Click for exclusive picture gallery
GTN Xtra's Trevor Pfeiffer attended the opening of the fourth, and largest, Bunnings Warehouse in the UK and Ireland at Milton Keynes on Thursday to bring you exclusive picture coverage.
And there are notable changes in the gardening sections of the store compared to the first three:
- Plants are outdoors in a much larger area.
- Plant stock is stored in an area behind the garden centre so as not to have Danish trolleys in the aisles
- A separate entrance and exit to the Garden Centre section with till point
- Gardening supplies (ferts chems and seeds) are inside in the main store
- Wild Bird Care is ranged alongside other Garden supplies
- There is an increased range of structural, plant support and garden decoration products
- And an even larger range and display of garden furniture and BBQ's
The store occupies over 90,000 square feet and employs 140 people – including more than 88 in newly-created full and part-time roles. It also stocks more than 35,000 different home improvement and garden products, including a mix of international and British brands – from Purdy’s paintbrushes, never before available to non-professionals, to Ryobi and DeWalt tools. Paint mixing services from Johnstone’s Trade, Crown and Dulux are also available in-store.
Bunnings team members have already been busy in Milton Keynes, lending a helping hand with gardening and decorating projects for MK Snap, Loughton Manor First School, and Milton Keynes Hospital. This support continues a long tradition by Bunnings in Australia and New Zealand of playing an active part in the local community.
To celebrate the opening, Australian legend and racing driver Mark Webber hosted a welcome breakfast for team members.
Nine-time Grand Prix winner and F1 legend Mark Webber said: “Bunnings Warehouse is a huge name in my native Australia, so it’s an honour to be opening their biggest UK store to date. I’m sure the store will be a great success.”
The store’s Complex Manager, Kevin Dale, added: “It is great to finally open our doors to customers. Our team members have worked really hard to get the store ready for opening.
"Collectively we’ve already completed more than 1,500 training hours to make sure we have the expertise to help with home or garden projects.” Two grand opening weekend events will also be taking place on 8/9 and 15/16 June with a raft of free family activities.
"Customers can enjoy face-painting, balloon modelling and even join Peppa Pig & George for a Story Time session (see in store for details).
The company, part of Australia’s Wesfarmers Group, plans to invest up to £500million rolling out Bunnings Warehouse stores across the UK and Ireland over the next three to five years.
See GTN Xtra's picture gallery below
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Bunnings UK and Ireland has announced it is to expand its pilot programme, and will have 20 stores by the end of 2017 – twice as many as previously expected.
The announcement coincided with the opening of the fourth Bunnings Warehouse in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire; the largest in the UK and Ireland to date.
The store, on the site of the former Homebase in Snowdon Drive, occupies over 90,000 square feet, and employs 140 team members – including 88 in newly-created full and part- time roles. Bunnings continues to invest in the team and has provided more than 1,500 hours of training.
The increase in the number of Bunnings Warehouse pilot stores is a major step in developing the format in the UK’s £38 billion-a-year home improvement and garden market.
It follows a positive response from customers to the first pilot stores in St Albans and Hemel Hempstead. To date, the new stores have created more than 220 new jobs, with more than 1,000 new roles anticipated by the end of the year.
Bunnings also recently announced two new additions to the UK and Ireland senior leadership team. Damian McGloughlin, Chief Operating Officer, and David Haydon, General Manager, who bring with them over 55 years’ industry experience. These new hires reflect Bunnings commitment to strong, sustainable leadership and long-term growth within the UK home improvement market.
Managing Director PJ Davis said: “Our decision to extend the pilot programme reflects the positive reaction we’ve seen from customers to the stores we’ve opened so far.
“Increasing the number of pilot stores to 20 will give us the opportunity to test the concept in new geographies, with different demographics, across a range of store sizes.
“We are determined to combine the best of Bunnings Warehouse with what UK consumers want. The success of the pilots still remains a precursor to additional investment.”
Michael Ward, Director General UK Trade & Investment Australia and New Zealand said: “This is a significant investment by Bunnings which will create hundreds of jobs, providing security to families across the UK. “The Department for International Trade works with companies around the world to promote the strengths of the UK and this investment from Bunnings is yet another endorsement of the UK’s attractiveness to overseas investors.”
The next store to open after Milton Keynes will be in Folkestone, Kent in July. Following that, the Homebase stores in Thanet (Broadstairs), Sittingbourne, Kent and Basildon Vange, Essex will be the next to be redeveloped.
Bunnings, one of the world’s leading retailer of home improvement and outdoor living products based in Australia and New Zealand, acquired Homebase in February 2016.
The company, part of Australia’s Wesfarmers Group, plans to invest up to £500 million rolling out the Bunnings Warehouse format in the UK and Ireland over the next three to five years.
The first four pilot stores opened earlier this year in St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Milton Keynes. Bunnings Warehouse gives customers the lowest prices across the widest range of products, supported by the best service.
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Record June temperatures take toll on garden centre sales
The record June temperatures for 40 years took their toll on garden centre sales volumes last week. GTN Bestsellers EPOS data analysis shows total unit sales dropping to the lowest level for the past four years, but higher than the same week in 2011...
The record June temperatures for 40 years took their toll on garden centre sales volumes last week. GTN Bestsellers EPOS data analysis shows total unit sales dropping to the lowest level for the past four years, but higher than the same week in 2011.
The saving grace from a financial perspective will be the increases in sales of garden furniture and barbecues. Significant increases of these higher ticket items could mean many garden centres are still able to report June sales up year on year.
But from a volume sales and footfall point of view there is now significant ground to make up in the second half of the year.
We wonder how soon it will be before we see Christmas items going on display and selling through. Well the nights are drawing in now.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - down 15%
- Veg-2-Gro - down 20%
- Growing Media - down 2%
- All Plants Index - down 19%
- All Items Index - down 3%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Service of celebration of Alistair Lorimer's life
A service of celebration of Alistair Lorimer's life will be held at St John's Church, Aston Cantlow, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11th July at 2pm. Alistair sadly passed away recently after a long battle with cancer...
A service of celebration of Alistair Lorimer's life will be held at St John's Church, Aston Cantlow, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11th July at 2pm. Alistair sadly passed away recently after a long battle with cancer.
Those people attending are asked to wear bright colours. No Flowers, and donations to be divided between the Shakespeare Hospice and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust may be left at the service or sent C/O A E Bennett & Sons, 34 Sheep Street, Stratford-Upon- Avon. CV37 6EE.
Alistair was involved in the UK garden centre and plants industry for over 30 years, learning his core retail skills within the innovative Jardinerie group.
He gained a certificate in Strategic Management whilst at Malcolm Scott Consultants and worked closely with garden retail clients throughout the
UK, Ireland, USA, Middle East and northern Europe.
He became the Buying and Marketing Director for the Blooms of Bressingham Group where he was closely involved in the development
of Bicester Avenue, the first UK garden centre ever to achieve the Retail Week Retail Design of the Year Award and Retail Destination of the Year Award.
Blooms was sold to the Wyevale group in March 2007 after being built up to 10 centres with annual sales of £30m and a staff of over 400.
Most recently Alistair had been providing consultancy services for both retail and plant breeder clients worldwide.
Our thoughts on behalf of the industry go to his family and friends.
If you'd like to add a personal comment about Alistair, please use the comments link below or send to trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
From Boyd Douglas-Davies, CEO Hillview Garden Centres: "Really sad to learn of Alistairs passing. I've known him for many years and have great respect for everything he achieved in the industry. He's wisdom and encouragement will be sorely missed. I owe him a lunch and now I'll forever be in his debt, for many reasons."
From Carol Marks, Development / Marketing Specialist, Horticulture, Bord Bia, Dublin: "I am so very sad to hear of Alistair's passing. I had the pleasure of working closely with him over more than ten years, as he carried out the assessments for the Bord Bia Garden Centre Quality Awards, and through the many workshops and seminars he presented to the Irish horticulture industry for me."
"His philosophy of always providing commercial, profit focussed and practical support to garden retailers was always delivered with enthusiasm, humour, honesty and integrity, and he was highly respected and liked by all those whose path he crossed. While he was unable to travel over the last two years, I had kept in touch by phone and email to check in. He was always so pragmatic and so positive."
"A true gentleman, a huge loss, He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts, on behalf of the gardening industry in Ireland, go to his family and friends."
From Paul Pleydell - Pleydell Smithyman
"So sad to hear that we have all lost a truly great man who showed such amazing courage during his long illness and always exuded such an amazing positivity and unconditional friendliness. Every time we met I always walked away feeling better for having spent time with him.
"We worked together as consultants in Worcester and he was truly inspiring to be with and a highly respected, trusted and effective mentor to businesses and colleagues.
"Taken far too early, our thoughts are with his family and everyone who was privileged to know him."
From: Eve Tigwell
"Such a sad loss for Alistair's family, friends and the industry. Such an enthusiastic and positive person, who was a joy to know and work with over so many years. My thoughts are with those who grieve."
From: Paul Bevington, Kettler GB Limited:
"Alistair was a real pleasure to do business with. Always a true professional, but also great fun. I had reason to catch-up with Alistair again last year and he was as bright and positive as ever. A big loss to our industry. My thoughts are with his family."
From: Andy Campbell
"I only got to know Alistair a few years ago when we worked together on an assignment. He was a true gentleman and one of the most positive people I know. The garden centre world is a reduced place without him in it."
From: Jill Foster
"So very sorry to hear the sad news of Alistair's death. A truly lovely man who never forgot a face. I worked with him when in his early days he worked at Hurran's Garden Centre, and again at Blooms.
"My fondest memory of him is when an old lady who was shopping, said how wonderful the music was that was coming over the system and made you feel like dancing, he took the lady by the hand and did a slow dance with her around the shop, it made her day.
"RIP Alistair."
From: David Arnold
"I knew Alistair for around 30 years both in my capacity as sales Director at Suttons Seeds and over the past 3 years as a working colleague with him on Blooms of Bressingham Plants and latterly, Must Have Perennials. He was fun and brilliant to work with. He was a font of Industry knowledge, he was innovative and insightful and remained so, so positive throughout his long battle with his illness.
"I'll miss him and my thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Alison, his two boys and their whole family."
From: Neil Grant, Ferndale GC
"That's so sad. Alistair was always a cheery face & a great person to engage with. Our condolences to Alistair's family & friends."
From: Maxine Chambers
"A true gentleman who will be greatly missed."
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Glee Buyers Power List 2017 – nominations now open
Celebrating the most outstanding buyers from the garden retail industry, nominations for the 2017 Glee Buyers Power List is now open...
Blue Diamond were last year's Best Multiple Garden Centre winners.
Celebrating the most outstanding buyers from the garden retail industry, nominations for the 2017 Glee Buyers Power List is now open!
First launched to the market at Glee 2015 – and receiving a wholly positive response from the garden retail industry - the Buyers Power List is designed to provide suppliers and retailers with a platform to recognise the individual buyers and buying teams who have gone above and beyond to make a difference, and whose decisions are helping the garden retail industry to thrive.
Maintaining this successful format, there will be five individual categories, with votes invited from across the industry, with everyone from heads of purchasing to suppliers eligible to vote.
Nominations can be submitted via https://www.gleebirmingham.com/visit/glee-buyers-power-list, with 3rd July marking the cut-off point to nominate your favourite buyer or buying team.
The Buyers Power List categories have been confirmed as:
- Best Independent Garden Centre
- Best Multiple Garden Centre
- Best DIY / Builder Merchant Buying Team
- Best Online Buyer/ Buying Team
- Best ‘Other’ Garden Retail Buyer/Buying Team
Once all nominations have been received a shortlist will be drawn up, with the top 10 names from each category being announced on 14th July. This list of the top 50 buyers and buying teams will then be subject to peer nominations, where those shortlisted have the opportunity to cast one final vote, to decide on an overall winner in each of the five categories.
The Buyers Power List ‘winner of winners’ will then be announced during a special ceremony at Glee 2017. Taking place on the afternoon of Tuesday 12th September, the ceremony will see representatives from both the retail and supply side of the garden industry come together to celebrate another impressive 12 months of trading.
Talking about the Buyers Power List, Glee’s event director, Matthew Mein said: “I am incredibly pleased to confirm that the Buyers Power List will be returning once again at Glee 2017. Last year’s event was extremely well received and drew hundreds of entries from a wide range of retailers, suppliers and members of the press. The true value of these awards lies in the fact that it is peer voted, making any nomination or win a truly meaningful event for those lucky enough to make the cut. I look forward to seeing who the industry chooses to award this year.”
To keep up-to-date on all the latest Glee news log onto www.gleebirmingham.com or call 020 3033 2160 to find out about exhibiting.
Pictured: Blue Diamond were last year's Best Multiple Garden Centre winners.
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Two new scientific studies published today in the top ranking Science journal throw further light on the profound damage that neonicotinoid insecticides are doing to wildlife and beneficial insects.
Buglife is calling on Defra Secretary of State Michael Gove to consider the new evidence of harm and undertake a review of the Government’s opposition to measures to protect bees from pesticides.
What emerges from the two studies is a picture of a global agricultural landscape heavily contaminated with persistent toxins that are destroying populations of wild bees and harming captive honeybee health.
The CEH Study (Woodcock et al. 2017) was brokered by Defra and funded by Bayer and Syngenta, and has been touted by many as the study that will provide conclusive evidence about the role of neonicotinoids in bee decline. It is the first properly replicated winter sown Oilseed rape field study, with 33 sites examined in the UK, Germany and Hungary. However, the study was seriously limited by the single exposure source examined – pollen and nectar from the Oilseed rape. In real life bees are also exposed to high concentrations of neonicotinoids in widely dispersing dust produced during the planting of treated seeds and the ploughing of land, and through pollen and nectar in wildflowers near arable fields; which can contain higher levels of neonicotinoids than in the crop flowers.
Despite the CEH Study only looking at one narrow source of bee poisoning the authors still found that honeybees and wild bees were all significantly impacted, with big reductions in honeybee colony size and reduced reproduction rates in wild bees.
The second paper, a Canadian study on neonicotinoid treated maize (Tsvetkov et al. 2017), found that neonicotinoids killed honeybee workers, reduced bee hygiene activity and resulted in queenless hives. The bees were not getting poisoned primarily by crop pollen and nectar however, the main route of acute exposure was neonicotinoid contaminated dust and the biggest exposure throughout the year was from neonicotinoids in wild flowers.
The Canadian study also found that the common fungicide boscalid almost doubled the toxicity of neonicotinoids to bees. This is significant because a recent paper showed that 70% of the plants that people buy from garden centres to help garden bees contain neonicotinoids, and 48% also contain boscalid (Lentola et al. 2017). This suggests that gardeners may be unknowingly poisoning pollinators in their efforts to try to help them, a factor that may be associated with recent declines in numbers of urban butterflies (Dennis et al. 2017).
“The horror story is clear, we have contaminated our land and water with persistent neonicotinoid pesticides, already 40% of UK wild bees have been effectively exterminated across large parts of their range. We are calling on Michael Gove to review the Government’s position and to get fully behind international efforts to secure a global ban on the use of these toxins; let’s get them out of our meadows, streams and gardens and give our bees, butterflies and birds a chance to recover.” Said Matt Shardlow, Buglife CEO.
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Brian Taylor rewarded for contribution to UK bulb industry
Brian Taylor has been awarded the Carlo Naef Trophy by the Trustees of the Springfields Horticultural Society as a mark of recognition and appreciation of his work within the UK flower bulb industry...
Brian Taylor (right), with his wife Anne, receives the trophy from Peter Ruysen, Chairman of Springfield Horticultural Society.
In 1992, the Covent Garden based flower importing company, J. & E. Page, gifted a silver salver to Springfields Horticultural Society as part of their celebrations to mark the 90th birthday of their chairman, Carlo Naef. Each year since then the Carlo Naef Trophy has been awarded by the Trustees of the Society as a mark of recognition and appreciation of the work carried out by the recipient for the UK flower bulb industry.
This year the trophy has been awarded to Mr Brian Taylor in recognition of his life-time involvement within the Taylor family’s horticultural and farming business based in Holbeach, Lincolnshire and also in appreciation of his personal dedication and association with the broader daffodil bulb and flower growing industry to which he has given much of his own free time representing this important horticultural sector on various committees and trade associations.
David Norton, Chief Executive of Springfields Horticultural Society said “Working alongside his brothers John & Roger, Brian helped to develop the family business, O A Taylors & Sons, which today is the main UK supplier of pre-packed bulbs to garden centres, retailers and other outlets all around the country. Brian’s primary role at Taylors was the production of the daffodil bulbs and flowers. He was one of the first people to start exporting daffodils to Holland back in the 1970s and at one time Taylors became the largest exporter of English daffodil flowers to the Dutch flower auctions. This led to the opening up of other new opportunities exporting hundreds of thousands of bunches of daffodils each spring all over Europe as well as to the USA and Canada. Taylors also supplied daffodil bulbs to the pharmaceutical industry for the extraction of galantamine which was used as a treatment for Alzheimer`s.”
Mr Taylor’s extensive career experience in the daffodil bulb and flower industry meant that he was also well respected for his technical and practical knowledge of bulb and flower growing and he represented growers on many committees including the NFU Ornamentals Committee and NFU Bulbs Sub-Committee (as chairman); HDC Bulbs and Outdoor Flowers Panel and the Kirton Experimental Horticultural Station Bulbs Committee (as chairman). More locally, in the aptly named South Holland area of Lincolnshire (around Spalding) he had roles with the NFU South Holland Horticultural Association and South Holland Growers Club as well as the Spalding Flower Parade Committee and the Springfields Horticultural Exhibition (S.H.E.) Committee.
David Norton added “Brian has always been a dedicated supporter of the daffodil bulb and flower industry and those who work within it, and it is therefore justly fitting that he should receive this recognition from the industry that he has supported all his life, an award that his colleagues and associates would like him to accept as a sincere “thank-you” for his efforts on their behalf and as a sign of their appreciation of his considerable achievements”.
Pictured: Brian Taylor (right), with his wife Anne, receives the trophy from Peter Ruysen, Chairman of Springfield Horticultural Society.
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Weather divides north and south in May
Results of the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade show that the weather was a big factor in sales during May and divided the country.
Clothing was a best seller in May according to the GCA’s BoT results.
Results of the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade show that the weather was a big factor in sales during May and divided the country.
Compared to the same month last year (2016) sales in the southern part of the country were between 9% to 13% down, whereas the north fared better with sales down by between 2% and 6%.
Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “The weather played a big factor in our member garden centres’ May sales figures, with, contrary to the norm, the north having better weather than the south. However all of our member garden centres had a tough job trying to top the figures from May 2016, which was the highlight of last spring.
“Clothing sales were up 35.18% compared to the same month in 2016. Catering sales were also up 7.4% and houseplants at 2.95%.”
Outdoor plant sales were -7.5%, seeds and bulbs -16.37% and garden sundries -7.32%.
Furniture and barbecue sales were -12.47%, gifts up 1.22% and hard landscaping -14.39%. Food hall and farm shop sales were up 0.23%.
Martin Cowell, Director at Cowell’s Garden Centre, said: “After a buoyant start in May, which included a bumper Bank Holiday weekend, the second week in May was a disaster. The daily average temperatures were between 12 and 14 degrees, which certainly hampered sales, however the last two weeks saw the weather improve and sales were flying again.
“We ended May -1% down on 2016, which considering the weather, and record sales the previous year, we were very pleased with. It could have been much, much worse. Our top five performing departments in May were bedding at +6%, perennials +12%, shrubs +6%, garden lighting +88% and irrigation up +24%.”
Member garden centre sales showed an average overall decrease for the month of 4.64% and an average overall Year to Date increase of 6.4%.
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.
The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.
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Tong Garden Centre has reached the shortlist in the Outstanding Customer Service category of the Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards for the second year running.
The leading independent garden centre, acquired in 2015 by Mark Farnsworth and Tom Megginson, is one of six finalists that includes prestigious businesses York Racecourse and The Grand Hotel and Spa, York.
The Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards is the largest celebration of tourism excellence in the UK. The Outstanding Customer Service award recognises and rewards exemplary customer service throughout Yorkshire and the winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony later in the year.
Of the shortlist, Tong Garden Centre's co-owner, Mark Farnsworth said: "We're so proud of everyone who has worked tirelessly to put the customer first and has helped to transform Tong.
"This shortlist success is testament to the commitment and loyalty displayed by our growing team over the course of a busy, exciting and challenging year as we continue to develop Tong to make it the North's leading garden centre."
Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "The quality of this year's entries has been exceptional and makes me feel hugely proud of all the brilliant work going on in tourism in the county. It's an honour to be part of these awards that recognise the many businesses and organisations that make Yorkshire such an amazing destination.
"I extend my thanks to everyone who took the time to enter and huge congratulations to those who have made the shortlist."
Tong Garden Centre is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 700 cars.
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Read more and see pictures of Klondyke Christmas 2016
Whilst the country basked in glorious sunshine, festive jumpers were donned and jingle bells rang at the Klondyke Group’s Christmas Showcase.
Held at the Pinewood Hotel close to Wilmslow Garden Centre on Tuesday 21st June, the showcase was attended by the Group’s 22 Garden Centre Managers and members of their Christmas Teams.
The showcase presented Klondyke’s main Christmas 2017 themes and display techniques, alongside core product lines. The showcase featured decorations, props, furnishings, fabrics, garlands, greenery, trees, lighting, exterior decorations, houseplants, food and gifting, ensuring all departments are linked and working closely together over the Christmas season.
Several suppliers also exhibited at the showcase, including Premier Trees and Stoneglow Candles.
Klondyke’s ‘Celebrate Christmas’ new store branding was on display, along with details of their Christmas event programme and Grow Rewards loyalty offers.
Klondyke’s Senior Buyer Kerri Sorbie organised the show and commented “Our 2017 event has showcased our themes and ranges to our Christmas Teams and set the scene for the Christmas period ahead. The Showcase has been an ideal platform to present a fantastic array of stimulating Christmas ideas and inspiration and we are delighted with the positive feedback from all those who attended.”
See GTN 's Greatest Christmas Awards gallery of pictures from Houghton Hall and Strikes Garforth Christmas 2016 below:
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Combe Estate have submitted plans for a new garden centre on the edge of Honiton.
They want to build a garden centre on the site of the 20-year old Meadow View Nursery in Gittisham and have submitted an application to East Devon District Council planners.
The application is to build a new garden centre at the site in Gittisham which has been used as a commercial nursery for the last 20 years.
The present building on the site would be demolished as part of the proposals.
If the application is approved, the new centre will offer 952 sq m of covered retail space and open sales areas on the 0.54 hectare site. 5 people will be employed as part of the development which will have 43 parking spaces.
East Devon District Council planners will make a decision on the scheme for the proposed development of garden centre, incorporating new building, covered sales area, outdoor sales area, storage and car parking and widening of the access.
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Eureka! Solar lighting sales shine bright
As the nights start to draw in after the longest day, Eureka! lighting from Smart Solar provided a ray of light for the GTN Bestsellers chart, which saw garden product sales slow down considerably last week...
As the nights start to draw in after the longest day, Eureka! lighting from Smart Solar provided a ray of light for the GTN Bestsellers chart, which saw garden product sales slow down considerably last week.
The highlights were:
- Smart Solar Eureka! Neo Stellar Light Bulb Lantern – Silver/Blue/Pink – was the highest new entry at No 6.
- Smart Solar Eureka LED Frosted Lightbulb was the highest re-entry at No 18.
- Hozelock Hose Gun Starter Set was the highest climber, jumping 17 places to No 31.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Strawberry plant sales rise in anticipation of Wimbledon
It seems the recent heatwave and the expectation of an exciting Wimbledon fortnight got gardeners thinking about relaxing outside with a glass of Pimms. The main movers in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart were strawberry and garden mint plants...
It seems the recent heatwave and the expectation of an exciting Wimbledon fortnight got gardeners thinking about relaxing outside with a glass of Pimms. The main movers in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart were strawberry and garden mint plants.
The main highlights this week were:
- Farplants Strawberry Rhapsody was the highest re-entry at No 2.
- W D Smith Strawberry (10cm) moved up to the top position.
- Farplants Garden Mint (2 litre) was the highest new entry at No 29.
- Quantil Tomato Gardeners Delight 8cm was the highest climber, jumping 27 places to No 16.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Growing media sales slip back
After an upsurge in sales the previous week, growing media volumes slipped back by over 21%, according to GTN Bestsellers. Scotts Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost was the highest climber...
After an upsurge in sales the previous week, growing media volumes slipped back by over 21%, according to GTN Bestsellers.
There were some highlights though, and these were:
- Scotts Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost (20 litres) was the highest climber, moving up 25 places to No 23.
- Bord na Mona Vital Earth Organic Garden Compost (50 litres) was the highest re-entry at No 39.
- Another returning product was Arthur Bowers Chunky Chip Bark (70 litres).
- Scotts Levington Multipurpose + John Innes (56 litres) stayed on top of the chart.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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‘Hot colour’ plants Salvia, Tagetes and Coleus were the only plants in the Bestsellers Top 20 to increase sales.
Generally people stopped buying plants as the mercury soared. It seems we just can’t win – earlier in the year plant sales slumped when we had weeks of cold winds, now the highest June temperatures in 40 years have had the same effect.
- Gaillardia, a member of the sunflower family and another of the ‘hot’ plants was the highest re-entry to the Top 50, back in at No 27.
- Gerberas increased sales by 72% to re-enter at No 30.
- Festuca grasses also sold well in the heat, climbing 15 places up to No 32.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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 A management trainee at one of the UK’s leading nurseries will be attending the 2017 IPPS European Region Annual Conference as part of the 6 Packer Award.
Twenty-three-year-old Chris King, who works at Wyevale Nurseries, has been selected as one of 10 students/young horticulturists to be sponsored to attend the conference in Alphen en Rijn, Netherlands from July 10 until 14.
Chris, who lives in Hereford, said: “I am very excited to have won a place in the 6 Packer Award. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to visit some of the leading nurseries in the Netherlands, including Rotjes young plants, Deliflor Chrysanthemums, Alkemade boomkwekerij and many others. Here I will see the latest innovations and technology used to produce plants.
“There will also be presentations from speakers based across the globe regarding the latest production techniques, marketing ideas and technical developments in horticulture. The conference also gives a superb opportunity to network and establish connections with some of the leading horticulturists from around the world.
“I have been chosen to attend the conference for free in return for a small amount of help during the event.”
The 6 Packer Award was open to anyone under the age of 30, who is currently working in commercial ornamental horticulture or is currently studying to enter the industry. IPPS European Region will cover all reasonable travel costs, board and lodging and conference fees.
Chris, who is originally from Hemel Hempstead, graduated from Writtle College with a BSc in Horticulture in September 2015. Prior to his role with Wyevale Nurseries he worked at Aylett Nurseries in St Albans.
Ben Gregory, Product Development Manager at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “As a previous recipient of this award, I cannot stress how much of a great opportunity this is to make connections with horticulturists around the world and to develop understanding of the latest goings on in the industry.
“I am delighted that Chris has been chosen. He will have a fantastic time and will learn so much.
“Here at Wyevale Nurseries we are keen to invest in the future of horticulture and this year we also sponsored £600 towards the IPPS 6 Packer Award.”
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Koi Carp Show at Squire’s Garden Centre
Squire’s Garden Centre in Washington, West Sussex, is holding its third annual Koi Carp Show on Sunday 9th July. The show is on from 10.30am-4.30pm and entrance is free...
Squire’s Garden Centre in Washington, West Sussex, is holding its third annual Koi Carp Show on Sunday 9th July. The show is on from 10.30am-4.30pm and entrance is free.
There will be eighteen vats of Koi Carp for customers to see, with each vat containing between one and eight Koi depending on their size. Suppliers will also be there to give advice, including Atlantis with their glass-fibre ponds, Oase who sell pond pumps, and NT labs who supply fish food and treatment products. Plus take advantage of 25% off all pond fish at Squire’s that day, and the Friday and Saturday before.
As well as a fantastic display of show quality Koi Carp there will be reptiles for people to see and handle, including a Boa Constrictor, Leopard Gecko, Bearded Dragon, Pink Legged Millipedes and an Amazon Milk Frog. Chichester College will also be bringing along some animals, plus between 11am-3pm a local vet will be offering free pet advice and there’ll be free children’s face painting.
So whether you’re a Koi Carp enthusiast or simply looking for a fun day out with the family, come to Squire’s in Washington on Sunday 9th July.
www.squiresgardencentre.co.uk
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