Following an extensive period of consultation with suppliers, retailers and supporting trade associations, the organisers of Glee, i2i Events, have confirmed that the 2015 show will benefit from a new weekday opening pattern, starting on Monday 14th September and closing on Wednesday 16th September.

Since the close of the highly successful 2014 show, the Glee team has been working tirelessly to gather research and feedback from the garden retail industry. Now collated, the evidence clearly points to a widely supported view that Sunday is no longer an essential day for those attending the show, and that a weekday-only format offers greater flexibility and a stronger platform for business to be done for both exhibitors and visitors.

Glee’s event manager, Matthew Mein said: “Glee’s opening days have been a part of an ongoing discussion regarding the best possible format for the event for many years. In 2014 we tackled a number of vital aspects, and believe that the changes that were made have kick-started a period of regeneration for the show, whilst also creating a vibrant and revitalised platform for business.

“The change to a weekday show provides the opportunity to deliver a number of additional benefits, most notably the potential for an increase in visitor numbers, and additional flexibility for those that visit - including when they attend, how many team members they can bring with them, and how long they stay at the show. This latter benefit was certainly a trend which emerged in 2014, in that more people were staying at the show for longer. Over 400 more people revisted the show on the Tuesday compared to 2013 figures, whilst attendance on the Monday was also up year-on-year. I’ve no doubt that an additional weekday will enable this trend to continue to grow in the year ahead, helping retailers and manufacturers to grow profits and develop even more valuable working relationships.”

Echoing the positive feedback received from the garden retail industry following the close of the 2014 show, Glee’s organisers have also confirmed that the show’s Net Promoter Score has shown a phenomenal increase year-on-year, with the overall score 41 points ahead of 2013’s results.

Net Promoter, is considered the worldwide standard for organisations to measure, understand, and improve their customer experience*. Used extensively post-show the score has highlighted the positivity that surrounds the changes made to the 2014 show. Respondents praised Glee for its revised format and improved layout, the customer experience, facilities and educational platforms and overall benefit to their businesses.

Further details of i2i’s plans for Glee 2015 will be available shortly. To keep up-to-date on all the latest news log onto www.gleebirmingham.com. For details on exhibiting at Glee, call 0203 033 2160.

Read the Omnibus Edition of The Glee Daily News 2014 here

Fresh new beginnings are on the horizon for Suttons Seeds, as the company announces that former owner Limagrain - through Vilmorin & Co – and the Torbay Council, along with the Torbay Development Authority, have facilitated and supported the management buy out (MBO) of Suttons Consumer Products Ltd, effective as of December 1st.

The significant agreement combines the desire for Limagrain to find the right future for Suttons and the goals of Torbay Council to retain and promote business in the area. The deal ensures continued growth and employment for Suttons as well as providing a springboard for new business.

Multinational Limagrain has grown rapidly in recent years to be a world leader in the seeds and cereals industry. As a French cooperative of grower farmers with a strong Corporate Social Responsibility ethos, Limagrain sought a strategic solution that would optimise the future prospects of Suttons - especially for its employees and their families. They have actively contributed to the MBO.

The MBO - led by Managing Director David Robinson and Operations Director Rufus Roberts – heralds a new era for Suttons Consumer Products and their team. Although no longer a direct shareholder, Limagrain will remain an important trading partner.

The Suttons Group – which includes Carters and Dobies of Devon – will continue to operate from its current facilities in Paignton.

David Robinsons said: “Suttons have plans to launch innovative and new products for both our faithful and new customers. It is an exceptional household brand widely recognised for quality. Watch this space… innovation is the key.”

Rufus Roberts – with over 17 years experience with Suttons – added: “We’re looking forward to consolidating our base business and adding new opportunities within this new dynamic, as together, we seek to build a solid platform with long-term focus. This can only be good news for our loyal customers, suppliers and staff.”

Greenfingers trustee and HTA CEO Carol Paris is leading the Christmas charge for Greenfingers this year by taking part in the London Santa Run on Sunday 7th December.

Carol will be joined on the route by others from the industry including:

Paul Ormond, Greenfingers trustee; Adam Wigglesworth, HTA Vice President and Director of Ayletts Garden; Pat Adams from the HTA; Chris Ramsden from Suttons; Al Sheppard from Burgon and Ball; Andrew Burton from Cedar Associates; industry consultant John Mosley; Craig Hall from Deco-Pak and Tara Ballinger from Williams Sinclair.

Two VIP four-legged guests will also join our team of runners – no, not Rudolf and Blitzen – but Carol Paris’s two spaniels Max and Murphy who will no doubt put their fellow two-legged Santa’s to shame!

Carol sent us the picture of Max and Murphy (above), saying: "Not looking too keen to run! Maybe they need some sponsorship to get them going! Clearly you should never work with children or animals."

All of the Santa Runners will complete the route dressed in Father Christmas outfits (including Carol’s dogs) as they run either 5km or 10km, which should make it quite a sight to behold – and definitely worthy of sponsorship! 

Keen runner Carol said: “What a great idea to link into the Santa theme that will be generating so much business for garden centres, but this time to raise money for our industry charity.” 

Greenfingers are thrilled to have such a strong team flying the flag for the charity at the run and are now calling on people across the industry to take the time to sponsor their sterling efforts and help raise much needed funds for Greenfingers’ gardens this festive season.

For many of the children and families who use the hospice system across the UK Christmas will offer little respite from their daily situations - Greenfingers are urging people to think of these children and dig deep in support of the Santa Run.  The charity is aiming to raise £5,000 through the run to put towards more much-needed gardens at children’s hospices around the country. 

Money raised from the Santa Run will directly contribute to the gardens Greenfingers hope to build in 2015 including at EllenorLions Children’s Hospice in Kent where there are currently no dedicated outdoor facilities for the children and families who spend time there.  Greenfingers plan to create a lush ‘urban oasis’ at the hospice that will provide a valuable haven for the children and offer them a vital chance to engage with the natural environment.

Sponsoring the Greenfingers’ Santa Run participants takes just a couple of minutes and can be easily done through Carol Paris’s dedicated Just Giving page

www.justgiving.com/greenfingerssantarun

Or text 70070 with the code SANT61 and the £[value of donation]

The Santa Run 2014 takes place at Victoria Park in London on Sunday 7^th December.

In addition to calling for sponsorship for the Santa Run Greenfingers are also suggesting people send their E-Christmas Card this year, instead of a traditional card – thus helping the environment and raising money for a good cause at the same time.

The Greenfingers E-Card is available in three different designs featuring scenes from gardens the charity has created this year.  Cards can be adapted to suit individual needs with company names, logos and personalized messages.  The charity is asking for a minimum donation of £50 where after use of the card is unlimited.

Any businesses interesting in arranging a personalized copy of the e-card should email Hannah@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Horticultural celebrities from TV and radio are busy recording questions for the 2015 Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz at the moment, and garden centres who sign up to take part in what is set to be the biggest and best quiz yet can take advantage of the ‘early bird’ entry fee of just £50 - if they sign up before 1st January 2015.

Popular stars of TV and radio Christine Walkden and Chris Beardshaw are currently recording questions for the quiz, along with their BBC Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time colleague Eric Robson and BBC weatherman Peter Gibbs. Other well-known gardening experts such as Anne Swithinbank, Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness, Matthew Biggs and Matthew Wilson (Greenfingers Chairman) are also contributing to the esteemed quiz.

All monies raised from the quiz, with questions this year written by Andy Bunker of Altons Garden Centre and produced in the studios of Garden Radio, will once again go to the Greenfingers ‘Rosy Cheeks’ campaign. The campaign aims to provide much needed gardens for children who spend time in hospices around the UK, along with their families, by creating inspiring gardens and outdoor spaces for them to relax in and enjoy.

The 2015 Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz is available to all garden centres, gardening societies and other organisations and is the perfect way to participate in the fourth, annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day, which takes place on 27th March 2015.

For the £50 early bird rate (£100 after 1st January 2015) participants will receive a pack containing all they need to host the quiz – it includes a special CD or Mp3 download of pre-recorded questions (and answers) to play to the audience, everything needed for the picture round, and a bonus pack of fundraising ideas, hints and tips.

Bosworth’s Garden Centre in Burton Latimer were one of the many garden centres that received great interest in last year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz. Marketing Co-ordinator, Jonathan Biggs, said: “The quiz was so easy to run, our teams were delighted to hear celebrities’ voices asking the questions, and the ‘heads and tails’ game was great fun.”

Garden centres wanting to take part should register on the Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day website, and can also take advantage of free publicity for their events, by filling in the simple form online at www.gardenreleaf.co.uk/register-an-event. Once registered, each individual event appears on the site’s ‘events’ section, and is searchable by area to help the public find their local participating garden centre.

The quiz is just one of many ways to raise funds for Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day. Other retailer participation ideas include in-store sponsored cycle rides, as well as fun family day activities such as making cress heads and sowing Sunflowers – the Home Garden Association’s plant of the year for 2015. Suppliers can also get involved with the Loose Change promotion.

To ensure maximum exposure for your event, make sure to register soon via www.gardenreleaf.co.uk/register-an-event. To order your 2015 Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day quiz pack, explore other opportunities for supporting the 2015 event as a supplier, or participate as a retailer, email info@gardenreleaf.co.uk.

Outdoor lighting is still proving to be popular in garden centres with sales holding up strongly. Gardman Ice Orb Solar Light has taken over top spot in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart while the Gardman Wood Effect Marker Light moves up to second place.

The highest re-entry of the week is the Smart Solar Country Bird Solar Spot Light (pictured below), which takes over 8th spot.

Other star performers:

• Algon Organic Algae Remover Patio Cleaner is the highest climber, moving up 25 places to No 20.
• The highest new entry is Apta Standard Pot Feet at No 44 while the Apta Terracotta Pot has also had a very strong sales week.

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

• Garden Products – down 21%
• Xmas Products  – down 5%
• Growing Media – up 8%
• All items index – down 10%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The quest for The Greatest Christmas teams is on.  The expert team of judges are now out and about visiting all of the teams nominated in this years The Greatest Christmas Awards.

You’ll find out who are The Greatest at Christmas this year by joining us at the first awards event of 2015, The Greatest Christmas Awards Christmas Party, sponsored by Premier Decorations, on the night of Sunday January 11^th at The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate.

Our annual awards presentation and Christmas party is an event not to be missed whether you are visiting the Harrogate Christmas and Gift show or just want to have another great Christmas Party with some great garden centre people.

Tickets are now on sale for the party, which includes reception drinks, a 3 course meal with wine, the awards presentation and dancing the night away to a live party band.

Early Bird discounts apply for all tickets purchased before December 7th.

Early Bird Ticket prices for The Greatest Christmas Awards Party, sponsored by Premier Decorations.

Please call The Greatest Christmas Awards team on 01733 775700 or e-mail harry.sinclair@tgcmc.co.uk to book your Early Bird tickets today – before November 28th or buy on-line using these links:

Prices below include VAT

Tickets

1 Ticket £96.00 GBP2 Tickets £192.00 GBP3 Tickets £273.60 GBP4 Tickets £364.80 GBP5 Tickets £432.00 GBP6 Tickets £518.40 GBP7 Tickets £604.80 GBP8 Tickets £691.20 GBP9 Tickets £777.60 GBPTable of 10 £816.00 GBP

We are seeking an experienced Landscape Foreman to work on prestigious domestic projects predominately around West London and surrounding areas.

For this role you must have proven experience in successfully running large domestic projects, ordering materials, interpreting plans and performing a wide variety of hard and soft landscaping skills.

You will also be responsible in reporting to management regularly and delivering projects on time and on budget. You must be well presented and able to liaise with clients and designers effectively.

A current driver's licence is required.

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV quoting reference #6888 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is looking for a Chef for their busy garden centre.

Job Summary:

• Prepares and produces food and dish’s to the Head Chef’s specifications.
• To comply fully with Statutory and Company Regulations concerning the hygiene, health and safety of staff, food and equipment.
• Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
• Assists the Head Chef to plans menu to achieve and maintain the budgeted food cost / gross profit.
• Ensures that all equipment and fittings are cleaned and maintain in a safe and proper manner and record on the cleaning schedule.
• Keeps work stations, surrounding work surfaces and floor, clean, tidy and organized at all times.
• Adheres to the company’s Purchasing Policy. Ensures supplies are properly issued, used and accounted for.
• Carries out stock takes and food rotation procedures under the supervision of the Head Chef.
• Controls portion size and monitors wastage as directed by the Head Chef.
• Inspects dishes for quality, temperature and attractiveness before serving.
• Maintains records relating to food production activities and supplies information as required by the Restaurant Manager and Head Chef.
• Prepares and participates in special functions, which may be outside normal working hours.
• Have a hands-on approach for all Kitchen staff and to get involved in many aspects i.e. cleaning duties etc
• Report any issues with food quality and freshness to the Head Chef / Restaurant Manager
• Follow the Stock Labelling and Rotation System to ensure the products are identifiable and used in the correct order
• Help to establish the Kitchen area as a positive work environment for all

Where required:

• Deputises for the Head Chef
• Responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the Kitchen and staff in the absence of the Head Chef
• Responsible for ensuring all kitchen staff are preparing and presenting quality food and all final products leaving the kitchen are at the Company Standard
• Completes opening and closing procedures for the Kitchen
• Direct staff as required to ensure all operational tasks are completed safely and efficiently
• Ensure daily administration records are complete, accurate and passed to the Head Chef on his return
• Ensure all kitchen staff comply fully with Statutory and Company Regulations concerning the hygiene, health and safety of staff, food and equipment.
• Deal with staff issues that may arise on a day-to-day basis in the kitchen and to communicate these to the HC on their return
• Ensure that all ongoing training for all kitchen staff is implemented accordingly
• Ensure staff are filling their specific job requirements, delegating or directing where necessary

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV, quoting reference #6902 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is looking for an exerienced manager to head up their domestic landscaping division. As the General Manager of this unit you will report to the Sales and Marketing Director and will be responsible for the general running of that division.

Areas of specific responsibility.

The General Manager will:

• With the Sales and Marketing Director and the Managing Director, agree an annual budget for the division that is achievable and in-line with the aspirations of the Company.
• Working with the Sales and Marketing Director, agree a Marketing Plan for the division that is capable of generating the level of sales expected for the division.
• Be responsible for the financial control of the Division in line with the Division’s budget.
• Act as the first point of contact for all enquiries received by the Division.
• Where appropriate, arrange for design and costing skills to be contracted in by the Division in response to such enquiries.
• Ensure that an appropriate, costed, quotation is provided by the Division in reply to each enquiry received.
• Ensure that all such quotations maintain the Division’s expectation of margin on labour and materials costs
• Co-ordinate and control the Division’s labour resource to ensure that work is carried out in a timely and efficient manner, in line with the costings relating to each job.
• Ensure that the purchasing of materials is controlled and in line with the costed budget for each job undertaken
• Ensure that adequate records are kept to allow complete control of all work undertaken and that such record keeping is acceptable to the Company’s Finance Director.
• Ensure that staff working within the Division do so in accordance with the Company’s policies, including those of Health and Safety and Environment.
• Ensure that all machinery and equipment used by the Division is used and maintained safely and responsibly and in accordance with any related policies of the Company, including those of Health and Safety
• Ensure that all staff disciplinary issues are conducted in accordance with the Company’s employment policies
• Ensure that all staff working for the Division do so in a way that will uphold the good reputation of the Company.

Person Specification.

Suitable candidates will have experience in:

• The practical aspects of landscape construction
• Compiling quotations for landscaping projects
• Management of staff in landscape construction
• Cost control in a management position
• Face to face negotiate and discussion with clients

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Basic understanding of business finance and familiarity with Profit and Loss accounts.
• Strong management and organizational skills
• Good communication skills
• Understanding of the high quality standards required of high-end domestic contracting 
• The ability to work well with colleagues and other members of the management team in a larger organization.

.  Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV, quoting reference #6861 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client runs a small design and build landscaping company that also carry out garden maintenance of the landscapes that they build and due to expansion of the business they are now looking for an experienced Hard & Soft Landscape Operative

Working on residential and commercial throughout Kent. As an experienced Hard Landscape Operative you would be responsible for carrying out a wide range of manual landscaping duties under the guidance and direct supervision of the person you are responsible to.

Whilst you will generally be working with others you will at times need to work under your own initiative without close supervision. The work is physically demanding and you would be working outside in all weathers.

We have teams that undertake hard landscape works, soft landscape works and grounds maintenance operations. The contracts that we undertake are very varied and the industry is seasonal by nature and so whilst you will primarily be involved in hard landscape works, there are likely to be occasions when you will be required to undertake soft landscaping and garden maintenance.

KEY TASKS

At all times: 

• Promoting the company's professional image on site and working in accordance with the Company Health and Safety Policy.
• Work to a high standard without constant supervision.

The key tasks of the position can be broadly summarised as follows:

• Hard Landscaping
• Undertaking minor demolition works.
• Assisting in the construction of stone or brick walls, retaining structures, laying kerbs, timber edgings, setts, slabs, stone paths/surfacing's, concrete slabs etc.
• Erection of various garden structures
• Assisting in the erection of various types of fences and timber structures
• Assisting in the installation of land drainage and surface water drainage systems
• You may be required to use a wide range of power tools such as disc saws, drills etc. and to operate many different items of plant including mini excavators, dumpers, rollers and the like whilst undertaking the above works.

Soft Landscape Works

• The cultivation and preparation of ground for turfing, seeding or planting.
• Taking delivery of and planting trees, shrubs, ground cover and herbaceous plants.
• Mulching planted areas with bark, mushroom compost, manure or similar materials.
• Completing turfing and seeding works.
• Lawn mowing
• Hedge cutting
• General garden maintenance

Working Hours

• The basic working hours are 08:00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday with a half an hour lunch break (unpaid) and a 15 minute unpaid morning and afternoon break.

Experience Required

• Ideally the successful applicant will have gained previous experience within the landscape industry however applications will be welcomed from candidates who have gained relevant experience through working for building, groundwork's or civil engineering contractors.
• training and qualification is hard landscape, patios, paving and fencing

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV, quoting reference #6832 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Stewarts Rising Star is “a great guy and this is doing him a lot of good.”  That’s the verdict from Stewarts Garden Centres MD, Martin Stewart when interviewed by GTN Xtra about their Rising Star finalist Matthew Fay. “It’s given him a focus, it’s got his adrenalin pumping at times and it’s made him think.  It’s growing him you can see that already.”

Matthew himself says that he was a shy and quiet person when he was nominated for Rising Stars by Stewarts Head of Retail and Marketing, Terry Head.  “I was slightly nervous, I wasn’t too sure what to expect,” he said while giving us a tour of the impressive Garden Shop at Stewarts in Christchurch.  “Out of everything from Rising Stars, my confidence has now gone up by 100%; I’m really pleased about that.

Matthew Fay joined Stewarts from college 9 years ago.  With a background studying Geography and Geology at A level and an interest in horticulture he sent his CV into the garden centre business and they created a role for him as and assistant in garden sundries.  Since then he has grown through outdoor stoneware, onto Garden Shop Supervisor with a staff of 5 reporting to him and has now been pushed on as a Duty Manager as well.

Matthew has worked at Stewarts through good and bad gardening seasons but told GTN Xtra that after the changes implemented as a result of rising stars; “it’s been our best season to date, certainly the best in five years and at the moment we’ve gone past the barrier for a record year for Garden Shop.”

“The whole team were behind me and the new ideas have been implemented without any problems.  My manager, Duncan Witt, supported me so it’s all gone smoothly well.”

The things that Matthew feel have helped the most from Rising Stars are that tutor Ian Boardman “has given us a whole fresh base on ideas; all of the new techniques have really helped. Ian is very positive the course wouldn’t be the same without him.”

From a personal development point of view it’s the travelling away to the course that has really helped Matthew grow: “The best part of the course is the night away meeting all the other Rising Stars and looking in other garden centres.”

Both Matthew and Martin Stewart are keen to encourage other garden centres to enter their Rising Stars in the future.  “I would say hurry up and get your name down. It has certainly helped me and for anyone else it will certainly help too,” said Matthew.

Martin Stewart added: “I suppose you’ve got to ask yourself the question – if you haven’t got someone who you think would benefit from Rising Stars then you probably need to go and find that person.  We were very lucky to have Matt aboard and he deserves this chance and this break but I’d say to anyone find your best young talent and put them on it and if you haven’t got someone who is suitable then perhaps you ought to go and find someone that you could do it for.”

“At the end of the day we’re quite insular businesses so where do you go to help develop people?  You can give them lots of experience and training here in the garden centre.  But I have to say, what Westland have done has been perfect it’s just been a great way of helping grow some natural talent.”

Matthew, along with the other four finalists for 2014, will be presenting at the GCA Conference in January.  Delegates will then be able to vote for the winner of Rising Stars 2014.



The five finalists of the Garden Centre Association Rising Stars Programme, sponsored by Westland Horticulture, are: Kirsty Clark (Perrywood GC), Matthew Fay (Stewarts Garden-Lands, Christchurch), Lisa Waim (Haskins Snowhill), Hannah Mason (Chessington) and Cerys Williams (Perrywood) have all made it through to the final challenge, where they will present at the GCA Conference in Chester on 26 January. The overall winner will be chosen by conference delegates.

The results are the culmination of an eight month programme in which candidates attended three merchandising Masterclasses run by IBBIS director and training facilitator Ian Boardman. Thanks to Ian’s efforts, many of the Rising Stars went on to increase sales in their departments by keeping hotspots fresh, creating clear signage and organising themed displays throughout the year.

Ian Boardman said: “All the Rising Stars who took part in the programme were top notch and I’d like to thank every single one of them for their efforts and praise them for the progress they have made. The results of their achievements in their workplace prove they are all stars in their own right!”

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture said: “On behalf of Westland I’d like to congratulate the Rising Stars finalists for getting this far. We now face a very exciting GCA conference final where delegates will get the chance to vote for the winner – Rising Star of the Year 2014.”

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie said: “The five finalists have some really exciting presentations prepared for delegates. It is always the highlight of the GCA conference and this year will definitely not disappoint.”

Twenty-eight of the most aspiring young representatives of the horticultural industry kicked off the Rising Stars Programme earlier this year.

The original list of 28 was whittled down to 10 in September before the final five were chosen.

GTN Xtra will be featuring a spotlight on all five over the coming weeks.

Weed out the competition with Resolva 

Let your sales go from strength to strength with Resolva, which has the complete range of weedkilling products.

Resolva Powerpump and Resolva Liquid Shots will be launched to consumers in January, alongside existing Ready To Use and Concentrates formats.

Resolva 24H Power Pump is the ideal product for controlling large areas of weeds with ease. With 5 minutes’ controllable spraying, a dual action trigger (spray or jet) and an easy store wand and hose, it makes the task of weed-killing even easier! What’s more, it uses Resolva’s unique formulation, which means it combines the speed of a contact weedkiller, showing results in 24 hours, as well as having the ability to kill weeds deep down to the root. Resolva 24H Power Pump 5L also has a refill pack available.

Resolva Liquid Shots have been specifically developed to offer gardeners an easier way to apply concentrated weedkiller. Pre-dosed with just the right amount of weedkiller for a 10L watering can, there’s no mess and no measuring, giving consumers peace of mind that they are not over-dosing. Resolva Liquid Shots boast a unique formulation which delivers an increased intake of the weedkiller, faster absorption by the weed and complete leaf coverage – meaning great  results every time! Killing the weed to the root. It also delivers visible results within just 24 hours.

Find out more from your Westland sales representative or by logging onto the Westland trade website http://trade.gardenhealth.com/

Contains diquat and glyphosate. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

There are signs in the GTN Bestsellers Christmas Products chart that shoppers are beginning to get into the festive spirit.

Volumes of products sold are 18% higher than the previous week although they are still lagging behind the same period of the previous two years. 

History & Heraldry hold on to the three top spots in the chart, with the Spinning Tree Decoration (pictured) on top of the tree.

Other notable performances:

• Highest chart re-entry at No 16 is Gisela Graham Red and Green Star Tree in Pot.
• Festive Filligree Bird on Clip is the highest new entry.
• Gisella Graham Robin Paper Ball is the highest chart climber, up from No 47 to 27. 

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Compost sales were down on the previous week’s high levels but encouragingly still ahead of the same period in 2012 (+56%) and 2013 (+8%).  

The highest re-entry in this week’s GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart was Vital Earth Organic Compost (50 litres) at No 21.

Other star performers this week include:

• Scotts Levington Multipurpose Compost with John Innes (55 litres) is the highest climber, jumping 42 places to No 7.
• Scotts also have two products returning to the Top 50 bestselling items – Organic Choice Top Soil (25 litres) and Multi Purpose Compost (50 litres).
• Westland Mini Bark (50 litres) is another strong performer, returning to the chart at No 44.
• Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost (56 litres) retains the No 1 position.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Hannah Mason started her garden centre career as a member of the Sunday Team at Chessington Garden Centre.  Now she is one of five finalists in the Garden Centre Association Rising Stars Programme, sponsored by Westland Horticulture.

Hannah joined Chessington 3 years ago on the tills as part of the Sunday Team and then became full time in the shop.  A year ago she became shop supervisor for all gardening items - chemicals, compost, pots, tools, etc – and is responsible for a team of 3 during the week and up to 10 at the weekend. 

Nominated for Rising Stars by her MD, Jolyon Martin, Hannah told GTN Xtra; “it was a big surprise when I was selected.  I don’t work with him day to day so it was a shock, but a nice shock.”

Jolyon says that different thinking as a key benefit of the Rising Stars programme as a result of Hannah’s involvement.  “Us oldies can get quite boring.  We get staid in our ways and the youngsters coming through have a different way of thinking.  As long as we embrace their ideas they will be empowered and move forward with the business.  If we ignore them they will just leave.”

Hannah has grown in confidence during the course of the Rising Stars programme.  “The scheme has really helped me.  I’ve learned a lot from it and it’s made me think outside the box and learn to think more about what the customer sees.  A year ago I wouldn’t have been able to ask my boss to do these things, let alone now think of these ideas and have him say yes to them.”

“I’m looking forward to presenting my action plan and results at the GCA Conference.  Customers have found it easier to shop the categories I’ve worked on and after some scepticism from other departments my colleagues all agreed “it looks good.”

If anyone is undecided about entering Rising Stars next year, Hannah says:  “Do it.  It’s been so much fun to have ideas, be able to do them and to realise that if I like the look of something and it’s good, then customers will like it too.”

Jolyon has no doubt about the value of the scheme:  “Put them forward and they will benefit.  You will see the team grow.”

Hannah, along with the other four finalists for 2014, will be presenting at the GCA Conference in January.  Delegates will then be able to vote for the winner of Rising Stars 2014.



The five finalists of the Garden Centre Association Rising Stars Programme, sponsored by Westland Horticulture, are: Kirsty Clark (Perrywood GC), Matthew Fay (Stewarts Garden-Lands, Christchurch), Lisa Waim (Haskins Snowhill), Hannah Mason (Chessington) and Cerys Williams (Perrywood) have all made it through to the final challenge, where they will present at the GCA Conference in Chester on 26 January. The overall winner will be chosen by conference delegates.

The results are the culmination of an eight month programme in which candidates attended three merchandising Masterclasses run by IBBIS director and training facilitator Ian Boardman. Thanks to Ian’s efforts, many of the Rising Stars went on to increase sales in their departments by keeping hotspots fresh, creating clear signage and organising themed displays throughout the year.

Ian Boardman said: “All the Rising Stars who took part in the programme were top notch and I’d like to thank every single one of them for their efforts and praise them for the progress they have made. The results of their achievements in their workplace prove they are all stars in their own right!”

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture said: “On behalf of Westland I’d like to congratulate the Rising Stars finalists for getting this far. We now face a very exciting GCA conference final where delegates will get the chance to vote for the winner – Rising Star of the Year 2014.”

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie said: “The five finalists have some really exciting presentations prepared for delegates. It is always the highlight of the GCA conference and this year will definitely not disappoint.”

Twenty-eight of the most aspiring young representatives of the horticultural industry kicked off the Rising Stars Programme earlier this year.

The original list of 28 was whittled down to 10 in September before the final five were chosen.

GTN Xtra will be featuring a spotlight on all five over the coming weeks.

Planting even more magic for 2015

FOR guaranteed planting success, look no further than Gro-Sure® Planting Magic!

Planting Magic was the first of its kind to market and helped reinvigorate the plant food category. New for 2015 is a 700g bag, enough for 20 handfuls to tempt new consumers.

Gro-Sure is also delighted to announce that an increased investment of £1 million will be spent on TV advertising for 2015. The TV advert, featuring the much-loved Charlie Dimmock shows consumers just how easy it is to use Planting Magic to deliver spectacular results!

Containing the perfect mix of fast acting and slow release feeds, seaweed for soil conditioning, plus special moisture controlling granules to give new plants the best possible start for spectacular results. It goes on looking after plants for the whole season, so roses, trees, shrubs, bedding, herbaceous plants and even fruits and vegetables will flourish.

Appealing to all consumers and driving link sales through a range of innovative outdoor and indoor point of sale, it’s already one of the leading plant feeds in the UK*

*GfK Panelmarket GB, Plant Fertilisers, Jan–Jun 2014 Hitlist, Sales Value

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 2012 as well as 2013 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, 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 Christmas 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.