As a result of Spring-like conditions, the total volume sales in the GTN Bestsellers All Products index shows it has actually been the best March since 2009.
The last week of March was buoyed by a good Mothers’ Day. Total volume sales were up 43% on the same week last year, with plants, gifts and catering leading the way. As customers focussed on looking after Mum, gardening product and growing media sales tailed off slightly from the previous week.
Whether this start to Spring becomes a really good garden centre retailing season or not now depends on the weather during April. Remember, we didn’t have a bad March in 2011 and then it went all wrong in April and May.
The Met Office reports in their forecast for the second half of April: “By day, temperatures are likely to be near or above average, so conditions are likely to feel quite pleasant in sunshine.”
Better get the outside catering areas all ready for action and add some garden furniture and BBQ merchandising around it!
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes
compared to the same week last year
- Garden Products – up 14%
- Veg-2-Gro – up 46%
- Growing Media – up 63%
- All items index – up 43%
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