You’ll be better prepared for the year ahead if you learn about your customer trends from Christmas 2012. As you review your Christmas sales and what sold well in readiness for Christmas 2013, try applying the same ideas and trends to your spring and summer ranges. Which colours and displays worked well? Maybe the same colours and ideas will work in non-Christmas categories, too

I believe catering (and any sort of food categories) remains key. And marketing will become more focused on relationships and the community. I predict you’ll need to look after the ladies, families and novice gardeners even better than before. More businesss, I’m sure, will also try something new – and perhaps try something again that didn’t work last time.