GTN Xtra has been out and about this week taking a good look at what garden centres are doing with their Christmas displays this year...and we have to admit we've been impressed with what we've seen. The Greatest Christmas Awards will certainly be hotly contested this year.
Our Christmas Awards judges are starting to gear up for their store visits but it’s not too late to either get nominated or to nominate yourselves. See the category and entry details in the October issue of GTN via this link or simply email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk with the details of your christmas team. We look forward to meeting you soon!
And to all those suppliers and reps on the road, if you see a centre doing a good job at Christmas, let us know about it. All supplier nominations will be entered into a prize draw to win a ticket for the ‘Greatest Christmas Awards Party’ on Sunday 12th January 2014 at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.
The Award categories are as follows:
1. The Greatest Festive Catering Team This category is designed to find the garden centre that has made the coffee shop and restaurant a key part of the Christmas experience.
2. The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Cooking the Christmas turkey or joint on a barbecue is a hot new trend. We’re looking for the garden centre that has fully embraced the idea in a way that helps to sell barbecues and food hall produce.
3. The Greatest Christmas Houseplants Team Christmas is the biggest opportunity of the year for houseplant sales. We’re looking for great plants, brilliant festive presentation, creative added value, effective in-store marketing and helpful staff.
4. The Greatest Christmas Grotto This award will include ratings for marketing, the booking system, queue management and, of course, the all-important experience
5. The Greatest Christmas Display Team For visual merchandising teams, Christmas is an opportunity to create displays that not only stop people in their tracks but encourage them to spend.
6. The Greatest Garden Centre Team at Christmas (public voting) This category is decided purely by public voting. If you have a loyal, satisfied customer base, you’re in with a chance of lifting the title.
Tickets are selling fast for The Greatest Christmas Awards Party – they include a three course meal with wine plus entertainment and dancing to the resident band from the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Combine your buying trip to the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair with a great night out. You’ll be in the company of industry friends and you could even win an award. Email pat.flynn@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700 for a booking form.
Pictured above: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre display team toast their efforts. See below a selection of other garden centre Christmas display teams we've snapped this week, including Notcutts Tunbridge Wells, Caerphilly and Langlands Leeds.
Watch out in coming issues of GTN Xtra for pitcures of the wonderful christmas displays we see as we get underway with The Greatest Christams Awards judging for this year.
