Notcutts Group Ltd has today announced that their Chairman, Nicky Dulieu is leaving the business at the end of February 2020.

Nicky commented “I am immensely proud of everything the business has achieved since I joined back in October 2014, and I have been honoured to lead such a talented Board.  The business is in great shape with a newly refreshed brand, a new website, most centres redeveloped and a real focus on customer service and horticulture expertise.

“I am now looking to spend more time with my family and in my own garden as well as taking on two new non-executive roles, one with Marshalls Motor Holdings, and the other with a FTSE 250 company.”

Vice Chairman Caroline Notcutt, who is leading the search for a new Chairman to replace Nicky, commented “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Nicky to develop a strong Board, insightful family ownership, and in developing a clear and exciting strategy for the business.

“On behalf of all our colleagues and family I would like to thank Nicky for her caring and inspired leadership and commitment to our business over the last 5 years.”

Morpeth Town triumphed at the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom by winning the prestigious Gold award. This comes after being invited to compete after previously winning the Gold award for Best Town in Northumbria and Dobbies Garden Centre, Morpeth winning a Gold award in the Commercial Premises category.

• Morpeth Town wins Gold award at Britain in Bloom
• Dobbies Garden Centre, Morpeth wins Gold award for Commercial Premises and Morpeth Town wins Gold award for Best Town in Northumbria in Bloom

Team members from Dobbies Garden Centre in Morpeth, led by Horticulture Manager Nigel Lawton planted over 5,000 plants taking them over 300 hours in total.  The team of 4 members are delighted to have also won the Gold for Commercial Premises.  The majority of plants in this year’s entry were supplied by Dobbies Garden Centre and consisted of a number of popular bedding plant varieties that were sourced from UK nurseries especially for the competition.

Nigel Lawton, Horticulture Manager at Dobbies Morpeth, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award. Myself and the rest of the team really enjoyed the entire process and can’t wait to enter again next year.” 

Britain in Bloom is the largest horticultural campaign in the United Kingdom, with over 1,600 communities around the UK entering each year."

There is no doubt that sustainability is not just setting the agenda, but also shaping the future of garden retailing. One brand that is leading by example is Primeur, which has brought to market multi award-winning ranges that are setting the benchmark where new material usage is concerned.

Winner of the 2018 GIMA Garden Landscaping Award, Primeur’s Roman Stone Border – part of the Eco Garden collection - was the company’s first foray into products made from recycled rubber; a material that until now was more famously known for its use within children’s play areas. Recognising the need to diversify and create beautiful products that meet the needs of the discerning eco-consumer, the Roman Stone Border was born. Made from recycled rubber tyres, this range offers a lightweight and durable alternative to traditional heavy concrete edging, whilst also benefiting from natural flexibility that allows the borders to be easily manipulated to fit the curves and undulations of borders and paths.

In the same year the Recycled Rubber Stepping Stones Medallion was awarded the Glee New Product ‘Best Landscaping Product’ award, and also helped the company walk away with the highly coveted Glee Best New Product award, both testaments to the industry’s positive response to this exciting new material usage.

Fast forward a year and Primeur’s Roman Stone Borders have fast become a bestseller and have brought unique material usage such as recycled tyres to a much wider audience. Additional products have also joined the portfolio, including the Tierra Verde planter range which saw the company scoop not one but TWO GIMA Awards in 2019 – Best Decorative Garden Pots & Planters and the highly coveted Sword of Excellence, which celebrates market-leading product innovation - as well as the Glee 2019 ‘Best Eco Initiative’ Award at the September exhibition.

Jenny Douthwaite, Sales Director at Primeur said: “Succeeding within garden retail nowadays relies on so much more than just providing pretty products. Consumer influence is being driven by the eco-friendly choices across the board, and how they garden is just another factor within this. Traditional plastic or heavy concrete materials don’t fit with their ‘need for green’ but our recycled rubber tyre ranges do, as they divert tyres from landfill where they’d take up to 80 years to decompose. It’s this understanding of their impact upon the world and making more considered choices that is driving longevity for brands such us ourselves. It’s safe to say that our recycled rubber ranges are just the start!”

In addition to stocking throughout UK garden centres, the Primeur Eco Garden ranges are now also available from Stax, via an exclusive distribution deal. Talking about this new partnership, Stax’s Purchasing Director, Simon Wright, said: “Primeur was the first company to introduce washable doormats into the UK in 1995, and since then they have constantly developed their products. We’re delighted to add the results of their innovative approach to our product portfolio. Products with strong environmental credentials are increasingly popular with our customers and being made from recycled vehicle tyres places the Primeur range firmly in that category, as well as creating products that are also durable and virtually indestructible.”

Primeur’s recycled rubber tyre ranges (Eco Garden) – the benefits

• ECO-FRIENDLY – recycled rubber tyres help to reduce the impact of waste tyres upon the environment.
• FLEXIBLE & DURABLE – Think what a tyre has to go through! Primeur products are made from a tough material that will last but are also flexible enough to follow the lines of the garden.
• LOW MAINTENANCE – Rubber doesn’t attract mould or mildew, so products won’t turn green or slippery. All the products are also lawnmower and strimmer safe.
• WEATHERPROOF – Rubber has an impressive ability to expand and contract in varying temperatures. Freezing winters and hot summers won’t cause any degradation.
• CHILD & PET SAFE – Rubber is a softer alternative for safety in the garden.

Did you know?

• 6kgs of rubber crumb can be recycled from each tyre, this is enough to make two stepping stones, or one and half borders or planters.
• 300 million tyres are scrapped every year
• Over 200 ingredients go into making a single tyre
• It takes up to 80 years for a single tyre to decompose.

Did you know that 79% of all the plastic ever produced is still in the environment?

Are you feeling the pressure to make your garden centre or network more sustainable?

The spotlight is certainly on the sector after programmes like The Trouble with Garden Centres highlighted concerns surrounding an industry that consumers naturally see as ‘green’.

None of us can shy away from our corporate and personal responsibility to reduce single use plastics at any time of the year.

However, as spring is a time of change, it makes sense for garden centres to take continued steps for a sustainable 2020.

We're here to support you and the transition with easy, simple product swaps that your customers can see immediately to show that you care about the environment.

Compostable Bags

We supply true 100% compostable bags that consumers can dispose of harmlessly at home after use. Our bags comply with European Standard EN 13432 which means your shoppers can add them to their compost heap, put them into their garden waste bin or even in their food waste bin. Our bags are made from potato starch and will breakdown entirely to become a nutrient rich compost – something your customers are sure to love! This product is certainly in great demand with the garden centres we work with.

 A word of caution – not all compostable bags are made equal! Some are only suitable for industrial composting which will be completely inappropriate for your customers’ home compost heap. Also bags claiming to be biodegradable may sound like a great benefit for your customers but these can break down to leave behind harmful micro plastics.

Go Green with Acopia and get 20% off!

We have plenty of products that can see you start 2020 greener!

We are currently supplying eco alternatives to garden centres nationwide with products such as

Paper plant sleeves

Compostable Bags

Car boot liners

Paper bags

Jute and Cotton bags

So, if you’re feeling the growing public pressure and want to improve your green credentials, get in touch with Jake Elkins today on 07881 311 857 and if you Make The Switch to a sustainable alternative in November, we’ll give you 20% off!

The market for patio gardening and especially pots and planters continues to expand, and with Generation X now embracing the gardening category it’s expected to remain a fast-growing segment of the market.

Ceramic, zinc, resin and terracotta pots are beautiful and feature strongly in impressive displays in most centres. But they’re also prone to damage, are very sensitive to extremes of weather and tend to be very heavy and difficult to move - as well as requiring consumers to make a not insignificant investment. This can mean they’re a much less attractive choice for younger consumers with less experience, and they can be intimidating for more seasoned gardeners who may be concerned about lifting and moving them.

The Plant Avenue brand of pots and planters from AMES UK is different and has been developed to widen the appeal of decorative containers by overcoming the challenges whilst retaining all the benefits of traditional pots. The new range includes a wide variety of colours, shapes and styles, mirroring the traditional ranges, but with a whole lot more appeal, especially for nervous, older or less experienced gardeners. The pots are much lighter in weight and easy to handle, but when planted up it’s almost impossible to distinguish them from conventional pots made from metal or ceramic.

The Plant Avenue range is equally convenient for retailers, being arranged in four individually themed collections and supplied on especially designed merchandising stands. It’s also conveniently ordered and delivered as part of the wider AMES UK range so it can contribute to order values together with Kelkay ranges of aggregates, paving and water features as well as Woodshaw lines.

The Plant Avenue collections represent just a fraction of the potential in this category, which AMES has developed extensively worldwide. So, there is much more opportunity to come in the shape of exciting colours, designs, shapes and sizes all of which are sourced from AMES exclusive partner manufacturers which ensures a smooth supply chain and unrivalled innovation.

Plant Avenue went down extremely well at Glee last month with retailers commenting on the fresh approach and the immediate consumer appeal. Initial orders are already exceeding all expectations and Kelkay are planning further in-season promotional activity too.

Corby & Fellas Ltd. are delighted to announce that Arboretum in Co.Carlow, one of Ireland’s premier garden centres has just installed WinRetail, our innovative EPoS and Retail Management System.

Arboretum is Bord Bia’s (Irish Food Board) first ever Five Star Garden Centre and has won numerous other awards including Best Customer Service and Retail Excellence Store of the Year 2015.

After long and exhaustive research by Fergal and Barry Doyle, the company decided to install WinRetail. It was felt that C&F and WinRetail both had a good reputation and that the software’s features and its flexibility would satisfy Arboretum’s needs both now and in the future.

The migration of data from the existing to the new system was, as is so often the case, a challenge. Nonetheless this was achieved without difficulty and gave an opportunity to identify and ‘tidy up’ incomplete and duplicate stock records.

Once Arboretum had decided to adopt WinRetail, they were keen to start benefitting from its many features as quickly as possible. So, they opted to implement the CRM sub-system, the integrated Web Site (including full ecommerce) and linked Events and Booking system from day one. Possibly a risky strategy, but Arboretum’s confidence, skill and enthusiasm ensured a successful launch.

Corby & Fellas are very happy to welcome Arboretum Garden Centre and pleased that such a prestigious garden centre should be our first customer in the Republic of Ireland. We look forward to a long and harmonious association.

Pictured (l to r): Steven Fellas, C+F Head of Projects, Fergal Doyle, Arboretum COO and Matt Chrisostomou, C+F Head of Technical Support.

October’s garden centre volume sales were better than last year but not quite as good as 2016 and 2017 October levels, according to the latest data FROM GTN Bestsellers

According to GTN Bestsellers compiled from weekly epos sales data, the month ended 2.8% up on last year and 5% above the average for the past nine years.

Considering the high levels of rainfall we’ve had during the month, that is a very good performance and once again probably contrary to most other branches of retailing.

Sectorwise, Christmas missed being a record for the month by only 1.7% and that was mainly due to a very wet first half term week. Hopefully the sunny spells we’ve had this week will bring more cheer during the second half term week and that Halloween activities drive sales up for the first week of November.

London brand and design consultancy Perq Studio has completed a brand and signage refresh for family-owned Squire’s Garden Centres. Badshot Lea, Frensham and Wokingham are the first sites to sport the new look.

The project, currently under way across the company’s 15 sites, consists of a refreshed brand strategy and identity including new logo, typeface, colour palette and art direction as well as an improved way-finding experience and communications across the customer journey in-store.

From humble beginnings as a family landscape gardening business in the 1930s to a modern day horticulturally-focused retail group, Squire’s has evolved to meet the needs of the UK home and garden market. With multiple extensions to the core garden product including gifts, crafts, specialist pets and aquatics, as well as stylish Café Bars, Squire’s centres are widely regarded as retail destinations in their own right, with excellent brand recognition within the communities they serve.

Customer insights gleaned by Perq Studio showed that while customers were loyal to Squire’s, many were unaware of the unique heritage of the family-owned company and the rich history that underpinned the existing brand. Sold on the potential behind amplifying the family focus, Squire’s contracted Perq Studio to finesse its brand and story and optimise the stores through a consistent, modern brand refresh.

During interviews with the Squire family, the phrase “modern garden centres with a tradition of excellence” was uncovered. Perq Studio felt this perfectly encompassed the brand story – one of family and traditional horticulture but also a modern retail experience enjoyed by all generations of other families. This informed the wider brand refresh which focused on the authenticity of the company’s long history of expertise, local ties and the emotional and meaningful connections made with its customers.

Informed by the brand pillars of ‘expert, welcoming and inspiring’ the updated tone of voice makes a commitment to effective communication; providing the right information at the right point in the customer journey. A new simplified logo ‘with an ownable Q’ was developed and the new typeface – classic British 1930s font Gill Sans Nova – is a nod to Squire’s date of origin, but is also timeless and legible, feeling at once storied yet contemporary.

The primary brand colour was updated from a traditional burgundy to a vibrant berry hue and complemented with a fresh, seasonal colour palette that promises a bright, positive and optimistic retail experience. Existing standard plant-related imagery was replaced with new innovative photography, developed to not only include the wider products on offer, but happy people and moments of interaction to better reflect the customer experience.

Through a brand immersion and discovery process, Perq Studio identified each store had evolved organically over time, nurtured by the personal touches of their trusted and knowledgeable staff, yet resulting in some inconsistencies in the customer experience – especially challenges to way-finding throughout the stores.

Perq Studio worked closely with Squire’s to streamline its mixed approach to signage and unify the customer way-finding experience. A customer journey audit identified key signage touchpoints to deliver on brand impact and ease of navigation; from striking branded entrances down to the smallest ticketing touchpoints. The result was a professional yet approachable in-store experience, creating the feel of a modern retailer staffed by trusted, friendly experts.

Laura Giffard, founder and client director at Perq Studio, said: “It’s so rewarding to see our two-year collaboration with Squire’s Garden Centres taking shape.  As a creative agency, it’s always exciting to assist a heritage brand with a contemporary vision position itself strategically for continued success. Bringing the family history and brand heritage to the fore in a modern way, driving meaningful connections with customers through a balance of contemporary retail experience and personal tone of voice, enables the quality of the brand and its products to shine through.”

Martin Breddy, MD of Squire’s Garden Centres, says: “One of our favourite things about working with Perq Studio is that they have taken the time to understand not just our current market position, but the value of our heritage. The materials they have produced have given all our locations a shared identity, and the opportunity to re-affirm to our customers that their trust in us as a reliable provider of quality products is well placed.”

It was nearly, but not quite, a record Christmas in October. October 2019 Christmas Top 50 sales volumes missed the record set in 2017 by just 1.7%.

The month was, however, 6% up on last year. From now on it’s all about driving footfall to maximise sales of all those wonderful displays, having started with Halloween events last week and with Santa’s arrivals soon to come.

Suki unicorn and dinosaur hanging decorations are the highest re-entries of the week in the GTN Bestsellers Christmas Top 50. Armitages Dog Advent Calendar (No.17) and the Cat Advent Calendar (No.25) are the biggest selling advent calendars in garden centres.

Key topics impacting the industry will be in the spotlight at next month’s Cultivating Retail Conference at Nottingham (Tuesday 19 November 2019, East Midlands Conference Centre).

Fifteen-minute hot seat sessions will cover a range of subjects providing the latest updates and opportunities to look at what businesses need to be doing now to ensure that we have a robust, viable and relevant industry fit for the future.

These expert-led insights, chaired by conference host and broadcaster Daisy McAndrew (pictured), include:

• BIOSECURITY: Alistair Yeomans, Horticultural Consultant, will talk about the Plant Health Management Standard and how adopting Plant Healthy principles helps businesses mitigate threats from pests and diseases.  
• GROWING MEDIA: Consumer peat reduction usage targets will be missed. Steve Harper, Responsible Sourcing lead, will focus on where we are now, what the industry’s answer is to this pressing issue, and what the obstacles are in preventing us quickly achieving this goal.
• PLASTICS: Stuart Foster, RECOUP, will give an overview of some of the latest RECOUP initiatives and opportunities, including the latest work in the horticulture sector.
• CHEMICALS: Adam Speed, Crop Protection Association (CPA), will be giving an update on the garden care chemicals sector and the future of the industry.
• LABOUR AND SKILLS: James Mallick, Pro-Force, has extensive experience of sourcing and managing workforces for major horticulture business and will discuss the challenges around the sustainability of seasonal labour. 
• TECHNOLOGY: Chris Corby, Corby + Fellas, will demonstrate how technology can make your business more sustainable whilst ensuring it remains viable.
• ENERGY: Ben Wilby, HTA Utilities, will talk through getting sustainable energy coming into your business and give tips to make your usage more efficient.
• WATER: Kevin Barefoot, HTA Utilities, talks through steps that you can take to improve your water efficiency to make your business more sustainable.

Cultivating Retail highlights the opportunities as well as the threats and also provides answers and examples you can apply. Senior leaders and managers aiming to increase the financial and environmental performance of their businesses should attend or recommend the conference to empowered deputies or colleagues. No business in horticulture can afford to be caught behind the curve.

Click here  for further programme information and to book places.

Garden Product sales continued to outperform last year throughout the month, ending 10% up year-on-year, according to GTN Bestsellers data.

Garden lighting, pots and lawncare are the standout winners.

Creative Products Bottle lights is the clear No 1 Bestseller for every week of the month and Apta's RHS Lead Pot Feet are the highest re-entry for the week under review. Stewart’s 8in terractotta plastic flower pot climbed 35 places in the Top 50, while Evergreen Garden Care's Evergreen Complete 360 sq.m. plus 10% Extra Free  lawn feed saw sales increase by 145%.

Sunshine Garden Centre launch Botanica, their new houseplant department. 

General Manager Eoin Keane says “We had seen the upward curve in houseplants for the past two years, so investing in updating the layout, fixtures and fittings was a decision made easy.  Sunshine Garden Centre which will be 30 years old next year has been built on the back of a reputation for excellent plants and a premium customer service experience so any investment in either of those two pillars of the business will always pay off.

Our customers and the Sunshine team love the new look, on the weekends the buzz in Botanica is electric.  The idea to brand our houseplant department came from the success of our Spring/Summer pop up cacti and succulent shop called Urban Spike.  Botanica has its own exciting new ranges of houseplants and pot covers which are being very well received, we’re selling everything from the tiny terrarium plants to the very large specimen pieces and the whole lot in between!

We now know our customers now want more houseplants than ever before and we always look to keep our customers happy!  Botanica enables us to do so in a fun way that everyone’s enjoying.

Follow on Instagram: Botanica@sunshinegardencentre

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree…..how lovely are our branches…..and how lovely are the Christmas displays at Klondyke Garden Centres!

Customers who visited Klondyke Garden Centres certainly agreed, following the successful Christmas launch events throughout the centres on 17^th and 24^th October.

Christmas themes range from the classic Christmas colours of red, green and gold with a tropical twist of Paradise Bloom; to frosty Winter’s Tail complete with huskies, polar bears and penguins. Unicorns, sparkly pigs, angel wings and fairies all feature in Fairytale Dream whilst Woodland Wonder celebrates Christmas in the woods, with gardening gonks, toadstools and animals all ready for the party.

Hundreds of customers attended the events to get a first glimpse of our Christmas displays and enjoy the demonstrations, refreshments and activities taking place.

The singing reindeer put a smile on everyone’s face and the fabulous Lemax Christmas Village displays were extremely popular with both the little and big kids alike!!!

With Klondyke Christmas shops now fully open, centres have a full calendar of events in place, including Santa’s Arrival; Santa Paws; Christmas Craft Workshops and Festive Foodies.  

Ginique is a new company started by John Hinde when he left his role as sales manager for Kadai after seven years.

“I needed a new challenge and was finding it difficult to search out a niche that appealed to me, so I bit the bullet and set up my own business,” he said. “I then spent time looking around for products that I felt would fit well into the garden and leisure industry, a sector which I love. Höfats was the first range that made me say ‘Wow!’ All the products are designed in house, all have a design twist, are made from high quality materials and all environmentally focused. Not only that they appeal to all age groups. I judge a product by whether or not I would want it at home and I can honestly say I would have them all.”

Like the mountain it’s named after, Höfats Gmbh is unique and on the up. The company is led by its co-founders and best friends, Christian and Thomas, both graduates in design and engineering at Berlin University.

“When I first saw the offices in Germany I felt immediately at home,” John recalls. “The laid back nature of everyone in the office, the casual office attire, tree trunks for stools in the meeting room, a communal dining table where everyone takes it in turns to cook and create meals, they have the same ethos as Apple. They make products for people who care and products that people fall in love with. The company is in touch with the environment, all the packaging and products are recyclable. The team are very young and dynamic with great ideas and ethics, which can be seen in every product design and every packaging box, the attention to detail is fantastic.

 “What makes it all so special? The clever ideas, the finish, the packaging, for me it’s all the factors coming together to give you a great product and a great customer experience. The products are great to open, build quality is exceptional and the ideas are sublime and make you want more.”

Design really shows through and you can see why Höfats have won so many awards; there is innovation and just that little bit something different from the norm. The range, although currently small, is growing steadily.

Höfats offers high quality products, using the very best materials, they are well thought through, beautifully packaged and come with wonderful marketing support. The products suit all age groups and are ideal for gardens, camping, caravans, campervans, beach parties…to name just a few.

Encourage customers to wrap-up warm and get outside this month to enjoy the winter garden.

Hardy plants can naturally withstand a touch of frost, so choose a few to add winter interest to your displays.

Remind people of winter jobs to tempt them outside, including clearing away the remains of last summer’s bedding and crops, sweeping-up the final fallen leaves of autumn, and improving soil by forking in generous quantities of compost. Don’t forget the birds either, regularly cleaning and topping-up feeders and birdbaths.

Put on gardening events and get people out to enjoy inspiring talks, meet other gardeners, and exchange ideas for the new gardening season ahead.

Did you know?

Gardening during winter brings us outside into the daylight to exercise, which is vital for our health and wellbeing. This can help reduce symptoms from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as ‘winter depression’ or the winter blues that often begin when days get shorter.

PLANTS OF THE MOMENT: WINTER COLOUR

Hardy shrubs for winter flower include:

• Wintersweet – Chimonanthus praecox
• Winter Honeysuckle  Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ AGM
• Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’
• Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ AGM
• Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’
• Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)
• Sweet Box (Sarcococca)
• Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum AGM)
• Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ AGM
• Winter Heathers (Erica carnea varieties)

Trees and shrubs for fruits and berries include:

• Holly (Ilex varieties)
• Firethorn (Pyracantha varieties)
• Rowan (Sorbus)
• Beauty Berry (Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ AGM)
• Snowberry (Symphoricarpos)
• Prickly Heath (Gaultheria mucronata)

A scholarship worth £2,500 is available to students pursuing a research career in the horticultural industry.

As part of the David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season, the award will support applied research within the horticulture industry.

The Horticultural Research Scholarship is open to undergraduates, postgraduates and those studying for doctoral degrees.

Last year’s winner, Rakhee Dhorajiwala (pictrured) is completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Biosciences) at Cardiff University. Rakhee, who is targeting a career in horticulture, is passionate about being able to support the food and flower industry in providing consumers with the best quality fruit, vegetables and other commercially sold cut flowers and bedding plants in a sustainable way.

She said: “I feel very lucky to have won the DCF Horticultural Research Scholarship…This win has given me the opportunity to carry out part of my PhD (investigating the genetic and physiological regulation of lily flower opening) at Royal Holloway, University of London. I have had an extremely rewarding and interesting few months.”

The David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season is open now until 31 January 2020.

Applications are already coming in from the likes of The University of the Highlands and Islands - Argyll College UHI, The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise - Greenmount campus, Harper Adams University, Walworth School of Horticulture, Eden Project Learning, Nottingham Trent University, Myerscough College, Pershore college and Broomfield Derby college.

More colleges are encouraged to get on board and get their horticulture students applying.

To apply, visit the DCF website

Have we reached the tipping point for peat free compost? In a month when, with wet ground, the only active gardeners will be keen gardeners?

That usually shows itself in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media Chart with high sales of peat-rich composts with peat-free and peat-reduced nowhere in sight.

Last week, Westland’s New Horizon All Purpose Compost had a second week in the top three and the New Horizon Veg Compost increased sales dramatically to re-enter at No 47. Time will tell if the media attention this summer is changing consumer buying patterns. Watch this space…

Westland Gro-Sure Farmyard Manure 50 litres more than doubled sales to move up to No.2. So did Evergreen Garden Care's Levington Organic Choice farmyard manure, moving up to No.4. Kelkay's RHS Horticultural Sharp Sand was the highest re-entry at the end of the month.

Wyevale Nurseries Ltd says it’s able to supply British-grown plants from its extensive production facilities in Herefordshire into a market struggling to secure its supply-base for the next season and beyond.

Andy Johnson, Director at Wyevale Nurseries, which celebrates its 90th Anniversary in 2020, said: “As a company we are going from strength to strength and investing significantly in the future and our teams in order to drive production forward. We are also continuing to develop links with leading plant breeders and raisers, taking in quality young stock to supplement our own propagation.

“The demand for British grown native tree and transplants has been exceptional and our doubling of our cold storage capacity is currently nearing completion at our market leading transplant facility.

“With the increased biosecurity risks, trading restrictions on certain plant varieties and uncertainty over Brexit there has never been a better time to maximise the sale of British-grown product.

“We also recently completed phase two of our new container tree area, which is set to see additions year on year. We are also continuing to develop further beds within our specimen shrub unit and creating capacity for further development of our premium 3L shrub business in the process.”

Wyevale Nurseries’ main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.

The product selection available from Wyevale Nurseries is envied across the industry and the talented team regularly introduces new award-winning plant varieties.

Andy added: “Our business came from humble beginnings. Our founder, Harry Williamson, was an innovative grower, starting in the early 1900s with a bare root rose and tree nursery – Kings Acre Nurseries. In 1930, he established the current company Wyevale Nurseries.

“Inspired by trips to America in the 1950s and seeing plants being sold in containers to homeowners, in 1963, Harry opened one of the first garden centres in the UK. This was situated on Kings Acre Road in Hereford, just opposite his nursery fields, selling plants he had grown in empty jam tins from a nearby factory.

“We continue with Harry’s ethos to be market leaders in the production of container grown shrubs, herbaceous, ferns, trees and transplants. This is combined with excellent customer service, provided by the friendly, motivated and knowledgeable staff.

“Product development is critical to keep ahead of market demands and availability, current trends and alternatives for disease susceptible varieties. We have formed strong relationships with young plant breeders and are now at the forefront of introducing new varieties, which will be sustainable long into the future. Our dedicated trials area means we continually assess and develop new varieties before going to market.”

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200, visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk, follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WyevaleNurs or log on to www.facebook.com/WyevaleNurs.

Emma Lamb and Sam Clark who were sponsored by the Garden Centre Association (GCA) Trust to attend the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) Congress have reported back about their experiences.

Barton Grange Garden Centre’s Emma and Sam, who works for Cowell’s Garden Centre, were picked for the Trust’s Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme and joined more than 220 delegates in Windsor last

September.

Emma Lamb, who works in Senior Sales in the outside plant area at Barton Grange Garden Centre, said: “I would like to say ‘thank you’ to The Dick Allen Scholarship Fund for awarding me a sponsored place on the IGCA Windsor Congress, a truly insightful and inspirational experience.

“The Congress exceeded all expectations from the start with every day brimming with new ideas shared and connecting the industry on a worldwide level. This is something truly unique and I am delighted I had the opportunity to contribute to this. Coming back from congress I gained a sense of community within the garden centre sector, allowing me a new platform to gain experience and share personal ideas with industry leaders.

“Moving forward from the trip, within Barton Grange, I have taken ideas and inspirations from centres visited and looked into ways in which we can bring our centre and the environment we create in the future to be at the forefront of the new era of garden centres.

“For me a highlight of congress was visiting the newly opened RHS Wisley Centre and seeing how architecturally and visually different their concept of a garden centre is. This excited me to the possibilities of where the industry is going. I am excited for my progression now going forward and the IGCA has definitely given me a new vision.”

The two delegates selected by the trustees were from northern centres, so they had the opportunity not only to meet more than 220 like-minded professionals from around the world, but also to visit centres in the London and South east regions during the six days of the congress.

Sue Allen, Chairman of the GCA Trust, said: “It was a privilege for the UK GCA to host the IGCA Congress in Windsor this year and be able to sponsor two members of staff from British garden centres to attend this unique event.

“As part of the interactive group they started the week with a visit to the new retail development at The Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross, where cutting-edge retailers are showing the way forward in a unique and exciting way. From then on delegates were inspired not only by visits to garden centres but also by presentations by the British GCA inspection team and by John Lewis, followed by trips to nearby John Lewis stores.

“RHS Wisley, Kew Gardens and Hatfield House boasted British gardening at its best.”

Delegates also enjoyed a river cruise on the Thames complete with a stop-off at the London Eye.

Sam Clark, who works as a Plant Area Supervisor at Cowell’s Garden Centre, said: “I had the most amazing experience on the IGCA Windsor trip, it was truly eye opening to see some of the country’s leading centres in the South east, the infrastructure and layout coupled with crisp clear signage was what I’ll personally be taking from the visits.

“The invaluable networking and sharing of thoughts and ideas was also mind boggling, some of the social media used by other centres has already been implemented back at Cowell’s with our rare houseplant plant release dates and new collector’s corner.

“All in all I’d just love to say a huge ‘thank you’ for being gifted such a wonderful opportunity to further myself and Cowell’s, it’s always great to approach things with a fresh perspective and the week has certainly changed my outlook.”

Sam began working at Cowell’s Garden Centre in 2008 on the checkouts and went on to work in the plant area.

Martin Cowell, Director at Cowell’s Garden Centre, said: “We were delighted that Sam was offered a place at this year’s IGCA Congress in Windsor by the GCA Trust. He has returned from the congress bursting with new ideas and full of inspiration following visits to some wonderful garden centres and gardens. I also have no doubt that the contacts Sam has made at conference will be invaluable to him as he progresses within our industry.”

Emma joined Barton Grange Garden Centre in 2017.

Will Clark, Plant Area Manager at Barton Grange Garden Centre, said: “Emma really has come back with a bang! She has brought passion and enthusiasm to a whole new level, which has completely refreshed me and the team.

“She has come back with lots of fantastic ideas and made lots of new contacts. She has already made a name for herself in the horticultural world. Truly amazing! I am very proud of Emma’s achievements and very grateful to The Dick Allen Fund for giving her this fantastic opportunity. I feel her confidence has grown leaps and bounds. I’m now very excited to watch Emma’s progression here at Barton Grange.”

The Trust is now inviting donations to fund delegates to future congresses, including the next one in South Africa in October, 2020.

Anyone interested should contact Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA on 01244 952170 or visit www.gca.org.uk for more details.

Sue added: “Now that this annual initiative is firmly established and has proved to be a huge success for the sponsored delegates and their employers, I can confirm that the Trust is already looking ahead to repeating this in 2020 and beyond.

“Each year I am delighted to see how quickly our chosen recipients make firm friends within the group and ensure they gain every opportunity to help their personal development. The value of this unique opportunity cannot be overestimated.

“As I repeat every year, I am surprised how few GCA member companies offer a promising member of staff the chance to be selected. I can only hope that after the 2020 GCA conference in January, when that year’s applications are invited, the GCA Trust will be overwhelmed by the response.”

For those who wish to enter for next year’s award, there will be an announcement at the GCA Conference in January 2020 inviting applications.

For further information, please call the GCA on 01244 952170. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.

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The Garden Centre Association is looking to recruit an additional standards inspector following a year of expanding membership.

A team of three inspectors - Michael Cole, Alyson Haywood and Gordon Emslie - currently covers the country auditing standards and awarding scores on which the GCA's awards are based.

But the association now has 200 garden centres on its books, having recruited 13 new members in 2019 (only one a former Wyevale), and has stretched the resources of the incumbent team.

Iain Wylie, the GCA's chief executive, is inviting people from all areas of the industry with insight into the garden centre market or with wider retailing experience to get in touch if they feel they can contribute to improving standards through the inspection and feedback process.

“They would need to visit member centres during the spring inspection window and be able to give objective and honest feedback on what they find,” he added.

You can contact Iain via email

Brushware and homeware specialist Charles Bentley & Son has brushed up its senior management team with the appointment of a new Sales Director.

The Loughborough-based firm has created the new role to support on-going growth and to deliver additional support and in-store excellence to trade partners, as it develops a strategy to meet the company’s ambitions.

Steve Law has been appointed to the new role, bringing a wealth of home and garden experience to the company, having previously worked for Irwin Tools, HallsBeeline Stanley, Hamilton Acorn, Fiskars and Amefa.

Charles Bentley, Managing Director at Charles Bentley & Son, comments: “The creation of this new role will give the business a renewed drive and focus on delivering the best service to our trade partners and our loyal consumers.

“As a business, we have been redefining ourselves since 1860 and are now a sixth-generation family business. This longevity only happens by adapting to market conditions and consumer trends, and by understanding how shoppers navigate the decision-making process while engaging and interacting with brands.

“Ensuring that the business continues its evolution will be key to our continued success and we’re delighted to have Steve as part of the team driving us forward.”

Steve comments: “Obviously being within the industry, and at times competing with Charles Bentley & Sons during the early part of my career, I have known of the business for some time.

“They have done a fantastic job to develop the brand and portfolio to become so much more than a brushware company, becoming a major player in the industrial market whilst delivering significant growth, in multiple categories, within the home and garden retail sector. Add in a supply chain that offers ex-warehouse, FOB and Dropship facilities to our trade partners, it is clear to see why so many businesses choose to deal with Charles Bentley and Son.

“Contributing to a family business dating back to 1860 is one that I feel is a true privilege to be a part of. The knowledge, drive and enthusiasm to take this business to the next level is unwavering and I honestly can’t wait to help create something even more special.”

The 159-year-old company has achieved 5% growth in the last two financial years and has recently developed a new plastic-free collection in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society.

The company, which originally made chimney sweeping brushes, employs 145 people after offering permanent contracts to 25 new operatives in the warehouse and manufactures two million brushes annually from its factory on Monarch Way in Loughborough.

For more details on its latest product ranges please visit www.charlesbentley.com.

October plant sales were on a par with last year, despite sales of winter bedding being hit when the weekends were very wet, the latest GTN Bestsellers data reveals.

Sales for the last week of the month were up by 9% on the same week last year, which bodes well for sales continuing into November – if the weather holds.

• The top nine positions in the GTN Bestsellers Plants Chart are all the same week-on-week with only Pansies and Dianthus dropping sales volumes.

• Echeveria were the highest chart re-entry, while Solanum climbed 16 places after a 57% increase in sales.

There is a scholarship available to students pursuing a research career in the horticultural industry.

As part of the David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season, £2,500 is available to support applied research within the horticulture industry.

The Horticultural Research Scholarship is open to undergraduates, postgraduates and those studying for doctoral degrees.

Last year’s winner Rakhee Dhorajiwala is completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Biosciences) at Cardiff University. Rakee would like to have a career in horticulture and is passionate about being able to support the food and flower industry in providing consumers with the best quality fruit, vegetables and other commercially sold cut flowers and bedding plants in a sustainable way.

She said: “I feel very lucky to have won the DCF Horticultural Research Scholarship…This win has given me the opportunity to carry out part of my PhD (Investigating the genetic and physiological regulation of lily flower opening) at Royal Holloway, University of London. I have had an extremely rewarding and interesting few months.”

The David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season is open now until 31 January 2020.

Applications are already coming in from the likes of The University of the Highlands and Islands - Argyll College UHI, The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise - Greenmount campus, Harper Adams University, Walworth School of Horticulture, Eden Project Learning, Nottingham Trent University, Myerscough College, Pershore college and Broomfield Derby college.

More colleges are encouraged to get on board and get their horticulture students applying.

To apply visit www.davidcolegravefoundation.org.uk

Retail pay growth has accelerated faster than the UK overall, with retail pay packets up 5.7% compared to last year, says the British Retail Consortium.

Responding to the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Kyle Monk, head of retail insight and analytics at the BRC, said: “This is in line with what we have seen in previous years, where the retail industry pay growth has outstripped the rest of the UK. In recent years retail has also closed the gap with UK average pay, climbing from 65% in 2014 to 70% in 2019.

“Retail is in the midst of a transformation. While the number of the retail jobs has fallen in recent years, there has been a rise in better paid, high-skill roles such as in digital marketing, AI, and data science,” Monk continued. “This has helped contribute to retail productivity outpacing other industries in recent years.

“It is also encouraging that retail continues to have a substantially lower gender pay gap than other industries, however more work must be done. The pay gap in retail now sits at 9.5%, compared to the UK average of 17.3%.”

According to the ASHE data, in April 2019, retail hourly pay was £9.30 compared to £13.21 in UK overall. That translates to a 5.7% annual growth in retail vs. 4.0% in UK.

This Helleborus Christmas Carol season is a very special one; the popular winter flowering plant from grower Syngenta Flowers kicks off its 15th season. The Christmas Carol variety is the earliest flowering Helleborus on the market and delights consumers weeks before Christmas with its bright white, sparkling flowers.

Special anniversary

Helleborus Christmas Carol is celebrating a special event this season. The product was first introduced to the market 15 years ago. This is a special milestone for Syngenta Flowers, the grower of this variety. Helleborus Christmas Carol, a premium Helleborus, is still the market leader after 15 years! The big advantage of this plant is that it flowers well before Christmas. During the next few weeks the product will be widely available and will grace many gardens with its special, bright white flowers and dark green leaves.

Availability & quality

Helleborus Christmas Carol is grown by several European growers. The largest selection in the Netherlands is available at Hoogeveen Plants, Montis and Freek van der Velden nursery. These strong Christmas roses are grown in different pot sizes; 9, 10.5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19 cm and in 6-packs. The Helleborus Christmas Carol growers are committed to high quality, and they sort their products according to size and quality. This allows them to deliver uniform batches to different segments throughout the season. Unlike many other Helleborus varieties, Helleborus Christmas Carol is grown from seed; a method that is carefully carried out by Syngenta Flowers. The young plants arrive at the nurseries in the spring and are delivered three quarters of a year later, on their way to European consumers.

Royal FloraHolland Trade Fair

You can admire Helleborus Christmas Carol in a variety of ways during the Royal FloraHolland Trade Fair. The different growers will present the products on their stands, and you can visit Syngenta Flowers at the trade fair on stand 18.5. You can also admire a Helleborus Christmas Carol on a beautiful promotional stand at one of the exhibition entrances. Discover the beauty and versatility of this product in many different ways.

Phase one of the redevelopment plan at Haskins’ Snowhill centre has been completed, including:

* New temporary building

* Half of the new car park

* A re-located car park entrance

* New landscaping and trees

The redevelopment is a 12-month project with the main centre due to re-open in spring 2020. In the meantime, Haskins will continue to trade from its temporary building.

Haskins worked with Barnwood Construction Ltd to install the interim building, which covers an indoor retail space of 1,575sqm and boasts a 900 sq.m. outdoor plant area as well as a 180-seat café.

Phase two of the redevelopment plan, now under way, includes:

* Demolition of the old building

* Starting the new build

The new centre will have a retail space of 11,813 sq.m., including an outdoor plant area and 440-seat restaurant with 170 outdoor patio seating. Car parking will also be improved with 346 spaces available.

After four weeks of Christmas sales reporting the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Christmas Products index is showing sales values up by 9% year-to-date and at the highest level for any of the past five years.  If this week’s sales during half term live up to expectations, October could be the best ever for Christmas in garden centres.

With plenty of berries on trees and shrubs, wise country folk are predicting a harsh winter ahead, so perhaps consumers will decide there is no better way to beat the weather and any Brexit blues than by decorating the house and garden to create some mid-winter cheer.

Great Christmas displays, warm and wholesome food and drink, plus stunning and memorable Christmas events means garden centres across the country will be the retail destination of choice for many.

Work has started on an extension to Selby Garden Centre in Yorkshire that will double its turnover over the next five years and return it to profitability.

MD Mark Noble chose Chris Primett of Malcolm Scott Consultants to prepare plans for 40,634 sq ft of additional space. The £1.5m development includes a 250-seat restaurant, a new 17,000 sq ft open sales area, shop refurbishment and 70 extra parking spaces.

Chris Primett said the existing site was too small to be profitable; the enlarged retail footprint would allow the business to more than double its sales.

Creative Products Bottle Lights are really providing a boost for garden product sales. This line has now been the No.1 GTN garden products best-seller for three weeks in a row and its sales volumes this week are four time that of the No 2 best-selling line.

Indeed, if this were a Christmas product, it would sit at No 3 in that chart.

• Smart Garden’s Balloon Magic Large Multi-coloured garden decorations are the highest new entry into the chart at No 7.

• Westland Fish Blood & Bone 1.5kg is the highest chart re-entry as gardeners look to replenish their soil.

• As the nights draw in, feeding indoor plants is a high priority.  Fito Foliage Plant Drip Feeder is the highest chart climber, up 26 places to No 23.

A new Greenfingers Charity therapeutic garden at Grace House, Sunderland was officially opened by the Mayor of Sunderland on Monday (21^st October).  This inspiring new garden will provide a peaceful place for relaxation and enjoyment for the seriously ill children and their families that call Grace House ‘home’.

The Nest and Rest Garden - Greenfingers 58th garden project to be completed - was designed and created by Sean Murray, who most famously won the BBC’s Great Chelsea Garden Challenge in 2015.  Working alongside Sean was landscaper Keith Ball. Together Sean and Keith have transformed a previously blank space into a stunning garden that provides a range of sensory experiences, complemented by sweeping paths that provide a journey through the landscape, and spots of colour that brighten even the darkest days.

The Grace House design focuses on bringing more wildlife into the garden, with pollinator friendly plants taking centre stage, providing a splash of colour and gorgeous fragrances throughout the space. A special ‘nest’ has been created by grouping tree trunks together, which provides a secluded spot to sit and relax, or as a hub for play and group activities. Elsewhere, an interactive water feature and additional sheltered areas provide a choice of places to stop for a moment, whilst the fun brightly coloured fences add a touch of playfulness to the space. Together all these elements create an invaluable outside space for respite and relaxation, as well as stimulating features that can be used for therapies and reflection.

At the garden opening Sean said: “It has been a great honour and privilege to have designed a Greenfingers Charity garden. Having previously worked in the NHS and seeing the powerful difference a well-designed outside space can make; whether it’s overcoming access issues or having a private space to escape the reality of what’s going on inside the building, I hope that this new garden provides a special place for all those who spend time at Grace House to enjoy.”

Victoria Brown, CEO Grace House said: “We would like to thank Sean for his design and  Greenfingers Charity and their supporters for the effort, patience and kindness they have shown Grace House.  This stunning garden is now a wonderful space in which the young people, children and families who spend time a Grace will be able to enjoy for many years to come.”

As with all Greenfingers gardens, the Grace House project would not have been possible without the generosity of the charity’s benefactors.  As well as donations from grant-making trusts, local businesses have also been kind enough to dig deep, with Cowell’s Garden Centre and Johnsons of Whixley supporting the project. Elsewhere, funds were raised during the charity’s annual Garden Re-Leaf Day event, Rolawn, the ongoing fundraising and volunteering efforts of the endlessly enthusiastic Kew Green Hotels team and many other friends of Greenfingers Charity. 

Linda Petrons, Greenfingers’ Director of Fundraising & Communications said: “Our sincerest thanks to Sean, his team and all the people that have helped to make the Grace House ‘Nest and Rest’ garden a reality. The garden space has been completely transformed, and now offers a safe and peaceful place to spend time; perfect for the children who use the facilities, as well as their families and even the Grace House staff. The garden is a perfect demonstration of how careful design and considered thinking can come together to create a space that offers a true retreat away from it all. I know for sure that this garden will be enjoyed for many years to come and will become an important backdrop for memories to be created.”

Find out more

To find out more about Greenfingers Charity, and how to get involved in a range of fundraising events please email Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Donations to help fund other ongoing and new garden projects can be made to the Greenfingers Charity via this link: https://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-donate

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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 newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2017 as well as 2018 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 Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Products 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.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters 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.

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