In This Issue
2017: A year of transition for the garden centre trade
Top 50 most-read stories in GTN Xtra 2017
When will the For Sale sign go up at Wyevale GCs?
So what went on behind closed doors at the Wyevale suppliers meeting.?
Rising Stars 2017 - The final 12
Owners of garden centre face £21,000 bill after selling 'dangerous' items
Wyevale Garden Centres announces shift away from acquisitions
Wyevale Garden Centres named on 'worst to work for' list
Sad news - Alistair Lorimer dies
Durston Garden Products HOLD prices for 2018
New display ideas, new products, new suppliers at Bunnings first UK garden centre - GTN Xtra picture exclusive
Retail ops restructured as going gets tough for Wyevale GCs
All eyes will be on how Wyevale GCs plans to replace 'unsustainable' growth strategy with core business focus
Sir Terry and Mr M...unfinished business at Dobbies?
Mothers Day bonanza as garden centre records are broken across the country
We cleared out Homebase management too quickly, confesses parent company's new CEO
Carol Paris is leaving the HTA
Dobbies "gets together with Ocado to be the best on-line"
Nicholas Marshall is back in the gardening industry as CEO of Dobbies
Newshound finds Mr M has been busy recruiting 'experience'...
Terra Firma props up Wyevale Garden Centres
So this is what a Bunnings Warehouse looks like...
A bittersweet moment says Scott CEO as he announces UK, Europe and Aussie sell-off
Gardman reports £1.5m loss - but earnings soar by 50%
Blue Diamond buys Bridgford Garden Centre
Exponent Private Equity to buy Scotts business in UK, Europe and Australia
Brothers sell £15m Yarnton Nurseries business
Area Representative/Product Merchandiser
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Westland win Sword of Excellence with SafeLawn
Is this the smallest garden centre in the UK?
Glee to hold two shows per year from 2018 onwards
Garden retailers sign up to industry Xylella statement
Marshall's strategy for Dobbies to put focus back on plants
Woodlodge win GCA Associate of the year Award
"The Best Glee for Years" - Retailers verdict on this years show
"Xylella is the most serious situation I have come across in 32 years in the industry"
MEP's vote to ban glyphosate completely by 2022
Blisters, tomatoes, over 100 walkers and runners raise over £22k on Garden Re-Leaf Day
Coolings buys Potted Garden Nursery at Maidstone
Exclusive pictures from Bunnings' biggest store yet
New men at the top at Hillier
Xylella fastidiosa: how Italy has tackled the problem
Town & Country is sold to EP Barrus
Supplier rebates to exceed £1.5m for Choice members
"Garden Centre of the Future" planned for new outlet retail centre at Downtown Grantham
Bunnings UK No. 3 - Hemel Hempstead in pictures
Shoplifting costs retailers £800m a year says research
Scotts: We want out of Europe...but we won't give the business away
New trade show will demonstrate how to cater for vegans
Historic exhibition and new branding for Dobbies
Exciting new-build garden centre underway
Bunnings - Homebase - sales drop by £44m
Glyphosate licence approved for 5 years
Situations Vacant
Area Representative/Product Merchandiser
Kent/Sussex area. £20k to £23k per annum
 
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Retail ops restructured as going gets tough for Wyevale GCs
No 10 Most Read Story 2017. First published: Sunday 6 August, 2017

Reports circulating online sources this week suggest that life is not getting any easier for Terra Firma’s Wyevale Garden Centres operation, which is facing re-structuring and re-financing after disappointing earnings.

The 149-centre chain’s latest review of retail operations, appears to restore a previously abandoned reporting procedure involving a team of regional managers instead of a north and south area set-up.

In a statement, retail operations director David Anderson (right), who was appointed in May, announced changes to his leadership team designed to “deliver excellent customer service and improve retail standards, whilst also providing support and development to colleagues in centres”.

Chris Brannigan, who has been with WGC since 2007, has been promoted to director of garden centres and will lead the transformation agenda. The Area Manager roles are being axed, and replaced with 11 new regional managers. Anderson says many of the existing area managers are being retained as regional managers, and recruitment is under way to fill existing vacancies.

Jeremy Byfleet, who joined the business in January 2014, will assume the newly created role of director of central operations and customer services. Like Brannigan, he will report to Anderson.

Elizabeth Oddy, previously regional operations director, takes on the newly created role of head of horticultural development, reporting to Brannigan. Oddy has more than 16 years’ horticultural experience with WGC, and will be tasked with driving commercial performance and horticultural excellence in the marketplace. Recruitment is currently under way for a new head of retail visual, “who will ensure our centres reach their full potential as inspiring places to shop and will bring consistency across our estate”.

Anderson added: “The new structure and the appointments we have put in place provide a fantastic opportunity to build on WGC's past successes. Through working together as one team, we'll deliver exceptional service to our customers and give our colleagues the support they need to reach their full potential.”

WGC offered no comment on reports that it had launched a key time working initiative designed to deliver a workforce that can react more flexibly to seasonal and weather variations. One online trade publication source suggested the company was looking for more part-time contracts.

Meanwhile, insiders confirmed reports that Wyevale is negotiating a refinancing deal before it publishes its annual accounts (usually filed at the end of June) by the Companies House deadline of 30 September. New auditors KPMG are reported as saying the accounts are being finalised but, again, WGC declined to comment.

Meanwhile, further reports suggest WGC has been struggling to meet its sales targets and is exploring ways in which it can hit its EBITDA goal of £34 million.

With cash clearly tight, the recently-revealed sale of Handcross Garden Centre in West Sussex for development following a successful planning application, will generate much-needed funds.

WGC said work on the A23, which had left the site with no direct road access, had affected sales. The site will close on 24 September, with 24 jobs affected. Observers say two more disposals are on the cards.

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