Above: Simon and Dan Dicker alongside their in-store pot recycling bin.

Ashortwalk, designers and manufacturers of award winning home and garden products made from recycled coffee cups, are launching their plant pot recycling scheme nationally after a successful pilot venture.

They aim to take the 5 million-plus redundant pots currently residing in garden sheds and green houses and turning them back into new useful products for the home and garden.

Plant pots are notoriously difficult to recycle, with most helping to fill Britain’s landfill sites or being incinerated. Ashortwalk’s solution is a closed loop recycling process. Consumers drop their pots off at their local garden centre or nursery, from where ashortwalk will collect them, melt them down into malleable pellets and re-purpose them as garden products.

“By turning old pots back into new products the ‘Pot to Product’ scheme offers people a rare chance to participate in a full, closed loop recycling process,” says company foundrer Dan Dicker, an ex Dyson designer. “Recycling is only truly complete once you re-use that same material. The very same plant pot you recycled at your local garden centre last month is now back in the same store as a bird feeder, an outdoor clock or even a house sign.”

This innovative scheme needs the gardeners of Britain to unite and help spread the word  - and local garden centres and nurseries to come on board.

The scheme is free and open to all garden centres and nurseries on mainland UK – but you have to become a stockist. As garden centres or nurseries joins the scheme, they offer the range of garden products right next to the collection bins – from patented plant hangers to unique ECO bird feeders geared towards using food waste that would otherwise end up in the bin.

The scheme is backed by RECOUP, the UK's leading authority on plastics waste management.

Go to www.ashortwalk.com or call 01872 575000 to find out more

William Sinclair are pulling the plug on retail distribution through wholesalers because of margin pressure.

Sinclair’s retail MD Danny Adamson revealed yesterday that from 1 October, retailers will receive direct deliveries and invoices.

The three major wholesalers – Solus, Decco and Stax – have been informed of the change and retail customers will receive a letter early next week.

Sinclair is a key player in the garden care category and supplies ranges that wholesalers regard as core business. Rival suppliers have been asked by wholesalers to help fill gaps in their offerings.

Adamson confesssed wholesalers were “not best pleased” with the news but he believed they would understand the need to ensure garden retailers remained competitive. “Some of our competitors already deal direct,” he said.

He also allayed fears that small businesses with low delivery requirements might potentially miss out when Sinclair products are not available through wholesalers. “Our minimum order requirement is just £200 so I don’t think it will be too horrific for most people,” he said. “We cover a wide range of products and I’d like to think people will continue to have them in their warehouses.”

Adamson said pressure on margins was behind the decision. “We can’t afford to carry on paying the margin to our wholesalers. Growing media in particular is a highly competitive business and it does come down to the last penny.”

One major garden centre stockist told GTN Xtra he was surprised Sinclairs had not taken the decision earlier.   “It makes sense – it’s probably not before time,” a spokesman said. “Let's hope there’s some extra discounts coming our way.”

Longacres of Bagshot, one of the UK’s biggest garden centres with a turnover of more than £16 million, will go head-to-head with a Squires group outlet following acquisition of its second centre.

Longacres confirmed this week that they had had bought the former Thompson's Plant and Garden Centre at Shepperton, Middlesex, which closed earlier this year. The Thompsons site is less than a mile from Squires’ Shepperton centre but on the other side of the M3, opposite Sunbury golf course.

Rumours that Longacres were ready to buy a second site have fuelled industry speculation in recent months.

Longacres are currently refurbishing the site’s facilities with a view to opening the new centre at the end of September or early October. GTN Xtra understands the centre will follow the Bagshot formula, with a coffee shop and cut flower sales. Garden machinery and camping concessions already on site will remain.

Vacancies for the new store are being advertised on the Longacres website and include planteria, shop and office staff.

http://www.longacres.co.uk/Downloads/Vacancy%20List%20Shepperton%202.pdf

After the recent re-development at Bagshot, Longacres now boasts one of the smartest Food Halls in UK garden centres - that the GTN team has visited anyway - and the butchery is especially impressive.  See pictures below and send us and e-mail if you know of a better garden centre Food Hall. trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

A court has upheld a planning inspector’s decision to allow an appeal by Mere Park Garden Centre against the refusal of Telford and Wrekin Council to issue a certificate permitting the use of the site for full retail sales.

The case turned on the interpretation of a local planning authority condition in the original 2002 planning permission for the garden centre.  The condition said that before the garden centre could open, “details of the proposed types of products to be sold should be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority”.

The garden centre’s agents submitted a list of goods they intended to sell based largely on the GCA guidance about products that a Centre of Excellence would be expected to stock (plants, shrubs, flowers, for example) and those not proposed to be sold (like cars, white goods etc).

But, said Malcolm Scott Consultants, who advised Mere Park, the authority did not write back and confirm that the list of products was agreed and, more importantly, did not correctly define the planning condition to be unambiguous. The more usual form would be:

“These premises shall be used for XXXXXX and for no other purpose (including any purpose in Class YYY. of the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, or in any provision equivalent to that Class”.

The authority’s condition was considered too vague in two key respects:

a) the use of the word “should be submitted” placed only an obligation on the application to submit the list of products and did not (had the correct word “shall” been used) place an absolute requirement upon the applicant to fulfil it.

b) the authority condition said only that the “proposed types of products to be sold” should be submitted, but does not clearly state that only these products and no others are to be sold at any time.

The court’s conclusion was that the imprecise wording of the condition permitted the garden centre to enjoy the benefits of open A1 retail use. 

“The implications of this for other garden centres are clearly very beneficial if the wording of the planning permission and the conditions attached to it are similarly imprecise,” says Malcolm Scott.  “Owners would do well to check their planning approval, and seek expert advice on the interpretation of it.”



http://www.mereparkgardencentre.co.uk/index.html

The hot weather of the past few weeks has helped to boost business at garden centres throughout the country, as July ended with footfall and transactions up by 24% in the same period in 2012.

Garden product sales tailed off in the last week to normal July levels but GTN Bestsellers have been hearing reports of garden centres having achieved good monthly revenue figures. These reports back up GTN Bestsellers Epos data, as you can see from the chart right, which shows that July volumes have exceeded those of the previous four years.

Although gardening sales have tailed off, certain items are still performing well as gardeners try to spend as much time as possible in their gardens. Items like furniture, barbecues and other Summer related products are in high demand.

Catering at garden centre cafés and restaurants is also thriving. Let us know how footfall at your centre is holding up. trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year:

• Garden Products – down 16%
• Veg-2-Gro – down 6%
• Growing Media – down 2%
• All items index – up 15%

Here at GTN we’re getting plenty of requests for market information as buyers, managers and suppliers start to plan for next year.

Garden Trade News and our weekly GTN Bestsellers Charts are among the best ways to see how products both new and existing have performed across a basket of garden centres and how suppliers are marketing their new products to retailers for the year ahead.

If you’ve not been a full subscriber before you’ll have missed the GTN sales charts for the critical sales periods throughout May, June and July when business finally turned around this year and you won’t have been able access issues of Garden Trade News to keep an eye on all the market activity.

So that you can get the best possible value from a subscription to Garden Trade News we now have a very special next year planning offer to make you:

GTN Bonus Subscription Offer

• If you take out a subscription today I will send you bonus back issues of the GTN Bestsellers Charts for May, June and July 2013 so that you have a complete set as you plan your products and marketing for next year.  As the subscription price is only £145.00 per year, that means you can have 15 months of key garden retail sell through information for the equivalent of less than £10.00 per month, plus issues of Garden Trade News every month and full access to the GTN on-line archive.

All you have to do is click the "pay now" button below and we’ll send the bonus back issues too you straight away along with log-in details to access the GTN archive.

Retailers and suppliers, large and small, are benefitting from increased distribution and sales as retailers use the GTN Bestsellers charts to stock and sell products they know are bestsellers elsewhere and use ideas and supplier hints and tips in Garden Trade News to further increase sales.

Buy your special Next Year Bonus subscription* to Garden Trade News and GTN Bestsellers for only £145.00 here:

* Your subscription includes a copy of GTN Bestsellers every week posted to you, exclusive access to the GTN Bestsellers Charts on-line, monthly copies of Garden Trade News posted to you, full access to the GTN archive and the GTN Xtra e-newsletter.

See a sample issue of GTN Bestsellers using this link

We do hope you are able to take up this offer and look forward to having your company receiving Garden Trade News every month along with the weekly GTN Bestsellers charts which also include our renowned money making GTN Bestsellers Tip of the Week.

Special subscription rates are available for multiple user subscriptions.  Please phone 01733 775700 or e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk for more details.

Jonathan Stobart, founder and chief executive of Smart Solar, commented: "Gary’s industry knowledge and experience in purchasing and product development will bolster our existing skills and take our supply chain management to a new level.”

Bellagio UK say the company is now operating full independently of its the Netherlands-based parent following last year’s decision to go it alone

Bellagio UK Ltd was set up in 2007 by Arne Schouwink (with Chris Peacock as sales director) as the UK division of the Bellagio Group. The enterprise, one of the first in the UK outdoor living market based solely on container sales, grew rapidly and last month enjoyed a successful SOLEX exhibition.

Directors decided a year ago that separation fron the parent group would mean the product selection could be brought more in line with UK demands in terms of design, colour and price. Controlling the finance locally would also improve competitiveness.

Chris Peacock this 2014 range was the best and most comprehensive since the launch of Bellagio UK. “This was due to a single minded sourcing approach that was specifically focused towards our own market place,” he said. “The reaction from our customers said it all, with many saying that they were extremely excited for this next season knowing some new innovations in styles and colour combinations had been brought to the market and will make for a fresh approach to their shop floors. Bellagio UK is now in-charge of its own destiny.”

http://www.bellagiouk.com/

Sales of flower seeds increased by 4.3% in 2013* reports Richard Maden of analysts GfK.

April and May posted particularly strong growth figures of 15.2% and 49.1% respectively. June continued with strong growth of 38.5%. This result is encouraging considering March alone saw a decline of 41%, says Maden

Despite the cold weather at the start of the year, hardy sweet pea seeds have performed well, showing a 16.9% growth year to date and a 54.4% increase in June alone. Sunflower seeds also saw impressive growth with value sales up 46.1% in June.

Overall the garden category has seen improved performance this year, helping to compensate for the declines seen at the beginning of the season, mainly due to the cold weather. If the warm weather continues this should help to maintain the positive news around the garden category.

Business guidance will be at the heart of Glee 2013’s dedicated education programme, located within the Knowledge Hub (Hall 4).

Developed in association with, the HTA, the Knowledge Hub’s seminar content has been designed to help retailers improve and build their business and to identify key consumer trends. 

In a change for the 2013 show, this year’s schedule will feature a handful of hard hitting sessions, rather than the previous format, of a full day’s programme of activity. i2i’s Matthew Mein, Glee event manager, said: “We know just how vital time on the show floor is for buyers, which is why we decided to reduce our programme to ensure that even more time can be spent doing business and building relationships.

He said the quality of information on offer would not be compromised.  “In fact, we believe that this year working with the HTA we have pulled together one of our strongest programmes yet, and one that is clearly reflective of Glee’s core values – Discover, Network, Grow.”

Key themes include social media and how garden retailers can maximise its potential; how to make the most of multi-channel retailing; and how to tap into the popular high street style of café culture to build an in-store catering ‘destination’.  Panel debates will take place on a daily basis, and will focus on key business building topics including how garden centres can appeal to a younger audience, as well as growing garden centre catering.

International retail guru John Stanley will be returning to the stage with his unique insight into the changing face of the garden retail market across the globe.

Glee 2013 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from Sunday 15 to Tuesday 17 September.

www.gleebirmingham.com

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 and on the GTN website www.gardentradenews.co.uk.

Every week we give sales volume comparisons with 2011 as well as 2012 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 upto date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, or subscribe on-line here

or e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro 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 hot and sunny month of July helped to increase sales of solar lighting as gardeners took advantage of the weather to spend more time outdoors during the evenings.

In this week’s GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Chart there are 12 lighting items in the Top 50 with most of them being solar-powered.

Gardman have two products in the Top 10 – Ice Orb Solar Light and Solar Mosaic Border Lights. Smart Solar also figure highly with their Flutterby Hummingbird/Fairy showing a 50% increase in sales and their Butterfly Silhouette Stake Light coming back into the Top 50.

The highest climber in the chart is Growth Technology’s Orchid Myst, jumping 20 places. The highest re-entry is Gardman Pressure Treated Softwood Round Tree Stake, suggesting that gardeners are starting to think about tree planting or are having to support trees buffeted by some strong winds of late.

The hot weather has also been bringing out the ants and wasps because Vitax have two Nippon products in the chart – Nippon Puffer and Nippon Wasp Nest Foam.

Scotts Levington Tomorite retains top spot.

See the full GTN Garden Products Bestsellers Chart here.  Subscribers Only

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £145.00 per year click here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improves garden centre sales. Subscribe and invest at least 15 minutes each week in improving your sales and customer satisfaction.

Planters Garden Centre is looking at ways to combat flooding after water swept through its doors twice within 48 hours causing ‘considerable damage’.

The centre bore the brunt of flash floods a week ago, just as hard-working staff had cleaned up from the initial soaking and forcing the garden centre to close to customers for a short period.

Garden centre manager Mark Shaw said he felt huge sympathy for his team of staff after the water poured in through the doors again, so soon after the initial flooding.

He said: “The water just came off the lanes and the surrounding areas. It is an issue for us as we are basically in a basin here.

“We had a flood on Saturday and came in Sunday morning and it was just all flooded out.

“We spent Sunday and Monday morning clearing up and then had another flash flood which went through the whole building.

“In terms of stock there was a considerable amount of damage and we are just trying to go through it now to see what we’ve lost.

“We kept part of the centre open but we had to close for a couple of hours during the worst of it.

“The staff were fantastic. I feel really sorry for them as it must have been so disheartening when they had been cleaning up to see it then happen again.

“They worked their socks off.”

Mr Shaw revealed that the popular Bretby Lane business is looking at ways to avoid having similar issues in the future after a history of problems with flooding.

“We had it last year,” Mr Shaw said. “In fact we were flooded out five times. We have got plans to do a new development but that is probably two or three years down the line.

“I am meeting with the architect this week to discuss the designs of the drains in order to help solve these issues.”

Autumn planting seed potatoes from Taylors fill the top five places in the Bestsellers chart with Maris Piper taking over top spot from Casablanca. The other three varieties are Duke of York, Charlotte and Catriona.

Quantil’s green veg has seen increases in sales with Spinach and Curly Kale making chart reappearances.

Carrots are also proving popular with Quantil Chantenay in the Top 10 and Suttons Speedy Seeds Carrot Ideal being the highest re-entry.

The highest climber is Hawkesmill Strawberry Loran, moving up 30 places, and the highest new entry is Taylors Indoor Metal Herb Kit Tray.

There are 10 lettuce/leafy salad lines in the chart, headed by Quantil Lettuce Winter Cos. Thompson & Morgan Lettuce Salad Leaves Mixed re-enters the chart after a 100% increase in sales, a place above Suttons Lettuce Tom Thumb.

Another notable re-entry is Farplants Wasabi Japanese Horseradish.

See the full GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers Chart here.  Subscribers Only

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £145.00 per year click here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improves garden centres sales.  Subscribe and invest at least 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.

Bord na Móna UK are to launch a range of peat-free composts for professional growers under the Vital Earth brand.

The products, made from re-cycled waste, will be available with and without controlled-release fertiliser (CRF) and offer excellent physical stability and drainage properties, allowing for strong root development.

The Vital Earth CNS (container nursery stock) range comprises Summer and Autumn versions.  The summer formulation contains slightly more green compost, less bark and more CRF (where added) to match better growing conditions.  Both contain essential base nutrients, mainly in slow-release/organic form.

Added benefits include reduced infestation by algae, liverwort, moss and other weeds, thanks to the surface properties of the green waste compost.  Beneficial microbes from the same source enhance nutrient supply and resistance to some diseases such as leaf spot.

Both products are available with and without CRFs.  Where added, the CRFs are pre-incorporated within seven days of dispatch, so customers are advised to use within 21 days of delivery.

Bord na Mona say the composts have been extensively trialled in the grower market and have proved fully compatible with potting machines like the Super Javo and irrigation and other mechanised systems. Where sub-irrigation is used (sand beds or capillary matting), especially with sensitive crops under protection (tunnels or glass), growers are advised to use the autumn product.

Steve Harper, head of UK Retail, said: “This launch offers professional growers a perfect route forward ahead of peat-reduction legislation and just as more local authorities and retailers are specifying peat-free.

http://thegreenergardener.com/index.php

Mulching is very much in gardeners’ minds at the moment – mulch for retaining water around plants and shrubs, and mulch for children’s play area.

The two items showing the highest increase in sales are Neolay Rubber Mulch Chips, the highest re-entry with a massive rise in volume, and Westland Plant Protection Bark, another re-entry with a doubling of sales.

Other notable performances this week come from GroWise Multipurpose Compost (20 litres) and Scotts Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Premium Garden Soil (25 litres) which is the highest climber, moving up 17 places.

The 9^th annual Garden & Home Press Event will take place at the Barbican Exhibition Centre, London Thursday 13 February 2014, the organisers announced  this week.

The event is the only one of its kind aimed specifically to showcase the latest products and stories exclusively to key names in the garden and home press and media.

The event moved to The Barbican Exhibition centre this year for the first time, and enjoyed a record number of exhibitors and press in attendance.

Stand bookings are going well, so suppliers with a new product or story are invited to book early. (Contact Sue or Guy on 01243 860600 or e-mail guy@gardenpressevent.co.uk)

Journalists and gardening media can register at: www.gardenpressevent.co.uk/media.html

The event, which is supported by The Garden Media Guild and a number of industry organisations, including GIMA, BHETA, BALI, HTA and HEA, has raised more than £8,000 for the Greenfingers charity.

CatWatch from Concept Research - see it in Cologne

Britain’s garden and leisure industry will be strongly represented at next month’s spoga+gafa trade show in Cologne, with 34 companies exhibiting in a group organised by the Gardenex export federation.

Six companies – Briers, G Plants, Hug Rug, Harrod Horticultural, Hydrogarden and Snoblad – are exhibiting at the show for the first time.

New products includes solar powered watering systems, Royal Horticultural Society-endorsed pergolas and obelisks, ‘grow your own’ seed varieties, British-designed arbours, portable barbecues, pizza ovens, planters with internal watering systems and children’s garden clothing. 

The Gardenex stand (Hall 9.1, Stand C32) is located within the British pavilion.

British exhibitors include:

Bosmere Among their new products are covers in a contemporary ‘Urban Chic’ design that complements current trends in outdoor garden furniture and barbecues.

Briers launch a children’s range called ‘Cookie Cat and Dylan Dinosaur.  Also on show are new gardening gloves and various promotions based on colours, trends and consumer needs.

Concept Research have a range of animal deterrents.  Catwatch emits an alarm, inaudible to humans, that helps to protect gardens and birds from cats and is claimed to be the only deterrent scientifically tested and approved by the RSPB. Foxwatch operates on a different frequency and affects foxes and dogs only. Pestfree/Catfree affects cats, dogs, foxes, rabbits and marders and Pest Controller is a portable device to deter mice and rats.

DRiBOX have a range of weatherproof electrical connection boxes, designed with simplicity and portability in mind. Intended originally as an accessory for Christmas lighting, it now attracts users in aquatics, garden tools and appliances, garden lighting and hardware.

Flower Tower have new Midi and Mini versions of their tower planters, made in the UK from recycled material.

Gardenskill produces cloches, tunnels and plant protection cages, with “Pop-up” systems on many items.  Latest developments include a Crop-Gard integrated pop-up planter system with year-round plant protection. It’s easy to set up and fold-away for storage.

Garland Products /Worth Gardening launch more than 90 new products, including a full range of garden twines in shelf display boxes, plastic coated wire plant supports, self-assembly plastic shelving and a greenhouse unit with ventilated shelves.

G Plants will show their newly-launched Giant Shake n’ Rake, a seed shaker box filled with flower mixtures to encourage garden wildlife. They have a new website to support the Garden Rascal’s range of growing garden gnomes and creatures.

Grillstream Barbecues (formerly Leisuregrow) launch their trendy ‘Ziggy’ portable twin burner barbecue with die-cast aluminium hood and firebowl. It is available with or without a cart and offers a large cooking area with domed hood that is high enough for roasting a whole chicken.

GrowRings produces flower bed and window box systems that pack flat for transit and display and are easily assembled without tools, all attractively packaged. New this year is a Windo-Box range suitable for in-store or mail order.

Harrod Horticultural supply quality fruit cages, arches, pergolas and plant support frames.  They offer a range of Royal Horticultural Society endorsed structures such as steel garden arches, pergolas, obelisks, estate fencing and flower supports, as well as functional ‘grow your own’ products, including fruit cages and plant support frames.

Home to Garden added 30 new products last spring to their 2013 range of solar wind spinners and garden ornaments.

Irrigatia are showing their solar powered automatic watering and irrigation systems. The drip irrigation kits provide an easy method of watering automatically from a water barrel when the owner is absent.

Rowlinson Garden Products A key product is the new Britannia arbour offerings a shaped seat for comfort and apex roof for shade.

Smart Solar will show their Bright Eye Cats and Bright Eye Owls as well as new light string ranges. A new Umbrella Fountain solar powered water feature depicts a girl and a boy sheltering underneath an umbrella, with water cascading into a bowl.

VegTrug New at spoga+gafa is a flat-backed VegTrug Wall Hugger that can be located against a wall or in narrow spaces.  Also new is a brightly coloured smaller and versatile folding unit called the VegTrug Poppy,  designed toappeal to young gardeners and urban gardeners. ‘Living Wall’ felt planters that can be hung on fences and walls will also be on show. 

Garden Radio congratulates the team at Poplars on becoming Best Destination Garden Centre in the North Thames region of the GCA for 2013.

They are so proud of winning this award they already have a new announcement playing on Garden Radio telling their customers about their success, and thanking them for their help and support.

That's just one of the many effective in-store messages playing on Garden Radio at Poplars: Big Chris and his deliveries, their lovely pair of tits, Suzy who is the newest Poplars Priviledge club member and "give it a go" with Rachel.

You can hear all of the current messages recorded and produced by Garden Radio for Poplars playing in the garden centre or if you phone them and ask to be put on hold, or you can listen to them here.

Poplars Garden Radio Promo String 1

Poplars Garden Radio Promo String 2

Poplars Garden Radio Promo String 3

Poplars Garden Radio Promo String 4

Poplars Garden Radio Promo String 5

Poplars Garden Radio Promo String 6

To get the best garden centre music and messaging system there is playing in your garden centre call Trevor Pfeiffer today on 07973 504214 or the Garden Radio office on 01733 775700 or e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

As Poplars messages on Garden Radio always end:  Poplars for Quality, Choice and Value.

Proudly supported and added to by Garden Radio, the best music and messaging system for garden centres... ever!

Garden Radio also congratulates: Old Railway Line - Best Garden Centre in the West, Armitages Pennine Garden Centre - Best Destination Centre in the North East, Planters Tamworth - Best Garden Centre in the Midlands, who all choose Garden Radio as their in-store music and messaging system.