Barton Grange Garden Centre near Preston have notched up their fifth consecutive Destination Garden Centre of the Year award in the Garden Centre Association’s annual inspection audits.

The result was announced at the GCA’s 50^th anniversary dinner in Brighton last night, in the presence of 17 past chairmen of the association.

Barton Grange MD Guy Topping led 15 members of his team (including his father, Eddie Topping, who founded the original business) on to the stage and announced them individually after they had been presented with the trophy by actor and comedian Hal Cruttenden.

In the lower turnover band of the GCA's inspection audits , Garden Wise at Dumfries (below) took their first Garden Centre of the Year title, beating Cowells of Newcastle, winners in four of the past six years, and The Old Railway Line Garden Centre at Brecon

The remaining Centres of Excellence, all scoring 70% or more, were Perrywood, Planters at Bretby, Poplars and Raemoir (their first Top 10 placing).

Follow these links to see a GTN Xtra profile of each of the finalists:

Jack Fillingham, Sunshine Garden Centre

Kath Bailey, Barton Grange Garden Centre

Sam Clark,Cowells Garden Centre

Matt Tanner, Squires Badshot Lea

Sophie Liebthal, Coolings Garden Centre

Will Clark, Barton Grange Garden Centre

All six finalists made really professional presentations to the full GCA Conference audience on Monday and then conference delegates voted to decide who should be crowned as the Rising Star of 2015. The result was announced at the 50th anniversary GCA Annual Dinner.

Keith Nicholson, of Westland, said: “There are some great success stories here – huge efforts put in from all finalists with their projects.  The Rising Stars Programme will be extended this year with Regional Masterclasses, and also a new programme in Ireland.”

Iain Wylie, CEO of GCA, added: “Well done to everyone in 2015 Rising Stars. The standard was so high we could not select five – that’s why we ended up with six finalists."

GCA members have voted Taylors Bulbs as their Associate of the Year.

Described as “a popular choice”, they beat off competition from Cedar Associates (last year’s winners) and Decco, also shortlisted last year.

Taylors have won the title on a number of previous occasion, the most recent being a hat-trick of successes in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

At the associates trade show earlier in the evening, Taylors announced details of an expanded range of wax-dipped and decorated amaryllis bulbs in gift packaging at prices from £12.99 to £14.99 depending on design.

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre were presented with the GCA’s Worrall Cup for best marketing campaign or initiative.

Seventeen past chairmen of the GCA turned out for the association’s 50^th anniversary dinner at the Grand Hotel, Brighton last night.

One of them, Warren Haskins (1982-3) paid tribute to their contributions to the GCA’s development during the past half century. For 40 of those years, he said, the GCA had been in a “rather nasty conflict” with the HTA during which the two associations had not got on all that well before patching up their differences in the past two years. “That is now good for all of us,” he said.

The HTA now hosts the GCA’s headquarters at Theale.

The other 16 past chairmen present were:

Jeffrey Bernhard (1964)

Waynman Strike (1973, Strikes Garden Centres)

Richard Evans (1978, Ruxley Manor GC)

F.A.B. Newenham (1979, Millets Farm GC)

Roger Harvey (1988, Roger Harvey Garden World)

Kenn Lloyd (1992-3, Cadbury GC)

Chris Roberts (1994, Van Hage Garden Co)

Martin Stewart (1995 and 2010)

Beryl Stafford (1991, All in One GC)

Guy Topping (2000-01, Barton Grange Garden Centres)

Sue Allen (2002-3, Millbrook Garden Co)

Steve Myatt (2004-5, Warbreck GC)

David Danning (2006-07, Trelawney Garden Leisure)

Martin Davies (2008-9, Raglan GC)

Dennis Espley (2011, Squires Garden Centres)

William Armitage (2014-15, Armitages Garden Centres)

Garden Centres of Excellence (top 10 in alphabetical order not order of inspection scores), presented by GCA Chairman Julian Winfield and comedian Hal Cruttenden:

Barton Grange Garden Centre

Bents Garden & Home

Burston Garden Centre

Cowell’s Garden Centre

Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre

The Old Railway Line

Perrywood Garden Centre

Planters at Bretby

Poplars Nursery Garden Centre

Raemoir Garden Centre

The full list of GCA winners announced on Monday are:                                         

Christmas Competition (Garden Centre category) sponsored by Gisela Graham – Castle Gardens


Christmas Competition (Destination Garden Centre category) sponsored by Gisela Graham – Barton Grange Garden Centre

Environment and Community Award – Planters, Tamworth

Ruxley Rose (Garden Centre category) – Cowell’s Garden Centre

Ruxley Rose (Destination Garden Centre category) – Squires Garden Centre, Twickenham

Barton Grange Trophy for Creativity and Innovation – Webbs of Wychbold

Customer Service Award – Best Customer Service – Burston Garden Centre

The Indoor Lifestyle Award – Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Garden Centre category) – Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton

The Indoor Lifestyle Award – Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category) – Raemoir Garden Centre

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Garden Centre category) – Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category) – Barton Grange Garden Centre

Overall GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer – Barton Grange Garden Centre

Dick Allen Award (Most Improved Garden Centre) – Hilltop Garden Centre

The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Garden Centre Category) – Creative Gardens Donaghadee in Northern Ireland

The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre Category) – Frosts, Woburn Sands

Weber Outdoor Living Award – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Garden Centre Category) – Sunshine Garden Centre

Weber Outdoor Living Award – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Destination Garden Centre Category) Van Hage Great Amwell

Julian Winfield, the new Chairman of the GCA for 2016 and 2017 and Chief Executive at Haskins Garden Centres Ltd, said: “We’re a diligent, committed, enthusiastic and hardworking industry and these awards recognise the very best garden centres in the country. Well done and congratulations to all our winners.”

Consumer and shopper behviouralist Ken Hughes warned the garden industry yesterday not to ignore the digital revolution.

He urged retailers to embrace the ‘blue spot consumer’ – the modern shoppers who increasingly demand that goods comes to them.

The ‘blue spot’ alluded to the GPS location point on Google Maps.

Digital ‘natives’ – the under 35s – were seeking experiences, not products, he said, and this would increasingly become the role of bricks and mortar retail outlets. “Physical retailers are still going to be important in the digital world but how you use the space to make money from it will change.”

Modern consumer looked for solutions and inspiration.

“You guys should own summer,” he said. “And your plant areas have to deliver an experience.”

For those attending the GCA conference 2016 in Brighton, please come and support Liam and Mike from Briers who are going to be manning the #GLUVIE Photo Booth from 7-11:30pm tonight during the evenings entertainment. This is to raise awareness and funds for the children's charity Greenfingers. Donations for a fun #GLUVIE photo keepsake start from only £5!! See you then

Writer and broadcaster David Domoney made a passionate appeal to garden centres to appoint ambassadors to promote community gardening through his Cultivation Street initiative, now in its fourth year.

The Garden Centre Ambassador Scheme is designed to nurture stronger and more supportive relationships that will help to give novice gafrdeners the confidence to seek help and advice from their local garden centres. Domoney said many less knowledgable consumers were scared to visit garden centres in case they made fools of themselves.

He urged centres nominate a member of staff to be their community ambassador, as the point of contact, to build a dialogue with the community.

You can register your interest at: www.daviddomoney.com/cultivation-street/gcambassador/

    

Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day is set to take place on Friday 18^th March 2016 - but already the fundraising has begun!  Twitter has already started buzzing with those looking to lose weight after the festive period, and Greenfingers is inviting them to feel even better about themselves by raising money to help create more children's hospice gardens.

The idea is that for each pound participants lose between now and Garden Re-Leaf Day, they can collect a pound from their sponsors, to be donated to Greenfingers after the 18th March.

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers, Debs Skilicorn, Director of Greenfingers and GTN's very own Trevor Pfeiffer are all bravely taking part and want to encourage others to step up to the challenge.

You can sponsor Trevor on his target to loose 1 stone between the GCA Conference and Garden Re-Leaf Day by clicking: https://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Pfeiffer.

If you are interested in taking part, here are a few pointers to help you get started:

• If you find it hard to lose weight then don't go overboard - aim for a realistic target
• On the other hand, don't aim too low - challenge yourself and encourage sponsorship!
• Let others know you’re trimming down so you can rely on them to hold you to account.  Post on social media, using the hashtag #Pounds4Greenfingers what you plan to do and why you are doing it.  Why not post before and after photos too?  You'll be surprised at just how much motivation it will give you knowing others are keeping an eye on your progress!
• Take up a short term gym membership, -.   or join a local sports or slimming club - there are tonnes of support group options at this time of year so you needn't be alone!

Garden Re-Leaf 2016 has already attracted eight top industry figures who will be staging 24 hour Plant-athons in garden centres beginning  their Plant-athons on Thursday 17th and finishing on Friday the 18th.  Poplars, Adrian Hall and Sunshine Garden Centres have all recently confirmed they will put on Garden Re-Leaf events in store.

Experienced international retail executive John Herbert, who now runs a global DIY trade association, addressed delegates yesterday, interspersing the ‘rags to riches’ story of his professional life with snippets of his favourite retail philosophy. It was his second appearance on the platform of a GCA conference – the first was more than 30 years ago.

• Garden Products - down 25%
• Veg-2-Gro - up 17%
• Growing Media - up 56%
• All Items Index - up 3%

It’s year two of the HTA/GIMB Love the Plot You’ve Got campaign. Building on the success of 2015 – here’s a one-day Masterclass to demonstrate how to sell to non-gardeners – as well as gardeners.

Explore how to plan and create WOW displays which sell product. How to get your team on your side. How to sell more plants and garden goods during 2016

All you need to do is attend one of the regional Love the Plot You’ve Got Masterclasses. Whether you attended last year or not – you’ll go away fired up with ideas to amaze your customers.

• Planning and building displays
• Keeping it commercial
• Planning POS signs
• Measuring results
• Communicating with customers and potential customers
• Generating events during 2016

Book your place by emailing i.boardman@btinternet.com – see next page for dates & venues

Only £95 per delegate plus vat. Payment in full in advance – non-refundable. Refreshments provided

What others said in 2015:

• “Very interesting ideas to take back to our nursery”
• “Working with others was great”
• “I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience”
• “Clear and concise – with some fun added in!”

GTN’s analyst Trevor Pfeiffer (MD of The Garden Communication & Media Company) believes December increases in seed and bulb sales posted by GCA members were the result of increased footfall as a result of Christmas visits and the ‘extra’ week-end garden centres had in December.

The GCA’s Barometer of Trade report showed a 20.33% increase in seed and bulb sales in December compared to the same month in 2014.

“The real story for December is Christmas trading and the increased trade generated by catering,” he said. Catering was 17.41% up overall –  and food hall and farm shop sales were 20.96% up.

Simon Bourne, manager at Perrywood Garden Centre in Tiptree, Essex, said: “December 2015 was a fantastic month and followed the trend of previous months in being record breaking. We had our second busiest trading day of the year on Saturday, December 5, which was our best ever Saturday.

 “Overall sales in the garden centre were up 15% compared to December 2014 and it was our busiest December by a long way. Outdoor plants were up 10% and indoor plants were up 46%. Christmas products were a huge success and were 23% up for the period September to December compared to the previous year. The coffee shop also had a really positive month and finished 22% up compared to the same period last year.”

Ben Thompson, Director at Garsons Garden Centre, which has centres in Surrey and Titchfield, said: “Following our site redevelopment at Garsons Esher, which included a new restaurant (pictured above), catering traded 86% up during the month of December.

 “Catering at Garsons Titchfield showed growth of 14% year-on-year for the month of December. Christmas sales performed well at both stores likewise, along with giftware.”

Following our visit to the Tuinzaken Garden Retail Experience event last year the Horticultural Trades Association has arranged an inspirational Study Tour to the Netherlands in February 2016 to take in the 2016 event and there is still some limited availability for for you to join us on the trip.

As well as attending the Garden Retail Experience in Boskoop for its 5^th edition, including the event’s gala dinner we will also be visiting some Dutch garden centres and a have a tour of the inspirational Edelman showrooms.

The full tour itinerary is as follows:

• Wednesday 17 Feb 2016 –Fly out in the morning to Amsterdam –from airport begin tour of Garden Centers in the Netherlands throughout the day. Tuincentrum Osdorp and a second De Bosrand in Alphen a/d Rijn. In the evening attend the exclusive Retail Experience Gala in Boskoop including speakers and entertainment.
• Thursday 18 Feb –Attend Retail Experience with full expert guided tours. www.gardenretailexperience.com
• In the evening attend a locally based meal for additional networking opportunities.
• Friday 19 Feb -Visit to Intratuin Zuidplas followed by a Tour to Edelman, lunch and in the afternoon fly home to the UK.

The cost for the entire trip is £380 per person, this covers accommodation and travel once in the Netherlands as well as lunch and Dinner on Wednesday and Thursday evening but the HTA request those attending the tour to make their own way to Amsterdam Schiphol airport as travelling from all over the UK and attendees can then organize as best suited to their location.

The tours intended start time is 11am from Schiphol airport and once in the Netherlands GTN Xtras’ Trevor Pfeiffer will host alongside Martin Simmons of the HTA.

If you would like to book on to the event or need any more information please don’t hesitate to contact the HTA – events@the-hta.org.uk

The Garden Retail Experience is a truly inspirational event, see the GTN Xtra picture gallery from last year to give you a flavour of the ideas that will stretch your thinking and give you a head start as you prepare to meet the demands of the garden centre customer of the future.  Or speak to Trevor at the GCA Conference this week and he will give you more information about the experience...

Plant Area Manager (Full time, including alternate weekends)

West Horsley KT24 6AR

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead.  An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community.  

• You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
• You must have experience and/or horticultural qualifications and garden centre retail experience.
• You will be able to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets whilst motivating your team to maximise all sales opportunities and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of customer service.
• You must have the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, have a passion for plants, be highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

Bedding Department Head (Full time, including alternate weekends)

West Horsley KT24 6AR

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead.  An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community.  

• You will be responsible for the bedding plant department at our West Horsley Garden Centre which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
• You will have extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and/or a horticultural qualification.
• A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment are essential.
• You will be flexible, enthusiastic and highly motivated, commercially aware and have the ability to create dynamic displays.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

• A proven track-record in the industry along with good management and supervisory skills.
• Excellent plant knowledge and a good background in horticultural retailing is a must for this role as they offer over 3 acres of quality plants from their own nursery as well as choice plants sourced from a variety of other suppliers.

Plant Area Sales Assistant (Full time, including alternate weekends)

Twickenham TW2 5PA

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

Squire’s oldest site with a new centre built in 1993, and is about to undergo a significant facelift.  A garden centre that takes a very high turnover for its size, with a strong horticultural focus in plants and sundries, often winning GCA category awards, with the recent addition of new Pets & Aquatics and Craft areas.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who is quick and willing to learn and who sees customer service as their main priority.

• The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and energetic, have a passion for plants and an eye for creating exciting detailed displays.
• Horticultural experience or equivalent qualifications desirable.
• The role will involve bending and lifting some heavy items therefore applicants must be physically fit.

Free parking on site.

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

Kath Bailey, Assistant Manager in the Cookshop at Barton Grange

Kath Bailey moved to Barton Grange 5 years ago as a result of her husband’s job re-location.  She started in outside sales but after a year moved back into familiar territory, she had worked in Debenhams before, in the Cookshop at Barton Grange.

The Cookshop team of eight think that Kath’s involvement in Rising Stars has been really good.  “They’ve been encouraging me all the time and we've been doubling sales as a result of Rising Stars, explained Kath.  “The most important thing I’ve learned is about planning and setting goals.  Rising stars is quite nerve wracking but at the end of it you feel very motivated.  It is a fantastic course to go on.”

Barton Grange MD, Guy Topping was also full of praise for Kath; “She is aiming towards being the department manager in that section.  With great enthusiasm Kath has improved the standards throughout. We started with 5 candidates from Barton Grange and two have made the final.  They've put so much into their projects and gained fantastic results I'm sure they must be the two best candidates in the final.”.  

Sam Clark, Perennials Supervisor at Cowells Garden Centre

After joining Cowells 8 years ago as a dogs body around all departments, Sam Clark was “chuffed” when nominated for Rising Stars by his centre manager Martin Cowell.  “It’s been brilliant meeting new people in the same situation, exchanging ideas, getting different influences from around the country. Everything we've learned has been brilliant,” Sam enthused about his Rising Stars experiences.

“I’ve learned about stock rotation, always pushing your bestsellers and been on top of everything a lot more this year.”  As to the future, Sam says: “Martin and Dylan, my department manager, both come into work every day full of beans, if I can stay happy that will keep me fine, learning a bit new every day.”

“Sam has come back from Rising Stars full of enthusiasm and new ideas,” added centre manager Martin Cowell.  All of the staff have wished him well. Rising Stars has pushed him out of his comfort zone and made him grow as a person.”

“I made a £50 wager with Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries that our Sam would get to the final.  I look forward to passing on the £50 win to Greenfingers at conference in Brighton.” 

Will Clark, Planteria Supervisor at Barton Grange

Will Clark saw the Rising Stars presentations at the GCA Conference in Blackpool two years ago: “I never thought I would be up there myself.  I was so surprised when nominated and it has brought me a lot of confidence.” With a keen interest in plants since really young, Will has worked at Barton Grange  for 5 years and now has responsibility for 17 staff in the planteria

“It’s been one big friendly bunch,” explained Will. “I’m aiming to improve other categories next year after the experience of Rising Stars.  Other departments here at Barton Grange have got behind me, given me plenty of help and we've achieved great results.

“Will's a good young lad,” added Guy Topping, MD at Barton Grange.  “Hopefully one day will be running he whole department.  Rising stars has really improved his retailing skills and given him a lot of confidence.”

Jack Fillingham, Leisure Duty Manager at Sunshine Garden Centre

Jack Fillingham has worked in every part of Sunshine Garden Centre after joining on their Graduate Training Scheme and after a year landed on the leisure department and a nomination for Rising Stars 2015.

Jack applied for the Sunshine Graduate Scheme after studying Business Economics at the University of Leeds, “I was looking for a career in retail and found this opportunity on the milk round,” Jack explained.   “Meeting other people in same situation as me, sharing experiences have been the high points of Rising Stars, As a group we have all helped each other. Colleagues have always wanted to know about Rising Stars, hoping they can get some new ideas too.”

Patrick Loughrey, HR Manager at Sunshine told GTN Xtra: “Jack has come back from any Rising Star seminar much more confident and you can just tell through his body language he's really trying to initiate things in the business to improve things so it’s been a great success.”

Sophie Liebthal, General Shop Assistant at Coolings Rushmore Hill

“I love having more responsibility”.  That’s the driving motivation for Sophie Liebthal who joined Coolings 6 years ago, starting as a Saturday girl while at sixth form.  From being “just a till operator” to a Rising Stars finalist it’s been quite a journey for Sophie.

Sophie explained “as a result of Rising Stars now I've got confidence to do more and I know my ideas could be successful.   We got sales increases so everyone happy with the changes and the results, even Shop Manager Brian Archibald.”

Coolings MD, Garry Carvasso said: “Sophie has grown, she shines.  Rising Stars has made her more receptive to new ideas, we are seeing a big difference.  Thank you to Westland who have made it all possible.”

Matt Tanner, Assistant Manager at Squires Badshot Lea

Matt Tanner was “over the moon” to be nominated on Rising Stars by Squires HR Manager Jo Ripley.

Starting as a schoolboy weekender in 2002, Matt has worked at Squires for 13 years in different stores including department head in sundries at Woking, furniture head at West Horsley, Cobham as Assistant manager and now Badshot Lea as Assistant manager

“The best things about Rising Stars are the chance to go to centres I wouldn't normally get the chance to visit and stealing ideas from other guys on the course and implementing those, everything is so positive,” Matt told GTN Xtra.

Matt’s MD at Squires, Denis Espley added “every section of the training has been very useful to him.   Everybody in Squires likes Matt.  He is assistant manager at our biggest centre so that shows how much we rate him.”

• Fito Drip Feeders For Flowering Plants 28ml, Packs of 5 are the week’s highest new entry at No 9.
• Vitax Q4 Fertiliser, 4.5kg, is the highest re-entry at No 12.
• Gardman Frostgard 17gsm 8m x 1.5m roll makes a jump of 10 places to No 3 with the frosts forecast.

• Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost, 50 litres, climbs 17 places back to the No 1 spot, just pipping Westland Jack’s Magic 60 litres.
• Shamrock Irish Moss Peat, 75 litres, is the highest re-entry at No 4.
• Arthur Bowers New Horizons Organic Compost, 56 litres, is the highest new entry.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

• Taylors Shallots Golden Gourmet are the highest chart climber, up 25 places to No 7.
• Mr Fothergills Pea Kelvedon Wonder is this week’s highest new chart entry at No 14.
• Thompson & Morgan Carrot Resistafly F1 Hybrid is the highest placed chart re-entry at No 11.

Finalists:

• Dunbar Garden Centre
• Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
• Langlands Leeds
• Langlands Sheffield
• Perrywood Garden Centre
• Pughs Radyr
• The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

Bronze: Waresley Park Garden Centre

Silver: Fresh @ Burcot Garden Centre

Silver: Perrywood Garden Centre

The Greatest Grotto Team 2015

Finalists:

• Arcadia Garden Centre
• Baytree Garden Centre
• Brigg Garden Centre
• Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre
• Gouldings Garden Centre
• Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
• Millbrook Gravesend
• Newbank Radcliffe
• Silica Lodge Garden Centre
• Whitehall Lacock
• Wyevale Worlds End

Regional Winners:

• South West: Chaplins Superstore
• North West: Gordale Garden & Home Centre
• North East: Woodbank Garden Centre
• Wales: Pughs Radyr
• Northern Ireland: Hillside Garden Centre
• Scotland: Hetland Garden Centre

Bronze: Chessington Garden Centre     

Silver: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

The Greatest Festive Plants Team 2015

Finalists:

• Burston Garden Centre
• Cowells Garden Centre
• Gordale  Garden & Home Centre
• Langlands Shiptonthorpe
• Millbrook Gravesend
• Munros Nurseries
• Newbank Halifax
• Pughs Radyr
• Snowdonia Nurseries & Garden Centre
• Van Hage Great Amwell
• Wyevale Gosforth
• Wyevale Swansea

Regional Winners:

• London: Aylett Nurseries
• East: Perrywood Garden Centre
• Northern Ireland: Creative Gardens Donaghadee
• Midlands: St Peters Worcester
• Scotland: Simpsons Garden Centre

Bronze: Bents Garden & Home

Silver: Barton Grange Garden Centre

The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team 2015

Finalists:

• Langlands Shiptonthorpe
• Mere Park Garden Centre
• Sunshine Garden Centre
• Van Hage Great Amwell
• Van Hage Peterborough

Bronze: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

Bronze: Langlands Shiptonthorpe

Silver: Fairways Garden Centre

Gold: Hillmount Garden Centre





A gallery of pictures (below) from the gold award winners is sponsored by Kaemingk...

The Greatest Festive Catering Team 2014

Finalists:

• Burford Garden Company
• Frosts Woburn Sands
• Haskins Snowhill
• Haskins West End
• Hilltop Garden Store
• Perrywood Garden Centre
• Scotsdales Fordham
• Simpsons Garden Centre
• Torwood Garden Centre
• Wyevale Fairoak
• Wyevale Swansea

Regional Winners:

• Midlands: Jacksons Nurseries & Tea Rooms
• South: Squires Badshot Lea
• North: Woodbank Garden Centre
• South West: Whitehall Lacock
• Northern Ireland: Hillmount Garden Centre

Bronze: Fron Goch Garden Centre

Bronze: Haskins Roundstone

Silver: Bents Garden & Home

The Greatest Christmas Supplier 2015

Finalists:

• Allensmore
• Ascalon
• Florasilk
• SnowTime
• Konstsmide
• Swift Imports
• Wax Lyrical

Bronze: Festive Decorations

Silver: Kaemingk

The Greatest Pet Christmas Team 2015

Finalists:

• Baytree Garden Centre
• Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre
• The Old Railway Line

Bronze: Raemoir Garden Centre

Silver: Planters Tamworth

Silver: Torwood Garden Centre

Gold: Bents Garden & Home

The Greatest Christmas Display Team 2015 – Small and Mid Sized Garden Centres

Small Centre Finalists:

• Blackbrooks Garden Centre
• Caerphilly Garden Centre
• Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
• Pughs Radyr

Mid-sized Centre Finalists:

• Almondsbury Garden Centre
• Birkacre Garden Centre
• Busy Bee Garden Centre
• Cherry Hill Garden and Landscape Centre
• Frosts Brampton
• Mere Park Garden Centre
• Millbrook Gravesend
• Newbank Halifax
• Sunshine Garden Centre

Bronze Small Centre: Munro's Nurseries

Silver Small Centre: Jacksons Boutique Garden Centre

Gold Small Centre: Silverbirch Garden Centre

Bronze Mid-sized Centre: Perrywood Garden Centre

Silver Mid-sized Centre: Burleydam Garden Centre

Silver Mid-sized Centre: Castle Gardens

Gold Mid-sized Centre: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

The Greatest Christmas Display Team 2015 – Large and Group Garden Centres

Large Garden Centre Finalists:

• Aylett Nurseries
• Burford Garden Company
• Burston Garden Centre
• Frosts Woburn Sands                                                           
• Gordale Garden & Home Centre
• Hillside Garden Centre
• Newbank Radcliffe
• Pennells Lincoln
• Planters Tamworth
• Scotsdales Cambridge
• St Peters Worcester
• Van Hage Gt Amwell
• Whitehall Lacock
• Woodbank Garden Centre

Group Garden Centre Finalists:

• Brigg - British Garden Centres
• Grosvenor - Blue Diamond
• Houghton Hall - Klondyke
• Squires Badshot Lea
• Wyevale Swansea

Bronze Large Centre: Raemoir Garden Centre

Silver Large Centre: Bents Garden & Home     

Gold Large Centre: Barton Grange Garden Centre

Bronze Group Garden Centre: Littleheath Garden Store - Hillview

Silver Group Garden Centre: Haskins Snowhill

Silver Group Garden Centre: Spring - British Garden Centres

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2013 as well as 2014 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.