In This Issue
Shaw trust buy two centres from Hillview
Green Magic POS display products still bestsellers
Plant sales lead the way – up 456% compared to last year
Plant buyers in positive mood at Classiflora
Chief Executive sought for Brechin Garden Centre
Jane Lawler joins GCA’s team of inspectors
Vitax marches on with charity partnership
Date set for funeral of Michael Cooling
Scottish centre offers GYO Brexit Survival Kit!
Tree violet wins international accolade for Groves
Action needed to avoid costly bio-security breakdown
The Plant Pyramid returns to BBC Gardeners’ World Live
Trixie joins Pets at Glee 2019
CJ Wildlife launch organic seeds for gardeners
How this year's Garden Re-Leaf Day funds will be used
Challenges galore in another action-packed year for Greenfingers
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Garden product sales volumes up by 197%
Growing media growth matches plants
Wild Bird Care suffers because of lack of snow
Veg-2-Gro sales grow without The Beast
Bumper March start for young plant sales
Last chance to book your place at international trade event
Major new incentive for plant health research students
Furniture brand parent firm shortlisted for Sedex award
The best of last week's
Wyevale Garden Centres agrees sale of two garden centres - Barnett Hill and Seven Hills
February sets new sales records for garden centres
Newspan starts work on major Tong GC development
Wyevale Nurseries phases in recyclable plant pots
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Casual Dining wows restaurant sector at new venue
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Jane Lawler joins GCA’s team of inspectors

Jane Lawler has joined the GCA’s team of inspectors. Jane, who has more than 35 years’ experience in marketing and business development, will be responsible for inspecting member garden centres in North Thames, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Jane join Alyson Haywood, Michael Cole and Gordon Emslie on our team of inspectors.

 

“She will be integral in helping us to ensure consistency and raising standards through our membership and will visit approximately 40 of our members’ centres each spring, scoring each one to given criteria, using our detailed inspection form, and giving objective and honest feedback on what she has seen.

 

“She will also make presentations at our regional meetings and during our annual conference in 2020.

 

“The 2019 inspections for member garden centres commence on March 18 and the inspectors are out visiting them until June 14, so those in North Thames, Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect to see Jane soon.”

 

Jane began her career in horticultural field trials with Pan Britannica Industries Ltd and then went on to work in customer services, advisory roles and technical product development before expanding her interest in marketing.

 

She developed her business and marketing skills in the 1990s through Cranfield School of Management, Henley Management College, Irish Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. From 2008 she was Marketing Director with Gardman until 2013 when she left to establish her own business and marketing consultancy.

 

She said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to use my years of experience in the UK garden sector to support the GCA’s continued drive for excellence in garden centre retailing.

 

“I’ve seen from the outside how seriously members take the inspection and awards process and how it has contributed to continuous improvement in retail standards. So, I’m delighted to now have the opportunity to support and contribute to that process personally.”

 

Jane has run customer service teams, technical and regulatory development departments, international new product development groups and conceived and successfully launched online businesses. Some of her most notable achievements include the creation and development of brands for garden centre distribution in the UK and across Europe.

 

Jane is also the past Chair of Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) and the garden product committee of the Crop Protection Association (CPA). She also served on the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and Garden Industry Marketing Board (GIMB).

 

Mike Lind, GCA Chairman, said: “Jane is very knowledgeable about consumer insight and purchasing behaviour, so she is the ideal person to inspect our member garden centres for us and the knowledge and feedback she will pass on to our members will be extremely valuable, it’s great to have her on board.”

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