GTN Xtra - GTN Xtra Issue 37

Reward your team after a busy day at SOLEX and rub shoulders with The Greatest Garden Centre teams in the business on the evening of Monday 7th July...

Buy tickets here

Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news. Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700

Solus administrators admit to being "hopeful of completing a sale"

The administrators acting on behalf of Solus Garden & Leisure have this week told GTN Xtra that they are making progress with potential buyers and remain hopeful of completing a sale...

Keeping standards high at all TGCG garden centres

Kevin Bradshaw, CEO of The Garden Centre Group, says the company is investing heavily in the training of its 5,000 staff so that standards of service remain high at the company's 140 centres...

New industry marketing campaign to target younger gardeners

A new marketing campaign targeting 30-45-year-olds was officially launched this week at the HTA National Plant Show...

Above: David Arnold, who unveiled the new 'Love the Plot You've Got' campaign.

Thompson & Morgan appoint ex-MD of Dixons as new CEO

Thompson & Morgan has announced the appointment of Bryan Magrath as Chief Executive. Formerly CEO of James Hull Associates, Vision Express and MD of Dixons Stores, Bryan takes over in planned succession from John May who, after 17 years in post will remain on the Board as Deputy Chairman...

HTA Plant Show hailed as a huge success as visitor numbers were up by 8%

With a hall brimming full of exhibitors and visitor numbers 8% up the HTA National Plant Show which took place this week has been deemed a success...

New bus route launched at Haskins Garden Centre

Haskins Garden Centre at West End are offering free teas and coffees to all passengers who travel to the destination on a new bus service. The offer will be operation during the first few weeks of the service...

Buy your tickets for The Greatest Awards Summer Garden Party - it's on Monday 7th July - the first evening of SOLEX

Reward your team after a busy day at SOLEX and rub shoulders with The Greatest Garden Centre teams in the business on the evening of Monday 7th July...

Buy tickets here

“It starts with a Pot” campaign is a winner

As total volume sales continue to decline towards the summer hoilday period, the GTN team have been visiting centres for The Greatest Awards, and we’ve found loads of great ideas to help increase new sales. The best examples have been found as a result of “It starts with a Pot” campaign run by the HTA this spring...

Customers are voting for The Greatest Garden Centre teams
Every vote with a valid e-mail address will be entered into a draw to win NGGV vouchers

Postal voting and votes collected in store close on Monday 30th June...

Download all the posters and voting forms for FREE here

Deco-Pak confirms investment in improved stock and transport systems

Following an exceptional start to the summer season, Deco-Pak has confirmed that it is has further invested in its stock and transport systems, to ensure even higher levels of service and customer satisfaction can be achieved...

Trollius wins HTA best in show award

Trollius ‘Dancing Flame’ from Darby and Fairweather’s was named best new plant at the HTA National Plant Show this week...

See full list of winners

‘Plant Selfie’ success for Fairweather’s Nursery

Fairweather’s Nursery is celebrating winning the Plant Selfies Photography Competition launched at this year’s HTA National Plant Show...

Lovania alpines win Best Plant Display award

An inspirational display of alpines was judged Best Plant display at the HTA National Plant Show this week...

Mini Cherry ‘Cinderella’ wins Visitor Vote Award

Mini Cherry ‘Cinderella’ from Blackmoor Nurseries has been voted the Best New Plant by visitors to the HTA National Plant Show. The Visitor Vote Award, sponsored by Floramedia, proved extremely popular and with over 100 entries in this year’s awards visitors were spoilt for choice...

See full visitor vote results

If catering and food are your growth areas our new Food Xtra will help you

To see our NEW GTN Food Xtra e-mail newsletter...

Buy your tickets for The Greatest Awards Summer Garden Party - it's on Monday 7th July - the first evening of SOLEX

Reward your team after a busy day at SOLEX and rub shoulders with The Greatest Garden Centre teams in the business on the evening of Monday 7th July...

Buy tickets here

GTN June 2014

Garden Trade News

Town & Country appoint ex-Solus sales staff

Town & Country has made two new appointments – Terry Murphy and Mark Butler – to its sales division as it continues to develop the business with an increased product portfolio and growing brand presence.

18 jobs to be axed as Suttons Seeds remodels its business

Suttons Seeds is reportedly set to axe a total of 18 full-time jobs at its Paignton premises as it undertakes a remodelling of its business because of difficult market conditions...

The Greatest Garden Centre Teams - Your customers can vote on-line too
On-line voting extended to Friday 4th July

This year we've created a link you can add into your e-mails, your social media and your websites for customer voting for The Greatest Garden Centre Team of the year...

Get the link here

RHS to invest £100 million for the future of horticulture

The Royal Horticultural Society has this week announced a 10-year Strategic Investment Programme of more than £100 million. This will enable the charity to provide even better inspiration and advice for more people, both its members and the British gardening public. The charity will also broaden its appeal and raise the profile and impact of every aspect of horticulture.

School gardening stars recognised in national competition

Eight-year-old George Hassall, from Buckton Vale Primary School in Carrbrook, near Greater Manchester has been named RHS Young School Gardener of the Year 2014 after wowing judges with his infectious enthusiasm, passion and impressive knowledge of gardening...

50% margins on bestselling gloves from Town & Country

Retailers can take advantage of margins of up to 50% with Town & Country’s latest promotions featuring some of the brand’s latest and best-selling glove products..

Weeding and feeding boosts garden product sales

With the growing season in full swing, gardeners are tackling those weeding and feeding tasks with related products showing up strongly in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart...

Carrot top with growers

There are several carrot lines showing up strongly in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart...

Decorative bark in huge demand

Gardeners seeking to keep the weeds under control while retaining moisture for their plants in the warm weather, are turning to decorative bark products, according to the Growing Media chart...

Buy your tickets for The Greatest Awards Summer Garden Party - it's on Monday 7th July - the first evening of SOLEX

Reward your team after a busy day at SOLEX and rub shoulders with The Greatest Garden Centre teams in the business on the evening of Monday 7th July...

Buy tickets here

Joint Tesco-Dobbies development in Scotland gets go-ahead

Detailed plans for Scotland’s first joint Tesco supermarket and Dobbies garden centre in East Kilbride, Glasgow, were given the green light this week...

New Legal Advice line for HTA members launched

Members of the Horticultural Trades Association now have access to a dedicated legal advice line to help with any Business Legal queries they may have. This new helpline is provided by Darbys Solicitors LLP, a regulated law firm and provided via their specialist legal advisory team...

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