The Gardman Group has announced the appointment of Pete Utting as Chief Executive.

 He joins from baking and snacking products supplier Whitworths Ltd, which, like Gardman, is a private equity-backed supplier into independent and multiple retail channels and which he has led as CEO for the past seven years.

 During his tenure at Whitworths, he transformed the financial and operational performance of the business through a growth strategy that saw sales increase by 90% to £175m. Previously he held main board roles in a number of fast moving consumer goods businesses, including sales director at United Biscuits.  He also spent nine years at Coca Cola in a variety of sales and marketing roles.

 Gardman’s chairman, Jonathan Halford, said: “Pete’s past retail success, invaluable brand experience and his strong understanding of multi-channel distribution challenges make this an exciting appointment.  These are all key factors we shall need in order for Gardman to achieve its ambitious growth plans. Pete and I will be working closely together to drive the business forward.”

 Utting started a six-week induction programme at the company this week and takes over full executive responsibility on 1 January 2016. Jonathan Halford, who has run Gardman day-to-day since Utting’s predecessor left earlier in the year, will then resume his role as group non-executive chairman.

Scotts Miracle-Gro’s UK marketing director Paula Parker has left the business following the latest round of restructuring by general manager Sheila Hill.

A process of re-aligning the UK operation with the structure used by its US parent has been ongoing since Hill’s predecessor, Martin Breddy, left last February.

Four brand managers with marketing responsibility now report directly to Hill – a move she claims will make the company more responsive to customer and consumer needs. She applauded Parker’s achievements over seven years with Scotts.

The current in-post brand managers are Fatima Isorce (plant food and growing media), Karen Doyle (controls) and Doug Hamilton (bird food). A lawncare brand manager has still to be appointed.

To make you nomination and vote, please send an e-mail today to: thegreatestawards@tgcmc.co.uk with your name, garden centre name and your job title, telling us who is your Greatest Christmas Supplier of the year, what they do that makes them great and what is the thing they do best.

The results of The Greatest Christmas Awards will be announced at The Greatest Christmas Awards Party on Sunday January 10^th 2016 in the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate.  To book your tickets please call The Greatest Christmas Awards on 01733 775700.

Pictured: The current Greatest Christmas Supplier of the Year Premier Decorations receiving their award.

We have an immediate vacancy for an experienced Key Account Professional to manage a portfolio of 8 – 10 national accounts.

The job will involve some overseas travel, mainly to S. E. Asia and attendance at our Oldbury head office for 2 – 3 days each week.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of managing and developing business with major retail accounts, preferably with Outdoor Living / Gardening products.

Consideration will also be given to anybody currently working in a field sales position selling Outdoor / Conservatory furniture.

The successful candidate can expect a substantial basic salary, bonus scheme and fully maintained company car.

Initially, please email your cv, in complete confidence, to john.chester@a-mir.co.uk

Wholesale Nursery| Sales Assistant | Hampshire (ref:DS7742)

Location: Hampshire
Salary: £23000-£25000
Date: 19 Oct 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a leading group of nurseries who sell an innovative range of plants to the garden centre sector across the UK. They are currently seeing an office based Sales Assistant to sell quality plants to their customers. The main purpose of job is to provide sales support for the General Manager and the Commercial team. Based in Hampshire.

Reporting to the General Manager.
Work closely with:
Internal: Sales Colleagues, Commercial Manager, Growing manager, Operations
Managers, Office colleagues
External: Customers, Prospective customers, POS suppliers

The candidate:

The role will be predominantly office based but with a requirement to visit trade shows and key
customers on occasion. Showing customers round the nursery and talking to them on the phone,
managing customer orders in the office and keeping accurate records will form the core.
Essential

• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Accurate record keeping
• Excellent IT skills, ability & desire to learn new systems
• Good telephone manner
• Tele sales experience
• Ability to take responsibility for resolving customer issues
• Flexibility in hours to suit seasonal business
• Full driving licence
• Smart and tidy appearance
• Horticultural experience
• Good Plant knowledge
• Knowledge of web sites
• Experience attending Trade shows

The role

• Assist the management team in achieving or exceeding sales budgets.
• Manage sales orders to garden centres and multiple retailer accounts on an agreed frequency,
• communicating amendments / issues to the customer where necessary.
• Develop a range of options for the sales function to improve customer service and business
• efficiency.
• Manage timely communication of stock availability to customers and resolve customer queries.
• Maintain an accurate stock system, update stock systems daily and report promptly on issues
• relating to stock shortages.
• Provide relevant information in a timely manner to the Operations Manager to ensure prompt
• order collation and excellent customer service.
• Report on weekly, monthly sales as required through existing reporting mechanisms.
• Prepare and deliver business presentations to key accounts.
• Assist in product costing, range development and market/competitor research as required.
• Assist in preparation and distribution of marketing materials including catalogues, e-marketing,
• Webshop updates and maintenance.
• Represent the business in a polite and professional manner, targeting key accounts and
• customer visits as agreed with the General Manager.
• Represent the business at internal and external trade exhibitions.
• General office duties including filing, answering the telephone and visitor reception.
• The above is not an exhaustive list and you may be required to perform different tasks necessitated
• by your changing role within the business and changes of the overall business objectives of the
• organisation.

Plant Area Supervisor | Garden Centre (ref:BP7649)

Location: Hampshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 14 Sep 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanen

My client is a large garden centre group based throughout Great Britain. The business prides itself on its mix of high quality large destination centre and more boutique offerings. They are a recognisable brand and are expanding.

The Role

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

The Person

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

Plant Propagation Seeding Supervisor | Manager (ref:DS7708)

Location: North Yorkshire
Salary: £18,000 - £25,000
Date: 05 Oct 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

We are currently seeking an experienced seeding propagator / seeding department manager for our client.

They are a leading North Yorkshire based Wholesale Nursery and Propagation specialist who supply young plants to the nursery trade.

The role

These well respected nursery growers are currently seeking either an experienced Nursery Person who is capable of helping to run the seeding equipment in their propagation department or someone with commercial horticultural experience who is capable of learning and growing into the role. 

The Candidate 

for this role will have previous experience in a commercial wholesale nursery and ideally be trained in commercial horticulture up to a level 3 diploma. 
Have reasonable plant knowledge 
Be capable of working to deadlines and production targets 
Have excellent communications skills and be able to manage a team 

Salary is dependent on experience and capability, they are open minded as to taking on a manager who can hit the ground running and is capable of taking on the management of the department but they will also consider less experienced growers and propagators who can learn on the job and develop into the role. 

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 01780 480530.

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2013 as well as 2014 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for 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.