Roundup's £2m communications campaign already paying off

Roundup are reporting huge increases in sales as their £2 million consumer communications campaign is now well underway.

And GTN Bestsellers can confirm that the main focus of the campaign – Roundup Gel – has had a particular good sales week as it moves up to second in the Garden Products chart...

The campaign is aimed at gaining high presence on National TV, in national newspapers, gardening press, and online advertising and search.

The results are already showing, with a huge increase in sales, which has no doubt also been boosted by the spell of warmer weather.

The campaign will be focusing primarily on the award winning Roundup Gel, which was launched in 2011, and delivered record sales throughout 2012.

A refreshed Pump ‘N Go advert will also be running throughout the prime gardening season, showcasing the product as well as the cost-effective Pump N Go refill.

The Roundup Academy - a web based training programme designed to provide retail staff in garden centres and retailers with a better understanding of weed control - has now been launched for 2013.

Roundup have also produced a new website offering a refreshed, modern and clean look and making it easy for customers to navigate and find what they are searching for.

The brand is also adding consumer engagement activity to it's multimillion pound campaign with a presence at five major gardening shows.

The sun shone over the Bank Holiday, enticing gardeners to get down to their local garden centre for those all important purchases for a weekend of action on their lawns, veg plots and flower borders.

Tim Greenway, Director of Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire, captured the positive mood.

“As at the close of business on Sunday, we were back to trading levels of the May Bank Holiday in 2011 which was excellent,” he said. “Plant sales have really taken off and high ticket furniture and outdoor leisure have been selling well. We’ve been waiting for this for almost a year now.”

That’s great news although the GTN Bestsellers data suggests that there is still ground to make up on 2011 levels.

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

• Garden Products – up 93%
• Veg-2-Gro – up 81%
• Growing Media – up 97%
• All items index – up 71%

Mr Blueberry is not only a bestseller in the UK – topping the GTN Veg-2-Gro chart last week and securing No 16 spot this week – it is also popular across Europe.

It is a bestseller in the Czech Republic and also attracts good sales in Scandinavia, Germany and Austria.

“The 3-pack seems to sell well in these countries as well as the UK,” Ruud Streng, from Mr Blueberry, told GTN Bestsellers.

“Another speciality of ours is Mr. Blueberry plants in 2 and 3 litre pots, which are full of fruit. (see pictures)

“We sold a lot of them last year to several costumers in the UK. These are of course only available during the months of July and August.”

Email info@mrblueberry.com

It’s a case of feed, weed and illuminate at the top of the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart this week, as gardeners finally get busy on their plots

The top three products in the chart are:

1. Scotts Levington Tomorite

2. Roundup Weedkiller Gel

3. Gardman Ice Orb Solar Light

There are several weed and feed lawn products selling well at the moment with Westland Lawn Feed Weed and Moss Killer the higherst placed at No 5.

Evidence that young plants are starting to make steady growth comes in the form of the highest chart climber this week. Gardman Bamboo Canes (pack of 10 2.4 metre length canes) moves up 19 places to No 12.

And Bosmere’s Sweet Pea  and Bean Ring has had a  50% increase in sales to rise 14 places to No 15.

The highest re-entry is Westland Resolva 24H Ready to Use, which returns at No 22.

Other re-entries include:

• Gardman Hanging Basket Easy Liner (30cm) at No 33.
• Gardman Solar Mosaic Border Lights at No 35.
• Stewart Growbag Tray, black, re-enters at No 45.
• Scotts Verdone Extra Spot Weeder at No 48.

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

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business.  Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.

Sales of tomato plants are dominating the Veg-2-Gro Bestseller chart this week with nine varieties in the top 10.

Gardeners Kitchen have secured the leading six places with Gardeners Delight re-entering the chart at No 1. Their other varieties are Moneymaker, Sweet Millions, Sungold (the highest climber, moving up 32 places to No 4), Tomato Totem and Tumbling Yellow.

Quantil’s Tomato Superweet 100, 8cm, is the highest new entry at No 24. In total there are 18 tomato items in the top 50.

The only non-tomato product in the top 10 is Sutton’s Grafted Chilli Pepper F1 Medina at No 8, while Gardeners Kitchen Cucumber Telegraph and Pepenex have sold well, grabbing Nos 14 and 19 respectively.

Joining Vigo Rosemary in the chart this week are Floréac Herb Origanum 14 cm at No 38 and Rosemarinus Prostratus 14 cm at No 39. Is this a new trend appearing in garden centres with customers buying bigger herb plants?

Quantil Courgette Golden 8cm is also a newcomer at No 42.

Last week’s bestseller, Mr Blueberry Tri-Pack is still in the chart but has slipped 15 places.

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

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business.  Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.

The Trials Grounds at Ball Colegrave (seen here last year) have been given a refreshing 'new look' for this year's Trade Summer Showcase.

"There has never been a more important time than now to seek out new ideas, explore innovation and embrace change," said a company spokesperson.

"So we have taken the lead with our Trials Grounds and given the site a refreshing ‘new look’, to make it more informative and a greater source of inspiration for all our customers."

What will visitors see during the Summer Showcase?

"For starters, the area dedicated to experimental patio plants has doubled in space so you can see more of what your varieties will look like in the future, new pathways lead to visionary vertical plant displays and additional planting recipes provide heaps of inspiration for the more creatively minded.

"And the rest? Well you will have to come and see for yourself!"

Throughout the open days there will be a daily presentation on New 2014 Varieties and always a friendly face to demonstrate services such as WebTrack, the company's popular online ordering service.

The Summer Showcase is open week days from Monday 15th July to Friday 2nd August from 9am to 5pm

To book your visit contact Customer Services on 01295 811833, email info@ballcolegrave.com or visit www.ballcolegrave.co.uk to book in online.

FlowerTrials 2013, set to take place from 11-14 June, will see the doors open at the Syngenta Seeds Young Plant Production Centre in De Lier, The Netherlands.

The FloriPro Services location will host an exciting event that provides a complete overview of existing, new and future assortment of pot and bedding plants.

This year's showcasesees 41 companies including Syngenta FloriPro Services host an exciting event that provides a complete overview of existing, new and future assortment of pot and bedding plants.

The main theme of FlowerTrials2013 is Closer to you, which symbolises Syngenta FloriPro Services'dedication to be ‘close to the grower’ with its commitment to offering a high-quality distribution service and industry-leading genetics.

The extensive selection of new varieties will include annuals grown from seed and cuttings as also a special area devoted to Pelargoniums. 

Attendees can look forward to speaking directly with experts and also take site tours around the Young Plant Distribution Production (tours are strictly first come first served).

"FlowerTrials 2013 is a unique four-day event that brings all the industry professionals together to share experiences, knowledge and ideas.  It is also a great opportunity for us to showcase what we have to offer and respond to a constantly evolving marketplace," says Jodie Vale, Marketing Manager FloriPro Services.

More information about FlowerTrials 2013, and how to take part, can be found at http://www.flowertrials.com/.

A team from Thompson & Morgan has raised close to £3,000 for the charity Greenfingers by successfully completing the Grand East Anglia Run. It brings the total raised to over £45,000.

The annual 10k run is set in King’s Lynn and is a one lap course around this historic Norfolk town, starting and finishing in the picturesque market place.

Among the 1,500 runners taking part in the run were Thompson & Morgan employees Craig Simpson, Paul Sauntson, Mark Tibbenham, Martin Fox, Louise Girling and husband and wife team, Paul and Ruth Hansord.

Once all the money pledged is collected, the team will have raised around £3,000 through sponsorship by friends, family, work colleagues and suppliers.

"It was quite a challenge as the North Norfolk sun was beating down pretty hard on Sunday morning," said horticultural director, Paul Hansord, "but we’re really pleased to be able to send another cheque to Greenfingers."

Thompson & Morgan has already raised over £45,000 for Greenfingers. The charity has recently created a garden at the Children’s Hospice in Thompson & Morgan’s home town of Ipswich as part of its Treehouse Appeal.

Thompson & Morgan has raised money for Greenfingers through cake sales, staff-sponsored events and competitions, as well as a number of plant sales.

Anyone wishing to boost the final total can do so by visiting the JustGiving page http://www.justgiving.com/ThompsonMorgan

Pictured above, from left to right: Louise Girling, Craig Simpson, Ruth Hansord, Paul Sauntson, Paul Hansord, Martin Fox and Mark Tibbenham.

The Garden Centre Association have announced that the annual conference will take place from January 26 until 29, 2014 at a new venue.
The annual event has been held at the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park for the past three years but the 2014 conference will see a change of location.

Iain Wylie, interim Chief Executive of the GCA, explained: “We wanted to announce the date of our next conference as soon as possible so people can make sure they get it in their diaries.

“We’re really excited to have found a new venue too and thought it would be more fun to get people to guess where it is rather than reveal the location straight away.

“During the next few months we will be releasing clues about the venue and asking people to submit their guesses. The first 12 people to get it right will receive a bottle of champagne in their room at the conference.”

More than 300 delegates from the nation’s leading garden centres, including independents and chains, are expected to attend the annual GCA Conference.

Iain added: “As always our conference will provide delegates with pertinent information on key aspects of the garden centre industry to assist members in achieving their business goals.

“The information shared will focus on a wide range of topics, including merchandising, marketing and management.”

Cash-strapped Brits could be sitting on a small fortune as new research reveals the contents of an average garden shed is worth more than two thousand pounds.

The study by discount shopping site, NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, found that the typical household had roughly £2080 worth of goods sitting at the bottom of their garden.

Families could rake in a small fortune just by selling their shed’s contents -  possibly enough to buy a second hand car or even pay for a holiday.

However, the poll also revealed that almost a third of us (29%) are careless enough not to put a lock on our sheds.

The study gave respondents a list of items frequently found in a garden shed and asked how much they had spent on them. An average of these spends was then taken.

Unsurprisingly the most valuable pieces to be found were bicycles, with families often stowing away £600 worth in their shed.

Garden tools proved to be the next most expensive items, generally costing home owners more than £450 in total. This was followed by garden furniture roughly costing £350 and lawnmowers on around £250.

Scooters and other children’s toys were among the other expensive items which end up being stored in our sheds, costing on average £230. 

Other items such as sun loungers, garden chemicals, pressure washers, seeds, bird food and hoses brought the total figure to a staggering £2076.

A spokesperson from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk commented: “Most of us don’t realise it, but many of us are actually sitting on a shed load of money.

“With the cost of gardening going up, I’m not surprised that the potential hedge (trimmer) fund is over two thousand pounds, however I doubt many of us would cash in our shed.

“Now we know how much potential cash there is just sitting in our sheds, hopefully more of us will consider putting a lock on it.”

One respondent commented: “My garden shed is an absolute tip, I don’t know how it could be worth all that money. The next time I am short for a bit of cash, I’ll know where to go.”

Another woman who took part in the study commented: “Our shed is my husband’s pride and joy. In fact, he probably spends more time fiddling in there than he does helping me in the garden.” 

Results (Rounded to the nearest £)

• Lawnmower - £247
• Bikes - £613
• Scooter - £96
• Garden table / chairs - £348
• Sun loungers - £45
• Garden tools – £454
• Garden chemicals – £62
• Seeds - £11
• Bird food - £8
• Pressure washer – £106
• Hose – £40
• Kids toys – £108

Total - £2076

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.

New for this year, every week we'll 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 £120.00 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.

Growing media sales continue to grow with 41 of the top 50 in the GTN Bestsellers chart showing increases.

But despite an encouraging Bank Holiday, volumes are still lagging behind 2011 figures. There is definitely potential for more positive sales in the coming weeks.

Scotts Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Premium Garden Soil, 25 litres, takes the highest new entry accolade this week, coming into the chart at No 33, while Westland Multipurpose with Moisture Control, 50 litres, is the highest re-entry at No 45.

See the full GTN Growing Media Bestsellers Chart here.  Subscribers Only

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business.  Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.

Bookies William Hill have slashed the price of May containing the hottest day of 2013 from 12/1 to 8/1 after a flurry of betting activity. It is also 12/1 that temperatures hit 30F during the month of May.

And if there is a hot spell, the chances of a hosepipe ban will increase – the odds are currently 10/1 that there is a ban in any region in the UK.

"We may just see the hottest day of the year this month,”said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.
  
Which month will have the hottest UK day of 2013: 8/1 May, 3/1 June, 7/4 July, 9/4 August, 6/1 September, 25/1 October

Hosepipe Ban 2013: anywhere in UK: 10/1; Anglia Water: 16/1; Thames Water: 16/1.

A planning inquiry deciding the fate of Hare Hatch Sheeplands Garden Centre may be postponed after a key witness fell ill.

Wokingham Borough Council has requested the hearing of an appeal against its enforcement notice issued to Hare Hatch Sheeplands near Twyford be postponed.

The inquiry was scheduled for Tuesday however the council does not expect its main witness will make a full recovery before the opening.

The garden centre is accused of 15 planning breaches on green belt land.

Owner Rob Scott has said the business would be forced to close, signalling the loss of more than 100 jobs, if it loses the appeal.

The next generation of solar-powered battery products has been developed, lighting up gardeners’ worlds up and down the UK.

Bristol Batteries, a UK distributor and manufacturer,  has invested heavily in maturing and developing a range of solar powered products, which are being used for off-Grid lighting, particularly garden sheds and allotments.

The next-generation solar products are much more efficient than many of the first wave of solar- panels that hit the market a few years ago.

Bristol Batteries has developed three different sizes of solar-power kits, for different needs and has also innovated to develop fencer-kit fittings for farmers and those with small holdings, enabling them to install an electric fence anywhere and use the battery and solar power to keep the electricity flowing and livestock contained. 

Graham Bultitude, managing director, Bristol Batteries said: “Solar power is so versatile now: it makes sense to power batteries using it wherever possible, and many are starting to wake up to the advantages. If anything, we expect the enthusiasm and take-up we’ve already seen for these products to grow in the years ahead.”

The company is continually investing in new technologies and innovations in this competitive market space. Advances in the energy industry are happening daily and Bristol Batteries’ other pace-setting products include start-stop and nickel-metal hydride batteries as well as the solar panels.

‘Prepare for the threats of tomorrow’, is the call to action behind theUK Plant Biosecurity Conference taking place on 30 May at FERA’s headquarters near York.

Interest in the event is building fast with the following businesses among those already booked to attend: Alba Trees, Christie Elite Nurseries, Dukeswood Nursery, Fargro, Frank P Matthews, J & A Growers, Johnsons of Whixley, Oakover Nurseries, Trees Please, Wee Tree Wholesale Nurseries and Wyevale Nurseries.

Following the current issues surrounding biosecurity and the changes to plant-health regulation, the conference aims to identify an action plan for both regulators and the industry; the proposal being to minimise the threat to the UK environment whilst developing a strong and thriving UK production industry.

Organised in association with Confor and supported by HDC and Fera, the day will be structured around 3 core discussions: understanding the threats; learning the lessons and where to go from here. A range of academic, policy and industry views on how better to prepare the UK against future plant health threats will feature throughout.

Defra Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Lord de Mauley, will open the conference followed by Oliver Rackham OBE who will present his thoughts on the importance of trees within the environment, their current health status and why protecting this matters so much.

A Life Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and an acknowledged authority on the British countryside, especially trees, woodlands and wood pasture, Rackham has written a number of well-known books, including The History of the Countryside and one on Hatfield Forest. 

Further speakers who include top plant health officials, Julie Hitchcock and Martin Ward from Defra, will look at the lessons from the Chalara outbreak and the future for the UK Plant Health policy. Martin Ward also joins an expert panel that will explore industry and Government views of what went wrong and how to prevent a future incident.

Additional breakout sessions will focus on the two distinct plant supply chains of forestry and amenity/retail exploring the depth of issues within each sector.

The day’s content is relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including growers, retailers, landowners, local authorities and contractors, as well as policy makers. It will be a unique occasion for them to join with regulators and NGOs to present their concerns as well as potential solutions and shape future regulation of the sector.

Book your places online today or complete and return the booking form to the HTA Events Team. For further information please contact the HTA Events Team by emailing events@the-hta.org.uk or calling 0118 9303132.

More than 600 B&Q employees in Ireland had their jobs saved today as the High Court approved the examiner's recommendations for the Kingfisher-owned retailer.

The scheme will see more than €2.4m in fresh investment from Kingfisher, and will mean B&Q Ireland continues to trade at eight stores countrywide. 

The decision was taken for B&Q Ireland to enter examinership at the end of January this year, following several loss-making results. The group's rescue plan involved the closure of its Waterford store on May 4, meaning 147 job losses. 

Four further stores were also potentially under threat, including B&Q Athlone, but have now been saved following the examiner's agreement. 

Chairman of B&Q Ireland Brian Mooney praised staff at the retailer for their professional maintenance of standards and service during the challenging times.

"B&Q Ireland employees have had a challenging three months, and so today's encouraging plan is a great relief. There is huge regret that the Waterford store was not viable, but, for the rest of the business, we look confidently forward to a sustainable future. We are more committed than ever to our operations in Ireland, and our loyal customers and employees," said Mr Mooney. 

The company's difficulties were due to the deterioration of the economy and unsustainable rents, the B&Q Irish boss added. 

"Throughout the last few months our customers have shown us a fantastic level of support, which we really appreciate. B&Q Ireland is about providing the best home improvement service, and fresh innovative products and services, and we could not do this without a great employee team and loyal customers.

To honour the famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show and its 100th anniversary, London restaurant Le Cercle has created an inventive 5 course menu inspired by the vibrant horticultural displays and showcasing the very best of Spring ingredients.

The French restaurant will treat gardening enthusiasts from the 21^st May 2013 with a blooming tasting menu at £39.50.

Mike Gray, Head Chef, says: “As a neighbour of the London's Royal Hospital Gardens, Le Cercle has always been a popular stop for visitors. This year, we combined seasonal food such as asparagus, and flowers to create a hearty floral themed meal.”

A selection of fragrant wines has also been chosen to accompany each dish.

The flowery feast will include:

Floral Gin cocktail on arrival

in association with Bloom Gin

***

White asparagus, gladiola and raspberry dressing

Mas Delmas "Marie Delmas", Muscat sec, Côtes Catalanes, 2011

***

Home-cured salmon with violet tea oil and citrus relish

Château La Coste, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Rose d'Une Nuit, 2011

***

Guinea fowl, garden peas, verbena and tulip

Patrick Corbineau, Chinon, 2008

***

Brillat-Savarin, hibiscus crumble and pickled grapes

Château Moulin-Caresse, Sauvignon Sec, Bergerac, 2011

***

Chocolate tart and lavender ice cream

Gourmandise, Domaine Coston, 2010

Available from 21^st May until 25^th May 2013 for lunch and dinner at £39.50 or £64.50 with sommelier wine pairing.

Cuckmere Trug Company, makers of the genuine Sussex Trug baskets, have appointed their first three sales agents in South East.

John Self (above left) will represent the company in East Anglia, Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire as far north as Lincoln.

Roger Parsons (above right) will cover Dorset, Hampshire, west of the M3 corridor and Wiltshire.

Cuckmere will be looking to appoint an agent for Kent, Sussex, Surrey, South London and Hampshire east of the M3 corridor.

In order to improve customer service and relationship the company are in the process of engaging sales agents throughout the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

Cuckmere Trugs make the original Royal Sussex Traditional Garden Trugs as invented by Thomas Smith in 1829 and the South Down Contemporary Trug in their own workshops in rural Sussex within the South Downs National Park.

Honda Power Equipment celebrates its 60th year of business around the world, based on the original spirit of the founder of Honda Motor, Soichiro Honda, to utilise technology to help people enjoy happier and easier lives.

Over this time, worldwide cumulative production of Honda Power Equipment products has exceeded 100 million units, delivering useful innovation to help millions of people across the world at home and work.

Honda Power Equipment was founded in 1953 with the release of the ‘H type’ general purpose engine, designed to reduce manual labour for farmers. Since then Honda has utilised its core technology, the engine, to gradually expand its line-up which now includes tillers, generators, outboard engines, water pumps, lawnmowers, snow throwers and most recently solutions for energy creation and conservation.

As the world’s largest engine manufacturer, Honda has always been at the forefront of engine development and innovation. Most notably it has for decades pioneered the use of four-stroke engines in power product markets heavily dominated by two-stroke machines. Some way ahead of its time, the company introduced the four-stroke G-Series range of mini power product engines in 1977, with the GX OHV series following in 1983. This pedigree continued into the nineties, as it does today, with the world’s first electronically-controlled general purpose engine, in 1995, and the world’s first 360 degree multi-directional 4-stroke engine, in 1997.

1959 saw the introduction of Honda’s first tiller, the FJ150, designed to reduce the workload of farmers and growers. In 1980 came the F200, which was to revolutionise the market and set a benchmark in usable, affordable and efficient domestic mini-tillers. Nicknamed ‘Komame’, translated as ‘small and cute’, the F200 sold 38,600 units in its first year. Today Honda produces the largest and most versatile range of tillers available, from micro models through to large rotary machines to meet the needs of even the most demanding user.

The launch of Honda’s first marine outboard engine, the GB30, in 1964, was once again evidence of Honda championing four-stroke engines in a predominantly two-stroke market. Industry-leading technologies developed over the years, including Honda’s unique BLAST (Boosted Low Speed Torque) system, lean burn control (high air-fuel combustion ratio) and VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Life Electronic Control) deliver market-leading performance with optimum fuel efficiency. 2001 saw the company launch the world’s largest 4-stroke outboard, the BF225, and today it offers a hugely comprehensive range from 2.3hp through to 250hp.

Honda remains to this day a leader in the delivery of portable power. As far back as 1964 the company launched its first micro-generator, the E40, followed a year later by the first portable model, the E300. Extensive research and development followed through the years, resulting in the launch of the world’s first generator featuring inverter technology, the EX300, in 1987, delivering more stable and consistent power in a small and light machine. Today Honda offers a broad line-up of generators, from its unrivalled ‘Handy’ portable range through to high performance industrial models. Featuring several unique technologies, including ‘Eco Throttle’ which automatically matches engine speed to load, Honda generators deliver the best fuel consumption on the market.

Building on its success in the domestic garden market with its early tillers, Honda launched its first pedestrian lawn mower, the HR21, in 1978. Further development came with the launch of its first Riding Mowers, the HT3810 and HT3813, in 1985. Today Honda offers a range of lawn mowers and handheld garden products to meet the needs of any user, coupling its reputation for durability and reliability with unique innovations including Roto Stop (blade brake clutch), Versamow (selective mulching) and OptiFlow (optimised airflow for superior collection performance). Most recently, in 2012, Honda complemented its Lawn & Garden range with the launch of Versatool, the company’s first split shaft brushcutter, which comprises an engine head and shaft to which a range of attachments can be added, offering ultimate versatility for a wide range of tasks in and around the garden all-year round.

In-keeping with its tradition of making people’s lives easier, 1980 saw Honda launch a solution to the common problem of battling the elements, with the introduction of its first snow thrower, the HS35. In 2001 came a real landmark in innovation when it launched the first hybrid model, the HS 390i, which sees the engine generate electricity to drive the travel unit while also driving the snow-throwing unit. This unique technology delivers optimum power to both auger and motor, by monitoring auger resistance and adjusting travelling speed accordingly to meet the demands of the job. Today Honda’s comprehensive range is capable of clearing from 35 tonnes to 150 tonnes of snow per hour, featuring several unique technologies to make Honda snow throwers the most usable, safe, high-performing and quietest on the market.

True to its long history of working towards a low-carbon society, the last decade has seen Honda make huge strides in developing products for energy conservation and creation. In 2003, its fiftieth year, the company launched its first compact household cogeneration unit, which combined a gas engine with Honda’s inverter generation technology to more efficiently power homes. September 2012 saw the beginning of the next chapter in Honda’s domestic cogeneration units, with the launch of a new MCHP (Micro Combined Heat & Power) system, the ECOWILL PLUS, powered by natural gas or LPG.

To the present day, 2012 saw the pan-European launch of Honda’s first commercial domestic robotic product, following some 30 years of development of ASIMO and its predecessors. Honda Miimo is an autonomous lawnmower which needs zero human interaction whilst working to give customers a beautiful lawn for every day of the mowing season.