Nicholas Marshall, CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres, has joined the line-up for the HTA Garden Futures Conference, sponsored by Hozelock, which takes place on Wednesday 4 October at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire.

With over 30 years’ experience in the garden centre sector Nicholas founded and built two garden centre chains, Country Gardens PLC and Country Homes and Gardens PLC. He was also CEO of Wyevale Garden Centres for four years, taking it from near administration to a successful sale for £300m.

Nicholas will be interviewed by conference host, journalist and news presenter Cathy Newman who will quiz him on his views on topics such as the future of the industry, the potential impact of Brexit, changing demographics and the consumer and the impact of technology within retail.

Garden retail – the great escape – is the theme for this year’s HTA Garden Futures Conference and Dinner which is aimed at all those from across the garden industry from business owners to directors and managers.

The theme of this year’s one-day strategic event reflects the role of both gardens and garden centres as an escape and focuses on the benefits, positive role and unique opportunities that this provides for the industry. It also tackles key issues impacting the sector such as Xylella fastidiosa.

Also, joining the programme is Rachel Lund from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Rachel heads up the BRC’s Insight and Analytics team and is responsible for all of the BRC’s data gathering and market analysis activities including the Retail Sales and Footfall Monitors.

Josh McBain from the Foresight Factory will present on The Ageless Society demonstrating how the changing demographic provides a huge opportunity for the garden industry with a big focus on experiences rather than material objects.

Jack Stratten from Insider Trends will look at technology in retail, highlighting the way in which developments can help to free up time to spend with customers.

Professor Alistair Griffiths from the RHS will look at the role of gardens, gardening and horticulture, ensuring that humans don’t lose touch with nature and how it can be used to provide preventative natural health and wellbeing care services.

In a session sponsored by Fiskars, botanist, science writer and broadcaster James Wong will be looking at how engaging with your outdoor space could dramatically improve your health and the way in which garden centres can utilise cross-category merchandising to help illustrate the benefit of plants. 

In a session titled ‘Give Room to Nature’ Harald Elderenbosch, owner and managing director of Elho, explores how they use consumer and lifestyle trends to help shape their strategy.

Following on from the Retail Lab @ Glee there will be a Retail Lab @ Garden Futures panel session looking at what the future holds for future retail environments and how retailers can use innovative ways of illustrating lifestyle themes.

Ensuring the sector is kept up to date with key issues, there will be a cross industry panel to discuss the threat of Xylella fastidiosa and the mitigating action required to protect the industry. Chaired by HTA Past President Adam Wigglesworth this panel session involves Colin Dale from Notcutts, Andy Smith from Klondyke Group, Jonathan Whitmore from Johnsons of Whixley, Dan Munro from APHA and Boyd Douglas-Davies from Hillview Garden Centres.

The conference is followed by the Garden Futures dinner which includes the presentation of the HTA Pearson Memorial Medal and GTN's Greatest Garden Retailing Team Awards, followed by an after dinner speaker.

Make sure you don’t miss out! Book your place now at www.hta.org.uk/gardenfutures

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