GTN Xtra - GTN Xtra - issue 39 2017

Reports circulating online 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...

Left: WGC retail operations director David Anderson, who announced last week's changes.

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Retailers must act now to redeem expired gift vouchers says HTA

The HTA is reminding retailers that they must take urgent action to redeem expired 2016 National Garden Gift Vouchers by 31 August to avoid "significant" impact on the association's finances...

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July was only average for garden centres sales volumes

After the record sales volumes of earlier in the year the expected but unwelcome rebalancing in garden centre transactions continued throughout July, according to GTN Bestsellers analysis of weekly garden centre Epos data...

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More garden retailers signing up to industry Xylella crisis campaign

More and more garden retailers are signing up to support a joint industry plant sourcing statement about Xylella fastidiosa, the introduction of which has the potential for catastrophic impacts to the UK environment...

See list of retailers and the Xylella Five Point Plan

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Burgon & Ball to roll out 70 new lines at Glee

Burgon & Ball will launch its biggest-ever collection of new products at Glee next month...

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Scotts Miracle-Gro buoyant but Europe revenue falls 6%

Scotts Miracle-Gro in the US has announced 8.6% year-on-year revenue growth for the third quarter of the year, despite consumer business that was “behind original expectations” in its home market and a 6% drop in its European business (which includes the UK)...

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Town & Country is sold to EP Barrus

After months of speculation, Town & Country has been sold to EP Barrus. As a result Jamieson and Barry Page (pictured above at Chelsea 2016) will be leaving the business...

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Clothing was smart June highlight for GCA centres

Clothing sales at Garden Centre Association members increased by almost 17% in June – topping the best-seller list for the second month running, although running behind May’s figures.

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Still pretty in pink? Or is orange the new ‘in’

The team at Wyevale Nurseries spends time following colour trends to try to ensure its new range matches that of current fashions. Adam Dunnett, Sales & Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “Within home interior design neutrals might be the ‘in’ thing this year but in the garden, we are seeing a trend towards more vibrant colours."

Pictured: Colin Stanley, Retail Sales Manager at Wyevale Nurseries.

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Lighting the way for profit growth within garden retailing

The growth of the Garden Lighting category shows no sign of abating. This continued increase is, in part, due to the enduring trend to invest in outside spaces, treating them as an extension of the home. More recently however, it has been fuelled by the dynamic expansion of lighting options made available to consumers, in particular solar lighting where there are no cables or connectivity issues...

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Millbrook walk 60 miles for Air Ambulance

A team from Millbrook Garden Company are walking 60 miles from Gravesend to their Crowborough centre via Staplehurst this weekend to raise money for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust...

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The mighty apple goes ‘on tour’

Fruit and ornamental trees grower Frank P. Matthews is to take a very special collection of apples on a mini tour of the county this autumn. Starting at the 2017 Malvern Autumn Show, the company will be displaying more than 300 different varieties, together with crab apples and the pears that this area is also famous for...

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Driving ban for Blackpool garden centre owner on drink charge

The owner of a Blackpool garden centre has been banned from driving after pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge...

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Ornamental grasses are August Plants of the Moment

Ornamental grasses to add striking texture, character and form to the garden are the theme for the HTA’s ‘Plant of the Moment’ August promotion...

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Sales of Impatiens on the rise

Whilst overall plant sales were down 18% on the same week last year, sales of Impatiens grew by 33% year on year and that took them to the No 2 position in the GTN Bestsellers Plants Chart for the last week of July...

Xylella fastidiosa - a threat to the U.K. Horticulture industry
Guidance on sourcing plant material for Retailers, Landscapers, Growers, Designers and all dealing with plants in a professional capacity.

Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most harmful bacterial plant diseases in the world. It can cause severe losses in a wide range of hosts and there would be a massive impact on the plant trade across all business sectors in the event of an outbreak in the UK.

Orchid feeds currently selling well

Orchid feeds, garden lights and pot feet are the highlights of the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Top 50 chart for the last week of July....

La Hacienda sold to US company

La Hacienda is bought by a US company for $11 million. John, Simon, Caroline and Maria Goodwin remain at the helm of the business...

Duke of York leads the way for autumn seed potato sales

After last week’s rush of onion sales to clear the decks for autumn stock to arrive, the top of the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart is dominated by the Taylors autumn planting seed potatoes again...

New comparison website aims to offer platform for trades

HaMuch, a new comparison website for the trades, has welcomed 5,000 tradespeople, including gardeners and landscapers, to the service since its start-up only two months ago...

Train or repel – keeping pets in check

Cats and dogs can cause catastrophic damage to crops and flower borders, but gardeners have a choice as to whether to train or repel pets with Vitax’s Scent Off and Stay Off range...

Growing media sales drop by 17% during July

Growing media sales remain up year on year overall but July wasn’t the best, down 17% according to GTN Bestsellers sales analysis. Kelkay Alpine Grit was the highest placed re-entry to the Top 50 this week...

Three men went to mow...

Three gardens have been shortlisted in an annual competition to find ‘Britain’s Best Lawn’ sponsored by mower manufacturer EGO Power+...

New appointments at RSW International

RSW International limited are pleased to announce two new appointments to its growing business. Charles Tustain recently joined the Garden & Leisure team in July...