In This Issue
Squires Hersham and Haskins Roundstone are tops in South Thames GCA
Haskins scoop a 1,2,3 at the South Thames Regional Awards
Planters and Webbs win main GCA Midlands regional awards
Sunshine and Burston are best in North Thames GCA
Full results from North Thames GCA Regional Awards
The Greatest Outdoor Living Sales gold winners to be presented at spoga+gafa
HTA Futures is the venue for The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards 2015
Horticultural Buyer – Full time
Restaurant Manager - Lincolnshire
Garden Centre Manager - South London - Newly Developed Site
Plant Area Supervisor - Hertfordshire - Boutique Garden Centre
Assistant Propagator - West Sussex
Industry breaks record for funds raised for Greenfingers on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2015
Joy at the Wyevale Christmas Preview
34 UK suppliers promises a raft of new products in Cologne
Alton, Old Railway Line, Klondyke and Haskins win Greatest Fundraising Awards
Bollywood, Balconies and Bold Bedding at the Ball Colegrave Summer Spectacular
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
Situations Vacant
Horticultural Buyer – Full time
Salary dependent on experience.
 
Read more»
Restaurant Manager - Lincolnshire
 
We are looking for a resourceful Restaurant Manager to join us as we plan to re-invent our restaurant...
Read more»
Garden Centre Manager - South London - Newly Developed Site
£32.5k - £36k per annum
Read more»
Plant Area Supervisor - Hertfordshire - Boutique Garden Centre
£18k to £19k per annum
Read more»
Assistant Propagator - West Sussex
£16k -£20k per annum
Read more»
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Contact us with your news.  Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700

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Squires Hersham and Haskins Roundstone are tops in South Thames GCA
Squires Hersham - GCA South Thames Awards 2015 - GTN11.jpg

Squires Garden Centre – Hersham (above) took home the title of Best Garden Centre and Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (below) was presented with the award for Best Destination Garden Centre at the Garden Centre Association’s South Thames regional awards...

Haskins Roundstone - GCA South Thames Awards 2015 - GTN23.jpg

See GTN Xtra's picture gallery from the South Thames Awards

Squires Hersham - GCA South Thames Awards 2015 - GTN11.jpg

Squires Garden Centre – Hersham (above) took home the title of Best Garden Centre (GC) and Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (below) was presented with the award for Best Destination Garden Centre (DGC) as the winners of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) South Thames regional awards were revealed during a presentation evening yesterday (Wednesday, July 22, 2015) at Haskins Garden Centre, West End, Southampton.

Haskins Roundstone - GCA South Thames Awards 2015 - GTN23.jpg

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “We’re mid-way through our week of regional awards meetings and things are going swimmingly. Everyone has had a fantastic time and it’s great to see all the garden centres’ hard work being rewarded.

“I’d like to congratulate Squires and Haskins for scooping the top awards. They will now battle it out against top scoring centres around the country for the titles of Garden Centre of the Year and Destination Garden Centre of the Year, which will be announced during our annual conference in January 2016.

“Other awards on the night included Best Customer Services, which went to Squires Garden Centre – Badshot Lea and Best Environment and Community, which was awarded to Squires Garden Centre – Cobham.”

The award for Best Creativity and Innovation was presented to Haskins Garden Centre – Ferndown and Forest Lodge Garden Centre received the award for Most Improved centre.

Iain added: “A big ‘thank you’ goes to Haskins Garden Centre in West End, Southampton, for hosting the evening and to inspector Andy Campbell, who presented his findings on the night.”

The next regional awards meeting will take place tonight at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset for the Wales and West followed by the North West/North East meeting on Friday, July 24 at Bents Garden & Home in Glazebury, Warrington.

The full results for the South Thames region GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

Best Garden Centre: Squires Garden Centre – Hersham (GC) and Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Customer Service: Squires Garden Centre – Badshot Lea

Best Environment and Community: Squires Garden Centre – Cobham

Best Creativity and Innovation: Haskins Garden Centre – Ferndown

Most Improved: Forest Lodge Garden Centre

Best Restaurant: Millbrook Garden Centre - Staplehurst (GC) and Chessington Garden Centre (DGC)

Garden Products Retailer: Thompsons Garden Centre – Chislehurst (GC) and Haskins Garden Centre – Ferndown (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle: Blackbrooks Garden Centre (GC) and Garsons Garden Centre – Esher (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living: Joint winners Squires Garden Centre – Hersham and Squires Garden Centre – West Horsley (GC) and Polhill Garden Centre – Sevenoaks (DGC).

The awards are decided by the results of the annual inspections, which take place at all GCA garden centres. Garden centres have no advance warning about when their inspection will take place and they do not have the option to turn away the inspector.

The Best Garden Centre and Best Destination Garden Centre awards went to the members that scored the highest overall mark in the area in their annual inspections.

The top scoring centres overall, nationally, in both the Destination Garden Centre and Garden Centre categories will be re-inspected before the titles of Garden Centre of the Year and Destination Garden Centre of the Year are announced at the GCA annual conference taking place in January 2016.

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please call 0118 930 8918. 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

Haskins scoop a 1,2,3 at the South Thames Regional Awards
Haskins - GCA South Thames Awards 2015 - GTN16.jpg

Haskins Garden Centres scooped an amazing treble at the GCA South Thames Awards last night, winning the top three places in the Best Destination Centre for the region..

Haskins - GCA South Thames Awards 2015 - GTN16.jpg

Haskins Garden Centres scooped an amazing treble at the GCA South Thames Awards last night, winning the top three places in the Best Destination Centre for the region.  Haskins Roundstone won Destination Centre of the area, Haskins Ferndown were in second place after the annual GCA Inspection and Haskins West End, where the event was hosted, took third place.

There are 48 centres in GCA South Thames area, 30 are in the Garden centre classification and 18 are Destination Centres.

Here are the full results as they were announced on the evening:

Best Customer Service

3:  Forest Lodge
2:  Stewarts Christchurch
1:  Squires Badshot Lea

Ruxley Rose National Finalists from the area 

  • Coolings

Best Garden Product Retailer - Garden Centres

3:  Newbridge Blue Diamond
2: Thompson's Newchurch
1: Thompson's Chislehurst

Best Garden Product Retailer - Destination Centres

3:  Squires Badshot Lea
2:  Haskins Roundstone
1:  Haskins Ferndown

Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Garden Centre

3=: Squires Reigate
3=: Stewarts Broomhill
1=: Squires Hersham
1=: Squires West Horsley

Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Destination Centre

3: Haskins West End
2: Haskins Roundstone
1: Polhill Sevenoaks 

Best Indoor lifestyle Retailer - Garden Centre

2=: Squires Washington
2=: Squires West Horsely
1: Blackbrooks

Best Indoor lifestyle Retailer - Destination Centre

3: Garsons Titchfield
2: Haskins Roundstone
1: Garsons Esher

Best Restaurant - Garden Centre

3: Blackbrooks
2: Squires Hersham
1: Millbrook Staplehurst

Best Restaurant - Destination

2=: Haskins Roundstone
2=: Haskins West End
1: Chessington

Environment and community award

3=:  Coolings
3=: Squires West Horsley
3=: Thompson's Newchurch
3=: Thompson's Petchurch
2: Haskins Roundstone
1: Squires Cobham

Creativity and Innovation Award

3: Coolings
2: Haskins Roundstone
1: Haskins Ferndown

Inspectors choice

Stewarts Christchurch - For indoor plant retailing

Most improved centre

3: Stewarts Christchuch
2: Hask Ferndown
1: Forest Lodge

Best Garden Centre in South Thames

3: Squires Long Ditton
2: Millbrook Gravesend
1: Squires Hersham

Best Destination Centre in South Thames

3: Haskins West End
2: Haskins Ferndown
1: Haskins Roundstone

 Highly commended centres in South Thames (total inspection score over 75%)

  • Coolings
  • Forest Lodge
  • Garsons Esher
  • Garsons Ticthfield
  • Haskins Ferndown
  • Haskins Roundstone
  • Haskins West End
  • Millbrook Gravesend
  • Squires Badshot Lea
  • Squires Hersham
  • Squires Long Ditton
  • Squires Milford
  • Squires West Horsley
  • Stewarts Christchurch

 

 

 

 

 

Planters and Webbs win main GCA Midlands regional awards
Planters Bretby - GCA Midlands 2015 - GTN12.jpg

Webbs - GCA Midlands 2015 - GTN10.jpgPlanters Garden Centre – Bretby (above) was awarded Best Garden Centre and Webbs of Wychbold (right) scooped Best Destination Garden Centre at the GCA Midlands region awards presentation hosted by Stratford Garden Centre last evening...



See pictures from Tuesday's Midlands awards
Planters Bretby - GCA Midlands 2015 - GTN12.jpg

Planters Garden Centre – Bretby (above) was awarded Best Garden Centre and Webbs of Wychbold (below) scooped Best Destination Garden Centre at the GCA Midlands region awards presentation hosted by Stratford Garden Centre last evening...
 
Webbs - GCA Midlands 2015 - GTN10.jpgIain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “Our second regional awards evening of the week was a huge success and it was great to see all of the lucky winners receiving their prizes. It is a testament to all of the hard work and effort they put in.
 
“A big ‘thank you’ goes to Stratford Garden Centre in Clifford Chambers, Stratford-Upon-Avon, for hosting the shindig and to inspector Ian Boardman, who presented his findings on the night.”
 
The award for Best Customer Service went to St Peter’s Garden Centre in Worcester and Planters Garden Centre – Tamworth scooped the prize for the Best Environment and Community.
 
Iain added: “The title of Best Creativity and Innovation went to Webbs of Wychbold and the award for the Most Improved centre was awarded to Pacific Nurseries, which is a relatively new member of the association.”
 
The full results for the Midlands region GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:
 
Best Garden Centre: Planters Garden Centre - Bretby (GC) and Webbs of Wychbold (DGC)
 
Best Customer Service: St Peter’s Garden Centre in Worcester
 
Best Environment and Community: Planters Garden Centre – Tamworth
 
Best Creativity and Innovation: Webbs of Wychbold
 
Most Improved: Pacific Nurseries
 
Best Restaurant: St Peter’s Garden Centre in Worcester (GC) and Planters Garden Centre – Tamworth (DGC)
 
Garden Products Retailer: Planters Garden Centre – Bretby (GC) Webbs of Wychbold (DGC)
 
Best Indoor Lifestyle: Evesham Garden Centre (GC) and Melbicks Garden Centre (DGC)
 
Best Outdoor Living: Evesham Garden Centre (GC) and Melbicks Garden Centre (DGC)
 
The next awards evening takes place tonight at Haskins Garden Centre in West End, Southampton for the South Thames region followed by the awards evening for the Wales and West region at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset on Thursday, July 23.
Sunshine and Burston are best in North Thames GCA
Sunshine GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN41.jpg

Sunshine Garden Centre (above) picked up the Best Garden Centre and Burston Rose & Garden Centre (below) clinched the Best Destination Garden Centre at the GCA North Thames Regional Awards on Monday. The presentations took place at Perrywood Garden Centre & Nurseries...

Burston GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN40.jpg

See GTN Xtra's picture gallery from Perrywood on Monday
Sunshine GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN41.jpg

Sunshine Garden Centre (above) picked up the Best Garden Centre and Burston Rose & Garden Centre (below) clinched the Best Destination Garden Centre at the GCA North Thames Regional Awards on Monday. The presentations took place at Perrywood Garden Centre & Nurseries.

Burston GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN40.jpg
 
Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all of our members who took home awards during the first regional awards meeting. A massive ‘thank you’ also goes to Perrywood Garden Centre & Nurseries for hosting such a fantastic evening.
 
“Other awards included Best Customer Service and Best Environment and Community, which both went to Burston Rose & Garden Centre.
 
“Squires Garden Centre – Twickenham scooped the award for Best Creativity and Innovation and the Most Improved site was won by Hilltop Garden Centre.”
 
Presenting her findings during the event was inspector Liz Hutson.
 
The full results for the North Thames region GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:
 
Best Garden Centre: Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) and Burston Rose & Garden Centre (DGC)
 
Best Customer Service: Burston Rose & Garden Centre
 
Best Environment and Community: Burston Rose & Garden Centre
 
Best Creativity and Innovation: Squires Garden Centre - Twickenham
 
Most Improved: Hilltop Garden Centre
 
Best Restaurant: Thurrock Garden Centre (GC) and Frosts at Woburn Sands (DGC)
 
Garden Products Retailer: Squires Garden Centre - Shepperton (GC) and Poplars Nursery Garden Centre (DGC)
 
Best Indoor Lifestyle: Squires Garden Centre – Shepperton (GC) and The Burford Garden Company (DGC)
 
Best Outdoor Living: Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) and The Van Hage Garden Company – Great Amwell (DGC)

Inspectors Choice Award:  Alton Garden Centre for their BBQ area
 
The awards are decided by the results of the annual inspections, which take place at all GCA garden centres. Garden centres have no advance warning about when their inspection will take place and they do not have the option to turn away the inspector.
 
The Best Garden Centre and Best Destination Garden Centre awards went to the members that scored the highest overall mark in the area in their annual inspections.
 
The top scoring centres overall, nationally, in both the Destination Garden Centre and Garden Centre categories will be re-inspected before the titles of Garden Centre of the Year and Destination Garden Centre of the Year are announced at the GCA annual conference taking place in January 2016.
 
Iain added: “We are really looking forward to the remaining awards meetings taking place this week.
Full results from North Thames GCA Regional Awards
Poplars GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN49.jpg  

Poplars Garden Centre (above) won the Best Destination Centre Garden Products Retailer and Thurrock (below) collected the award for Best Garden Centre Restaurant in the GCA North Thames Regional Awards on Monday...

Thurrock GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN55.jpg

The full results North Thames at Perrywood, on Monday  (in the order they were announced)

Best Customer Service

3: Perrywood

2: Poplars

1: Burston

Best Garden Products Retailer - Garden Centre

3: Squires Windsor

2: Thetford

1: Squires shepperton

Garden Products Retailer – Destination Centre

3: Burston

2: Aylett Nurseries

1: Poplars

Creativity and Innovation award

3: Burston

2: Perrywood

1: Squires Twickenham (below)

Squires Twickenham - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN52.jpg

Most improved centres

3: Van Hage Chenies

2: Notcutts Oxford

1: Hilltop

Environment and Community Award

3: Squires Twickenham

2: Poplars

1: Burston

Best Plant Area - Garden Centre

3: Meadowcroft

2: Squire Stanmore

1: Sunshine

Best Plant Area - Destination Centre

3: Perrywood

2: Burston

1: Squires Twickenham

Outdoor Leisure - Garden Centres

2=  Squires Shepperton

2= Squires  Stanmore

1: Sunshine

Outdoor Leisure - Destination Centres

2= Poplars

2= Perrywood

1: Van Hage Great Amwell

Best Restaurant - Garden Centre

3: Hilltop

2: Squires Shepperton

1: Thurrock

Best Restaurant – Destination Centre

3: Burston

2: Perrywood

1: Frosts Woburn Sands

Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Garden Centre

3: Squires Windsor

2: Thetford

1: Squires Shepperton

Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Destination Centre

3: Poplars

2: Perrywood

1: Burford

North Thames Highly commended centres: (over 75%)

  • Ayletts
  • Burston
  • Frosts at Woburn Sands
  • Perrywood
  • Poplars
  • Scotsdales
  • Squires Windsor
  • Squires Shepperton
  • Squires Twickenham

Outstanding Acheivement Award (Inspectors Choice) - Altons BBQ area

North Thames Region Best Garden Centre

3: Squires Windsor

2: Squires Shepperton

1: Sunshine

North Thames Region Best Destination Centre

3: Poplars

2: Perrywood

1: Burston

Special Awards - the Lizzies

Thetford GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN58.jpg

Outstanding till area - Thetford (above)

Outstanding houseplant area – Frosts Millets Farm

Outstanding Farm Shop -  Frosts Woburn Sands

Meadowcroft GC - GCA North Thames 2015 - GTN54.jpg

Outstanding bedding area - Meadowcroft (above)

Consistent commitment to wildlife - Squires garden centres

Customer focussed signage - Aylett Nurseries

Best cups of coffee - 3 winners - Frosts Brampton - Squires Windsor - RHS Hyde Hall

Best cup of herbal tea, ever – Thurrock

Best home made cake - Frosts Willlington

Above and beyond the call of duty award - Darran Major at Burston

 
The Greatest Outdoor Living Sales gold winners to be presented at spoga+gafa
Five gold winners of The Greatest Outdoor Living Sales Awards will have the added prize of receiving their prizes at this year's spoga+gafa exhibition in Cologne, Germany. One person from each of the five winners will be treated to travel to and from Cologne plus one night's accommodation as The Greatest Awards really celebrate going on tour this year.
Five gold winners of The Greatest Outdoor Living Sales Awards will have the added prize of receiving their prizes at this year's spoga+gafa exhibition in Cologne, Germany.

One person from each of the five winners will be treated to travel to and from Cologne plus one night's accommodation as The Greatest Awards really celebrate going on tour this year.

spoga+gafa runs from Sunday 30th August to Tuesday 1st September, and is the ideal time to have a European summer break and take in some business opportunities as well.

As well as garden furniture and BBQs spoga+gafa covers plants, garden sundries, machines, tools, garden equipment and sheds. In total the show will occupy 12 halls.

To nominate your garden centre teams for any of the categories below, e-mail thegreatestawards@tgcmc.co.uk by Friday 10th July with your centre name, postcode, contact details, the categories nominated for and tell us why they should be The Greatest.

The Greatest Outdoor Living Categories

  • The Greatest BBQ Sales Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Garden Decoration and Lighting Sales Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Inspiration for New Gardeners Team – Love The Plot You've Got Award
  • The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team of the Year
Once we've received your nomination we will contact you to arrange a visit from one of our Greatest Awards experts and collect more information.
HTA Futures is the venue for The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards 2015
poplars - the greatest green team 2012.jpgGroves team gold 2014.jpgbarton grange - deli farm shop 2012.jpg

Poplars, Groves and Barton Grange have all won Gold in The Greatest Awards.  Which garden centres will be leaving the HTA Futures Conference with Gold this year?

poplars - the greatest green team 2012.jpgGroves team gold 2014.jpgbarton grange - deli farm shop 2012.jpg

Poplars, Groves and Barton Grange have all won Gold in The Greatest Awards.  Which garden centres will be leaving the HTA Futures Conference with Gold this year?

To nominate your garden centre teams for any of the categories below, e-mail thegreatestawards@tgcmc.co.uk by Wednesday 24th June with your centre name, postcode, contact details, the categories nominated for and tell us why they should be The Greatest.

The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards Categories

  • The Greatest Garden Care Retail Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Garden Centre Customer Service Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Garden Centre Training Team or Initiative of the Year, sponsored by MorePeople
  • The Greatest Garden Centre Merchandising Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Gardening Supplier of the Year
  • The Greatest Garden Centre of the Year (Public Vote), sponsored by National Garden Gift Vouchers
Once we've received your nomination we will contact you to arrange a visit from one of our Greatest Awards experts and collect more information.

The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards will be presented on the evening of Wednesday September 30th at The HTA Futures Conference Dinner.

For details of attending HTA Futures visit: www.the-hta.org.uk or email: events@the-hta.org.uk

As usual The Greatest Awards team of experts will be out and about meeting nominated teams, gathering information and taking photos of their work so that the Gold, Silver and Bronze Greatest Awards winners can be chosen.

Plus your team have the chance to become The Greatest Garden Centre Team of 2015 by involving your customers in the public voting later this summer.  The Greatest Garden Centre Teams, small, medium and large will be the teams that have the best relationships with their customers and generate the most votes (taking size of centre into account) and in the event of a tie, the centre with the most complimentary comments form their customers.  To take part in the public vote please e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call The Greatest Awards on 01733 775700 to request an in store voting pack.

As this issue of GTN Xtra goes to press the expert judges are meeting to decide the winners of The Greatest Plant Retailing Team Awards in advance of The National Plant Show.  Make sure your Outdoor Leisure, Garden Care and Garden Centre teams are nominated for visits later in July and August.

The Greatest Awards would like to thank sponsors, Elho, National Garden Gift Vouchers, MorePeople and The HTA plus the event organisers at The HTA Catering Conference, National Plant Show, GIMA Awards and HTA Futures for agreeing to be presentation venues for The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015.  The date and venue for The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Awards will be announced in a future issue of GTN Xtra. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for product and service suppliers seeking to gain the highest possible exposure between now and November this year.  Please contact mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk for details.

 
Horticultural Buyer – Full time
Salary dependent on experience.



Are you talented, enthusiastic and a team player? We are looking for a numerate, articulate and experienced person to join our busy buying team. You will have extensive horticultural and plant knowledge, with proven experience of buying and range planning.

You will be based at our Marlborough office in Wiltshire, but will need to travel to visit plant suppliers and horticultural trade fairs and events on a regular basis. You will report directly to the Managing Director.

Your role will involve keeping up-to-date with the current trends, developing new horticultural ranges, tracking competitor activity and ensuring our bulb, plant and seed offer is unique, exciting and commercial. It will also involve working with Sarah and her gardening team to log seed and plant trials and visiting Perch Hill approximately 4 times per year in key seasons to view trials as well as key horticultural shows and events. You will also work closely with our web and customer service teams to assist with the content posted on our website and on social media. You will have a keen eye for detail, be very proficient at Excel, have a clean driving licence and be keen to join a busy and fast-growing company.

Salary dependent on experience.

To apply please send an email with subject title ‘Horticultural Buyer’ with your CV, and current employment and salary details to sally@sarahraven.com.

 
Restaurant Manager - Lincolnshire
We are looking for a resourceful Restaurant Manager to join us as we plan to re-invent our restaurant...


We are a family run centre based in Lincolnshire and have been trading for over 40 years.

JOB BRIEF

We are looking for a resourceful Restaurant Manager to join us as we plan to re-invent our Restaurant to look after our existing customer base and introduce a new generation of customers, with new menus and a new atmosphere.

You will be responsible for meeting all restaurant revenues, profitability and quality goals. You will ensure efficient operation and maintain high production, productivity and customer service standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Coordinate the restaurant operation.
  • Organise and supervise shifts.
  • Estimate consumption, forecast requirements and maintain stock.
  • Control costs and minimise waste.
  • Manage health and safety and hygiene.
  • Report directly to the directors of current and future operations and financial states.
  • Create a positive working environment and lead by example.
  • Respond efficiently to customer complaints. 

REQUIREMENTS

  • Experience in garden centre catering or similar.
  • Proven working experience as restaurant manager.
  • Extensive food knowledge.
  • Computer literacy and familiarity with restaurant  ‘EPOS’ systems.
  • Strong leadership, motivational and people skills.
Please send your CV with application to:  Nigel Wallis, General Manager, Baytree Garden Centre, High Road, Weston, Spalding, Lincolnshire. PE12 6JU. Tel: 01406 370242 or by e-mail to: nigel@baytree-gardencentre.com

 

 

Nigel Wallis

General Manager

Garden Centre Manager | South London | Newly Developed Site (ref:BP7468)

Location: London
Salary: £32,500 to £36,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Garden Centre Manager

The Business

My client is a national business with a good reputation in horticulture. They are currently redeveloping a large retail site that is part of one of their managed properties. They are looking to continue to develop this site in accordance with the groups strong retail offering.

The Role

This role will take on the day to day leadership of the operations team at this scenic centre. The site has been redeveloped recently to take on the companies branding and to promote a better more linked consumer experience across the property. The site is very strong on plants and is plant led in a lot of its retail space. It benefits from being able to offer a full range of stock in a historical setting.

The Person

I need a leader for this role first and foremost. The operations team on site are very strong but need a directing force to keep them moving in the right direction. The role will likely change as the site develops and we will need a candidate who can be flexible and adapt. A more analytical brain will be needed to take on strategic planning for the site and to formulate plans to be approved by senior management. 
This is a retail role first and foremost and that is where we will expect the background of the candidate to come from.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Plant Area Supervisor | Hertfordshire | Boutique Garden Centre (ref:BP7428)

Location: London
Salary: £18,000 to £19,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Plant Area Supervisor

The Business

This small group is based with the majority of its stores in London. They have a good spread of centres covering different demographics throughout the capital. The business originally started with a landscaping offer and has since progressed to a sizeable garden retail business with a good online offering. 

The Role

This role will be instrumental to plantarea leadership team, deputising for the planteria manager and managing a team of passionate plants people. 
You will be responsible for the maintenance and care of the stock but first and foremost you will be managing the customer experience through your department.

The Person

We need a talented and ambitious retailer. The ideal candidate will be looking to step up into this role and will be looking to be a leader. 
Plant knowledge is essential to the role however is does not need to be supported by an academic qualification. A good level of self taught plant knowledge would be acceptable.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Assistant Propagator - West Sussex
£16k -£20k per annum

Assistant Propagator (ref:DS7504)

Location: West Sussex
Salary: £16,000 to £20,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent



Assistant Propagator

The Business

Our Client is a wholesale horticultural nursery, which grows high quality herbaceous perennials and herbs to supply garden centres and multiples nationwide. This position is within the Propagation department which is responsible for the establishment of various crops from seed or cuttings for on-growing by other departments.

The Role

  • Based at their site near Arundel 
  • Hours Full time 39 hours per week plus overtime
  • Main Responsibilities
  • Assist the Propagation Supervisor to organise, supervise and run the Propagation Team.
  • Deputise for Propagation Supervisor as required.
  • Take charge of specific activities, areas or staff as delegated by the Propagation Supervisor.
  • Carry out pesticide/bio-control applications as directed (subject to PA certification).
  • Carry out the general responsibilities and duties of a permanent member of staff and supervisor.
  • Undertake any other nursery work when necessary.
  • Carry out weekend duties on a rota

The Person

  • Crop and pest knowledge
  • Propagation experience (ideal but not essential)
  • Good communication and organisational skills
  • Computer literate (Excel and Word)
  • PA1 and PA6 certificates (not necessary but an advantage)
  • Has personal transport and/or clean driving licence

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss this role further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

 
GIMA2015-545.jpg
Industry breaks record for funds raised for Greenfingers on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2015
Suppliers, retailers and associates from the garden industry applauded the recent announcement by Greenfingers - that the fourth annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day (27th March) was the most successful ever, raising in excess of £95,000...
Watch the new Greenfingers 'A Million Moments' appeal video
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Suppliers, retailers and associates from the garden industry applauded the recent announcement by Greenfingers - that the fourth annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day (27th March) was the most successful ever, raising in excess of £95,000.

This year, fundraising highlights included the i2i's Glee team organised London Thames Path Walk; Richard Jackson's QVC shows that raised over £40,000 over three days; 'guess the length of string', 'soak the boss' and Easter egg hunts all taking place at garden centres across the UK; and of course the 'Glovies' campaign which raised over £10,000 thanks to donations from the sales of gloves by Briers and Town and Country.

Greenfingers Trustee and Garden Re-Leaf Day Founder Boyd Douglas-Davies announced the total raised in 2015 as exactly £95,025.31 - 30% up on the total reached last year. Speaking to attendees at the annual GIMA Awards at Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales last week, he praised the combined efforts of the hundreds of garden centre teams, suppliers and individuals that took part over the past four years.

The grand total raised now stands at over £270,000, which Boyd summarised as being over a quarter of a million pounds raised in only four days; an incredible achievement. Rosy cheeks all round Greenfingers' Rosy Cheeks Fund - a two year campaign to raise £750,000 to build at least 10 new gardens was also hailed as a success, bringing the total number of children's hospice gardens built by Greenfingers to 49.

The charity's Head of Fundraising, Linda Petrons attended the GIMA Awards, and expressed her gratitude to those she met. She said: "The support we continue to receive from the garden industry is just amazing. Without your help, children and families that use hospices would not have access to an outside space for which to play with their children away from the pressures they face in care, and would also sadly not have a special place to remember those that have passed. Thank you so very much - we hope you will all continue to support us in the future!"

New campaign - 'Million Moments'

Looking ahead to the 2016 campaign and beyond, it has been confirmed that the focus will be on raising £1million in three years, helping the charity to source additional funds for 16 new gardens at children's hospices across the UK. More details on how to get involved in next year's fundraising day will be available at Glee this year.




https://youtu.be/gIMSXsUHHDA
 
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Joy at the Wyevale Christmas Preview
It will be an exclusive Christmas at Wyevale Garden Centres this year...
See GTN Xtra's pictures of the Wyevale Christmas 2015 Preview
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Wyevale Garden Centres showed their 2015 range to the National, consumer and regional press last week in central London and the range includes many Wyevale exclusive lines.

An exclusive box of Gardening crackers, just for Wyevale gift sets by Burgon & Ball, exclusive Woodwick candles and over 40% of exclusive trim items.

Last year Wyevale’s Christmas Preview generated over 450 separate pieces of Christmas media coverage and this year’s event, taking place on the same day as the NEXT and M&S Christmas previews is set to achieve even higher profile with many more journalists attending.

The range features three themes which will be in all 149 centres with a total of seven themes in the top 18 centres .

In all centres; Traditional, Secret Garden and Vintage.  In 132 centres; Wintry White.  In 45 centres; Midnight and in the Top 18 centres; Merry and Bright and Collectables.

Pictured: The Wyevale Christmas Team at their preview event in central London last week.

 
34 UK suppliers promises a raft of new products in Cologne
New products will be launched by most of the 34 UK garden and leisure product suppliers exhibiting in the British group at spoga+gafa in Cologne in September...




New products will be launched by most of the 34 UK garden and leisure product suppliers exhibiting in the British group at spoga+gafa in Cologne in September

Numerous new growing accessories are on show, ranging from micro-grow light gardens and portable greenhouses to novel garden netting designs, plant supports, link stakes and garden arches.  Among the revolutionary watering accessories are a mobile telephone operated control system, a daylight sensored water controller and a weather responsive system.  There are new lightweight and multi-purpose hand tools, outdoor clocks, garden storage buildings, patio brooms and barbecue accessories.  Items to meet the demands of the expanding wildlife market include funky-style bird boxes and feeders.

Two-thirds of the British group have been awarded £1,500 UKTI government cash grants towards stand space and fitting costs under an arrangement secured by Gardenex. 

Within the main British exhibitor pavilion is a UK garden industry information stand, manned by the Gardenex federation’s team of multi-lingual staff.

A new feature this year is a British Innovation and Business Zone that will display new, innovative and first time products or services.  The Zone will be adjacent to the Gardenex stand and UK garden industry information stand.

The British exhibitors are:

ALM Manufacturing (Hall 9.1, Stand C38a) Parts for garden power machinery, including trimmer spools and line and plastic blades suitable for almost every electric grass trimmer on the market, including private label brands. The company also supplies oils, safety equipment, chainsaw chains, lawnmower blades and greenhouse parts.

Bambrella (Hall 9.1, Stand C40/D41) Strong parasols made from laminated bamboo are supplied to some of the most prestigious hotels, drinks companies, restaurants and retailers in more than 30 countries. Due to demand, they will launch a range of aluminium parasols that are as strong as the bamboo range and have been wind-tunnel tested up to 90kmph.

BarbeSkew (Hall 7.1, Stand D59) Charcoal and gas rotisserie barbecuesthat enable the user to cook using two individual rotisserie motors. As the meat is turned, it self-bastes.

Bosmere (Hall 9.1, Stand E30) Their garden covers ranges feature new colours, new packaging and new technically advanced materials.  There will be a new Thunder Grey added to the successful Storm Black range of urban chic covers.

Briers (Hall 10.1, Stand B029) are showing rubber clogs and boots, gloves, umbrellas and garden product collections. The company’s Historical Royal Palaces collection is selling worldwide.

Catwatch by Concept Research (Hall 9.1, Stand D34) UK manufactured animal deterrents from ther inventors of the original cat deterrent, Catwatch.  A new range of European packaging is being introduced.

Crest Garden (Hall 9.1, Stand E33) offer traditional hand-crafted garden tools manufactured by Kent & Stowe since the 1600s, based on designs as close to original versions as possible.  A brand new range of eight lightweight garden tools is being introduced.

G Plants (Hall 9.1, Stand D38) UK manufactured retail packages of seeds, flower bulbs and garden products both under the company’s brand name of G Plants and own label for supply to local, regional and national multiple retailers.

Gardenskill Ltd (Hall 9.1, Stand E35) Pop-up fruit and vegetable cages, poly houses and tunnels.  New products include a range of plant supports, suitable for shrubs, perennials and vegetables such as peas and beans.

Garland Products/Worth Gardening (Hall 9.1, Stand C30) have more than 70 new products, including a compact tidy tray, a colander trug, a one-top electric propagator and a micro grow light garden.  A new garden basics range of garden sundries comprises more than 40 lines such as plant labels, tree ties, greenhouse fittings and coils of garden wire.

Greenman Garden Tools (Hall 9.1, Stand D31a) New ergonomic garden tools that takes design cues from traditional British farm tools, with ease-of-use and functionality as the main aim.  Initial lines include a digging fork and spade with extra-long handles that have been steamed and bent.

Grumpy Gardener by GreanBase (Hall 9.1, Stand D36) Flagship product of the Grumpy Gardener Range is the Wheelbarrow Booster, a novel way of extending a wheelbarrow’s capacity by up to 300 per cent.  New for 2016 are the Cultimate Weeder multi-purpose hand tool and the Plantwell watering aid for basket and pot plants.

Harrod Horticultural (Hall 9.1, Stand D37) UK designed and manufactured arches, obelisks, plant supports, crop cages and grow-your-own innovations.  New silk-grey and lichen green powder coated finishes have been introduced for the arches and obelisks.

Haws Watering Cans (Hall 9.1, Stand C32) Quality metal and plastic indoor and outdoor watering cans, including a hand painted Union Jack design traditional 4.5 litre can, together with a range of hand tools, leatherware, gift products, jugs and vases.

Hozelock (Hall 6.1, Stand B10/C11) The new Hozelock Cloud offers an easy way to control garden watering from a mobile phone, via an App (available on Apple and Android operating systems) that allows you to remotely set, pause and adjust watering schedules, as well as informing the user about current conditions and changes to weather.  A hub that will link with up to four remote taps in the garden is connected directly to an internet router.

Irrigatia (Hall 9.1, Stand E31a) Weather responsive solar automatic watering systems (below) that can water from a barrel every three hours, apply more water when it is sunny and water during the owner’s absence.


Laura Ashley/Treadstone Products (Hall 9.1, Stand C33)
New styles and new products in two popular ranges, upgraded with fabric manufactured in the UK. goatskin leather is now used in all gloves.

London Ornaments (Hall 9.1, Stand B1) Vintage style home, gift and garden ware.  The company’s popular stone ornament range, hand made in the UK, inccludes bird baths, buddhas, gargoyles and animals.

Mac’s BBQ (Hall 7.1, Stand E23) Barbecues, food smokers and accessories under the ProQ brand. New products include commercial grade smokers for use in restaurants and outdoor catering events and a new barbecue accessory, the Flip ‘n Grate.

Oakthrift (Hall 9.1, Stand D30) Bird feeders, growing systems and plant ties, including  their 100 per cent squirrel-proof bird feeders and the Home Farm Grow Tower, which trebles crop yields from a given ground space. Magnetic plant ties provide a plant-friendly method of adjustable and re-usable support.

Plantworks (Hall 9.1, Stand D34a) Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi is the only product of its type to be licensed and endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.  It helps gardeners grow plants using sustainable, organic and natural methods.  New products include a tomato starter, basket starter and a bulb starter.

Popadome (Hall 9.1, Stand D36a) have a new garden netting product based on a dome tent design, available in several sizes with cloche and fleece accessories.  Its green credentials include copper tape sewn into the base and 10mm square netting to allow pollination by bees while keeping out cabbage white butterflies and other larger insects.

Porous Pipe (Hall 9.1, Stand C36a) Premium soaker hose in 16mm, 20mm and 5mm diameters for easy watering. New to the range are kits for raised beds, pots and planters, 4-row garden irrigation and ring irrigation.

Smart Garden Products (Hall 9.1, Stand C39) Decorative garden lighting and a new range of weather-resistant ‘Outside In’ clocks and lanterns.

Straight (Hall 9.1, Stand D32) Water butts (from 100ltr to 350ltr) and composters (220ltr and 330ltr) using recycled materials. New for 2016 is the multi-piece water butt stand that allows barrel style water butts to be delivered as complete kits, reducing transport costs.

Strata Products (Hall 10.1, Stand G58) Decorative plastic planters and garden sundries, including imitation wood, metal and new stone-effect planter designs for 2016.

STV International (Hall 6.1, Stand B20) Pest control products for home and garden. On view will be STV’s YouTube channel, Live Pest-Free TV, comprising videos designed to help retailers and end-users to fully to understand how STV products work.

Tildenet Gardenware/Haxnicks (Hall 9.1, Stand D31)Garden care, plant protection and propagation products.  Haxnicks, now part of the Tildenet Group, will sow the versatile Sunbubble, a portable greenhouse that provides flexible protection for plants and a sheltered workspace for gardeners.

Town & Country (Hall 9.1, Stand E31) Gloves, footwear and sundries.  A raft of new products includes new colours for the best-selling Master Gardener glove range and fleece-lined cloggies.

Trimetals (Hall 6.1, Stand A43) Metal garden storage buildings. They will launch a new version of the popular bicycle storage unit, incorporating a robust front ramp that can be quickly lowered to allow easy access to stored bicycles.

Tubtrugs® (Hall 9.1, Stand D35) Brooms, containers and tools for home, garden, construction and agriculture, including a new concept in broom design.

VegTrug (Hall 9.1, Stand D33) Raised bed planters along and three new product collections.  The VegTrug Wildlife Range includes the Tweetie Pad bird box and the Tweetie Feeder bird table, available in a choice of natural wood or funky colours.

What More UK (Hall 9.1, Stand A11) Plastic houseware, storage and garden products.  Among its exhibits are products from its Studio, Eden and Vista collections,   all manufactured in Northern England.

Yardmaster International (Hall 6.1, Stand E30) DIY metal garden buildings flat packed for home delivery, from small pent-roof models suitable for balconies and patios to apex-roof models ranging from 2 sq m to 11 sq m.

 
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Alton, Old Railway Line, Klondyke and Haskins win Greatest Fundraising Awards
GTN’s Greatest Awards ON TOUR for 2015 made their third appearance of the year at the GIMA’s last week to present The Greatest Garden Re-Leaf Day Retail Fundraising Awards...
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GTN’s Greatest Awards ON TOUR for 2015 made their third appearance of the year at the GIMA’s last week to present The Greatest Garden Re-Leaf Day Retail Fundraising Awards.

In advance of the main event the GIMA Council very kindly allowed GTN to present a Gold Award to Andy Bunker of Altons, Silver to Katie Eckley of The Old Railway Line and Bronze Awards to Bob Hewitt of Klondyke Garden Centres and Conna Powells from Haskins.

The finalists for the award, who all raised over £1,000 for Greenfingers on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2015 were:

  • Alton Garden Centre
  • Aylett Nurseries
  • Haskins Garden Centres
  • Hillview Garden Centres
  • Klondyke Garden Centres
  • Longacres Nursery
  • Perrywood Garden Centre
  • Simpsons Garden Centre
  • St Peters Garden Centre
  • The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

Gold Award winner Andy Bunker, who created the quiz that was used in garden centres across the company said “next year’s quiz will be better than ever, with a general knowledge option as well as a gardening quiz.  That way more garden centres should be able to take part and help push the fundraising for Garden Re-Leaf day 2016 past the £100,000 mark.”

The next stage of The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015 is The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Awards which will be presented at spoag+gafa at the end of August, with the final Greatest Awards ON TOUR at HTA Futures Conference Dinner on September 30th.

For sponsorship opportunities for The Greatest Awards ON TOUR please contact Mandy Atkin: mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk

For garden centre nominations and entries please contact Trevor Pfeiffer: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

 
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Bollywood, Balconies and Bold Bedding at the Ball Colegrave Summer Spectacular
If you haven't made a trip to the Ball Colegrave Summer Spectacular yet, take a look at our picture gallery and get your team organised to make a visit...
See GTN's pictures from the Summer Spectacular
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If you haven't made a trip to the Ball Colegrave Summer Spectacular yet, take a look at our picture gallery and get your team organised to make a visit.

The displays are really inspirational and give plenty of ideas for stunning plant displays next summer as well as a chance to see new varieties your customers will be queuing up to buy.

The Summer Spectacular runs until Friday July 31st and places can be booked via this link: http://www.ballcolegrave.co.uk/Growers/OpenDaySignUp.aspx  or phone Ball Colegrave Customer Services on 01295 811 833
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts...

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 2013 as well as 2014 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 last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last 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 £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.

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.

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