Storm Brian wreaks havoc with garden centre trading
Storm Brian had a huge effect on garden centre trading at the start of the Autumn half term week. Total sales may have been down just 1.4% on the same week last year but plants, garden products, growing media and wild bird care were all down by significant amounts.
Only Christmas showed upward movement with the GTN Christmas Top 50 up by 8.5% on the previous week and static year on year.
Fortunately the weather for the rest of half term week has been much better with Halloween events seemingly well attended.
We now need a minimum 8% increase year on year for the next eight weeks to get his year’s total sales volumes up to parity with 2016.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
Garden Products - down 10% Growing Media - down 21% Wild Bird Care - down 25% Christmas Products - up 8% All Plants Index - down 16% All Items Index - down 1%
