GCA members see standards and profitability improve
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The Garden Centre Association has revealed there were record numbers of members receiving highly commended awards and awards of merit after its annual inspections and these have helped drive standards and profitability.
Sixty-three garden centres received a highly commended title and 150 received awards of merit.
Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to see a record number of our members receiving the ‘Highly Commended’ award as a result of their excellent performance in our annual inspections.
“Our members tell us how beneficial the annual inspections are for them. As they don’t know when the inspections will be held it means they are always ‘on their toes’ in order to make sure everything is running to the highest level at all times. This ensures that customer service and retail standards are always of a high quality throughout the important spring trading period.
“If garden centres are scoring 75% or above, as well as increased standards, members will also see increased turnover and profitability, which is a real benefit of being part of the GCA. They can also benefit by using the awards for marketing their centres - in advertising, publicity, social media and on their websites - and this helps generate greater awareness and additional footfall.”
In order to receive an award of merit a garden centre must reach 80% or above in any given category in the inspections.
Iain added: “It is great to see more of our members receiving these awards and this is a clear indication that GCA membership is helping centres to improve year-on-year. Being an award-winning garden centre offers assurance to existing customers and helps to attract new customers too.”
The full list of garden centre association members to receive Highly Commended awards are:
Midlands:
Brigg Garden Centre
Evesham Garden Centre
Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne
Klondyke Group – Byrkley
Pacific Nurseries
Planters at Bretby
Planters at Tamworth
St Peter’s Garden Centre
Van Hage – Peterborough
Webbs of Wychbold.
North East:
Armitage’s Birchencliffe Garden Centre
Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre
Cowell’s Garden Centre
Langlands Garden Centre – Leeds
Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe.
North Thames:
Aylett Nurseries
Burston Rose & Garden Centre
Frosts at Woburn Sands
Perrywood Garden Centre
Poplars Nursery Garden Centre
Scotsdale Garden Centre
Squires Garden Centre – Shepperton
Squires Garden Centre – Twickenham
Squires Garden Centre – Windsor
Sunshine Garden Centre.
North West:
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Bents Home & Garden
Burleydam Garden Centre
Fairways Garden Centre – Macclesfield
Fron Goch Garden Centre
Gordale Garden Centre
Hayes Garden Centre
Klondyke Group – Wilmslow.
Northern Ireland:
Creative Gardens – Donaghadee.
Scotland:
Brechin Castle
Caulders
Garden Wise
Gouldings
Klondyke – Howdens
Klondyke – Mayfield
Mains of Drum
Raemoir
Simpsons Garden Centre.
South Thames:
Coolings Nurseries
Forest Lodge Garden Centre
Garsons Garden Centre – Esher
Garsons Garden Centre – Titchfield
Haskins Garden Centre – Ferndown
Haskins Garden Centre – Roundstone
Haskins Garden Centre – West End
Millbrook Garden Centre – Gravesend
Squires Garden Centre – Badshot Lea
Squires Garden Centre – Hersham
Squires Garden Centre – Long Ditton
Squires Garden Centre – Milford
Squires Garden Centre – West Horsley
Stewarts Garden Centre – Christchurch.
Wales & West:
Bernaville Nurseries
Cadbury Garden Centre
Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre
Old Railway Line Garden Centre
RHS Garden Rosemoor
Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock.
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