Bunnings No 2 - exclusive picture tour
Bunnings second UK store opened just before Easter at Hatfield Road, St Albans. GTN Xtra paid a visit this week to see how the Bunnings concept had been delivered in a much smaller footprint than the first store at Griffiths Way, St. Albans...
See the GTN Xtra exclusive picture tour of the centre here
Bunnings second UK store opened just before Easter at Hatfield Road, St Albans. GTN Xtra paid a visit this week to see how the Bunnings concept had been delivered in a much smaller footprint than the first store at Griffiths Way, St. Albans.
With a much smaller outside garden centre area, as many of the existing Homebase sites, garden sundries are inside the main store but an extra cover has been added so that the entire outside area is protected from the weather.
Within garden sundries products were grouped by category rather than by brand. As with the first store the range is extensive.
Out in the covered garden centre area Bunnings are reporting good sales levels of garden screening products.
The Hardware Cafe at Hatfield Road is a moveable coffee station so that it can be moved to other locations in the store for promotional events.
The next two Bunnings transformations will be at Hemel Hempstead, one of the largest of the old Homebase estate, and then at Milton Keyes where old warehousinig space is being changed into more retail Bunnings Warehouse ailses.
See the gallery of pictures below to see a tour of the garden centre and all the garden related aisles of the new Bunnings store.
 |
|
|
|
Garden centres count the cost of Easter Sunday closing
After a long period of great gardening weather which continued over the Easter weekend this year, the sales data analysed by GTN for Bestsellers gives us the best indication of the cost of losing a whole day’s trading at a time when our customers are in the mood to decorate their gardens and prepare for the summer...
After a long period of great gardening weather which continued over the Easter weekend this year, the sales data analysed by GTN for Bestsellers gives us the best indication of the cost of losing a whole day’s trading at a time when our customers are in the mood to decorate their gardens and prepare for the summer.
Sales last week dropped by 0.8%, but with six less trading hours due to Easter Sunday closing sales levels could have been at least 10% higher and closer to the levels of the first Easter week in 2015. Then, the picture was disrupted because of bad weather at the end of March into April which held back sales in advance of Easter.
Of course we can’t see the full picture of Easter trading until we complete the analysis of this week’s sales but according to Andy Bunker at Alton Garden Centre “it is the best plant trading Easter since 2011.
"The difference is quality not quantity and really strong sales in nursery stock on lines like Lavenders and Erysium, most at over £10.00 a purchase, so that’s good money.”
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - up 15%
- Veg-2-Gro - up 45%
- Growing Media - up 24%
- All Plants Index - up 15%
- All Items Index - up 14%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
|
|
Woodstock Chimes – musical perfection with a Lifetime Tuning Guarantee
GTN Xtra Promotion
Woodstock Chimes have a strong commitment to precise tuning. The company are so proud of the music made by their chimes, all the metal-tubed musically tuned chimes come with a Lifetime Tuning Guarantee...
Pictured: Woodstock Chimes UK’s best-selling Bells of Paradise – Large, Pacific Blue is tuned to an ancient Chinese scale.
Pictured: Woodstock Chimes UK’s best-selling Bells of Paradise – Large, Pacific Blue is tuned to an ancient Chinese scale. 
- Authentic and original musically tuned windchime
- Premier quality, affordable & value priced
- Created by GRAMMY® Award-winning musician Garry Kvistad
- The choice of discerning UK customers for over 30 years
- Chimes are in stock and ship within 48 hours from our UK warehouse
Musical Perfection
The music made by Woodstock Chimes is perfectly authentic because it’s tuned to real scales and melodies heard throughout the world from ancient times to the present. Our rich, pure sound quality comes from premium materials, expert design, and, of course, precise tuning. The length of each tube is honed and the sound is checked using an electronic tuning method to ensure the note is correct and the sound is pure. Some call this “precision tuned”, some call it “musically tuned”. We simply call it beautiful. Lifetime Tuning Guarantee
Woodstock Chimes has a strong commitment to precise tuning. We are so proud of the music made by our chimes, all our metal-tubed musically tuned chimes come with a Lifetime Tuning Guarantee. Optimize Your Display
The wonderful music made by our chimes is our strongest selling point. That’s why we recommend retailers hang our chimes at eye (and ear!) level. This makes it easy for customers to read the product hangtags, and puts the chimes at the optimal height for listening to them ring. Another hint is to point a fan towards your display. The gentle ringing will draw customers in and our reasonable prices will close the sale! Diversity Expands Customer Reach
Our diverse product line incorporates not just classic chimes, but also bamboo chimes, windbells, gongs and fountains, all designed to deliver the highest quality in authentic and beautiful sound. This variety allows you to choose the best product mix for your customers, and we’re here to help, with assortments, packages and display suggestions that are time-tested to produce great results.
Hearing a Woodstock Chime is like listening to a
perfectly tuned musical instrument, played by the wind. See all the Woodstock Chimes UK products here  Our popular Chimes of Westminster is tuned to the notes of Westminster Quarters, played by Big Ben. www.woodstock-chimes.co.uk White Pebble International
Unit 2, Plot 11, Terminus Road
Chichester PO198 TX UK
Tel +44(0)1243 780501
Fax +44(0)1243 839332
info@whitepebbleint.com
|
|
The plants team at Aylett Nurseries have really moved gardening upwards this year with two living wall displays of Wonderwall which appeared in the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 last week. One display on the coffee shop patio area is a herb wall. "We'll be serving Pims here in the summer, picking the mint from the wall," explained Adam Wigglesworth. The other is with the alpine plants and that has sent alpine sales rocketing as well as generating saels of Wonderwall.
Driving increased sales of veg plants excellent living displays of cucumber and tomato growing are inspiring more customers to give it a grow and make sure they buy all the rigght growing media and supports they need for a successful crop.
And alongside the benches of hanging basket plants is a fully merchandised display of Tom Chambers hanging baskets, brackets, planters and other growing supports making it really easy for customers to buy and make up their own baskets if they don't choose to buy one of the 600 "made at Ayletts" hanging baskets.
See more pictures below.
|
|
Smiemans Projecten has transformed a traditional garden centre into an inspiring shopping environment of the well-known chain Avoca in Ireland, Dublin.
The garden centre was also built by Smiemans in 2003.
This project shows again a nice way to see the benefits of a glass building; it is easy to adjust and this way it has a minimal ecological footprint.
A Smiemans spokesperson said: "The construction was easily adapted. With an new insulated roof, we created an optimized shopping environment.The leisure centre with café and garden centre meets the latest technical requirements."
|
|
Westland’s ‘Be Sure with Gro-Sure’ campaign returns to TV screens this week with a series of ten-second adverts, supported by national advertising, designed to reach 14 million consumers. It is estimated that two out of three consumers will see the ads at least once. The commercials, featuring gardeners who are not sure how to achieve success, promote Gro-Sure Smart Lawn Seed and Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost. They will be on air from April 24 to May 29, including key Bank Holiday weekends. Jen Richardson, senior marketing manager for Gro-Sure said: “Our research tells us that regardless of gardening experience, many of us are unsure how to get the best results. Gro-Sure packets feature our ‘Grow with Certainty’ promise, meaning consumers are given reassurance they have picked the right product.”
|
|
Thompson & Morgan has reiterated its commitment to retailers following the recent BVG takeover by multi-channel retailer BVG. Chief executive Iain Burgess said: “BVG is a truly multi-channel retailer and 33% of our business is through retail outlets. We totally support T&M’s retail seed business and we’re fully invested in boosting this vital side of its business – we see it as an area of substantial potential growth.” T&M’s head of operations, Mark Tibbenham, added: “We will not be leaving our valued retailers in the lurch! A key part of BVG’s interest in purchasing Thompson & Morgan was to enhance its retail offering, and we’re already working together to do just that.” T&M’s 2018 retail seed range launches in mid-May.
|
|
|
From Mosquito Bombers to first UK garden centres
Martin Stewart, Managing Director of the Dorset based Stewarts Garden Centres, achieved a lifelong ambition to sit the cockpit of a World War Two de Havilland Mosquito bomber, the type that his father flew in action with the RAF’s 82 Squadron in Burma...
Martin Stewart, Managing Director of the Dorset based Stewarts Garden Centres, achieved a lifelong ambition to sit the cockpit of a World War Two de Havilland Mosquito bomber, the type that his father flew in action with the RAF’s 82 Squadron in Burma.
His guide was Bob Glasby, Project Leader at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum in Hertfordshire (Junction 22 on the M25) where he and his team restore 3 variants (including the prototype) of the composite “wooden wonder” aircraft that was immortalised in the 1964 film “633 Squadron”.
Martin explained that Squadron Leader Edward Stewart, who learnt to fly in another famous de Havilland aircraft, the Tiger Moth biplane, did not give up flying after the war and as a private pilot had the opportunity to take a Dakota transport aircraft on a ferry flight to America.
Whilst travelling up the East Coast on his way from Florida to Toronto before the trip home, Edward visited some of the first dedicated Garden Centres.
In the Stewart archives is the letter that Edward excitedly wrote to his wife in 1955 explaining that their nurseries in Ferndown should adopt the process of selling plants in the containers in which they were grown as part of a cash and carry style Garden Centre. He returned to the UK in the late summer of 1955 and opened the country’s first Garden Centre at Ferndown in October 1955.
“Had my father not joined the RAF and loved flying he may never have seen the popularity of the Garden Centre concept in the US. By the 1960s he had helped to change the way gardeners could easily select and purchase plants, and gardening equipment, by opening ‘Garden-Lands’ at Christchurch in October 1961. He even placed a café within the building, which we all take for granted today,” said Martin Stewart.
The Stewarts garden centres continue to expand. Last year they announced a multi-million pound refurbishment and rebuild for their Broomhill Wimborne Garden Centre and Nurseries, and acquired the Abbey Garden Centre in Titchfield, Hampshire.
The Stewart Family gave all of Edward’s flying records to Dorset Archives 20 years ago. Martin commissioned a painting by Guild of Aviation Artists member Robert Calow depicting his father’s Mosquito in action, and still has a few photos of the Squadron Leader with crew members and his particular attack aircraft.
|
|
Chessington Garden Centre is using Microsoft Dynamics NAV integrated with point of sales (POS) system LS NAV from The NAV People to underpin its ambitious business plans.
Dynamics NAV integrated with LS NAV has enabled the business to launch an award winning garden design, build and maintenance service, deploy a new ecommerce ‘click and collect’ service and host a calendar of sell out events including the popular Santa’s grotto, which achieved ticket sales of over 52,000 in 2016.
Expanding at a phenomenal rate and having outgrown previous systems that had turned into short-term remedies, Chessington Garden Centre deployed Dynamics NAV and LS NAV to provide the stable platform to evolve their business operations.
Chessington had a number of standalone systems that are now integrated with Dynamics NAV providing a single source of intelligence that has delivered the insight to develop new services and increase revenue.
The new ‘Click and Collect’ service enables customers to check real-time stock levels and purchase items online for collection in store. The Sana e-commerce web store manages payment and integrates with Dynamics NAV ensuring real-time stock data updates.
Tim Hickman, IT Manager at Chessington Garden Centre explains: “Dynamics NAV has enabled us to expand our services into new and profitable business areas. The NAV People helped us to cohesively connect the standalone systems into a single repository of information that has enhanced forecasting and improved business outcomes. It has been an exciting project however our journey is not yet complete and there are even more plans in the pipeline.”
Chessington Garden Centre has maintained footfall and sales by hosting a calendar of events. To manage the booking and payment of tickets, The NAV People developed a booking system that integrates with Dynamics NAV via MobileNAV, an interface optimised for smartphones and tablets. Each ticket is allocated a QR code and the garden centre staff use mobile phones to scan the code and register the tickets at events.
From gardening workshops through to family events with ticket sales of 52,000 at Christmas for Santa’s grotto and 25,000 for the Halloween spectacular, the business has developed a healthy revenue stream that has ensured customer visits throughout the year.
Ian Humphries, Managing & Product Director at The NAV People commented; “Chessington Garden Centre had a clear vision of how they wanted to expand their services but required greater insight from their data to inform business decisions. Dynamics NAV has enabled Chessington Garden Centre to expand into exciting new business areas and generate revenue streams in addition to their core business.”
For a full copy of the Chessington Garden Centre case study visit: https://thenavpeople.com/uk/casestudies/chessington-garden-centre
|
|
A month later the Scotsdales' Plant-a-thon comes to an end
The team from Scotsdales Cambridge couldn't hold their Plant-a-thon on Garden Re-Leaf Day because they were organising and taking part in The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day Greenfingers Walk but it didn't stop them from staging the event at a later date...
The team from Scotsdales Cambridge couldn't hold their Plant-a-thon on Garden Re-Leaf Day because they were organising and taking part in The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day Greenfingers Walk but it didn't stop them from staging the event at a later date.
On Thursday 13th and Friday 14th April members from all the teams at Scotsdales Cambridge planted through the night to raise even more money for Greenfingers as part of Garden Re-Leaf Day, or month as it has been for Scotsdales. Westland, Elho and Hozelock all supplied product for the 24 hour Plant-a-thon so that the planted pots could be sold to raise more money over the Easter weekend.
 
 
|
|
For 12 years Britain’s Best Lawn has celebrated dedicated and passionate gardeners and has amassed a great number of loyal followers. Previous winners have shown off their incredibly healthy, precisely cut and weed-free grass, after passionately tending to their garden for hours on end. EGO Power+, the specialists and leaders of cordless technology, is now the proud sponsor of Britain’s Best Lawn, leading the garden tools revolution that is tackling petrol tools head on. Steve Roskell, EGO’s European marketing director, commented: “Gardeners and machinery dealers are familiar with Britain’s Best Lawn so what better way to progress our takeover of the petrol sector than sponsoring Britain’s Best Lawn. EGO is about championing pioneers, quality and innovation so we’re looking for a gardener and a lawn that embody these qualities “Britain’s Best Lawn isn’t so much about traditional stripes and manicured edges anymore. It’s about having perfection but without endless hassle and fulfilling the needs of modern gardeners who are seeking convenience, but also power and flawless precision – all the things that EGO can deliver but with less noise, no fuss and no fumes!" Gardeners across the country could be rewarded for their hard work and dedication to their lawn by winning some of EGO’s unique battery powered gardening equipment. Along with the prestigious title, the ultimate bragging right for any gardener, the winner of Britain’s Best Lawn 2017 will receive a self-propelled lawnmower and a multitool kit, worth £1,200. The runner up will receive a newly developed multi-tool kit with battery and charger, worth £600, and third place will receive one of EGO’s powerful blowers, worth £220, to help keep the lawn clear year on year! EGO Power+ products are powered by a unique 56v lithium-ion battery that is packed with innovation. It has the some of the fastest recharge times on the market and is the industry’s highest energy capacity, allowing its products to deliver all the power of petrol, without the noise, fuss or fumes. The EGO range consists of lawnmowers, blowers, chainsaws, line trimmers, hedge-trimmers and a unique multi-tool. All the tools can be powered by just one technologically advanced battery that is transferrable across the whole range. For more information about EGO Power+ and to enter the competition visit www.britainsbestlawn.co.uk or see the GTN Xtra story about the full range of EGO Power+ products using the link below
|
|
Leigh Siebler from the Garden Centres Association of Australia has sent GTN Xtra some pictures from Garden Re-Leaf Day Down Under...
Easter Flowers at the Vatican
Last week we brought you pictures of flowers leaving the Keukenhof in Holland destined for the Vatican City in Rome. Here are pictures of the displays created...
See pictures of the flowers in the Vatican at Easter 2017
Last week we brought you pictures of flowers leaving the Keukenhof in Holland destined for the Vatican City in Rome. Here are pictures of the displays created by Paul Deckers and his team.
|
|
|
|
with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox. The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.
Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
No rush to appoint new CEO at HTA
HTA President Adam Wigglesworth confirmed to GTN Xtra last week that the board of the HTA were not in a rush to find a new CEO to replace Carol Paris...
HTA President Adam Wigglesworth confirmed to GTN Xtra last week that the board of the HTA were not in a rush to find a new CEO to replace Carol Paris.
"We have a great team at the HTA with great plans in place so the board have decided to review the strategy and look at requirements going forward before making any decisions about finding a new CEO."
"After Carol's great work at the head of the orgainisation for 7 years, as vice President, President and then CEO we now have a completely different set of situations to manage so it is right to take time to make sure we know what the job going forwards will be and then find the right person."
Plants lead the way at Easter
Sales of plants led the way during the first week of Easter 2017 – they were the only GTN Bestsellers index to increase week on week. Alyssum saw the highest percentage growth...
Sales of plants led the way during the first week of Easter 2017 – they were the only GTN Bestsellers index to increase week on week, up 1.6% and up 15% on the same week last year.
- Alyssum saw the highest percentage growth to re-enter at No 15.
- Dahlias saw 500% growth to re-enter at No 37.
- Phlox climbed furthest up the chart, jumping from No 47 to No 20.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
|
|
This year’s GIMA Charity Golf and Activity Day dinner will be hosted by Richard Pitman.
Pitman, a retired jump jockey, rode 470 winners in his career including Lanzarote in the 1974 Champion Hurdle and 4000 losers, which includes Crisp in the 1973 Grand National when he was pipped to the post by the legendary Red Rum.
He joined the BBC TV racing team in 1976, and since then has become an author, he has written a total of twelve books, seven of which are based on racing.
He was more recently in the press for donating a kidney to a complete stranger and now supports kidney research charities around the UK.
The Charity Dinner will take place on the evening of 8th June at Telford Hotel and Golf Resort following the annual golf day and this year’s inaugural Kwik Cricket and Laser Shooting Challenge.
During the dinner a charity auction and raffle will take place raising money for GIMA’s two chosen charities; Greenfingers, a small national charity that creates gardens in children’s hospices and St. Richard’s Hospice in Worcester.
To book tickets visit www.gima.org.uk/charity-golf-day/
|
|
Lights and lawns take the spotlight
Grass seed, lawn dressings and garden lighting were the gardening lines that saw the biggest increases during he first week of Easter trading 2017...
Grass seed, lawn dressings and garden lighting were the gardening lines that saw the biggest increases during he first week of Easter trading 2017.
Lawn care lines increased sales by 35% and lighting lines grew by 3% to account for over a quarter of all Top 50 Bestselling volume sales.
The highlights were:
- Gardman Nickel Solar Marker Light was the highest climber, jumping 26 places to No 4.
- Johnsons General Purpose Grass Seed + 25% Free 625g was the highest re-entry at No 30.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
|
|
Fern sales have seen a surge at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford as it announces a 44% year on year increase (March 2016 until the end of March 2017).
The company says it feels this is due to the plants being on trend in the retail, amenity landscape and domestic landscape markets.
Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “It’s fantastic news. There are few factors for the increase in sales such as the interiors colour trend for 2017 being that of ‘Greenery’ and botanical and ferns feature in prints and on fabrics. Our increase in fern sales would support this new trend.
“Ferns seem to be very popular not just because of their colour but also for their texture and the fact that they can be a standalone plant in a pot for any patio.
“We have also revamped our fern range and we now believe we grow the best of the best in terms of variety. Our top five varieties at the moment are Polystichum polyblepharum, Dryopteris erythrosora, Asplenium scolopendrium, Cyrtomium fortune and Polystichum setiferum Herrenhausen.
“We’re also growing a new variety, which is called Blechnum brasiliense ‘Volcano’. It’s a stunning architectural plant and in spring the young fronds erupt in bright coppery pinkish red. As they mature they turn to a rich dark green. It’s a strong growing plant with a shuttlecock shape. The ‘Volcano’ is also an ideal stand along feature plant.”
|
|
Tomato plants outsell pot geraniums
Sales of tomato plants continue to grow and this week’s analysis of all plants sold in the GTN Bestsellers database showed that tomato plants outsold Pelargoniums (pot and bedding geraniums) by 12%...
Sales of tomato plants continue to grow and this week’s analysis of all plants sold in the GTN Bestsellers database showed that tomato plants outsold Pelargoniums (pot and bedding geraniums) by 12%.
Cucumer sales also grew and matched the levels of Sweet Pea (Lathyrus) plant sales.
The main highlights this week were:
- Tomato Tumbling Red Tom 8cm clung on to the top spot.
- Vigo Rosemary was the highest re-entry at No 5.
- Quantil Leek Strips were the highest climber, jumping 17 places to No 23.
- Quantil Watermelon Mini Love was the highest new entry at No 39.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Easter closure hits growing media growth
Ten percent less trading hours and a 10% drop in sales volumes means growing media sales have slowed. Westland Gro-Sure Smart Cover (100 litres) was the highest new entry...
Ten percent less trading hours and a 10% drop in sales volumes means growing media sales have kept pace with overall garden centre trading and further illustrates that even when it’s great gardening weather if the footfall is not there, because centres have to close for the day, then staples like growing media just can’t sell through.
The highlights this week were:
- Scotts Levington Multipurpose + John Innes (56 litres) stayed on top of the chart.
- Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost (20 litres) was the highest climber, jumping 21 places to No 12.
- Westland Tomato Planter (60 litres) was the highest re-entry at No 27.
- Westland Gro-Sure Smart Cover (100 litres) was the highest new entry.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Selbooks Ltd takes over Selnews
Selnews, has been trading continuously for the past 47 years. Alan Seviour and David Maguire the owner/managers have been supplying garden centres with books for over 35 years...
Selnews, has been trading continuously for the past 47 years. Alan Seviour and David Maguire the owner/managers have been supplying garden centres with books for over 35 years.
Because of their property portfolio, it has become necessary to split up their business interests.
Alan and David continue to manage the book business and are the directors of Selbooks Ltd.
|
|
The judging panel for the 2017 GIMA Awards, which will be presented at a ceremony on 13 July, has been announced. This year’s team is: - Julie Burrell, Head of Trading Seasonal and Stationery, Wilko Retail
- Sarah Coldrake, Category Manager Garden, Homebase
- Neil Grant, Managing Director, Ferndale Garden Centre
- Robert Hall, Halls Gardensite
- James Hollingworth, Garden Products Buyer, Suttons Consumer Products
- Nick Liszka, Buying Manager, Wyevale Garden Centres
- Neil Pope, Editor, Garden Trade News
- Andy Schofield, Commercial Trading Manager, Home & Garden Group
- Allan Wilson, Senior Buyer, The Klondyke Group
The product categories will include Garden Care, Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries; Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements; Outdoor Leisure; Plants, Seeds and Bulbs; Garden Landscaping; Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products; Gardening Clothing & Gifts; and Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation. Best Point of Sale, Consumer Product Packaging, and Marketing Communication awards will also be judged, alongside the coveted Sword of Excellence, GCA Supplier of the Year, Gardenex Export Achievement Award and PetQuip Export Achievement Award. GIMA Director Vicky Nuttall, said: “I’d like to extend my thanks to all of those who have agreed to join us on our judging panel. I’ve no doubt that they’ll have their work cut out as the level of entries for the awards is continuing to grow and impress year on year. I look forward to learning what products they select – I’m sure its set to be another amazing year for the awards.” Entries can be submitted via the dedicated online entry form, found at www.gima.org.uk/gima-awards/. Deadline for entries is 26 May. The judging takes place on 27 June at Warwick Racecourse.
|
|
The Hillier garden at next month’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show will feature a ‘Memory Tree’, where visitors are invited to write down their favourite gardening memory, sign a copper plant tag and hang it on a branch. By the end of the week, Hilliers hope to have amassed a spectacular display of hanging plant tags, each representing every visitor to the stand. The idea is being run in conjunction with the Wessex Cancer Trust, and its long-term supporter and gardening legend, Alan Titchmarsh, will be the first person to place a tag. The host tree is Davidia involucrate (pictured).
|
|
Dobbies Garden Centres Lasswade branch has been voted ‘Best Independent Retailer’ in the Sudocrem Care & Protect Baby Changing Room Awards. The awards aim to recognise places from retailers to museums that go the extra mile for parents. This year’s awards also teamed up with The Dad Network and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) to highlight facilities that also allow fathers to change nappies. “It’s often simple things like good baby changing facilities that make life better for parents when they’re out and about,” said Nick Wilkie, father-of-three and CEO of NCT. Dobbies won for its spacious and easily accessible unisex changing rooms. Matthew Bailey, general manager at Dobbies Edinburgh, said: “We pride ourselves on being a family friendly destination, so winning the award is great recognition. Allowing parents and their children a place where they can be comfortable using our facilities while shopping is important to us and it’s lovely to find out our customers voted for our store.”
|
|
It has been a flourishing year for the floriculture industry. Royal FloraHolland traded a total of 12.5 billion products in 2016, an increase of 0.3%. The company has posted turnover of €4.6 billion, up 3.8% from last year.
The auctions in Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk, Rijnsburg and Eelde, along with the online FloraMondo platform, process more than 100,000 transactions a day, involving thousands of varieties of cut flowers, house plants and garden plants. Royal FloraHolland CEO Lucas Vos: ‘We are on track to achieve our goals for 2020: improving profit margins for our members and their customers and promoting the sale of flowers and plants in the consumer market.’
Higher prices
The turnover increase is driven mainly by the higher prices growers received for their flowers and plants. Price levels rose by an average of 4.2%, while total turnover from cut flowers reached €2.7 billion – an increase of 6.7%. Turnover in the house plants product group fell by 1.3% to €1.5 billion. Turnover from garden plants increased by 4.7% to nearly €0.4 billion.
Exports to record levels
Dutch exports of flowers and plants reached a record level of €5.7 billion in all, up 3% from the previous year. Exporters of floriculture products expect this positive trend to continue in 2017.
The largest market for Dutch flowers and plants is and remains Germany. Exports in this market increased by 7% to more than €1.6 billion, accounting for 61% of total export growth. Exports to other European countries also increased further, with the exception of the United Kingdom, where the strong decline of the British pound had a dragging effect. Russian exports continued to be impacted by the trade sanctions that remain in place.
Revenue and ratios: solid foundation
Royal FloraHolland’s revenue decreased marginally by 1.3%, to €378 million, while operating profit increased by 3.8% to €27 million. Operating profit excludes the costs of Strategy 2020, the recent corporate reorganisation and profit from participating interests.
The company’s financial ratios have remained level, with a solvency rate of 25.1% and a risk-bearing capital base of 54.9%. ‘Our revenue and ratios provide a solid foundation for the future,’ CFO Steven van Schilfgaarde said.
Responding to market trends
Lucas Vos: ‘Royal FloraHolland is the world’s largest marketplace for flowers and plants. The floriculture industry is constantly changing and evolving, with digitalisation being the main driver. We are responding to these changes by integrating all digital trading instruments into our upgraded Digital Trading Platform. Digital is the new standard!’
‘Our strategic programmes are finding their way to consumers and to new markets outside Europe.
In addition, we are developing new concepts for the domestic and international markets. Examples of such initiatives include the international innovation project Let it Grow, which supports and connects “green” businesses. This is our way of boosting innovative concepts and meeting consumers’ changing needs.’
Incorporated Sustainability Report
This is the first year that sustainability constitutes an integral part of the Royal FloraHolland annual report. The cooperative highlights its sustainability objectives by setting clear targets. ‘I am pleased to see our members and their customers embrace sustainable standards and practices and develop sustainable initiatives and concepts. Our unique role enables us to support them in this process as a representative of the floriculture industry in interactions with government authorities, NGOs and retailers. The purpose is to establish a set of rules and procedures that will gradually make the industry more sustainable. I firmly believe that consumers will embrace floriculture products even more in the future as part of a sustainable and healthy lifestyle.’
More information
The full annual report will be published this afternoon: http://annualreport.royalfloraholland.com
Find out more about Royal FloraHolland: https://www.royalfloraholland.com/en/about-floraholland/
|
|
Thirteen specialists will be throwing open the doors of their nurseries for the premier commercial orchid event Orchid Inspiration Days from 6 to 13 June.
Their clients in the trade and their end-customers are invited to make an inspiring tour through the world of the orchid.
This is a unique collaboration between the growers from three different regions in the Netherlands, who are combining forces as both rivals and colleagues in this event.
A number of orchid events have been organised in recent years, all with the same goal: to inform and inspire exporters, wholesalers and retailers with product novelties, surprising concepts and outstanding added value. In autumn 2016 the thirteen companies decided to join forces and organise a joint event in three regions in the Netherlands.
This marked the inception of Orchid Inspiration Days. With this new name, a distinctive image and an interesting programme at each of the participating growers, the organisers are seeking to stimulate trade and exports.
By organising these inspiring days before and during the FlowerTrials the organisers are also targeting foreign clients who can make extra good use of their visit to the Netherlands. The central coordinating role is being played by Pull Position, which is carrying out the preparations for the event on behalf of the thirteen participants.
From Phalaenopsis, Zygopetalum and Brassia to eye-catching packaging material or cachepots in the latest trends, the inspiring tour of the participants will constantly surprising thanks to the content of the programme, which varies at each location.
To ensure rapid entry to the various companies, visitors are being asked to register in advance. They can do this on the website www.orchidinspirationdays.com.
The thirteen companies taking part in Orchid Inspiration Days are: Aphrodite Orchidee, GreenBalanZ, Van der Hoorn Orchideeën, Orchids4all, Cympha Orchideeën, Pannekoek Orchideeën, Stolk Flora, De Vreede Holland, Lansbergen Orchideeën, Levoplant, OK Plant, Opti-flor and Piet Vijverberg.
Opening times
Orchid Inspiration Days will take place from 6 to 13 June 2017.
Tue 6 to Thu 8 June | 08.00 to 18.00
Fri 9 June | 08.00 to 14.00
Mon 12 and Tue 13 June | 08.00 to 18.00
|
|
|
|
|
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 printed newsletter.
As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period. Access is by subscription only. For £195.00 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 Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers 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 delivered via the post for only £195.00.
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.
For further information contact karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.
Buy your subscription today and start receiveing the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.
|
|
|
