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Read more and see our GTN Xtra picture tour of the new centre
Rosebourne, the only new build garden centre to open this year, near Andover on the A303 opened this week and by Saturday was reporting "double the budget" takings in many departments including the restaurant.
Directors Jon Kitchen and Salim Sajid (above) told GTN Xtra: "We've had a tremendous response from customers and performance to date is double the budget. That means the staff have had to work tremedously hard, not just in new surroundings but with much greather than expected numbers of customers. We will be adding to the size of the team as soon as we can."
With the people behind the project coming from Beckworth Emporium in Northamptonshire and a number of the old Garden & Leisure senior team it's no surprise to see many of the good things from Beckworth - the food retalling, waitress served restaurant and gifts, added to the renowned garden centre merchandising from the old Garden & Leisure stores and of course a story book Christmas. A million reasons to believe!
General Manager Val Kempster said "It is great to be open and really busy. The staff have been fantastic and it is wonderful to see so many smiling faces."
Managing Director Neville Priest added: "Our social media and local radio advertising has worked very well in getting high numbers of customers to drive here for the first few days. We've even had people travelling on their way to the West Country stop off and come in for a coffee and buy from the centre. In the coming weeks we will add a range of take away sandwiches, cakes and drinks to cater for passing travellers."
See our GTN Xtra picture tour of the new centre below
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Plans have been submitted to transform a derelict petrol station site between Aberdeen and Stonehaven into a garden centre, restaurant and shop.
Developer
wants to build on the old filling station off the A90 at Hillside, near Portlethen.
Planning permission in principle is being sought from Aberdeenshire Council for a two-storey garden centre complete with a restaurant and 96-car car park on the brownfield site in green belt land. The roof would be curved and covered with greenery.
The old petrol station has not been in operation for almost a decade.
A statement by Lippe Architects, on behalf of McDonald Properties, said: “The intention is to create an iconic building, set down from the road and utilising roof shapes and ‘green roofing’ to create a sympathetic development rather than a ‘shed’ similar to the industrial and retail area to the south.
The proposed curved green roof will create an aesthetically pleasing profile that will blend into the existing visual landscape providing the existing residential properties on the other side of the A90 with a natural, green and pleasant outlook.
“The proposal for a new garden, restaurant and retail centre will result in the regeneration of the site, providing a contemporary and sustainable building designed in such a way to minimise any visual impact on its surroundings.
“In addition, the proposal will create construction jobs and employment once opened.”
This proposal adds to existing garden centre developments in the area. Mains of Drum at Drumoak have started groundworks on an extension that will double their inside and covered outside sales areas. Earlier this year Simon Fraser of Ben Reid Garden Centre talked to GTN Xtra about future possible expansion plans at their site in Aberdeen and last winter Raemoir at Banchory added a covered planteria.
Stonehaven is already served by Kirktown Garden Centre which is adjacent to the A90.
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October heads for record sales month
Tulips, Pansies and Christmas were the drivers of sales last week, resulting in total sales volumes being up 8% on the same week last year. With half term and Halloween footfall drivers still to come, October could post record sales and close the gap on last year’s total sales which now sit at minus 2.4%...
Tulips, Pansies and Christmas were the drivers of sales last week, resulting in total sales volumes being up 8% on the same week last year. With half term and Halloween footfall drivers still to come, October could post record sales and close the gap on last year’s total sales which now sit at minus 2.4%.
Two Tulip varieties were new entries in our GTN Top 20 Products chart, sales of Pansies outstripped Cyclamen for the first time and a 23% increase in Christmas sales are the highlights from analysis of EPOS data supplied every week to GTN Bestsellers.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - down 3%
- Growing Media - up 23%
- Christmas Products - up 7%
- All Items Index - up 8%
The UK Garden Centre Bestsellers All Garden Products Top 20 | | | Week Ending Sunday 16th October 2016 |
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Choice Marketing members were in buoyant mood at their Annual AGM Conference and Trade Show after it was announced that their supplier rebates for the last 12 months would exceed a record £1.3million.
The event held at Jury’s Hotel, Hinckley included a record 75 Trade exhibitors which this year focused on the fast growing Giftware and Catering sectors.
 Mark Winchester was elected as the new Chairman of the Group. Tony Blake, the former Chairman and a founder member of Choice Marketing was appointed to the position of President. Mark and Tony are pictured left.
The 50 garden centre delegates heard that in the last 12 months most members had added good growth to their own businesses, outperforming the market once again.
During the year members raised £130,000 for their nominated charities through the Gardman poppy and daffodil feeder promotions. Choice Marketing is proud to have winning members within the team, with many centres continuing to excel at national and local level.
Group marketing is a key benefit for many members, with 2 million individually and professionally designed leaflets being distributed to garden centre customers, at key seasonal times. This is backed up with a full annual marketing programme, bespoke to individual members. Mark Winchester commented “we are fortunate to be working with an excellent full service marketing agency who fully understand our members and our industry."
Thanks were expressed to the buying forums who have again given clear focus to their individual sectors. The newly formed Christmas & Gifts forum headed by Mandy Barrie of Caulders Garden Centres, came in for special mention having worked tirelessly for developing the Group’s Giftware sector for the benefit of all members. Christmas & Giftware suppliers were a special feature of the Trade Show for the first time resulting in a good deal of new business being achieved.
The conference included market presentations from Westland Horticulture and Gardman. The guest speaker was the one and only Gerald Ratner who delivered a thought provoking and inspirational address on the ‘rise and fall and rise again’ of his jewellery businesses.
The annual dinner attended by 120 members and suppliers was a fitting finale for the Choice Marketing Group’s largest and most successful Conference in its 15 year history. Michelle de Lavis- Trafford thanked the supplier sponsors and all the participants for their contribution to the success of the event.
Garden centres who would like to know more about the benefits of membership of Choice Marketing should contact Michelle de Lavis-Trafford at info@choice-marketing.co.uk www.choice-marketing.co.uk
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Rising Stars UK finalists announced
After a excellent round of final presentations, the names of the five finalists of the Westland Rising Stars and Garden Centre Association programme have been announced. Daniel Holden (Barton Grange), Rupert Sleight (Squires Cobham), Kathryn Crouch (Haskins West End), Hana Parker (Monkton Elm) and John Bradley (Stewarts) have all made it through to the GCA Conference at Fairmount, St Andrews in Scotland in January...
After a excellent round of final presentations, the names of the five finalists of the Westland Rising Stars and Garden Centre Association programme have been announced.
They delivered presentations on the topic “how to boost autumn sales.” These covered growing media, autumn lawn care and bird care. Increases in sales of 40% to 70% were reported, with more than double digit growth in one case. Before and after images were included, which really brought to life what was achieved.
Daniel Holden (Barton Grange), Rupert Sleight (Squires Cobham), Kathryn Crouch (Haskins West End), Hana Parker (Monkton Elm) and John Bradley (Stewarts) have all made it through to the GCA Conference at Fairmount, St Andrews in Scotland in January 2017.
There they will deliver their presentations on stage, in front of colleagues and peers. The overall winner – the 2016 Rising Star of the Year - will then be chosen by conference delegates.
The finalists are the last ones standing after an eight month programme in which candidates attended three Masterclasses run by IBBIS Director and training facilitator Ian Boardman. Skills taught included the importance of keeping hotspots fresh, creating clear signage, organising themed displays and the benefits of teamwork.
Ian said: “Over the past eight months, I’ve had the pleasure to see a group of people who have grown in confidence and self-belief, delivering some tangible and impressive sales results for their garden centres. They are all stars in their own right, but only one will go on to become the Rising Star of the Year!”
Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland said: “On behalf of Westland I’d like to congratulate the five finalists. Each year the Rising Stars programme goes from strength to strength. The programme is designed to guide our managers of tomorrow and give them a platform to develop their careers within garden retail. It is this kind of investment that ensures the long term growth of our industry.”
Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA said: “The Rising Stars presentations are always the highlight of the GCA conference. It’s a great way for us to celebrate the real talent and professionalism in our industry. I can’t wait to find out who will be crowned Rising Star of the Year.”
Pictured: Rising stars attending the final masterclass before the finalists were announced.
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Finalists in Irish Rising Stars programme also revealed
The finalists of the Westland Rising Stars in Ireland, a programme run in association and supported by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) and Bord Bia have been announced. They are Emma Cooke (Springmount), Eoin Long (Arboretum) and Natalia Cvetic (Newlands)...
The finalists of the Westland Rising Stars in Ireland, a programme run in association and supported by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) and Bord Bia have been announced. They are Emma Cooke (Springmount), Eoin Long (Arboretum) and Natalia Cvetic (Newlands).
This is the first year the initiative has been run in Ireland, which seeks out and celebrates exceptional talent in the garden centre industry. The initiative was inspired by the GroMór campaign, a nationwide campaign to get Ireland growing. It is coordinated by Westland Horticulture, a key sponsor of GroMór and driving force behind the Rising Stars Programme.
A total of 16 hopefuls began the journey back in April, where they were given merchandising training and equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to make a real impact on sales.
They then put their new found skills to good use during the year to promote GroMór. The campaign made gardening accessible to all and was implemented in association with Bord Bia and Retail Excellence Ireland (REI). The campaign, running in 65 REI Garden Centres with support from 17 Nursery Growers, offered practical advice on growing, highlighting the many benefits of gardening as a pastime and encouraging novices to dig out their wellies and discover their green fingers.
Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland, said: ‘Encouraging new and emerging talent is essential for the future of our industry, it brings fresh ideas and inspiration, essential for driving participation in the garden sector.
“This is the first time we’ve run this initiative in Ireland and already the standard has been very high. I wish all the finalists the very best of luck.”
Keelan Bourke, Member Relationship Manager at Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) Garden Group said: “The Rising Stars training programme helped the GroMór campaign get off on a great start. It gave garden centre staff the skills they needed to further promote the benefits of gardening to a new generation.”
Carol Marks, Development and marketing Specialist for Bord Bia, said: "We were delighted to be supporting this event., it was a fantastic support to GroMor, to the careers of the Rising Stars themselves and to the sales in their garden centres."
The winner will be announced REI Awards at Radisson Blu Galway on November 5.
Pictured: the final Rising Stars masterclass at Orchard Garden Centre in Cellbridge.
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Tree planting ceremony at new HTA offices
A tree planting ceremony to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the European Nursery Stock Association has taken place at the new HTA offices in Chilton, Berkshire...
A tree planting ceremony to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the European Nursery Stock Association has taken place at the new HTA offices in Chilton, Berkshire.
The Bramley apple tree planting was carried out by Tim Edwards of Boningale Nurseries, who is the ENA President.
ENA simultaneously planted 25 trees across Europe on the same day to symbolise the billions of plants produced by European nurseries in the last 25 years and to pay tribute to nurserymen who have cultivated plants.
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The 21 finalists in the Garden Centre Association’s Ruxley Rose competition have recently been judged and the organisation has revealed some of its findings.
The two winners, judged to have the best plant areas, will be announced during the GCA’s annual conference at St Andrews in Scotland between January 22 and 25, 2017.
Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “Our four inspectors visited our member garden centres during the spring and the plant scores from their inspections determined the 21 finalists who went through to our autumn judging process.
“Our Ruxley Rose judge, Roger Crookes has just completed his visit of these centres and has reported back his findings this month, which have included details of recipe retailing at its best, greater awareness of insect friendly plants and displays that cater for a younger customer.”
Nationally the top centres in both the Garden Centre (GC) and Destination Garden Centre (DGC) categories were revisited in September and GCA members scrutinised on how they were promoting and marketing plants during the autumn selling season.
 Roger (left) said: “I was impressed and amazed by how committed and passionate plant area teams were in the face of yet another difficult plant retailing season. Some centres seem to be able to ‘take the knocks’ and keep on innovating and prioritising plants. But no matter how good the ideas are, this takes determination and a lot of hard work so deserves a great deal of recognition.
“I visited most centres during the hot weather of early September when the plant areas were looking glorious in the sunshine and were being enjoyed by customers and a huge variety of wildlife. You could say they were literally buzzing with insect activity and this re-enforced all the messages and displays I saw promoting the importance of plants as habitat and food sources for pollinating insects.
“Centres were consistently reporting that customer interest and sales of insect friendly plants were still building well, and teams were considering what else they could do to promote these plants for next year.
“Ready-planted containers and colour theming still seem to be on the way up, both for bedding plants and hardy shrubs – perhaps being driven by the new and often younger customers who do not think the same way as some of our more traditional customers.
“Linked selling seems to be changing on the plant area too – trying to retail dry goods alongside plants has always been fraught with challenges. I have seen some great examples of linked selling and ‘recipe retailing’, which show how far we have come from a few wet bags of compost next to some shrubs.
“These ideas and others will be explored during my Ruxley Rose plant area feedback session at GCA annual conference in January. It promises to be an illuminating presentation with the sharing of best practice very much at the forefront.”
For other information, call 0118 930 8918, 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.
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Marketing is of vital importance to any business. But with so many different aspects from market research and advertising to sales promotion, public relations and sales getting the marketing mix right for you can be tricky.
The HTA Marketing Forum, with a theme of ‘Maximising Your Potential’, takes place on 8 November 2016 at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire.
Come along to our one-day event aimed at all those involved in marketing and PR across the garden industry to hear from external speakers, specialists and industry practitioners. There will be plenty of insight, inspiration and top tips in bite sized sessions to ensure you are maximising the potential of your marketing spend.
The programme includes:-
Keynote speaker Mark Palmer, Group Marketing Director for Pret a Manger (and formerly of Burger King and Green & Blacks) looks at the importance of brand and how, at Pret, they focus spending on improving the instore experience rather than spending on traditional media.
Strategy
- Marketing Consultant Nigel Temple explores the importance of having a marketing strategy and the need for a marketing mindset
- In conjunction with Horticulture Week, Creative Solutions, Haymarket’s in-house creative agency will provide inspiration and best practice examples demonstrating the value of digital marketing as part of an overall marketing strategy.
Experiential marketing
- Sally Cornelissen from Burleydam Garden Centre and Alan Down from Cleeve Nursery
- Show how they use innovative events and community activity to reach out to new audiences.
Instore – the power of visual merchandising
- Inspiration from outside the industry from ex Liberty visual merchandiser Maxine Groucutt
- Trend watcher and green stylist Romeo Sommers will talk about using storytelling to help market your products, especially plants.
Maximising social
- Pete Doyle from Social Retail will provide the latest know how on making the most of social media
- Wildfire Agency will demonstrate the effectiveness of advertising on social media in reaching new audiences.
On the box
- Richard Jackson from QVC will look at online shopping and the way in which they often sell large volumes of product at strange times!
- Matt Young, Executive Producer of Spun Gold (ITV’s Love your Garden), will look at the challenges of getting more gardening on TV.
The event will also incorporate the inaugural GTN Greatest Marketing Awards.
Make sure you don’t miss out! Book your place now at www.hta.org.uk/marketingforum
£149 plus VAT per delegate (HTA members)
£199 plus VAT (Non-members)
For further information about sponsorship opportunities for the event please contact HTA Commercial Manager Tim Bell. Tel: 07808 775177. Email: tim.bell@hta.org.uk
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Bookings are now being taken for the next GIMA Day Conference, which will take place at Wilko head office in Worksop, Notts, on the 8th December.
During the day there will be talks from Sean Toal, Chief Operating Officer, and Lloyd Taylor, Head of Garden, Summer and Stationery, for Wilko.
Garden at Wilko has been part of the Wilko heritage since 1930. It is one of the key categories and remains the reason many of the 4.5m weekly customers visit.
With 10 garden centres throughout the UK, British Garden Centres pride themselves on good old traditional family values.
Phillippa Stubbs, together with her husband Charles, have grown the business into a significant player in the garden centre industry, and will be sharing their plans for the future and her thoughts about the industry.
More industry relevant speakers to be confirmed soon.
Doors open at 10.00am for 10.30 start Refreshments and buffet lunch are included in the price of: Full members (£50 + VAT), non members (£80 + VAT).
Book your place now to avoid disappointment. Online registration online http://gima.org.uk. Email info@gima.org.uk or call the GIMA office on 01959 564 947.
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See our GTN Xtra picture tour of Christmas at Barton Grange 2016
It's a Christmas themed with Festive Flowers this year at Barton Grange. Starting in the Cookshop, running through houseplants the colour themes include "Winter Rose", "Anemone" and "Royal Poinsettia". Christmas continues through into cards, wild bird care and out into an enormous christmas lighting area. As you'd imagine the planteria is looking good too, full of autumn colour. Christmas ends in the food hall with "The Trolley and the Ivy".
See our GTN Xtra picture tour of the centre below.
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The Company:
Apta is the leading supplier of quality flower pots and accessories to the UK garden trade, under its own brand and iconic UK brands, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Laura Ashley. The company has achieved very considerable growth and now wishes to strengthen its sales team with the recruitment of two motivated and ambitious sales professionals.
Job titles: Area Sales Manager
Territory 1: Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire. Territory 2: Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northants. Salary: Very attractive salary, bonus, company car and benefits. Progression: There will be opportunities to progress to senior sales positions.
The Role of Sales Representative:
Our new Sales Representatives will have responsibility for: - Ensuring that every sales appointment has an objective
- Driving sales growth and tracking performance
- Building upon strong partnerships with existing customers
- Developing new customers and securing sales orders
- Working with head office and a team of merchandisers to ensure that customer experience is always exceptional
- Planning and working to an effective journey plan, maximising customer contact
The person for this Sales Representative opportunity:
We are looking for high calibre, ambitious and self motivated Sales Professionals with excellent communication skills. Specific qualities will include: - Proven experience of working as a successful Sales Representative or Area Manager
- Experience closing sales with a decision maker
- Proven business development skills
- Skilled at fact finding, questioning and verbal clarity
- Strong negotiation and objection handling skills
- Empathy and the ability to build strong working relationships
For more information and to apply please contact Paul Sykes, Managing Director, paul.sykes@apta.co.uk or telephone 01233 621090 for a confidential discussion.
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 On 5 October, following the completion of the sale of Bayer Garden to SBM Développement, we started our exciting journey and have now launched SBM Life Science Limited.
The business is now investing to realise our vision of creating a worldwide leader for home and garden solutions, and as a result we have created an exciting opportunity for a Brand Manager to join our commercial team.
The role offers a rare opportunity to take the reins of successful brands with a long heritage, such as Baby Bio & Phostrogen, where you can make a real difference.
For more information, please contact Christina Bouzala;
Christina.Bouzala@sbm-company.com.
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On 5 October, following the completion of the sale of Bayer Garden to SBM Développement, we started our exciting journey and have now launched SBM Life Science Limited.
Key to realising our vision of creating a worldwide leader for home and garden solutions is the desire to increase our focus on collaboration with our garden centre retailer partners.
The business is therefore increasing its investment into market sales representation to support our customers and introduce them to the new opportunities presented by SBM Life Science.
We are seeking a full-time, talented industry sales representative to help us expand within the South East region.
For more information, please contact Scott Williams;
Scott.Williams@sbm-company.com.
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Nursery Production Growing Manager (ref:DS8754)
Location: West Sussex
Salary: £35,000
Date: 14 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
This premier West Sussex grower is an alliance of two businesses. They both have reputations as high quality innovative businesses and both grow container garden plants for retail sale in Garden Centres and Multiples across the UK. With a combined production totalling around 5 million pots, a total growing area in excess of 25 acres - that includes glasshouses, polythene tunnels, and outdoor production facilities they are now looking to recruit an outstanding Production Manager from a strong growing background who has experience of propagation, young plant production and growing to very high standards.
The role will be Production Manager (Young Plants & Stock) and responsibilities will include managing propagation, young plants and mother stock across two businesses, directing the teams, providing technical expertise and continually improving work systems.
Our client is looking for an enthusiastic person who can work on their own and as part of a wider management team. Excellent attention to detail, self-driven, able to question their own actions and learn from their own and others' experiences. Contribute positively to developing and improving staff. Directly accountable to the joint Managing Director of both businesses.
As Production Manager (Propagation) the successful candidate will have overall decision-making authority on propagation matters. He/she will benefit from attending events, training days and conferences and working within a team including Growing departments across both businesses (Crop Protection, Plant Breeding, Trials and Crop Growing); external consultants who provide regular crop walks and advice; and also via the Group Committees and Working Groups as well as external organisations such as the IPPS, AHDB, and the HTA.
Other key performance areas include managing workload using bespoke/off the shelf decision support software and databases; setting and reviewing cost budgets; health, safety and security; working with internal departments.
To apply for this role click here
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Garden Centre General Manager (ref:DS8731)
Location: Essex
Salary: Excellent
Date: 05 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Are you an ambitious and inspirational manager with a proven track record in delivering high levels of commercial performance within a large aspirational retail environment? If you are then our client is looking for a candidate just like you to run one of their leading garden centres.
Sited in Essex this traditional garden centre originally started life as a family-run nursery and our client now has ambitious plans to transform this site from its current format, which generates £3m in sales per year, into a purpose built Garden and Living Centre capable of generating £10m+. This new centre is due to be developed during 2017/18 and once completed it will offer customers a truly unique retail experience, showcasing the very best in garden and home living products. With our clients unique store design, product range and exceptional standards in visual merchandising, they will be the destination garden centre for North London.
In line with these developments they now have an exciting opportunity for a strong and inspirational retailer to manage and lead this centre in its current format, through its re-development and onwards.
Can you offer their customers a truly unique retail experience in an aspirational environment where they can enjoy engaging with and buying fantastic products and receive exceptional customer service?
Are you the dynamic and retail focused Centre Manager who can lead and develop a dedicated team?
You will have a fantastic opportunity to take full advantage of the redevelopment to ensure the team and the Centre reaches its maximum potential. They empower all of their Centre Managers to manage their centres as though they were your own businesses whilst enjoying full support from Head Office. As Centre Manager you will be responsible for all aspects of the centre including:
- Driving sales and maximising profit in order to consistently meet your KPIs .
- You will deliver exceptional standards of customer service.
- You will identify trends in sales and profit opportunities and you will translate these into sound retail action points.
- You will be at the helm leading, developing and motivating your team with a clear focus on driving exceptional performance and managing all controllable costs.
- You will ensure high standards of stock management and control are constantly maintained.
- And you will carry out daily floor walks of every department.
- You will understand and be able to easily connect with their AB1 customer demographic with an ability to ensure that retail standards and service levels constantly exceed their expectations.
If you are interested in this opportunity then please send your CV to us to discuss this opportunity further.
To apply for this role click here
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Interior Landscaping Horticultural Service Technician (ref:DS8686)
Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 17 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
An Interior Landscaping Horticultural Service Technician is needed for this Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance business that covers the whole of the UK.
The Job
Based out their Hertfordshire depot this will be carry out the maintenance of interior/exterior live plant displays and floristry at prestige customer offices / hotels throughout the south east of England.
- You will also be required to assemble and deliver a range of interior / exterior products.
- Full uniform and Company vehicle will be provided for business use only
- 40 hours per week Monday Friday however you will be expected to work at weekends during Peak times.
The Candidate
- Minimum 2 years Industry experience preferably in interiors/floristry
- Have a pro-active and positive mind set
- Be prepared to travel throughout the UK when required
- Experience of driving a large transit vehicle
- Full UK driving license
To apply for this role click here
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Nursery Grower Manager (ref:DS8768)
Location: Surrey
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000
Date: 21 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Based on a 30 acre site in Surrey this quality driven nursery company buys, grows and supplies a stunning range of plants for sale direct to the consumer and also through to leading supermarket. They have a great reputation in the industry and have won over 20 Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. They are currently looking to recruit a Nursery Manager, Grower Manager with a good track record of producing quality stock and managing and inspiring a strong team.
The successful candidate will require the following skills;
- Strong commercial growing background preferably from within the Hardy Nursery Stock sector.
- Experience of planning and coordinating nursery production.
- Experience of managing and supervising staff.
- Hands-on, can-do attitude
- Strong communication skills
- A commitment to quality.
- The ability to prioritise tasks.
- A strong level of plant knowledge.
- Good IT skills
- Pesticide qualifications (PA1 & PA6)
- The ability to show initiative.
- A desire to develop within an innovative and growing business.
- Knowledge of irrigation systems
- A driven and positive leader who can inspire and manage a dedicated team.
They are happy to look at candidates from strong commercial production as well as large plant retailing backgrounds.
To apply for this role click here
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 Could you trek around Nepal for Greenfingers Charity? Some might say “possibly”. Would you trek to 6000 metres altitude around the world’s third highest mountain in Nepal for Greenfingers Charity? Most would say “unlikely”. Would you do that Nepal journey of 250 kilometres in winter in just 23 days without any comforts of home?
Everyone but Simon Quinton Smith, bon viveur and director of Quinton Edwards would probably say a flat “NO”. It is more than a few steps away from his Chartered Surveyors business in Newbury that specialises in property and business advice to the garden centre and horticultural industry.
But as a great friend of Greenfingers Charity, Simon agreed to do the winter trek around Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, only if it would raise substantial sums for his favourite charity. So far donations to the Simon Quinton Smith page on JustGiving.com have attracted funds of £1665, but Simon hopes that he can double this sum before he leaves for the Himalayas.
As he prepares for his departure next week, Simon told us, “I must do these sorts of challenges while I am able and while I can generate plenty of funds for Greenfingers - a charity that continues to build therapeutic gardens in the grounds of children’s hospices.” Simon and his intrepid family are regular supporters of Greenfingers Charity. His daughter Millie took part in last year’s Greenfingers Skydive and his son Josh took part in this year’s Richard Jackson’s Flower Power Art Challenge. But trekking around Himalayan mountains is a completely different challenge. Apart from demanding terrain and few other trekkers this K3 Base Camp Trek is remote and at altitude. Simon says, “I hear that altitude sickness is one of the biggest problems, so fingers crossed I can complete this trek. Yes, it’s going to be tough, but I am I doing it to support a GREAT cause.” Unlike the Everest Base Camp trek which is done by 35,000 tourists a year staying in modern accommodation, eating cheese burgers and drinking ice cold beers whilst uploading their photos to Facebook, Kanchenjunga sees less than 1000 tourists per year. The remote heights, breath-taking scenery, and challenging landscapes are said to lure a breed of trekker looking for something extra. They want to experience the real Himalaya, the old Himalaya without comfortable mattresses or take-aways. Donations on Simon’s JustGiving page will show you the huge personal challenge that Simon is undertaking and the work that Greenfingers Charity does designing and building therapeutic and recreational gardens in hospices established to benefit children with life-limiting conditions.
To sponsor Simon, visit his online giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Simon-Quinton-Smith1
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Poppy-themed lighting product proving popular
The bestselling poppy theme has moved into garden lighting with sales of the Smart Solar Poppy light (pictured) elevating itself into the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart at No 21.
The bestselling poppy theme, with the Gardman Poppy Bird feeder at the top of the Wild Bird Care chart (it would also be top of the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Chart and sits at No 3 in our All products Top 20), has moved into garden lighting with sales of the Smart Solar Poppy light (above) elevating itself into the chart at No 21.
The other main highlights this week were:
- Growth Technology Orchid Pot Clear 17cm was the highest re-entry at No 16.
- Kaemingk LED Outdooor Lantern with Timer was the highest climber, jumping 26 places to No 10.
- Apta 31cm Standard Pot and Creative Products Clean Sweep Rubber Broom were newcomers to the Top 50.
- Fito Drip Feeder For Orchids 32ml retained the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Advent, Christmas sweeties and impulse festive lines fill the top half of our second GTN Bestsellers Christmas Products chart of the year.
Even an Advent calendar for dogs keeps its place in the Top 20 as our Christmas Top 50 barometer of sales shows an 8% leap on the same week last year.
Here are the highlights:
- Kaemingk Battery Operated Lamp Post 26cm was the highest new entry.
- Sparkle & Light 3D Christmas Glasses Snowflakes were the highest re-entry.
- Sage DÈcor Silver 75cm Laser Grass Spray was the highest climber.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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A sales increase of over 50% last week for Westland Jack’s Magic compost, 60 litres, signals a start to the preparation of veg beds for next year and winter veg growing.
Top soil also continued to sell through in good volumes as Autumn projects get into full swing. With Top 50 sales volumes up by 23% for last week, year on year it’s proving to be a magic time for growing and growing media sales.
This week’s highlights were:
- Scotts Levington Organic Choice Top Soil, 25 litres, was the highest re-entry at No 12.
- Westland Gro-Sure All Purpose Compost, 25 litres, was the highest climber, jumping 12 places to No 22.
- Scotts Levington Multipurpose + John Innes (56 litres) retained the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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A 10% increase in sales sees Pansies leapfrog over Cyclamen to take the UK’s Bestselling Plant accolade and sales of Erysimum grew by over 20% to move up above Viola to No 3 in our GTN Plants Sales chart.
- The biggest increase of the week was seen from Bellis to enter the chart at No 11.
- Varieties of Prunus sales grew by 185% to jump 25 places.
- Elaeagnus (Ebbinge’s silverberry in particular) sales also grew to enter the chart.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Tried and tested works for Kent & Stowe
In response to consumer demand for alternative methods of weed removal, Kent & Stowe has gone back to tried and tested traditional tools of a bygone era to bring to the market a range of specialist weeding equipment that allows gardeners to banish weeds effectively in a safe and environmentally friendly manner...
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Wilkinson Sword Garden Tools has launched a campaign designed to get primary schoolchildren in Oxfordshire gardening. Pupils are being invited to design a fruit and vegetable garden for their school and send their design in by 30 November 2016. The winning school will receive £180 worth of tools and a visit from Lucas Hatch, who was voted Young Gardener of the Year by the RHS when he was 10. Lucas, now approaching his 14th birthday, already has a wealth of experience under his belt and knows all about what encourages children to garden. He spends time at his old primary school helping children to develop their gardens. Whilst many of the schools already have flourishing gardening projects, initial talks with them made it clear that they would appreciate more direction, so Wilkinson Sword enlisted the help of garden writer Martin Fish to provide top tips and to be on the judging panel. Martin, an RHS Garden Advisor and a judge of show gardens and nursery displays at RHS shows, chaired the panel that judged the school gardens at the RHS Hampton Court show. Nick Hills, Garden Division General Manager for Wilkinson Sword, commented: “We are really excited about this project. We are passionate about getting children in the garden, and are confident that this will get them inspired and motivated about getting their hands dirty, and their tummies full of home grown food! We are really looking forward to seeing the designs.” While this year’s competition is open only to primary schools in Oxfordshire, the company hopes to hopes to roll it out nationally in the future.
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The pumpkin is past it, according to the Telegraph newspaper. Now Halloween is all about the pineapple.
The trend for pineapple lanterns is just the latest step in growing popularity of this fruit. Pineapple jumpers (and pineapple outfits) were on view at London Fashion Week; pineapple accessories are increasingly common; pineapple booze is on the up; and pineapple carving is now, apparently, an acceptable pursuit for adults.
To make a pineapple lantern for Hallowwen, it's pretty much the same set-up as with pumpkins. Cut the top off, scoop out the insides, carve in some triangular eyes and a mouth (at the very least) and pop in a tea light.
Your hands will be stickier at the end of it, but they'll smell sweeter - and it's a darned sight easier to make use of the inside of a pineapple than it is the seedy, stringy guts of a pumpkin.
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The Edinburgh Woollen Mill unveiled its refurbished store in Wyevale Garden Centres' Cadbury centre this weekend.
Shop manager Susan Martin hopes customers will like the changes.
She said: “We are delighted to unveil our new look store in Cadbury Garden Centre.
“The refurbished setting will house our latest autumn and winter collections.”
Edinburgh Woollen Mill has 380 stores across the UK.
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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 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period. Access is by subscription only. For £195.00 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 this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Christmas Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this 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.
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Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters delivered via the post for only £195.00.
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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All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
The Olive Tree Café, based in Totties Garden Centre, West Yorkshire, has been nominated for a national award by the special dietary needs sector.
The cafe is among the 22 outlets shortlisted in the Free From Eating Out Awards.
Its gluten-free menu – which includes fish and chips – saw owners Rob Swinn and Sue Brimble being selected to compete for the title after just two years at the helm of the business.
“It would be fantastic to bring the award back to the Yorkshire region,” said Sue.
“We’re thrilled to be shortlisted as it is testament to the hard work of our team of chefs who ensure the food we serve is tasty but also complies with customers’ dietary needs.
"We’re eagerly awaiting next month’s announcement to see how well we’ve done.”
The winner will be announced at the Food Matters Live even in London’s Excel on November 22.
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In response to consumer demand for alternative methods of weed removal, Kent & Stowe has gone back to tried and tested traditional tools of a bygone era to bring to the market a range of specialist weeding equipment that allows gardeners to banish weeds effectively in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
