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GTN Bestsellers - garden centre sales data every week
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GCA 2013 conference heralded a great success
Organisers of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference this week have declared the event a resounding success...
Organisers of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference this week have declared the event a resounding success...
Overall more than 300 delegates attended the three-day event and the organisers said they've had excellent feedback from attendees following the conference.
Peter Burks, Chairman of the GCA, said: “It was a really informative and inspirational event that has given us all plenty to talk and think about. The highlights for me were Greg Nugent’s talk all about preparing for the Olympics and Michael Heppell and Lisa White were also very thought provoking.
“Our conference wasn’t just about business of course, it was also a marvellous opportunity to socialise with fellow members and to form lasting relationships. We all thoroughly enjoyed the event and are looking forward to next year.”
Among those at the conference, which took place at the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park near Chipping Norton, were Baker & Taylor, William Sinclair, Westland Horticulture, Gardman and Taylors Bulbs. There were also delegates from more than 50 garden centres.
Neil Gow, Director of The Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association (GIMA), said: “The GCA Conference this week had some of the best content ever. Retailers and suppliers could all take away at least five key actionable points, which would see their profits rise not to mention all the little bits of detail which make a difference too. It was the most useful GCA conference I’ve been to, and I’ve been to a few!”
The speakers included Greg Nugent (above), former Director of Brand, Marketing & Culture for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), renowned entrepreneur Wayne Hemingway MBE, motivational speaker Michael Heppell and leading design consultant and editor Lisa White.
Katie Cleary, Shop Manager at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, said: “The conference this year was brilliant. I found Michael Heppell’s speech really inspiring and Wayne Hemingway was great too. He really opened my eyes about how garden centres need to step up in terms of technology.”
Delegates also had the opportunity to visit supplier stands, attend a champagne reception and a black tie dinner.
Danny Adamson, Managing Director of William Sinclair, said: “Once again the GCA conference was first rate. The three days were very varied and not only was the event very informative, it provided delegates the chance to catch up with key figures from the industry.”
The conference provided delegates with pertinent information on key aspects of the garden centre industry to assist members in achieving their business goals.
The information shared focused on a wide range of topics, including merchandising, marketing and management.
Peter added: “We’re now all really looking forward to next year’s event. We hope to be able to announce the date soon so members that missed this year’s conference can be sure to get it in their diaries early. It has become a not to be missed industry event.”
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The 129-outlet Garden Centre Group is committed to growth, its new CEO Kevin Bradshaw told delegates at this week’s Garden Centre Association winter conference at Chipping Norton. Bradshaw said the group would continue to recognise the benefits of scale and would look to grow “by our own means” and through acquisition “when that makes sense”. In a fragmented market, scale gave a huge amount of advantage. “People naturally think of buying terms when it comes to big players, but in almost every function in our business I think there are advantages of scale – in marketing, to get the resources to get a really deep understanding of what customers want and how we should shape our offer, and how we should communicate efficiently with 2.5 million garden club members up and down the country.” Concession partners would benefit from a powerful national footprint and scale offered great opportunities to attract the very best people across the sector. GCA chairman Peter Burks – a regional manager in Bradshaw’s organisation, owned by equity group Terra Firma – had invited the new CEO to offer his first impressions of the garden industry. Bradshaw said he had only worked in the industry for 71 days but believed it was “a beautiful sector” “Many industry sectors do not give as much pleasure by half as the one you are working in and nurturing,” he added. “So, first, garden centres are real places of beauty and tranquillity, and every day and every week you are giving real pleasure to customers. Never ever forget that, because not all sectors have that.” He suggested that garden centre should not be too worried about the high street retail crisis. “Not only are we not physically on the high street, we are also not convenience retailers. We are leisure retailers and there is time to inspire customers in our garden centres, time for them to take leisure, time for them to enjoy. And these are the sort of things that are very hard to replicate on the high street. In that regard, [ours] is an incredibly attractive segment of retailing in the UK.” He believed that factors that put industries under margin pressure, did not apply to the garden retailing. “We are not dominated or driven by huge dominant suppliers calling terms,” he said. Unlike some other industries, internet sales accounted for only £200m worth of spending in the £5bn gardening sector. Planning lawns made it tough for new entrants. “It’s very hard to see huge swathes of new competitors so again there is not a pressure point there. “This is an attractive industry in very many more ways than one and I think there are great opportunities to be had for anyone who plays in the industry,” Bradshaw concluded. Kevin Bradshaw’s career has included consulting, 10 years running a financial date division of Reuters and four years as CEO of Avis UK, the car rental firm.
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Keep it fresh and local says food champion Paolo Arrigo
Garden centre catering should be about the freshest food containing the best ingredients, preferably sourced locally, GCA delegates were told...
Paolo Arrigo, UK director of Franchi Seeds of Italy, urged more garden centres catering department to offer the freshest food containing the best ingredients, preferably sourced locally.
Among his pet hates, he said during a presentation to Garden Centre Association conference delegates this week, were children’s menus, poor coffee, ‘chemical bread’ and canned cream.
“It seems adults get the quality stuff while we offer rubbish to the children,” he said. “So don’t offer children’s menus.” Pizza toppings should contain the best ingredients, “not re-formed ham and rubbery cheese”. And coffee should be served in cups, not a bucket, he pleaded. The best recipe for success was to “keep it simple and fresh”.
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Send in details of your Garden ReLeaf plans
Garden centres running Garden Re-Leaf Day activities in March are being reminded to send organisers details of their plans by next Friday (February 8) at the latest, in order to be included in the event's national and regional media publicity drive...
Garden centres running Garden Re-Leaf Day activities in March are being reminded to send organisers details of their plans by next Friday (February 8) at the latest, in order to be included in the event's national and regional media publicity drive.
Participants should email info@gardenreleaf.co.uk with a short overview of their Garden Re-Leaf Day activities. Details will then be included in Garden Re-Leaf Day’s 2013 activity listings, which will soon be posted on the imminent new Garden Re-Leaf Day website and communicated to national and regional media in the run-up to the event.
In addition garden centres are also being encouraged to contact their local media themselves by around 20th February, in order to generate additional local pre-publicity and help bring additional customers in-store across the Garden Re-Leaf Day weekend.
Garden Re-Leaf’s founder, Hillview Garden Centre’s Chief Executive Boyd Douglas Davies, who will be speaking about Garden Re-Leaf Day at the the GCA Conference (January 27-30), confirmed: “We know that garden centres and manufacturers across the country are taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day, but many have not sent us details of what they are doing.
"It’s vital that they email us as soon as possible with brief details, so we can log their participation and also tell the media.”
Garden Re-Leaf Day is the national, annual initiative designed to get shoppers in-store at the start of the spring gardening season, engage with gardeners, and raise money for Garden Re-Leaf Day’s designated charity, Greenfingers.
Hundreds of garden centres, growers, manufacturers and distributors are expected to run events on the day and across the weekend; ranging from Garden Re-Leaf Day’s nationally-coordinated activities to their own, bespoke local events and initiatives to get the gardening season started.
Industry support for this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day is continuing to build, with The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) and The Garden Centre Association (GCA) all putting their weight behind the scheme and urging members to take part.
Garden centres taking part include The Garden Centre Group, Webbs of Wychbold, Aylett Nurseries and Scotsdales.
For more Garden ReLeaf news click here
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Gardening activity rises as snow disappears
As soon as the snow started clearing last weekend, garden centres across the country reported full car parks and busy tills...
What a weekend of promise. As soon as the snow started clearing, garden centres across the country reported full car parks and busy tills.
Gardening -elated sales volumes zoomed up, and growing media sales rose by almost 80%. It would appear our customers are ready and raring to get back into the garden and won’t be put off by the wet.
While the snow still covered the country sales of winter products and wild bird care fared extremely well. With the snow hopefully gone until next year we may not see high sales of winter products again, although wild bird care sales should continue at a high level through and beyond Easter.
What have you planned to keep the sales volumes high and how are you promoting wild bird care to encourage frequent return visits? Let us know by emailing trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Publisher Pat takes on additional role
Pat Flynn, the publisher of Garden Trade News, is to take on an additional role as trade association manager of PetQuip with The Federation of Garden & Leisure Manufacturers Ltd...
Pat Flynn, the publisher of Garden Trade News, is to take on an additional role as trade association manager of PetQuip with The Federation of Garden & Leisure Manufacturers Ltd, whilst continuing in her role at The Garden Communication & Media Company (TGCMC), owners of GTN, Garden Radio and The Greatest Awards.Over the past 10 years Pat has developed commercial revenues and new business for TGCMC and this new role with PetQuip allows her to extend her talents into a different market utilising her organisational skills and the experience she has gained as Chairman of the Commercial Horticultural Association. Pat will divide her time between her work at TGCMC on GTN, Garden Radio and The Greatest Awards, keeping her at the heart of the garden industry and her new responsibilities for the development of PetQuip, a specialist division for pet product manufacturers and exporters. The Federation’s director general, Amanda Sizer Barrett MBE, said: “Pat’s background in running awards and shows and her network of contacts will be a valuable asset for PetQuip. We are very much looking forward to working with her.” Trevor Pfeiffer, managing director of TGCMC, said: “I’m extremely pleased that Pat has an opportunity to extend her career as well as continue to lead the development of GTN, Garden Radio and The Greatest Awards. Pat’s efforts ensure our products provide the best possible commercial communication opportunities for our advertisers and sponsors and this move will I’m sure also lead to new opportunities.” Pat’s contact details for GTN, Garden Radio and The Greatest Awards remain the same: pat.flynn@tgcmc.co.uk, telephone 01733 775700/07778 313623.
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Bigger and better range at Europlants Open Days
The Europlants Open Days on the February 20-21 promise to be a spectacular success with an even greater range of plants for visitors to see...
The Europlants Open Days on the February 20-21 promise to be a spectacular success with an even greater range of plants for visitors to see.
Garden Centre buyers will be delighted by the 130-plus trolley deals that are on offer from the nursery.
Europlants General Manager Oscar Puig said: 'We have worked very hard to ensure the plants can be sold to achieve very attractive retail prices. It's the best selection we’ve ever had and the team are very excited."
The special discounts on the day cover the whole nursery so it is the perfect opportunity if you are looking for that particular feature plant or something special for your scheme.
As well as the trolley deal there will be stunning displays, extra discount deals, a famously good Italian Hot buffet and a fun Charity Event in aid of the Greenfingers Appeal.
The day is being hosted by TV Garden present David Domoney who says: "It's always good weather, the food is great and the plants are even better! A great day and everyone leaves happy."
Pictured below, a selection of displays from last year's event.
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Homegrown revolution underway
James Wong’s Homegrown Revolution looks to be getting a big thumbs-up from customers as two of the new TV celebrity-endorsed seed range from Suttons Seeds have come straight into the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart Top 50...
James Wong’s Homegrown Revolution looks to be getting a big thumbs-up from customers as two of the new TV celebrity-endorsed seed range from Suttons Seeds have come straight into the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart Top 50...and his book is selling through in good volumes too.
Cucamelon Seeds are the highest new entry at No 13 and Inca Berry Seeds at No 39.
The biggest volume veg bestsellers continue to be onion sets with Taylors Red Baron back at No 1. Charlotte and Rocket seed potatoes from Unwins have also moved into the Top 5.
Are you moving your onion sets and seed potato displays around to put the highest sellers in the prime eyesight positions? The likes of Tesco and Sainsbury would, so make the most of these sales while you can.
Changing your display around on a regular basis will get your customers checking out the display and if you signpost the bestsellers that will help with choice too.
See the full GTN Veg 2 Gro Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business. Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.
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QD Stores has expanded its Cherry Lane Garden Centre portfolio with the acquisition of Bradmore Garden Centre in Notts.
Opened in 1989, Bradmore sells a broad range of products and services spanning plants, shrubs and trees to furniture, giftware, machinery, landscaping and an aquatic centre.
The centre, whose staff of 20 will be employed by the new owners, continues to trade and will re-launch in Easter 2013 on completion of a major redevelopment programme including enhanced parking facilities and a new family restaurant.
Justin Farrington Smith, QD Stores group managing director, said: "Bradmore is a great-looking site with an established customer case which we now aim to broaden with a revised offer that's going to make it easier to shop for the full range of Cherry Lane products.
"Our strategy is to develop our garden centre business both organically and through acquisition. We always welcome approaches from successful businesses looking to exit the market."
QD Group operates from Norwich and owns 40 retail outlets under the QD, Lathams of Potter Heigham and Cherry Lane brands, extending from the eastern England and Home Counties north to Doncaster and west to Wrexham.
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Bord na Móna confirms UK expansion
Bord na Móna UK (BNM UK) is forging ahead with new infrastructure to develop both its branded presence and its already considerable own brand business in the UK...
Guaranteeing a continuous high quality UK supply of peat-free, peat-reduced and peat-based product, Bord na Móna UK (BNM UK) is forging ahead with new infrastructure to develop both its branded presence and its already considerable own brand business in the UK.
This follows its expansion into the UK market for branded composts in its first full year since taking over the sales and marketing resource of Vital Earth in January 2012.
Record sales of both the peat-free Vital Earth brand (again cited by Which? Gardening as best conventional format product in its class) and the peat-reduced Growise brand are one factor behind the UK success to date.
Popularity with garden retailers of Bord na Móna UK’s ability to supply mixed loads of peat-free and peat-reduced ahead of Government targets in the retail and commercial sectors is also a significant driver. The company has also launched Firemagic, a branded fuels offer, into garden retail during the last year.
Commenting on the expansion, John Corcoran of Bord na Móna, said: “BNM is committed to driving its business in the UK and offering its customers a full range (from peat to peat-free) of products.
"Top quality products combined with guaranteed supply in terms of volume and logistics put us in a great position to move forward with expansion plans in the UK.”
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Snowdrops are flowering and daffs are emerging through the soil. Gardeners are ready to get growing and after the flurry of snow shovel sales, high volumes of some classic early-season growing products have propelled them up the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart.
Woodlodge 3-inch standard spang pots re-enter at No 8, Gardman Pocket snips are a new entry at No 10 and Westland Blood Fish and Bone, 1.5 kg packs with 50% extra, are a re-entry at No 13.
Gardman Weed Control fabric moved up 23 places and Vitax Organic Potato Feed re-entered at No 43.
Are you ready for a rush on garden products over the next few weeks? Are your hotspot displays hot enough to make the most of an early start to the season? Have you decided where Flower Magic and other new products will be displayed and merchandised?
Let us know if you’ve got any great new ideas for garden product merchandising, we’d love to come and meet you to find out more. E-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
See the full GTN Garden Products Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business. Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.
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If this week’s sales increase is an indicator of gardening desire then we could be in for a bumper year. With only one day when the snow had cleared, the sudden rush to buy growing media was unexpected.
Increased sales came across all types of growing media – multipurpose, seed composts, Farm Manure and Bark.
Highest new entry in the GTN Growing Media chart is the 10-litre pack of Westland Go-Sure Seed and Cutting Compost, following the debut of the 30-litre pack last week. Scotts Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost 20 litres is the highest re-entry at No 16.
Next week’s charts, when we’ve had warmer weather and some sunshine, will really start to indicate how eager the great British public are to get gardening this year.
See the full GTN Growing Media Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business. Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.
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Investigations are underway into the collapse of a wall at a garden centre in Longford, Ireland.
Two men were killed, and four others injured in the accident, one seriously.
Just after 2pm on Tuesday, an internal wall at the Connacht Gold DIY and Garden Centre suddenly collapsed on top of staff and customers.
Six men were either trapped beneath it, or struck by falling debris.
One man, in his forties, was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Mullingar Hospital.
A second man in his sixties, who had been in a critical condition, passed away from his injuries a few hours after the incident.
The Gardai and the Health and Safety authority have launched separate investigations.
It's understood they will be focussing on whether high winds played any part in the tragedy.
HTA keep ash dieback on the agenda
The HTA and several growers met with Defra representatives this week to discuss possible solutions for helping the industry in the wake of the ash dieback outbreak...
The HTA and several growers met with Defra representatives this week to discuss possible solutions for helping the industry in the wake of the ash dieback outbreak.
These efforts reflect work under objective four of the government’s interim Chalara control plan which aims to build resilience in woodland and associated industries.
The meeting follows several HTA meetings and exchanges of correspondence on the implications of Chalara with Defra Ministers, resting with a letter in December from Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Environment, in which government stated that they would not be applying to the EU fund available to support plant health crises in member states and that no compensation would be made to UK growers as a direct result of the Chalara outbreak.
Tim Briercliffe, HTA Director of Business Development, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the government has not applied to the EU fund set up for just this type of situation nor committed to providing UK growers with direct compensation. However, this latest meeting looked at positive ways in which the industry might be financially supported through this crisis by Government and we are optimistic for a positive outcome for growers.”
He adds: “This included looking at future measures to increase the resilience of the horticulture sector, e.g. the use of re-plant grants as a useful mitigating factor for forestry nurseries.
"We have also encouraged Defra to put in place a similar, time-limited, resilience scheme to that implemented in Scotland recently to help nurseries manage the threat from Dothistroma Needle Blight.
"We also made the point that the amenity sector has been equally affected by the Chalara outbreak and it is important that any future proposals are relevant and applicable to the whole industry.”
Briercliffe concludes: “Time is of the essence. The Government Action Plan on Chalara is not set to be published until the end of March. This is too late for growers who need answers and solutions now to help their businesses recover and survive into 2013.
"We have been working closely with Government on this issue since before the outbreak was widely publicised and we will maintain this high level of input to ensure a good outcome for the industry.”
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Antique collectors will descend on Bents Garden & Home next Wednesday (Feb 6) when experts are giving valuations.
A team from autioneers and valuers Frank Marshall & Co will be led by Nick Hall from TV's Bargain Hunt and Flog It programmes.
Nick and his team from the Knutsford based antiques house will be at the Centre between 10am and 4pm to cast their eyes over hidden treasures and collectables and provide customers with a valuation.
Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home, said: “Our first antiques event was a huge success.
“We think it’s a good time of year for an antiques’ roadshow as people often have a sort out following Christmas. They might have found something in the attic whilst putting the decorations away and are wondering if there is any value or history to it. Nick and his team will definitely be able to tell them more.”
The event will be taking place in the Fresh Approach Restaurant. No booking is necessary but valuations cost £2 per item (or collection) with proceeds donated to The Christie, Bents’ 2013 charity of the year. Photographs of larger items for valuation are requested rather than the objects.
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