural knowledge both practical and academic and be able to demonstrate a very high level of plant knowledge, as well as have excellent man management and customer service skills so that the highest possible customer experience is delivered at all times.
The plantarea is the focus point of any garden centre and your standards for customer service, merchandising and the little details that make a department special will make you stand out. Experience within a garden centre is essential as is supervisory skills.
To apply for this role click here
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Garden Sundries Shop Manager | Hampshire (ref:DS8614)
Location: Hampshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 19 Aug
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a Nationwide group that are continually growing and developing their leading garden centres across England and Wales. They are proud of their heritage in the gardening industry and each and every one of their garden centres has its own identity and for this reason each of the garden centres is separately branded and the staff and customers are loyal to their centre.
Currently they are seeking an outstanding Garden Sundries Retail Manager to assist in the management their shop area.
The Role
This role is based in the New Forest, Hampshire.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a cutting edge Garden Sundries Department. The ideal candidate will have a background in garden centre retail with excellent garden sundries product knowledge from seeds to clothing. They will manage seasonal changes and have the ability to present and merchandise their department to the highest standard.
The Candidate
Team leadership skills are essential as is the ability to communicate well with customers delivering excellent standards of customer care. Working in a busy retail team environment means you will have to have a hands-on approach to all duties within this department.
To apply for this role click here
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Garden Sundries Retail Manager | Leicestershire (ref:DS8613)
Location: Leicestershire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 19 Aug
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
We are currently seeking an outstanding Garden Sundries Retail Manager to manage the Shop Area of this Leicestershire based garden centre that are part of a Nationwide group that are continually growing and developing their leading garden centres across England and Wales.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join a cutting edge Garden Sundries Department. The ideal candidate will have a background in seasonal products or garden centre retail with excellent garden sundries product knowledge from seeds to clothing. They will manage seasonal changes and have the ability to present and merchandise their department to the highest standard.
The Candidate
Team leadership skills are essential as is the ability to communicate well with customers delivering excellent standards of customer care. Working in a busy retail team environment means you will have to have a hands-on approach to all duties within this department.
Candidates must have a background in retail, be able to merchandise and manage rapidly changing stock.
Knowledge of garden products and garden chemicals etc. would also be an advantage but additional training can be given.
If you are passionate about Garden Sundries and would enjoy sharing this enthusiasm with our client's customers, we would love to hear from you.
To apply for this role click here
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Garden Sundries Team Leader | Berkshire (ref:DS8612)
Location: Berkshire
Salary: £16,600 - £17,000
Date: 19 Aug
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a Nationwide group that are continually growing and developing their leading garden centres across England and Wales. They are proud of their heritage in the gardening industry and each and every one of their garden centres has its own identity and for this reason each of the garden centres is separately branded and the staff and customers are loyal to their centre.
Currently they are seeking an outstanding Garden Sundries Retail Team Leader to assist in the management their shop area.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join a cutting edge Garden Sundries Department. The ideal candidate will have a background in garden centre retail with excellent garden sundries product knowledge from seeds to clothing. They will manage seasonal changes and have the ability to present and merchandise their department to the highest standard.
The Candidate
Team leadership skills are essential as is the ability to communicate well with customers delivering excellent standards of customer care. Working in a busy retail team environment means you will have to have a hands-on approach to all duties within this department.
To apply for this role click here
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Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
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It's been a busy first five years for Hillview Garden Centres who celebrate their fifth annivarsary this month now with over 300 staff and turnover on target to break £13m next year.
GTN Xtra caught up with CEO Boyd Douglas-Davies who joined The Hillview Group, an independent merchant bank, to create a group of Garden Centres in 2011. "We acquired Studley Garden Centre from Hilliers the Friday before Glee 2011. Hilltop followed in summer 2012 and then in 2014 we added Little Heath Garden Centre and the 6 Garden Store sites. Scotland Nurseries in Derbyshire made it 10 in June this year." " We've introduced new categories to stores such as Pet Products, Christmas, Interior Living, increased footfall through on site events such as Ice rinks, Circus, Motor Shows and free Santa grottos at all stores." "The launch of the Seasons Reward Card in 2015 has been very well received with 55,000 members already signed up and receiving regular emails and 5 direct mail reward leaflets per annum. Membership is anticipated to break the 100,000 mark sometime during 2017. EPOS from Corby & Fellas was rolled out across the group in summer '15 and is the backbone to the reward card scheme."
"Ecommerce team was established early '15 and full website www.gardenstoreonline.co.uk launched November of that year."
"Investments in the stores has shown great results. The introduction of the Soft Play Barn at Hilltop has been a great success, 44,500 children have visited since it opened in Oct '14. A further two Soft Play Barns will be opened this year. Hilltop had a £400k refurbishment that has worked very well and elements of that are now being applied to the rest of the group."
"Investment in existing stores will see over £1m invested in store improvements with planning applications underway for 4 of the sites. Work is currently taking place at 5 of the stores with the others due for work prior to next Spring. "Hillview operate 8 catering units within the stores and this will rise to 10 this year when the Pizza Bar Cafes open within the Soft Play Barns."
"We are very pleased that Hilltop was recognised as GCA Most Improved store in the country at conference this year so received the Dick Allen trophy." Boyd ended by adding that the Hillview Group are actively looking to acquire further stores and any centre wishing to contact should e-mail: Boyd.Ddavies@hillview-group.com
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Top 50 plants up 50%
Sales volumes of the Top 50 bestselling plant genus grew by 20% week on week as Bank Holiday Monday signals a return to gardening. Chrysanthemum and Capsicum (Ornamental peppers) both grew sales by 300%...
Sales volumes of the Top 50 bestselling plant genus grew by 20% week on week as Bank Holiday Monday signals a return to gardening.
- Chrysanthemum and Capsicum (Ornamental peppers) both grew sales by 300%.
- Helianthus (Sunflowers) blossomed with a 150% increase.
- Calluna’s doubled their sales to move up 7 places to No 8.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Lighting continues to be a bestseller
Garden lighting sales continue to dominate in the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Garden Products chart with the Gardman Post Light Stainless Steel being the highest new entry at No 5...
Garden lighting sales continue to dominate in the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Garden Products chart.
The highlights were:
- Gardman Post Light Stainless Steel is the highest new entry at No 5.
- Gardman Solar Black Nickel Glass Marker Light is the highest re-entry at No 14.
- Smart Solar Eureka! Lightbulb Lantern returns to the top.
- The highest climber was Westland Lawn & Turf Dressing (25 litres), moving up 23 places to No 27.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Hillview Garden Centres Ltd issued a brief statement on Friday evening regarding staff changes: “Marcus Eyles and Neil Stevens formerly owners and Directors of The Garden Store Ltd left Hillview Garden Centres on 31st August 2016 to pursue new interests. The company wish to thank them both for their contribution to the business and for the work they have done to establish Garden Store as a recognised gardening brand in the Midlands. We wish them well in the future.”
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Strawberry plants were the prime movers in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart this week.
Farplants Strawberry Red Gauntlet 9cm and Farplants Strawberry Pegasus were the two highest re-entries at Nos 5 and 8 respectively.
Other highlights this week:
- Profitplants Asparagus Mixed was the highest new entry at No 18.
- Taylors Bulbs Windowsill Herb Pots Basil, Parsley and Chive was the highest climber, moving up 33 places to No 15.
- Taylors Autumn Planting Seed Potatoes Duke Of York retained the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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After a quiet week, growing media sales had a pleasant uplift in volumes, according to the GTN Bestsellers data.
They rose by 5.4%, and were 5.8% and 9.4% higher than the same period in 2015 and 2014 respectively.
This week’s highlights were:
- Arthur Bowers New Horizon Multi-Purpose Compost (50 litres) was the highest climber, rising 21 places to No 13.
- The highest re-entry was Taylors Bulb Fibre at No 19.
- Westland Ericaceous + John Innes (30 litres), Arthur Bowers Chunky Chip Bark (70 litres) and Arthur Bowers New Horizon Multi Purpose (60 litres) all had good sales weeks to re-enter the Top 50 chart.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips. The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.
As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period. Access is by subscription only. For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales. To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.
Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Garden Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers. Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.
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Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters delivered via the post for only £145.00.
GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £120m.
Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.
For further information contact karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.
Buy your subscription today and start receiveing the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.
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