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GTN Bestsellers - garden centre sales data every week
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The Garden Centre Association has started the search for a new Chief Executive after an interim period of Ian Wylie being in charge. The GCA are now advertising the position with a closing date for applications being July 31, 2013. The advert reads as follows: A Chief Executive is sought to manage the administration of the Association and its numerous initiatives for the benefit of the membership. The successful candidate will manage and have the responsibility for a small head office team and ensure budgets are managed to deliver best value. The office is based in Theale, Berkshire and the role will involve frequent travel to visit member centres and attend meetings. The ideal candidate will have had experience, at a senior level, in the garden centre sector and have a clear understanding of the wider industry, with the ability to build relationships not only with GCA members and associate members (suppliers) but with other trade bodies and associations. To apply, send your CV, in the first instance, to:- Peter Burks, Chairman, The Garden Centre Association, c/o Head Office Building, Haskins Garden Centres Ltd, Ham Lane, Longham, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9DJ. Closing date for applications 31 July 2013
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Life's a 'beach' at garden centres as temperatures soar
At last hot weather has arrived and garden centres are getting into the summer spirit by opening 'beaches'. This one at Podington Garden Centre, along with other 'beaches' we know of at Frosts, Planters and Lakeside garden centres are sure to be busy this weekend...
Now that the hot weather has arrived garden centres are getting into the summer spirit by opening 'beaches'.
Frosts are opening beaches over the weekend at their centres at Woburn, Willington and Millets Farm, while Podington Garden Centre (pictures below) in Northamptonshire has built its own beach this week for opening this weekend. Planters at Tamworth has a beach area again this year and we've noticed that Lakeside Garden Centre in Telford has one too. If you've installed a beach at your garden centre this summer then email pictures to trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
BBQ sales sizzle in the heatwave
 The current hot and dry spell has certainly got the UK’s outdoor lovers in the mood for barbecues, and thankfully it is being reflected in a surge in sales at garden centres...
The current hot and dry spell has certainly got the UK’s outdoor lovers in the mood for barbecues, and thankfully it is being reflected in a surge in sales at garden centres.
Below you’ll find the Top 20 bestselling BBQ items taken from the GTN All Epos Products data for the week ending Sunday, July 7, and it’s clear evidence that the nation has re-caught the bug for outdoor entertaining.Sales of barbecues themselves are encouraging as the hot spell hopefully continues throughout the next couple of months. And at the three-day SOLEX trade show at the NEC this week, BBQ exhibitors experienced good interest and business on their stands. The Premier Decorations stand, for instance, created a lot of interest as the company have become the new UK distributors for the Barbecook range of barbecues, and visitors had the chance to obtain a free BBQ. And the Supagrill Pod Kettle from CPL Distribution impressed so much it was awarded the Best Product at SOLEX.
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business. Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.
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Squires Hersham Garden Centre scooped Best Garden Centre and Garsons Esher won Best Destination Garden Centre at the GCA South Thames regional awards held at Collings on Wednesday...
Peter Burks, Chairman of the GCA, said: “We are delighted to have announced our winners for South Thames and would like to congratulate all our members who picked up awards. It is a reflection of all their hard work and dedication to excellence, and they should all be very proud of the achievements.
“The awards included Best Customer Service, Best Garden Products Retailer and Best Creativity and Innovation, all of which were awarded to Garsons Esher. Best Environment and Community went to Thompsons Garden Centre on the Isle of Wight and Newbridge Nurseries in West Sussex was awarded Most Improved.
 
Above: GCA inspector Liz Huston and GCA South Thames area chairman Julian Winfield with Squires Hersham (left) and Garsons Esher (right).
“Squires Hersham Garden Centre scooped the Best Plant Area award for the Garden Centre category and the winner in the Destination Garden Centre category was Garsons Esher Garden Centre. One of our new awards, the Inspectors Choice, went to the Millbrook Garden Company Ltd for Millbrook Crowborough and Millbrook Gravesend.”
Best Restaurant was awarded to Poundbury Gardens in Dorset in the Garden Centre category and jointly to Chessington Garden Centre in Surrey and Ruxley Manor in Kent in the Destination Garden Centre category.
Garsons Titchfield in Hampshire scooped the Best Indoor Lifestyle award in the Garden Centre category and Ransoms Garden Centre in Jersey were winners in the Destination Garden Centre category. Best Outdoor Living was awarded to Squires Hersham Garden Centre in the Garden Centre category and Polhill Garden Centre in Kent in the Destination Garden Centre category.
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 three 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 from January 26 until 29, 2014.
Peter added: “We are looking forward to our forthcoming area awards presentation evenings for the North East, North West and North Thames on July 16, the Midlands on July 17, Wales and the West on July 18 and Scotland on September 9 and to revealing the winners in those areas.”
The full results for the South Thames GCA area awards are as follows for the Garden Centre (GC) category and Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category:
Best Garden Centre: Squires Hersham Garden Centre (GC) and Garsons Esher (DGC)
Best Customer Service: Garsons Esher
Best Garden Products: Garsons Esher
Best Environment and Community: Thompsons Garden Centre Isle of Wight
Best Creativity and Innovation: Garsons Esher
Most Improved: Newbridge Nurseries
Best Plant Area: Squires Hersham Garden Centre (GC) and Squires Badshot Lea Garden Centre (DGC)
Best Restaurant: Poundbury Gardens (GC) and jointly to Chessington Garden Centre and Ruxley Manor (DGC)
Best Indoor Lifestyle: Garsons Titchfield (GC) and Ransoms Garden Centre (DGC)
Best Outdoor Living: Squires Hersham Garden Centre (GC) and Polhill Garden Centre (DGC)
Inspectors Choice: Millbrook Garden Company Ltd for Millbrook Crowborough and Millbrook Gravesend.
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Gardman’s Big Promotions delivering impressive results
In May this year Gardman launched The Big Promotion with the goal of driving its customers’ sales up and the results have been impressive. The sales volume of products included within the May Big Promotion was up by 50% while in June the hike in sales volume was 75%.
In May this year Gardman launched The Big Promotion with the goal of driving its customers’ sales up and the results have been impressive. The sales volume of products included within the May Big Promotion was up by 50% while in June the hike in sales volume was 75%. “Our success has been built on offering our customers an unparalleled range of competitively priced products supported by great promotions,” explained Gardman marketing director, Jane Lawler. “The Big Promotion is a new initiative that very much reflects this philosophy; even just a quick glance at the figures shows its really delivering impressive results for garden centres. “The Big Promotion for July is underway and as can be seen from the figures for May and June it represents brilliant opportunity for retailers. "The headline offer for the July Big Promotion is up to £250 off water features, compelling garden lighting offers and over 20 great bird care offers. Retailers that want to see sales continue to grow through July should sign up for the Big Promotion now.” For information on Gardman’s Big Promotion contact the Gardman agents or sales team 01406 372237 or email orders@gardman.co.uk.
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Garsons Esher scooped the most awards at the GCA South Thames area inspections presentations last week, but the biggest cheer was saved for their presentation of one of GCA Inspector, Liz Hutson's special awards.
Liz spotted some great garden centre clothing displays during her tour of the 46 South Thames area centres, of particular note was the dapartment at Ransoms in Jersey, helping them to Best Indoor Lifestyle Destination retyaioler in the area. "Their fashions and well put together displays of outfits really work, I was sorely tempted to buy myself."
Liz was, however, highly critical of the "in the main drab and boring" ranges stocked by the majority of centres. "Who wants to buy these things? Would you?"
Along with the good and the drab, there was also the awful, and Liz had no hesitation in presenting her "Worst Dressed Dummy" Award to Garsons Esher,for the dummy pictures above. Garsons Esher did leave the evening with the upper hand, collecting the Destination Garden Centre of the Year for South Thames area.
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SOLEX 2013 - outstanding at the NEC
The decision to move SOLEX to Hall 5 of the NEC Birmingham has paid off with exhibitors and visitors describing the three-day show as an outstanding success...
The decision to move SOLEX to Hall 5 of the NEC Birmingham has paid off with exhibitors and visitors describing the three-day show as an outstanding success.
Organiser Phil Gibbs revealed to GTN Xtra that visitor numbers were considerably higher than the previous year when SOLEX was held at the Telford International Centre.
"The sun certainly helped to bring people out and visit SOLEX," said Phil. "Everyone felt it was an outstanding success, and there was overwhelming support for the choice of venue."
SOLEX will return to the NEC on July 7-9, 2014.
Read the SOLEX SUN here
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A-MIR beat all expectations at SOLEX with the successful launch of the Royal Garden brand of steel mesh outdoor furniture...
The SOLEX promotional offer is applicable to the entire Royalcraft and Royal Garden collection and is available on all orders placed before September 1st 2013. In addition, extended credit terms are offered for orders delivered by March 2014.
John Clegg, Commercial Director of A-MIR, reported that the superior quality of the Royal Garden steel mesh collection, provided by the patented Thermosint coating process, along with a five-year guarantee and significantly lower prices than competitive products, was the main talking point at Solex.
Customers who could not get to the SOLEX exhibition need not worry about missing the show promotion. The A-MIR showroom is an exact replica of the company's show stand and retailers are invited to visit us at any time. Simply call A-MIR direct and make an appointment, or if you prefer, they will come to you.
Jake Davis – South West 07734 994736
Malcolm Glass – Midlands & North West 07803 147894
Tony Hansen – Home Counties & South East 07903 878297
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Thompson & Morgan is gearing up to support National Allotments Week with a giveaway of 1500 packets of new Lettuce Intred seed.
The National Allotment Society’s annual awareness week runs from the 5th to the 11th August this year and to support the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG), Thompson & Morgan plans to give away 1500 packets of its new red Romaine/Cos lettuce seed.
Lettuce Intred is new to the Thompson & Morgan range and won’t be available until September when it will feature in the company’s 2014 Seed Catalogue. However, gardeners who can’t wait to get growing this colourful and tasty red-hearted ‘Little Gem’ can go to Thompson & Morgan’s website http://bit.ly/12dHq5e and get one of the free packets by answering a simple question.
Lettuce Intred is highly unusual in that the red colouring of the leaves runs right through the heart. Colin Randel, Thompson & Morgan’s vegetable product manager, has assessed many reddish-purple lettuces over the years in his capacity as Chairman of the RHS Vegetable Trials Forum.
"Intred is a great addition to our range," said Colin. "We already offer 59 different lettuce varieties, and whilst a number of them have purplish-red outer leaves, none of them have shown the internal colouration of Intred."
Thompson & Morgan, a long-time supporter of allotment gardening and the benefits of growing your own vegetables, offers a discount scheme for group orders and has taken some 700 orders from allotment associations this year.
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Chief Executive Myles Bremner is leaving Garden Organic in August to lead the implementation of the Government's School Food Plan.
The Plan was launched by the Government on Friday in an attempt to transform what children eat at school, and how they learn about food.
"After six very enjoyable years I will sadly be leaving Garden Organic in August," said Myles.
"It has been an honour and privilege to work with so many inspirational members, supporters and organisations who share a passion of food growing and organic gardening.
"Having worked in the educational sector for many years, I have especially enjoyed supporting and promoting our schools work, through various Garden Organic programmes and also chairing Defra's Food Growing in Schools Taskforce in 2011.
"Over the last year, I have been a member of the Expert Panel for the Government's School Food Plan, working with its reviewers Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent. The School Food Plan has been launched by the Government with a series of actions that need to happen to transform what children eat at school, and how they learn about food.
"I will be taking on the full-time role leading the implementation of the School Food Plan, working with government, other stakeholder organisations and individuals who make great school food and food education happen.
"Taking on this new role and ensuring that the important actions in the School Food Plan are delivered, is going to be an exciting and inspiring challenge. I am looking forward to continuing to work with so many talented organisations and individuals who have already done such great things in school food. This includes, of course, Garden Organic."
For more information on the School Food Plan (and to download a copy) visit the School Food Plan website. Click here
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Scotts Levington Tomorite retains its top spot in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart for yet another week, making it seven weeks in a row.
Other plant foods have also done well as the growing season really gets underway during the current spell of dry and warm weather:
- Scotts Miracle-Gro All Purpose Soluble Plant Food moves up to No 4, and Pour & Feed to No 12.
- Phostrogen Plant Food is at No 15.
- Bayer Toprose is the highest climber, moving up 18 places to No 17.
The dry spell is also forcing gardeners to get out their hosepipes, and Hozelock have seen sales increases in three of their products – Standard Hose End Connector, Double Male Connector, and Repair Connector.
Lighting products are still proving to be popular, and the highest new entry is Gardman Bottle Candle Lantern at No 9, and the highest re-entry is Gardman Jam Jar Tealight Holder at No 27.
A Bestsellers favourite – Classic Wheelie Bin Numbers – has returned to the Top 50 at No 48.
See the full GTN Garden Products Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only.
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business. Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.
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UK Point of Sale is calling on independent retailers to snap a photo of their window displays this summer to be in with a chance of winning £250 worth of UK Point of Sale vouchers, to show its support for Independent Retailer Month.
With the summer season upon us UK POS is encouraging retailers to capitalise on the promise of sunshine and design window displays that will capture the attention of the nation.
Independent retailers can enter the competition using Twitter by sending the photo directly to the UK POS Twitter page (@ukposgroup).
The Independent Retailers competition is open to retailers in the UK and Republic of Ireland that are classed as ‘independent’.
Entry is via Twitter only and only one entry will be counted per retailer, but multiple photos of the same window display can be sent – more the merrier.
The closing date for the competition is 31st August 2013.
Jason Leslie, Managing Director of UK POS and Debra Jamieson, Sales and Marketing Director at UK POS will choose the winner and the prize will be £250 worth of UK Point of Sale vouchers.
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Beans run away with this week's veg sales
Beans are running away with the top spots in this week’s Veg-2-Gro chart. Quantil Runner Bean White Emergo retains its No 1 position for another week, while Gardeners Kitchen Runner Bean Enorma has seen a 100% increase in sales to jump to No 2...
Beans are running away with the top spots in this week’s Veg-2-Gro chart. Quantil Runner Bean White Emergo retains its No 1 position for another week, while Gardeners Kitchen Runner Bean Enorma has seen a 100% increase in sales to jump to No 2.
The highest climber is Quantil French Dwarf Bean, which has moved up 32 places to No 4. There are two new chilli pepper entries from Farplants – Basket Fire at No 23 and Red Missile at No 33. In total there are 25 re-entries this week, topped by Quantil Basil at No 9, with Lettuce Red Lollo Rosso a place behind. Other highly-placed re-entries include Thompson & Morgan Beetroot Boltardy at No 16, followed in the next two places by strawberry plants from Hawksmill – Cambridge Favourite and Finesse. Suttons have 13 items in the Top 50 with a mixture of young plants and seeds, and Lettuce Salad Bowl is the highest placed at No 21. Radish Scarlet Globe is a re-entry at No 24.
See the full GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business. Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.
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It took staff from Badger Garden Centre in Studley 12 hours to cycle 140 miles – and to raise £1,600 for the nearby Acorns children’s hospice.
Manager James White and three colleagues – Anthony Niner, Ben Hope, Stephen Millward – cycled south to a sister garden centre near Bournemouth in two of the hottest days of the year.
Unfortunately Stephen – who was the only team member to have cycled long distance before – suffered heat exhaustion and had to pull out after the first 100 miles.
They arrived at Golden Acres Garden Centre – part of the same horticultural group – on July 7 amid blistering temperatures of 32ºC.
Acorns children’s hospice provides a round-the-clock network of care and support to children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
It has three hospices in Selly Oak, Walsall and Worcester, offering day care, short breaks, emergency medical care and end-of-life care.
Badger and Golden Acres garden centres are part of a group of five garden centres owned by Golden Acres in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Warwickshire.
Picture: James White (2nd from right) and colleagues from Badger Garden Centre after cycling 140 miles to raise funds for the nearby Acorns children’s hospice.
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Bark sales swell in heatwave
The two notable appearances in this week’s Growing Media chart are bark products from Westland as gardeners seek to retain water in their flower borders during the settled spell of weather...
The two notable appearances in this week’s Growing Media chart are bark products from Westland as gardeners seek to retain water in their flower borders during the settled spell of weather.Westland Decorative Mini Bark (70 litres) is the highest re-entry at No 34, and Westland Bed and Border Chipped Bark (70m litres) is the highest new entry at No 48. Other notable performances this week were: - Sinclair Topsoil (20 litres) is the highest climber, moving up 15 places to No 13.
- Scotts Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost – 50 litres at No 7 and 56 litres at No 11.
- Growise Multipurpose with John Innes (56 litres) saw a 50% increase in sales.
See the full GTN Growing Media Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business. Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.
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Medal glory for HTA members at Hampton Court
There was celebration for members of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) this week with many winning prestigious medals at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
There was celebration for members of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) this week with many winning prestigious medals at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The show gardens built by APL members proved popular with the judges with Landform Consultants winning two medals. Desolation to Regeneration designed by Catherine McDonald won Gold and Best Conceptual Garden, whilst Vestra Wealth’s Jardin du Gourmet, designed by Paul Martin and also built by Landform won a Silver Gilt Flora. Metallica inspired garden I Disappear, designed by Arek Luk and built by Eden Landscape Projects won Silver as did The QEF Garden for Joy designed by Heather Appleton and built by Big Fish Landscapes. The Student Design & Build Award garden Four Corners, sponsored by HTA member Provender Nurseries and built by The Real Garden Company won Silver Gilt Flora for its design by Peter Reader. Over in the Floral Marquee there was medal success for Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants who won Gold for their display. Silver Gilt Flora was awarded to Big Plant Nursery, Burncoose Nurseries, Cook’s Garden Centre, Desert to Jungle, Hart Canna, and Squire’s Garden Centres. The British Rose Group also had cause for celebration as David Austin Roses scooped Gold and Best Exhibit in the Roses and Floristry Vintage Festival marquee. Fryers Roses won Silver Gilt Flora, as did Hadlow College, Harkness Roses, Peter Beales Roses and Style Roses. List of winners in full: Mid Century Modern – Outdoor Creations – Gold and Best in Category A Room with View – Arun Landscapes - Gold Bugs in Boots – Surrey Gardens – Silver In at the Deep End – Living Gardens – Silver Desolation to Regeneration – Landform Consultants – Gold and Best Conceptual Gardens I Disappear – Eden Landscape Projects – Silver The QEF Garden for Joy – Big Fish Landscapes - Silver Four Corners – Provender Nurseries and The Real Garden Company – Silver Gilt Flora Vestra Wealth’s Jardin du Gourmet – Landform Consultants – Silver Gilt Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants - Gold Big Plant Nursery – Silver Gilt Flora Burncoose Nurseries – Silver Gilt Flora Cooks Garden Centre – Silver Gilt Flora Desert to Jungle – Silver Gilt Flora Hart Canna – Silver Gilt Flora Squire’s Garden Centres – Silver Gilt Flora David Austin Roses – Gold and Best Rose Exhibit Fryers Roses – Silver Gilt Flora Hadlow College – Silver Gilt Flora Harkness Roses – Silver Gilt Flora Peter Beales Roses – Silver Gilt Flora Style Roses – Silver Gilt Flora A brand new feature from the APL and a first at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is Landscaping Live, a brand new feature which is set against the backdrop of a typical urban home. Members of the APL will be doing a number of public demonstrations throughout each day which will include how to lay turf, how to build decking and how to plant shrubs successfully. APL member Majestic Trees, adjacent to Landscaping Live will also be doing demonstrations on tree planting throughout the week.
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