Christmas has outsold growing media for the first time in October according to analysis of EPOS data by GTN Bestsellers. Whilst the GTN Growing Media Top 50 index was down by 18% for October year-on-year, the GTN Christmas Top 50 grew by 6% to outsell growing media by 18%.

The weather has certainly played it’s part in disappointing October gardening sales – too hot at the start of the month and then wet and windy towards half term – but clearly centres who got Christmas out on sale early have made the most of this key time for weatherproofing the business.

Or perhaps centres are selling less gardening and plants because customers are distracted by the Christmas offer? Bestsellers analyst Trevor Pfeiffer would love to hear what you think - email him here. 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 43

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 8%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 16%
• Wild Bird Care Products Top 50 – down 8%
• Christmas Products Top 50 – down 12%
• All Plants index – down 4%
• All Items index – down 1%