June's Barometer of Trade figures from the Garden Centre Association show once again that catering and food sales are at the top but there are other positives too.
Eight of the recorded 13 categories, when compared to June 2023, were up, according to data submitted by the body’s member garden centres.
Peter Burks, GCA CEO, says: “As expected Junes figures show a fall in sales compared to last year, -0.68%, albeit a very small drop, but the year-to-date is now also negative at -0.76%. However, members I’ve spoken to recently at our Area Award Meeting still remain upbeat and proactive, despite unusual weather patterns, and they are buoyed by the categories that are doing well.
“Once again, the big winners were the restaurants and food halls/farm shops, and the biggest faller, excluding the miscellaneous and Christmas categories, was furniture & BBQs at -19.81%. It was good to see our smaller centres performing well and showing an increase of +5.49% and some centres on an individual basis were up by up to 30%, so it’s definitely not doom and gloom out there. With some warm dry weather now settling in in July, hopefully there will be a few summer furniture and BBQ sales too.”
The GCA’s top performing category in June 2024 was catering, up +19.18%, when compared to the same month in 2023. This was followed by food hall/farm shop +15.25%.
Houseplants was the third best performer of the month in at +14.5%, seeds & bulbs came in next at +10.94%, then pet & aquatics +10.63%, gifts +9.26%, hard landscaping at +4.88% and garden sundries +1.09%.
Clothing was -1.69% and outdoor plants at -1.86%, the miscellaneous category came in at -6.26%, furniture & BBQs at -19.81% and Christmas, was unsurprisingly last, with -28.69%.
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.
The BoT allows members to compare their trading positions with other centres.
