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Are you ready to embrace change?
The key players from the garden industry will be attending HTA Garden Futures next week in Oxfordshire, where the theme is "Embracing Change." There's still time to book your place...
The Horticultural Trades Association is delighted to invite you to join us for the prestigious annual Garden Futures Conference and Gala Dinner, a must attend event for those in the garden industry. This event tackles the tough challenges retailers, growers, landscapers and suppliers encounter in the sector today.
‘Embracing Change’ is the theme for this year’s conference and speakers from inside and outside of the industry will address key areas impacting on the garden retail sector including: - The latest economic outlook
- The threats and opportunities for the future of garden retail
- The evolving retail landscape
- The changing consumer
Don’t miss out on the event that gives you what you need to face the future in your business. Bringing together the key players in the garden industry to consider cutting-edge practice and ideas from business leaders and experts, the HTA Garden Futures event provides the perfect opportunity for networking with the leading figures in the business. Set in 400 acres of tranquil Oxfordshire countryside and with a purpose built auditorium and beautiful ballroom, Heythrop Park will provide a fantastic setting for this year’s HTA Garden Futures Conference and Dinner.
To book go to: http://gardenfutures.org.uk/
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The Changing Consumer
Ronald van Veen, Chairman of EFSA, the European Floral and Lifestyle Product Suppliers Association, will provide information on upcoming trends...
Read more and see pictures of the EFSA Concept Store
 The ever-increasing digitalization and globalization leads to significant changes in consumer behaviour and distribution channels. In order to stay ahead of the game, retailers as well as producers must be aware and able to react on these changes.
Ronald van Veen, Chairman of EFSA, the European Floral and Lifestyle Product Suppliers Association, will provide information on upcoming trends and explain how his own company EDELMAN BV benefits from the trend forecasts and other initiatives that EFSA launches for its members.
See the gallery below of pictures from the EFSA Concept Store in spoga+gafa this year.
Scanning the Horizon
 Dom Harrison, Director of Global Trends at Future Foundation, will take a look at some trends that could shape our opportunities and threats in the coming years...
 Much can change in ten years. So what might our future look like? From consumer attitudes to waste and sustainable living, growing IT use among a changing demographic profile to the increase in the rise of the ‘Quantified Self’ and the use of smart technology in the home, Dom Harrison, Director of Global Trends at Future Foundation, will take a look at some trends that could shape our opportunities and threats in the coming years.
Adapting to change
Jon Kemp, Trading Director at Homebase, will be discussing the way in which they use consumer research to provide valuable insight...
 Jon Kemp, Trading Director at leading home and garden retailer Homebase, will be discussing the way in which they use consumer research to provide valuable insight. He will also look at the work that they are doing to attract new talent into the industry through their successful Garden Academy initiative.
Ecomony Matters
Simon Jack, from BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, will provide a topical overview of the current economic climate...
 Simon Jack, best known for his role as Business and Economics Presenter on Radio 4’s flagship Today Programme, will provide a topical overview of the current economic climate. Having also presented on the BBC’s news programmes covering key stories during the banking crisis Simon is well versed in the workings of the UK economy.
Small Business - Big Ideas!
Brompton Bicycle CEO, Will Butler-Adams OBE, is an entrepreneur and keynote speaker with truly impressive business knowledge...
 Brompton Bicycle CEO, Will Butler-Adams OBE, is an entrepreneur and keynote speaker with truly impressive business knowledge. Along with founder and inventor Andrew Richie, Will has taken the company from a cottage industry to a rapidly growing international brand – by combining expert engineering with a genuine passion for the product. Even in the current economic climate, Brompton Bicycle is enjoying exponential growth with over 40,000 folding bikes each year from their UK factory.
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Rising to the Challenge
Former international sportsman and Olympic coach turned retail consultant Dennis Reid, Chairman of Retail Performance Specialists, has a simple philosophy for life – play to win...
 Former international sportsman and Olympic coach turned retail consultant Dennis Reid, Chairman of Retail Performance Specialists, has a simple philosophy for life – play to win. Within his talk he will look at the key to driving top line sales, merchandising displays to increase average sales value, creating a successful multi-channel retail environment and building customer loyalty.
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Poplars, Groves and Barton Grange have all won Gold in The Greatest Awards. Which garden centres will be leaving the HTA Futures Conference with Gold this year?
The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards Categories - The Greatest Garden Care Retail Team of the Year
- The Greatest Garden Centre Customer Service Team of the Year
- The Greatest Garden Centre Training Team or Initiative of the Year, sponsored by MorePeople
- The Greatest Garden Centre Merchandising Team of the Year
- The Greatest Gardening Supplier of the Year
- The Greatest Garden Centre of the Year, sponsored by National Garden Gift Vouchers
The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards will be presented on the evening of Wednesday September 30th at The HTA Futures Conference Dinner.
For details of attending HTA Futures visit:http://gardenfutures.org.uk/ The Greatest Awards would like to thank sponsors, Elho, National Garden Gift Vouchers, MorePeople, spoga+gafa and The HTA plus the event organisers at The HTA Catering Conference, National Plant Show, GIMA Awards, spoga+gafa and HTA Futures for agreeing to be presentation venues for The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015.
Sponsorship opportunities are now available for product and service suppliers seeking to gain the highest possible exposure with GTN's The Greatest Awards. The the next stop is The Greatest Christmas Awards. Please contact mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk for details.
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See the full conference programme and book your place using this link: http://gardenfutures.org.uk/ The Venue is: Heythrop Park, Enstone, Oxfordshire, OX7 5UE
 Accommodation Please do not book accommodation directly with the hotel for the HTA Garden Futures 2015. We have negotiated special rates for Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September – if you have any additional accommodation requirements, please tell us when you book. Directions Please Note: Some SatNavs will direct you to the opposite side of the estate where there is no access for vehicles. To avoid this, please ensure that the directions lead you in to the resort via ‘The Drive, Church Enstone’ From the M40 Northbound: Leave the motorway at Junction 8 (signposted Oxford) and join the A40. Continue along this dual carriageway, at the first roundabout take the third exit and continue North along the A40. Continue straight across the next roundabout and at the next roundabout turn right onto the A44 (signposted Woodstock, Evesham). Continue along this road, (passing under the A34 and through Woodstock) for approximately 12 miles to the village of Enstone. After passing a petrol station on the left continue through the village for 1/2 mile. At the bottom of the hill turn right at the Harrow Public House into “The Drive” to the crossroads and the entrance to Heythrop Park will be seen immediately facing you. From the M40 Southbound: Leave the motorway at Junction 11 (signposted Banbury) and continue towards Banbury. After crossing over the next two roundabouts at the third roundabout take the first exit left onto the A361 to Chipping Norton. Continue through a series of traffic lights and straight across the next roundabout (Banbury Cross). After a short distance turn right at the traffic lights (signposted A361 Bloxham) and continue along the A361, passing through the villages of Bloxham and South Newington, for approximately 11 miles. Do not take the first road signposted to Heythrop Park but continue to the roundabout (next to the Little Chef ) take the first exit onto the A3400 (signposted Enstone, Woodstock (A44). Continue along this road (which after 1 mile becomes the A44) for 4 miles to the village of Enstone fork left onto the B4030. Continue along this road for about 250 yards and the entrance to Heythrop Park will be seen set back off the road on the left hand side. By rail Oxford Railway Station - 18 miles / 35 minutes Birmingham International Station - 50 miles / 1 hour 10 minutes Charlbury Railway Station (local) - 6 miles / 13 minutes By air Birmingham International Airport - 50 miles / 1 hour 10 minutes London Heathrow Airport - 65 miles / 1 hour 20 minutes
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Plantarea Manager, Shaw Trust Palmer GardensThis is a unique opportunity for anyone to either progress their career into senior management who have a passion to help people less fortunate than themselves or if you have a wealth of experience in running a plantarea but want to give back something to the community then this is the job for you. Not only are we a well-established garden centre and Café serving the local community and surrounding area we also help disabled and disadvantaged youngsters get into work by training them in a real working environment. Please send a CV and covering letter to Simon Harpin, Shaw Trust Palmer Gardens. Simon.harpin@shaw-trust.co.uk or visit Shaw Trust – vacancies – on our website vacancy number ST/3391.
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Bonnington Plastics Ltd has been trading since 1967 and is one of the UK’s largest importers of Gardening, Housewares and Leisure products. We have our own offices and showroom in china, and Head Office and warehousing in Nottingham. We are currently recruiting Sales Agents to service Garden Centres throughout the Country.The Person: We are looking for motivated, dynamic, passionate and professional sales agents with experience in the gardening industry. The Responsibilities: - To research relevant retailers and identify new accounts for growth
- Work with the Kingfisher range to come up with a sales strategy
- Communicate with current and potential stockists to manage sales
The Requirements: - A great sales person: tenacious, assertive, resilient, with initiative and ability to communicate well.
- Good knowledge of gardening wholesale business practices
- Excellent understanding of different stockists
- Likes working in a start-up environment, and has the passion to be an instrumental part in the growth of an emerging garden centre
- Has the firm grasp of the Kingfisher brand positioning and the ability to target stockists
- You will be well presented, trustworthy and love being with customers
The Position: This is a freelance position. The sales agent will work independently in his/her own time. Required experience: Please send CV to Laura@bonningtonplastics.com Bonnington Plastics Ltd, Kingfisher House, 9 Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham, NG8 4GP Telephone: 0115 985 4119 www.bonningtonplastics.com
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Polhill Garden Centre Gifts and Homeware Team Leader London Road, Badgers Mount, Sevenoaks, Kent,TN14 7BD An excellent opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and self motivated, hands-on Team Leader to take on the responsibility of the daily management of the Gift and Homeware Department. The products include gift items, cookware, home interiors and furniture, children’s toys, cards and books. The successful candidate will possess outstanding retail knowledge in a similar environment, display attention to detail and flair for display and possess a real passion for providing outstanding customer service. The main duties include: - Assisting customers
- Ddaily ordering
- Merchandising
- Ddisplays
- Maintaining high levels of shop floor and customer service standards
- Managing a small friendly team
- Some heavy lifting involved
Hours: 4 weekdays and alternate weekends
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Assistant Manager, Studley Garden Centre This is a great time to join Studley Garden Centre, part of the Hillview Garden Centres group, as we're about to embark on an investment programme that is aimed to double the store's turnover. We're looking for a strong individual, ideally with a garden centre background. You'll be shop floor based but required to assist with some of the site administration, budgets etc so need to be computer literate.
Most importantly you'll be a great retailer and team leader. Send CV and covering letter to Paul Williams, GC Manager Studley Garden Centre, paul.w@studleygardencentre.co.uk
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Commercial Sales Estimator (ref:DS7574)
Location: Lincolnshire
Salary: Competitive
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Due to continued growth this family run wholesale nursery business is looking to recruit an experienced Full-time Sales Estimator to join their small, yet busy commercial team. This important role needs the estimator to focus on customer service and work closely with Landscapers, Amenity Contractors and designers.
The Sales Estimator will be responsible for generating accurate estimations quotations / tenders, following up tender documents and closely liaising with the client base.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Analyse tender documentation and prepare costs for the client
- Adhering to tight deadlines
- Understand client requirements and discuss cost estimates with the ability to offer alternatives for the benefit of both client and employer
- Assisting the Commercial Sales Manager with duties
- Identifying and introducing potential new clients
- Assist the Sales Team with Technical Enquiries.
Qualifications: Good all-round knowledge of Microsoft packages is essential. Time management, task prioritisation and organisational skills are required as well as being able to work under pressure and on your own. Knowledge of Horticulture is essential, and being able to understand drawings and Specifications would be beneficial.
Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 01780 480530.
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Contracts Manager (ref:DS7458)
Location: Surrey ideally but commutable to M25 essential.
Salary: £30,000 dependent on experience
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a leading Grounds Maintenance Company based in East Anglia who carry out a wide range of commercial contracts throughout the UK. They are currently seeking to recruit a Grounds Maintenance Contracts Manager for the South to oversee commercial contracts throughout this Region.
Reporting to the Regional Manager and Operations Director
The ideal candidate will currently be employed in a similar role or be seeking to take their next step into a more senior management role. Responsibilities will include:
- Overseeing the implementation of contracts to strict deadlines and budgets
- Assisting in development and bidding for new works
- Liaison with clients
- Implementation and management of health & safety and quality procedures
- Supervision of Teams
- Maintaining contract files
The successful candidate should hold a relevant horticultural or landscape qualification
A full driving license is essential.
They should also have significant experience in managing commercial contacts and be able to give superb customer service to clients.
Ideal candidate should be based in the Surrey or M25 environs. .
Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 01780 480530.
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Sundries Assistant | Garden Centres | Large Group (ref:BP7650) Location: Hampshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 14 Sep
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
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 take on a number two position in the busy garden sundries department. The role will revolve around providing excellent customer service, maintaining merchandising standards and ad hoc management of the department.
The Person
I am seeking an experienced retailer preferably from a garden retail background. You will have good product knowledge with garden sundries and will be looking to find a role with potential to progress and real day one responsibilities.
Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530.
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Plant Area Supervisor (refBP7649) Location: Hampshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 14 Sep
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
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.
Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530.
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The Horticultural Trades Association this week set out its strong support for the Government’s proposals to devolve power over Sunday trading rules, arguing that a relaxation of the rules would deliver significant economic benefits for garden centres and wider social benefits to families and hobby gardeners.
The HTA has long argued that garden centres should be allowed to open for more than six hours on a Sunday, and therefore welcomed this proposal that would take steps towards achieving this. Sundays are by far the busiest day of the week for garden centres, typically making 20-25% of weekly sales. The HTA estimates that Sunday trading restrictions in England and Wales currently cost the industry an estimated £75 million per annum in lost sales.
In its response to the consultation, which closed yesterday, the HTA argued that it is vital that every community is given the freedom to choose whether to relax Sunday trading rules, saying that in most cases a local debate on the issue is long overdue. It also set out the positive impact that any eventual relaxation of Sunday trading rules at the local level would have on its membership – the garden centres, growers, manufacturers and suppliers which currently account for more than 29,000 businesses and employ more than 280,000 workers.
Allowing garden centres to trade for longer on a Sunday would allow members to make significant productivity gains and increase sales, boosting the competitiveness of an important sector which currently contributes £9 billion to the UK economy. It would particularly benefit the HTA’s SME members – around 95% of its membership - which will be able to compete on more of a level playing field against online retailers able to trade 24/7.
All of this will in turn provide a significant shot in the arm for the rural economy, as the majority of the HTA’s garden centre members and the commercial growers that supply them are based in rural communities.
Carol Paris, Chief Executive of the HTA, commented: “Whilst we believe there is a strong case to be made for relaxing Sunday trading rules across the board, we believe that – in the case of garden centres – the argument is beyond doubt.
"We feel that our member businesses, most of which are SMEs, are unfairly hampered by trading restrictions which customers don’t understand anyway in this modern age of 24/7 online retail and Sunday is rapidly becoming the favourite shopping day.
"We urge the Government not to miss this golden opportunity to relax Sunday trading to the significant benefit of garden centres, their customers, staff and suppliers.”
Pictured: HTA Chief Executive Carol Paris seen here with Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries, who was appointed as President of the Association, taking over the role from Stan Green of Growforth.
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Taking place at Chesford Grange, Warwickshire on Tuesday 10 November, the HTA is excited to announce its first HTA Marketing Forum.
The marketing forum is for all those involved in marketing and public relations in the garden industry, keynote speakers will include Tim Mason, renowned for launching Tesco’s Clubcard scheme, Tesco Express, Tesco.com and Tesco Personal Finance, and Gerald Ratner, former CEO of Ratners Group (now the Signet Group).
With competing interests on consumer time and cash at an all-time high, it is ever more important to ensure your business is promoting itself to its full potential. However, few businesses across the garden sector have huge marketing budgets allowing them to run extensive promotional campaigns.
In this one-day event, we take inspiration from inside and outside the industry to provide examples and case studies on getting the most out of your marketing budget. The programme includes keynote presentations, bite sized sessions on topics including loyalty schemes, TV commercials and in-store videos and using consumer segmentation and examples from the industry of innovative ways of attracting new customers on a year round basis.
Aimed at garden industry professionals, both experienced and new to marketing and promotions, the programme is designed to ensure that attendees leave with top tips and examples of the best use of new and trusted marketing methods that will bring in new customers and retain existing ones.
There will be the opportunity for networking throughout the day with delegates, speakers and exhibition partners.
To register your interest, email events@the-hta.org.uk and more information about the programme and booking will be sent to you as it is announced.
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The APL and two APL members have received a Gold medal for their garden at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.
Jody Lidgard of Bespoke Outdoor Spaces, and Justin Paxman of Paxman Landscapes UK Ltd offered the support of some of their apprentices and young workers, Jacob, Josh from Bespoke Outdoor Spaces, and, Toby and Jack from Paxman Landscapes UK Ltd. After helping with RHS Showbuilds, including the Homebase garden at Chelsea, this was Jacob and Josh’s first solo garden.
Josh and Jacob built the majority of the garden, with Paxman doing the hedge planting and tree planting. The APL's Phil Tremayne designed and planted the planting scheme.
Josh will be joining the APL Apprenticeship Programme this year to continue to develop his knowledge and skills against industry standards.
Penny Evans, APL Learning and Careers Manager, said: “Any opportunity to build a complete garden is a great experience and shouldn’t be missed. The APL Apprenticeship Programme will hone technical skills and consolidate the learning with a complete build at the end of the Apprenticeship.“
The sponsors who have helped to bring the garden to reality include Cozy Bay, JA Jones, Marshalls, Green Tech, Paxman Landscapes, Bespoke Outdoor Spaces and Lindum Turf.
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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 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 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.
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Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters delivered via the post for only £145.00.
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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