As an added incentive Meadow View offered a 10% discount from their next order to customers for their returned surveys, along with the chance to win an iPad mini chosen at random from a hat, for one winning entrant. The survey produced a good response with some interesting reading and the winning survey chosen at random was from ‘Almondsbury Garden Centre’ based in Bristol.

Simon Routelege and South West Regional Sales Agent Gary Pearce presented the iPad to Leister Simpson the owner of the centre, who remarked: "I am absolutely delighted to be successful in winning the draw for the IPad…. as will be my Wife!"  He added, "I am always glad to offer feedback to our suppliers with surveys like the one Meadow View requested, and pleased my opinions count.”

Meadow View have been supplying Almondsbury for over 6 years and Leicester is happy with the product choice on offer, with the Flamingo and Sea Shore aggregates being firm favourites amongst his customers.  Additionally he feels the product support on offer is very effective “The consumer friendly POS really helps to drive sales, especially on the display crates."

Having spent the morning at Almondsbury with Leister, Gary remarked: "it’s always good to receive confirmation that customers like our premium products and delivery times whilst receiving first-hand confirmation that we offer a great service".

Finally when asked what the future holds for himself and Meadowview, Leister said: "Almondsbury continue to list new products from the ever expanding Meadow View range, we like their new Water features, planters and Birdbaths range we saw launched at Glee this year, and these will soon be in our store ready for the Spring."

Some very encouraging statistics from the recent survey were

• Quality of Products received an average of 9.5 out of 10
• Extent of Range on average scored  8 out of 10
• Effectiveness of POS and Packaging received an average of 7.5 out of 10.

Pictured: Gary Pearce presents Almondsbury's Leister Simpson with his iPad.

• Garden Products - down 2%
• Veg-2-Gro - down 9%
• Growing Media - up 31%
• All Items Index - up 9%

Award-winning garden designer Adam Frost, with support from the Homebase Academy, is to design and produce a courtyard garden for Keech Hospice Care in Luton.

This unique collaboration is a first for the Homebase Academy and will be overseen by Richard Jackson, founder president of Greenfingers, the charity dedicated to creating gardens at UK children’s hospices.

Homebase will volunteer its students to transform a bland concrete courtyard area at the Luton hospice into a beautifully designed outdoor space that will become the hospice’s central hub.

The redesigned space will provide a much-needed outdoor room, accessible to all, where the children and families who spend time at Keech can enjoy play, therapies and family meal times together in a beautiful and nurturing environment. 

 “It was wonderful to have the chance to visit Keech and meet the team who work with the children there,” Adam said.  “It was a really valuable experience to see the current outdoor space and get an in-depth understanding of what our new garden needs to provide.

“The children deserve a special outdoor space which is both safe and stimulating and I’m looking forward to working with the Homebase Academy students to create something really fantastic for everyone to enjoy.”  

Richard Jackson said he was delighted to be working with Adam and the students on the project. “The space Adam and his team will be transforming is desperately needed and really will have a significant impact on the children who spend time at the hospice; giving them an attractive, appealing outdoor space to enjoy.”

Greenfingers and Homebase recently announced an ongoing working relationship that has so far seen them embark on joint initiatives such as workshops for the students and product promotions.

Allied to the conference programme is an exhibition, where conference attendees will be able to view the latest products and services available to commercial growers from major suppliers to horticulture. The first day culminates in a networking dinner with an after dinner speaker. On day two, the exhibition will also be open free of charge to all growers.

Pat Flynn, CHA's Chairman, who officially launched the event during the International Horticultural Forum at IPM Essen in Germany, said: “The response we have had from industry both in the UK and internationally to date has been phenomenal, and clearly demonstrates the need for a pan-industry event such as this in the calendar.

“We gave the concept a soft-launch at GroSouth 2015 in November and had tremendous feedback from the UK industry, and the subsequent full launch at IPM Essen has been extremely well received with much interest from Europe and the US already, as well as further afield. We have a speaker line-up from across industry and across the world. We have also already welcomed several sponsors on board including HTA, MorePeople and XL Horticulture, with more to follow very soon.”

A two day conference and dinner package, including accommodation with breakfast and lunch, is just £259+VAT and exhibition costs start at just £555+VAT.

CHA members receive a 10% discount on delegate packages or exhibition bookings. Further sponsorship packages are also available on request.

Contact Pat Flynn or Stuart Booker for details and to book your places at the conference, dinner or your exhibition presence. E-mail Pat@cha-hort.com or Stuart@cha-hort.com or visit www.cha-hort.com/growquip.html

   

Bob Hewitt, who retires as chief executive of Klondyke Group this year,  and Alton Garden Centre owner Derek Bunker have been named as speakers at the next GIMA Day Conference (14 April, Heart of England Conference & Events Centre, near Coventry).

Also in the line up is Jane Lawler, a new associate member of GIMA and founder of Lawler Associates, who will advise delegates on how they can save money on their R&D expenditure.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director said delegates could also expect further news of plans for the membership.

The Day Conference is open to anyone, with GIMA members benefiting from subsidised rates.  The GIMA AGM will precede the Day Conference sessions and is open to fully paid-up members only.

Information: www.gima.org.uk/gime-dday-conferences

One aspect of the trial compared the results of different plant feeds on Tomato Sweet Aperitif. In terms of health, vigour and yield, incredicrop® stood out as the best feed for tomatoes. A single application of this season-long feed at planting time led to the best plants both in a greenhouse setting and out in the field. This was all set to be a key message at an end-of-trial event attended by gardening press, bloggers and industry figures.

John Burrows, director of ProVeg Seeds – a major UK trade supplier of tomato seeds and plants, attended the event with his Brix meter in hand, ready to test the sweetness levels of each variety. While passing the fertiliser trial patch, fruits of Sweet Aperitif grown with incredicrop® and another market leading fertiliser were tested – with amazing results! Fruits grown with incredicrop® registered at 12.4 Brix against a level of 10.1 from those grown with the market leader – a staggering 23% increase in sweetness.

A taste test by those present confirmed the finding. Even organic growers among them, normally reluctant to use manufactured fertilisers, had to admit that using incredicrop® made tomato fruits sweeter.

T&M horticultural Director, Paul Hansord, said: “We already know Sweet Aperitif is the sweetest red cherry on the market, the first to consistently score over 10 on the Brix scale. We couldn’t believe the sucrose levels could be boosted even further.

"The findings add to an already impressive list of benefits for incredicrop®, setting it well ahead of other feed options on the market. Brix levels for Sweet Aperitif were unchanged by other feeds. Our exclusive vegetable fertiliser not only encourages stronger and healthier plants with impressive yields – the produce will also taste better.”

Pictured: John Burrows and Paul Hansord using the Brix Meter (picturecredit Michelle Chapman of www.vegplotting.blogspot.co.uk)

Deco-Pak’s first foray into handmade homes and feeders for birds has been a renowned success, with retailers and consumers clamouring to get their hands on the architecturally inspired range.

A recent reinvention of the offering has created an even more attractive proposition, thanks to the vintage and heritage themed packaging. Plus, with the introduction of exciting Insect Hotels, the collection is now more appealing than ever.

The Heritage range of birdhouses and feeders from Deco-Pak is unlike anything else available on the market today, and as such has already garnered a positive response from retailers across the garden centre, department store and gift markets. Thanks to the unique stylings, the range has also been featured in a wealth of national consumer press, as well as on the Alan Titchmarsh National TV Show.

Split into ten individual collections, including The Best of British, Beach, Hatchlings, Printed, Christmas and the Signature collection, the Heritage range offers something for every garden, and every budget. Inspired by classic British landmarks and popular architectural designs from around the world, featured designs include the classic British pub, a red telephone box, a classical dovecote, as well as a selection of floral printed design. A range of Design-Your-Own feeders and houses have also been introduced, designed to encourage children to learn about wildlife at an earlier age, which is important to their development.  Prices start from £16.99 RRP in the range.

Recognising that style should not come at the expense of quality, Deco-Pak has also ensured that its birdhouses and feeder do not compromise on functionality.  Each birdhouse comes equipped with a 32mm opening, removable back wall, drainage and ventilation, as well as an unpainted interior.  Each house is also constructed from exterior grade ply-board, pine roof shingles and polyresin details and decoration. The bird feeders feature a heavy-duty nylon cord, and are constructed from exterior ply-board, with polyresin detail.  The entire design is finished with outdoor, water-based, non-toxic paint.

Deco-Pak’s Marketing Manager, Craig Hall said: “Our Heritage range of birdhouses and feeders have been specifically designed to take wild bird care products to the next level.  It’s great news to see more and more people becoming more conscious of the responsibility that comes from protecting our nation’s birds, but this doesn’t mean they should only be armed with boring designs – why not offer something that appeals to both our feathered friends and ourselves? All of our houses and feeders are stunning to look at, thanks to the attention to detail, bright colour palette and quality of build.  We’ve no doubt that they’ll provide a real focal point in the garden, whilst also enabling retailers to stock something that offers strong impact in-store, helping to further drives sales of this vital product category.”

Introducing the new Insect Hotels – NEW for 2016

Launched in early 2016 a new selection of stylish and practical Insect Hotels will be joining Deco-Pak’s wildlife offering. Designed to tap into the ever increasing awareness amongst consumers regarding the importance of protecting our native wildlife, with particular emphasis on pollinators, the hotels are already popular in schools, where conservation is taking on greater importance within the curriculum.

Each Deco-Pak Insect Hotel is made from FSC timber, and benefits from an iron roof construction, for extra durability. Prices start from just RRP £9.99, and provide a great year-round sales opportunity for retailers.

Rebranded packaging – hitting shelves in 2016

Featuring a floral design, the Heritage collection has been rebranded to include new heritage style gift packaging - reinforcing each product's uniqueness and suitability for ranging as giftware.  Eight birdhouses and birdfeeders have been specifically selected for the Heritage collection, each one boxed in colour coded, 100% recycled boxes that feature helpful information on how to feed, look after and attract birds to the garden.

Find out more

    


DGTN's Trevor Pfeiffer is over half way in his quest to acheive a weight loss target by Garden Re-Leaf Day on March 18th.

Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day takes place on Friday 18^th March 2016 - and already the fundraising has begun!  Twitter has already started buzzing with those looking to lose weight after the festive period, and Greenfingers is inviting them to feel even better about themselves by raising money to help create more children's hospice gardens.

The idea is that for each pound participants lose between now and Garden Re-Leaf Day, they can collect a pound from their sponsors, to be donated to Greenfingers after the 18th March.

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers, Debs Skilicorn, Director of Greenfingers and GTN's very own Trevor Pfeiffer are all bravely taking part and want to encourage others to step up to the challenge.

You can sponsor Trevor on his target to loose 1 stone between the GCA Conference and Garden Re-Leaf Day by clicking: https://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Pfeiffer.  "Immediately after conference I went down with a bout of man flu, so I was only able to get the diet up and running on Wednesday 3rd February.  My start weight was registered as 15 stone 4 pounds and Saturday 3rd February was the second day of my 5:2 Fast diet plan.  

"On that plan I can eat normally on non-fast days but only a maximum of 600 calories on fast days.  The start was particularly tough, feeling very hungry during the evening, but worthwhile as after two fast days I'd already lost 3 pounds in weight.

"It's been a more normal week this week with two fast days - one on them was the day of the HTA Technology Conference - and I've lost another 2 pounds.

"That means I have another 6 pounds to loose between now and Garden Re-Leaf Day and with your help I'll raise even more money for Greenfingers.

"I'll keep you all updated with my progress in future issues of GTN Xtra.  Thank you to all the people who have already sponsored me.  I'm looking forward to raising more money for Greenfingers when I reach the target from all the kind people who've also said they would support me."

If you are interested in taking part, here are a few pointers to help you get started:

• If you find it hard to lose weight then don't go overboard - aim for a realistic target
• On the other hand, don't aim too low - challenge yourself and encourage sponsorship!
• Let others know you’re trimming down so you can rely on them to hold you to account.  Post on social media, using the hashtag #Pounds4Greenfingers what you plan to do and why you are doing it.  Why not post before and after photos too?  You'll be surprised at just how much motivation it will give you knowing others are keeping an eye on your progress!
• Take up a short term gym membership, -.   or join a local sports or slimming club - there are tonnes of support group options at this time of year so you needn't be alone!

Garden Re-Leaf 2016 has already attracted eight top industry figures who will be staging 24 hour Plant-athons in garden centres beginning  their Plant-athons on Thursday 17th and finishing on Friday the 18th.  Poplars, Adrian Hall and Sunshine Garden Centres have all recently confirmed they will put on Garden Re-Leaf events in store.

This year, the walk covers approximately 20 miles, starting and finishing at the HTA’s offices in Theale, West Berkshire. Taking place on Garden Re-Leaf Day - March 18 - the walk is just one of many events occurring on Garden Re-Leaf Day in aid of Greenfingers.

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers Charity said: “The walk is open to absolutely everyone working in or alongside the garden industry.  Not only is it a great opportunity to raise funds for those not already involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day events, it’s fun, team building and a great way to spend time with colleagues and acquaintances away from the office.”

If you would like to register to take part in the walk, contact Sarah in the Fundraising Team by email - sarah@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or call the Greenfingers office on 01494 674749.

Garden Re-Leaf Day 2016 has already attracted top industry figures who will be staging 24 hour Plant-athons in garden centres right across the country from 2pm on Thursday 17th and finishing on Friday the 18th. 

Poplars, Adrian Hall, Old Railway Line and Sunshine garden centres have all recently confirmed they will put on Garden Re-Leaf events in store.  All new quizzes have been put together, one general knowledge for all the family and one specifically aimed at the keen gardener.

• The ideal candidate will understand both the category and customers, possess strong  communication and negotiation skills and have a passion and enthusiasm for customers and products.
• They should an excellent team player focused on driving sales and profitability.

• The successful candidate must be capable of managing a dedicated team of department managers and ensuring that above all they provide outstanding customer service as well as deliver on sales targets set.
• They will take control of costs and set budgets, reporting to the Finance Director and working closely with him and the other Directors to ensure profit targets are meet.
• Must have good commercial acumen and be able to spot trends and have the ability to increase turnover.
• Good knowledge of and be able to manage Health and Safety, Security and Human Resources issues.

Plant Area Manager (Full time, including alternate weekends)

West Horsley KT24 6AR

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead.  An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community.  

• You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
• You must have experience and/or horticultural qualifications and garden centre retail experience.
• You will be able to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets whilst motivating your team to maximise all sales opportunities and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of customer service.
• You must have the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, have a passion for plants, be highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

Bedding Department Head (Full time, including alternate weekends)

West Horsley KT24 6AR

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead.  An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community.  

• You will be responsible for the bedding plant department at our West Horsley Garden Centre which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
• You will have extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and/or a horticultural qualification.
• A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment are essential.
• You will be flexible, enthusiastic and highly motivated, commercially aware and have the ability to create dynamic displays.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

Plant Area Sales Assistant (Full time, including alternate weekends)

Twickenham TW2 5PA

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

Squire’s oldest site with a new centre built in 1993, and is about to undergo a significant facelift.  A garden centre that takes a very high turnover for its size, with a strong horticultural focus in plants and sundries, often winning GCA category awards, with the recent addition of new Pets & Aquatics and Craft areas.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who is quick and willing to learn and who sees customer service as their main priority.

• The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and energetic, have a passion for plants and an eye for creating exciting detailed displays.
• Horticultural experience or equivalent qualifications desirable.
• The role will involve bending and lifting some heavy items therefore applicants must be physically fit.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

• Subject Matter Expert.
• Provide horticultural expertise and guidance (plant naming, plant identification, plant descriptions, gardening and horticultural instructions, etc).
• Work closely with the wider company community (the FM Support Group team and other companies in the group) to improve the quality of plant content and data services etc.

• Sanitise plant lists supplied by customers (correction of plant names, etc).
• Originate, amend, maintain and develop plant content (descriptive text and parameter information) within a database, according to the commercial needs of our customers, and determined as useful by the teams within the company.
• Bring together and maintain a team of freelancers (horticultural copywriting, parameters, general proof reading) who can support the delivery of plant content.
• Lead the creation of "standard" descriptive text and parameter information, which can be used by other UK teams.

• Carry out picture selections, as required by Projects and Creative Teams.
• Support the image needs of the Creative Team.

• Manage the contract arrangements and documentation for 3rd party image use.
• Manage the Picture Rental Service, looking after the contract arrangements, documentation and invoicing.

• Write copy for marketing activities (B2B).
• Play an active role in the Marketing Team.

Squire’s Garden Centres head office at Badshot Lea has raised £850 for a local charity, Post 19.

The money was raised by staff from raffles, cake sales and a dress down day.

Farnham-based Post 19 helps to give young adults with learning difficulties a sense of achievment through a programme of community activities encompassing life skills, leisure and social skills, including horticultural activities in the local community.

Stewart Garden is to distribute grow-your-own gardening kits to more than 100 primary schools across the county as part of the Stewart Garden Schools Campaign, now in its fourth year.

The kit includes flower pots, propagators, growing troughs and a watering can, together with a booklet containing hints and tips.

The campaign is open to school pupils aged 6-11 years and challenges schools to be creative with Stewart Garden products. The winning school will receive £1,000 to spend at its local garden centre. Three runners up will each receive £100.

Taking part for the first time are Manley Park Primary School in Manchester and Greenmount Primary School on the Isle of Wight. Holmes Chapel Primary School in Warwickshire and The Topsham School in Kent are returning participants.

Almost 350 schools have taken part since 2012.

Gavin Wray, channel manager at Stewart Garden, said: “It’s always astonishing to see the new ways that the campaign captures the creativity and imagination in school children.”

Crop protection specialists Agralan are encouraging gardeners and commercial growers to use pheromone traps to monitor box tree month populations.

The pest, established in the south of the UK since 2008, can devastate box plants (buxus) in gardens and nurseries and is difficult to control without continual vigilance. The moths spin web ‘tents’ around the foliage, making it difficult for sprays to penetrate. 

Pheromone traps catch adult male moths, alerting the grower to the presence of the pest and the need to spray with a suitable pesticide.

Between mid-April and October, traps filled with a lure specific to the box tree moth should be placed 1.5 to 2m above the ground where box plants are growing.

Traps and lures are available from Afgralan via the website.

• Creative Products Seeder is the highest re-entry at No 5.
• Another product returning to the Top 50 is the Stewart Premium Seed Tray with Holes (22cm, dark green), which has taken over No 9 spot.
• The highest new entry is Joseph Bentley Plant Labels at No 25.
• The highest climber is the Stewart Standard Gravel Tray (38cm, black), which has jumped 29 places to No 16.

• Suttons Beetroot Boltardy is the highest climber, jumping 24 places to No 8.
• The highest re-entry is Suttons Carrot Autumn King 2 at No 11.
• The highest new entry is Taylors Seed Potatoes Duke of York at No 29.
• Taylors Onion Sets Red Baron holds on to top spot.

• Scotts Levington John Innes No 3 (25 litres) is the highest climber, moving up 25 places to No 16.
• Westland Tomato Planter is the highest re-entry at No 22.
• The highest new entry is Arthur Bowers Chunky Chip Bark (70 litres) at No 42.
• Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost (50 litres) stays on the top spot.

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 £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 Veg-2-Gro 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.

The new Cheeky Monkey wafer cone received not one, but two awards for Best New Product (food) and Best New Product (Packaging). The new cone has been a closely guarded secret for the last few months through development so Antonelli could launch it at the Harrogate show .

Mark Antonelli was pleased with the response the new cone generated.

“It appeals to young children, because it depicts a Cheeky Monkey and is promoted with fun and bright point of sale stickers. The promotional packs contain collectable stickers which go down really well with the under 5 year olds.

“Mums and Dads love it because it’s not too much ice cream for such a little appetite. Over the years portion sizes have increased unnecessarily for younger consumers.The new Cheeky Monkey with its small capacity and narrow head enables a modest portion to be served, which fills the cone, but avoids over facing whilst providing value for money for consumer and vendor alike.”

Baking cones and wafer products in the UK for over 100 years means Antonelli know their business, their market and take pride in looking after their customers. With new products and innovations they continue to provide the UK Ice Cream and Gelato market with products that help deliver success for customers’ business.

For more information visit www.antonelli.co.uk