The first set of Epos data for GTN Bestsellers after 7 weeks of lockdown showed total volume sales of barcoded products only 17% down on the same week last year despite two less days of trading and many less customers as a result of Social Distancing restrictions.
Given the issues with non-barcoded plants and the two missing days that probably means sales were up by between 7% and 10% year on year.
That means our GTN Bestsellers All products index starts the Post-Lockdown trading period at -48%. The data for the full week ending 24th May will give us all a better indicator of year on year comparisons and point to how much of the shortfall could be made up during the summer.
Within the complete GTN Bestsellers data there were notable omissions from food and gift lines as customers concentrated their spending on plants and core gardening activity, plus some centres didn’t fully open all departments straight away and of course restaurants and coffee shops are closed, so that footfall and the resultant impulse purchasing is missing.
On a day by day basis we know many centres had record turnover, despite the restrictions and plants were the reported star performers. Plants sold with barcodes on them were 26% down in volume compared top the same week last year. However, many plants are being supplied direct from growers without barcoded labels due to time and social distancing restrictions at nurseries so the total volume of plants sold is likely to be considerably higher. Watch this space for further detail when a “dump” code analysis is completed.
The volume of growing activity is up year on year as we come out of lockdown with the GTN Growing Media Top 50 sales index up by 22% on the same week last year. And sustainability is still high on the gardening agenda with Westland’s New Horizon All Plant Compost 60 litres being the No 1 Bestselling Growing Media line for the week, outselling the second highest selling compost line by 2 to 1.
Garden products also got back off to a flying start, up by 10% on last year with Tomorite leading the way and pot feet sitting at No 2 and No 4 in the GTN chart.
Veg 2 Gro lines were down year on year by 36%, mainly due to restricted supply as far as we can tell.
Wild Bird Care sales volumes were up by 18% year on year.
While we do not currently produce separate charts for pot and garden lighting sales the total volumes change year on year is indicative of initial gardening activity and focus. Compared to the same week last year pot sales volumes in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data were 54% higher while garden lighting sales were 20% lower.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 20
• Garden Products Top 50 – up 10%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 22%
• Wild Bird Care Top 50 – up 18%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 36%
GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 20
• All Plants with Barcode index – down 26%
• All Items index – down 17%
Next week will see the first new issue of GTN Bestsellers with full Top 50 Charts published including week on week and year on year movements. To buy a subscription to the GTN Bestsellers weekly newsletter use this link