It hasn’t been the best of summers, but despite the weather Bents Garden & Home has bucked the industry trend for sales of outdoor plants. The Warrington based Centre can report figures which are not only ahead of the competition but are also almost 12% up on last year’s sales to date.These figures not only come following what has been a very mixed summer, but also despite a period of significant change for the Centre, having just completed the second phase of an extensive 18 month build programme which has seen both major infrastructure changes and additional retail space.
Despite all the growth and expansion that has taken place over the years Bents has never forgotten its roots as plant people; a business that began with a love of gardening when Alfred and Margaret Bent started growing roses from the front garden of their terraced house, just yards away from the Centre’s current location.
This love of gardening remains a central feature of the Centre’s success with its extensive on-site nursery operation demonstrating the commitment and passion it still has for plants.
Over 60% of all plants sold at Bents are grown and cared for on its on-site nursery where it focusses on varieties that are not as widely available on the open market and uses its expertise to grow bigger and stronger plants. Bedding, summer colour and perennials all feature strongly in a growing operation that has expanded exponentially in the past 10 years.
Taller perennials such as Lupins have been hugely successful this year, grown on a commercial scale allowing for larger, more established plants which have been a striking feature on the Plant Area and received extremely well by customers, with strong sales supporting this approach.
Says Mark Downton, Horticultural Operations Manager: “Almost 70% of all plants sold in the first six months of the year have come straight from our nursery, which would suggest that the amount of care and attention we invest in them prior to their journey to the shop floor has paid off.
“The growing operation is a very different set up to when the garden centre began. Now the variety on offer is vast, with shrubs, herbaceous, roses, bedding and perennials all having a place. But the dedication and commitment to plant care and quality has never changed. It’s one of the things we’re most proud of.”
