The Blue Diamond Group should acquire its 16^th garden centre within the next month, chief executive Alan Roper has told GTN Xtra.

“We are mid-way through the legal process and hope to complete by 31 October,” he said.

The target is believed to be a prominent destination centre.

The acquisition would take group turnover to £80 million next year.

Observers believe the final quarter of 2014 could see a number of garden centres changing hands as values hold up following the favourable trading summer.

One source reports that Wyevale may be currently sizing up six potential acquisitions, which would take their tally to 147 outlets. Wyevale do not comment on rumours while deals are being negotiated.

Wyevale reported last week that they had acquired Moreton Park from Shopshire Leisure Group.

Speculation is mounting that Dobbies, who have 35 stores and turnover of £138 million (2012/13), may announce new stores shortly.

Above: Tom Davis at the official opening of his new factory in March this year, with his MD, Sebastian Smith (centre), and the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales.

Tom Davis, founder and chairman of Stagecraft Display Ltd, has died aged 66.

He suffered a fatal heart attack last Saturday while clay pigeon shooting.

He leaves a widow, two sons and three daughters.

Yorkshire-born Tom started Stagecraft 30 years ago as a diversification project at his farm in Mid Wales and built it up to become the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of bespoke display tables and fixtures to the garden retail market. With a workforce of around 35, Stagecraft is a significant local employer.

The company’s success in the garden centre market recently attracted the attention of high street retailers like Waitrose, whose successful new gardening pods were supplied by Stagecraft.

Following a disastrous fire at the original premises in March last year, Tom re-located the operation to a much larger, modern manufacturing unit at Newtown last autumn. At the same time, he appointed Sebastian Smith to succeed him as managing director, and took the role of chairman, partly so that he could spend more time with his wife, Claire, and family.

Seb Smith told GTN Xtra: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and suppliers for their past support and assure them of our commitment to continue driving Stagecraft forward. I am sure readers will join with me in offering our sincere condolences to the family at this most difficult time.”

A funeral service will be held next Tuesday, 7 October (2pm) at St Aelhairn’s Church, Ardleen Road, Guilsfield, to which all are invited.

GTN Associate Editor Mike Wyatt writes: I have known Tom Davis for many years and will sorely miss his genial, unassuming company. Tom was ambitious for Stagecraft and took great pride in designing and producing original garden centre displays that were a match for any in the world. He earned a reputation in the market for reliable delivery and effiicient service. I’ve lost count of the number of garden centres who have populated their planterias with Stagecraft benches. Tom was devastated when fire gutted his manufacturing facility last year but had had the foresight to back-up designs, archives and customer orders off-site, so disruption was kept to a minimum. The Waitrose order mentioned above was awaiting delivery when the fire struck. So strong was Tom’s relationship with his customer that the total order was re-made, delivery re-scheduled and the contract honoured. On a number of occasions, Tom told me how much he relied on his loyal, motivated workforce and supplier base (he used mainly local timber). They will all miss him deeply.

Support for the Garden Industry Marketing Board’s planned ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ consumer campaign in 2015 is growing fast, with the Leisure & Outdoor Furniture Association the latest organisation to sign up.

The GIMB is backed by the HTA, whose chief excecutive Carol Paris welcomed LOFA’s involvment. “Their valuable contribution, support and expertise will help to ensure the success of the campaign for their members and the industry as a whole,” she told GTN Xtra. 

The campaign co-ordinator, marketing consultant David Arnold, has revealed that  a ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ roadshow will be the centre feature of the ‘Good Life Live’ show which will run alongside ‘The Edible Garden Show’ at Alexandra Palace next year (20-22 March).

The full list of supporting organisation at the time of writing is (in alaphabetical order):

Adam Pasco Media

Allensmore Nurseries

B&Q

Ball Colegrave

Bord na Mona

Bransford Webbs

Briars

Choice Marketing

Cleeve Nursery

Deroma

Farplants

Gardman

GIMA

Glee

Homebase

Hozelock

HTA

LOFA

Lovania Nurseries

Mr Fothergills Seeds

Premier Decorations

RHS

Scotsdales

Scotts MiracleGro UK

Sinclair

The Garden Communications & Media Company

The Hillview Group

The Stewart Company

The Van Hage Garden Company

Westland Horticulture

For more informatiion and to register your interest, email David Arnold  & Associates Ltd (daaltd@virginmedia.com or) or call 07876 643638

William Sinclair Horticulture has announced that it is bringing its Scottish retail sales operation in-house after a long association with Denholm Agencies. From October 1, garden centres and other retailers in Scotland will be serviced by Sinclair Area Sales Manager, David Howe.

Announcing the change, Sinclair Commercial Director, Richard Carr said: “Sinclair has had a long and happy association with Denholm Agencies, however the recent restructuring of our sales team gives our new superforce the capability to service our Scottish retailers directly and there will be benefits to both sides in doing so.

“With the opening of our flagship plant at Ellesmere port, these are exciting times for Sinclair. The introduction of new branding and the launch of a host of new products give us unprecedented opportunities in the coming pre-season and we look forward to carrying on the good work done by Stuart Denholm and his team with all the best retailers in Scotland.”

Trade enquiries from Scotland should now be directed to Sinclair Area Sales Manager, David Howe at david.howe@william-sinclair.co.uk, telephone 07721 849689.

Pictured: Commercial Director, Richard Carr says that William Sinclair’s Scottish retailers will benefit from direct representation.

Growing media sales volumes are still strong, according to GTN Bestsellers Epos data, as gardeners continue to enjoy the dry and warm conditions. Figures issued by the Met Office suggest we’ve just experienced the driest September on record.

It’s great to know that gardening activity is driving sales of compost but there are signs in this week’s Bestsellers charts that things are starting to move indoors.

For instance, orchid growing is very much in the minds of garden centre customers with three of the biggest movers in the Garden Products chart being orchid-related products.

The highest climber in the Growing Media Top 50 is also an orchid growing compost. Let’s hope that the good weather continues and gardeners stay active...indoors and out.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year

• Garden Products – down 27%
• Veg 2 Gro – down 36%
• Growing Media – up 23%
• All items index – down 12%

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

TV gardener David Domoney has urged parents to encourage their children to pursue in messy activities such as gardening, and take them away from the internet. 

Domoney, co-presenter of ITV’s flagship show Love Your Garden, is highly concerned about the ‘disconnect’ between children and nature – largely due to rise and rise of the internet.

“Where has the simplicity of a garden treehouse for children gone, asks Domoney, where they can climb a tree and connect with nature? A simple tree for kids to climb. A connection with the outdoors”.

Domoney, who also features on ITV’s This Morning, responds to a poll by Persil which found that more than half of parents encourage their children to avoid messy activities such as gardening and baking.

One in three children say that they did not like getting dirty with their preferred activities being television watching and playing on video games.

Responding to this survey, Steven Chown of children’s charity, Play England, believes that parents are becoming increasingly ‘risk-averse’, but Domoney suggests that this attitude is damaging to the world’s horticulture.

“We are fighting an uphill battle with the Internet,” says Domoney. “And gardening is the loser."

According to a recent report by communication regular Ofgem, teenagers today spend over 32 hours each week either watching television or on the Internet. The time is evenly split between the two activities. That’s an increase of 2 hours per week in terms of online usage year on year.

A RHS survey last year revealed that 70% of 18-year-olds do not think gardening is a career to be proud of.

“The internet and political correctness has cut off our children’s greenfingers,” according to Domoney, who founded Cultivation Street and the Young Gardeners competition in association with Prince Charles.

Political correctness is also the enemy of children connecting with the outdoors and a sense of adventure, according to the TV gardener.

“When schools started banning leap frog and conkers on health & safety grounds in 2012, I became highly concerned."

Schools’ regulator Ofsted recently reported that unacceptably high levels of British state schools were not making competitive outdoors sport compulsory for youngsters. In fact only 13% of state schools surveyed said they expected all students to take part outdoor sports.

“We need a fundamental shift in the how connect children with the outdoors and not take the easy option of linking them up to smartphone, iPads and video games consoles to educate and entertain them,” adds Domoney.

The trend towards screen-based entertainment is alarming. A recent survey of 1,000 16-24 year olds by the Institute for Advanced Studies at Lancaster University indicates 75% of young people claim they could not live without the internet; 45% of young people said they were happiest online and 86% love new technology.

The RHS, organiser of the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, says gardening is facing a skills crisis because of an ageing workforce and a lack of young people coming through.

Domoney says: “Young people spend too much time in front of a screen. It’s highly addictive and unfortunately the virtual world seems more real than the real world for a lot of youngsters. We need to do everything in our power to get youngsters to reconnect with nature."

Kevin Bradshaw, Chief Executive of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “Moreton Park has an excellent reputation as a stand-out garden centre in the region. Known for its unique location, excellent plants and products and appeal to gardeners of all abilities, the centre is an ideal fit within our estate and we look forward to welcoming its customers and employees to our business.” 

Shropshire Leisure Group, which is backed by Rcapital, says it is delighted that Wyevale Garden Centres has acquired Moreton Park. SLG will now concentrate on its hotels and pub, which are also located in Chirk – The Lion Quays Hotel & Spa, Moreton Park Hotel and the Lord Moreton Pub. 

Wyevale Garden Centres is the nation’s largest group of garden centres, with 141 centres across the UK and employs more than 5,200 staff. Its own garden loyalty club, The Gardening Club, has more than 2.5 million members. For more information visit www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk 

Wyevale Garden Centres has appointed Lisa Cherry as Human Resources Director. She will join the Board of Directors and report to Chief Executive Officer Kevin Bradshaw when she joins the company on 1 December.

Lisa joins Wyevale Garden Centres from WHSmith, where she was Head of HR for the Travel Head Office and International businesses and the Group Head of Learning and Development.

Prior to this, Lisa held a number of senior human resources roles in WHSmith and Sainsbury’s, with UK and international responsibilities including in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. 

She has 15 years’ experience in retail head office and operational environments, having worked in a number of store management and HR roles.

Kevin Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “Lisa’s wealth of knowledge and experience in human resource development and learning will be an asset to us as we continue to recruit talented team members and invest in learning, training and mentoring programmes for our colleagues across the organisation.

"Her experience in the retail sector will help us to continue to attract some of the top candidates with experience at leading retailers.”

Crowds flocked to Trelawney@Wadebridge last week-end for The North Cornwall Onion Show, staged there for the fourth year running.

Garden centre general manager Peter Burks said the event had received strong support from the local community.

“It is thought the show started after World War II and it has grown ever since. We are proud to be able to help it continue.”

There were 14 categories and sections for other vegetables, with winners each receiving a cup.

The heaviest onion, which weighed 7.7 pounds, belonged to Mike Blake from Tywardreath. The Matthews’ family from Bodmin won the heaviest pumpkin category – theirs weighed in at 213 pounds.

Trelawney was founded in 1970 as a nursery by Frank and Marion Danning. The garden centre is now run by their son David and David Symons, who started working for the family at the age of 11.

The company bought Ashford garden centre in North Devon eight years ago and next year open their third centre on a green field site at Probus near Truro.

Martin Langdon, chair of the North Cornwall Onion Show, Mike Blake with the heaviest onion, and Peter Burks.

Wyevale Nurseries have supplied £25,000-worth of plants for two commemorative gardens in the grounds of Leicester Cathedral (above), where the remains of King Richard III are to be re-interred.

The commissions came from landscape architecture practice, Gillespies in London and Tim South of L.D.A. Architects in Exeter.

Amenity sales manager Andy Congera said: “It was a major landscaping project and we were delighted to be involved. We were very pleased to be chosen not only for the overall very high quality of plants required for such a prestigious landscape in full glare of the national and international  media spotlight, but also for the diverse range of plants available to enable the designs to succeed.

 “Many themes had to be addressed, including movement, portrayed in the grasses used, and, as Richard was the last King of the house of York, the use of white was important too.”

The plants supplied by included echinacea, rudbeckia, liatris and eragrostis ‘Wind Dancer’, within a framework of 300 buxus hedging specimens.

King Richard III’s bones were found under a council car park in Leicester in 2012 and will be reinterred on 26 March 26 2015. A week-long series of events will see the king’s coffin travel from Bosworth, where he died, to Leicester.

Former BBC HR director Lucy Adams is the latest speaker to join the line-up for the HTA Garden Futures Conference in London later this month.

During one of the broadcaster’s most turbulent periods, she was responsible for all aspects of employee relations, reward, training and development. She faced a torrent of personal and professional criticism as the broadcaster dealt with a series of crises including executive pay-offs and the Savile scandal.

Lucy will share her story of how she kept the BBC workforce happy and ensured they had access to the training they needed to perform to the best of their ability. Delegates can expect tips on structure, reward and recognition.

Tim West, co-founder of London independent bookstore The Big Green Bookshop, will also speak at the conference.  The business, founded by Tim and Simon Key, offers a thoughtful range of titles and knowledgable staff. With more than £100bn predicted to be spent online this year, retailers have been battling to survive an ever increasing online market. In his session, Tim West will give his perspective on surviving in an online world and how to attract customers using unique selling points to entice customers to spend in store instead of online.

Other speakers include customer service expert Andrew McMillan and Haskins group chief executive Julian Winfield.

Andrew McMillan, an advisor to private and public sectors, spent more than 20 years with the John Lewis Partnership, the last eight while responsible for customer service. In his keynote closing session titled ‘Bigger, Better, Stronger’ Andrew will share his experience of more difficult times and how he learned from and used this to drive the business forward. The resulted was enhanced sales, improved efficiencies and increased resilience to market conditions.

In his session titled ‘Maintaining your identity and a profitable product mix’, Julian Winfield will discuss the pros and cons of the modern garden centre and share his opinion on where things are going.

The HTA Garden Futures Dinner is on Tuesday 14 October, with the conference following on Wednesday 15 October at the Royal Institute of British Architects, RIBA.

Primrose.co.uk and Toad Hall Garden Centre based near Henley-on-Thames have completed a successful trial partnership for selling garden furniture and accessories.

During the spring and summer, on-line garden retailer primrose.co.uk stocked a dedicated area within Toad Hall Garden Centre with a selected range of garden furniture and accessories that could also be bought through its website.

“The purpose of the exercise was to give our customers the opportunity to see some of our products before they bought, and to prove that there are mutual benefits to be had from working with traditional garden retailers” said Primrose director, Ian Charles.

Products on display at Toad Hall were clearly highlighted on product pages and also promoted to customers through the companies’ regular newsletters with the strapline “Internet Prices in your Garden Centre.”

According to Tristan Stubbs, director of Toad Hall Garden Centre:  ”We weren’t sure what to expect when we first had discussions with Primrose about providing space for them to display and sell their product at our garden centre. However it worked out really well, positioned as they were next to our furniture range, customers were able to compare a wider range of designs, quality and prices than we would have stocked ourselves. We definitely had new customers coming to see us and it certainly increased footfall. One customer came all the way from Kent because they wanted to see a particular Primrose furniture set!”

Ian Charles is really encouraged by the results and Primrose.co.uk will hold discussions with other garden centres about similar relationships next year.

Primrose has been trading online for more than 10 years, has been profitable every year and has an annual turnover in excess of £30 million.

It’s that time of the year again. As you complete your Christmas Displays and start selling your Christmas events (or sell out if you’ve had them on-line already) now is the moment to nominate your teams in The Greatest Christmas Awards.

The Greatest Awards team of experts will be out on the road twice this Christmas season, once at the start of November to visit Christmas Display teams and then again in December to meet the teams behind The Greatest Santa events of the year.

Here are the categories you need to nominate your teams for:

• The Greatest Christmas Display Team – awards for small centre, mid sized centre, destination centre and a centre that is part of a group.
• The Greatest Grotto Team – regional and national awards for small and large centre teams.
• The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – for exceptional BBQ sales in the run up to Christmas.
• The Greatest Miniature Christmas Display Team – for teams excelling at displays and sales of miniature Christmas scenes and even the new craze of Fairy Gardening.
• The Greatest Catering with Santa Team – for teams that create those truly memorable meals with Santa.
• The Greatest Festive Plant Sales Team – for plant teams who enter into the festive spirit and maximise sales of plants and trees while centre footfall is at it’s highest.

There will also be the chance for your customers to vote for your total garden centre team as The Greatest Garden Centre at Christmas 2014.  Just send your nominations and register for the public voting by e-mail to trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk.

The Greatest Christmas Awards will be presented at The Greatest Christmas Party, sponsored by Premier Decorations, on Sunday 11th January in The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate.  Watch this space for ticket details.

Coolings Nurseries hosted the Sevenoaks Business Awards awards ceremony last week.

Organised by the Sevenoaks Town Partnership and attended by 160, the awards took the form of seven categories including Independent Retailer of the Year and the Customer Choice award.

Attendees included the Rt Hon Michael Fallon, Defence secretary and local MP, and a number of town and district councillors as well as the Mayor of Sevenoaks.  Two vintage routemaster buses transported guests from Sevenoaks town centre to Coolings, where the route through its coffee shop gardens was lit with uplighters and candles.

Coolings managing director Gary Carvosso said hosting the event was an “extra bonus whilst our own business enjoys a record September”

The Nursery won the the ‘Independent Retailer’ category in 2013.

Above: brothers John and Anthony Gornall of Honeywells, the new butchers at Bents

A local wine merchant and traditional family butchers have signed up for the Food Hall at Bents Garden & Home at Glazebury.

Reserve Wines and Honeytwell’s will be core elements in the new 30,000 sq ft hall, due to open fully early next year. In the meantime, Bents will operate a ‘pop up’ style food venue over the Christmas period which will feature both new signings.

Didsbury based Reserve Wines is owned and run by Kate Goodman, who features on BBC’s Food & Drink show.

Honeywell’s is a family owned butchers based in Preston, now run by brothers John and Anthony Gornall. Their new butchery at Bents will feature a traditional preparation and butchers area with glass fronted cold rooms.

MD Matthew Bent says both businsses share Bents’ values and set exceptional standards for their customers.

The extended food hall will eventually offer fresh quality fruit and vegetables, a range of deli counters, fresh bakery and a wine and tapas bar, plus a demo area for cookery workshops.

Vitax has followed the successful launch of its Q4 Premium Liquid Feeds in the 2014 season with the addition of two new products to the range for 2015.

Q4 Premium Soluble Plant Food and Q4 Rootmore - the newest additions to the Q4 fertiliser range - took centre stage amongst 10 new products Vitax unveiled for the 2015 season. 

Specially created to produce bumper crops and bigger blooms, Q4 Premium Soluble Plant Food has been formulated to increase flowering and improve crop flavour.

Using a revolutionary organic nutrient delivery system (ONDS), it achieves fast results and is the most complete feed product available for the whole garden.

Q4 Rootmore contains the popular mycorrhizal fungi as well as seaweed and humates to stimulate intensive root growth.  Created to enhance roses, trees, shrubs and edible plants, it reduces the need for additional fertilisers.

Q4 Premium Soluble Plant Food and Q4 Rootmore now take the number of Q4 fertilisers available to seven.

In addition to Q4, Vitax also revealed its new Green Up Enhance range for the first time.  With a mix of liquid and granular feeds available, the new line-up includes: Green Up Enhance Lawn Feed, Green Up Enhance Autumn Lawn Feed and Green Up Enhance Liquid Lawn Feed.

Each product has been developed to release nutrients into the turf to improve root development, whether it is through a steady release or delivered straight to root.

It is perhaps the Green Up Enhance Liquid Lawn Feed which drew the most attention as it is the most advanced liquid lawn feed available.  Used by professional greenkeepers, it has a unique combination of amino and humic acids which also uses the ONDS to achieve professional results.  As it delivers straight to the root, less fertiliser is wasted by being washed away.

Consumer confidence in the Nippon brand is still high and Vitax has expanded the range again with Nippon Fly Papers.  Simple to use and pesticide free, they have a floral design to ensure they do not look out of place in any home. 

Other products which hit the mark for 2015 included: Weedfree Path and Patio liquid and ready-to-use spray, Copper Mixture, Greenhouse Cleaner and Orchid Mist Spray.

W: www.vitax.co.uk

T: 01530 510060

E: marketing@vitax.co.uk

Our Client is grower of quality Nursery Stock destined for the major multiples and garden centre chains. They are currently seeking a driven and experienced Nursery Site Manager who can assist in the culture of quality stock. 

The ideal person will possess:

Knowledge and training within a horticultural discipline preferably from a commercial production background 

Excellent record of managing and supervising staff

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including good IT skills

A strong team builder and player with initiative, drive and enthusiasm who can progress within the company. 

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Gillian Muir or apply with your CV quoting reference #6666 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is an exciting e-commerce business who source and supply a range wonderful garden products and plants to a discerning mail-order audience across the UK.

They wish to appoint a dynamic E-commerce Manager- Ideally a person with some plant knowledge and good e-commerce experience to run their e-mail marketing, social media and to provide horticultural content to our website.

Someone with fabulous communication skills, real entrepreneurial characteristics, creative flare, drive and with plenty of get up and go!  

Please call Dianne Saunders on 07929 013910 or apply with your CV quoting reference 6653 to info@morepeople.co.uk

I am currently looking for an experienced garden centre management candidate to join the team of a large independent garden centre. 

This position will sit underneath the centre manager alongside another assistant manager and will be part of the senior leadership team of the site. 

Excellent cross department experience would be beneficial as there will be multiple areas covered by this role. IT and Horticultural experience would be ideal. 

Man management skills are key and experience managing teams must be evidenced in your experience.

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Gillian Muir or apply with your CV, quoting reference #6658 to info@morepeople.co.uk

My client is a large independent garden centre with an award winning pedigree.

This vacancy will be working alongside the centre management team and will have direct responsibility for the product range of this department. I am looking for an ambitious individual who wants to have a sense of ownership over the retail area. 

Retail experience is a must and garden centre retail experience is preferred.

Applicants must have experience of staff management, with a minimum of 1-2 years experience, and be able to lead and inspire a team of up to 13 staff.

They must also have proven buying experience and an ability to successfully negotiate with suppliers.

They must operate with good standards of merchandising and presentation, coupled with an element of creativity. 

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Gillian Muir or apply with your CV, quoting reference #6609 to info@morepeople.co.uk

The Daily Record has reported that supermarket chain Waitrose is to open its eighth outlet in Scotland after securing planning consent for a new store in Ayr to be built on land beside the Holmston Roundabout next to Dobbies Garden Centre.

The Heathfield Retail Park in Ayr, reported to be anchored by Marks & Spencer, was also approved.

Waitrose will bring around 180 new jobs when it opens in early 2016.

Growing media sales volumes are still strong during this period of dry and warm weather, being 15% up on last week. They’re also 22% higher than the same period in 2013 and an amazing 87% up on 2012.

• Vital Earth Farm Manure (50 litres) is the highest new entry at No 37.
• The highest re-entry is Westland Multipurpose + John Innes (40 litres) at No 20. 

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

Next have announced plans to build a 90,000sq ft Next Home & Garden store selling fashion, homeware and gardening equipment on a new site adjacent to Fosse Way, Leicester.

Lord Simon Wolfson, Next chief executive, has been reported in local press as saying: “Fosse Park is one of the top 10 out-of-town locations in Britain. We’re very enthusiastic about this development.”

"The eye-catching design of the new multi-million-pound store would provide a stunning new architectural gateway development for Leicester.  

The news Next Home and Garden store would be similar to one recently opened in Hedge End, near Southampton. The group also operates five other home and garden outlets, as well as more than 500 smaller fashion stores.

Taylors Bulbs Mushroom Kit (small) is the highest climber in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart this week. It moves up 19 places to No 21.

• The highest re-entry is Taylors Asparagus Connovers Colossal at No 17.
• Taylors also dominate the top of the chart, filling the first seven places with onion sets and garlic.
• Thompson & Morgan also have three re-entries, headed by Spinach Perpetual at No 28.

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

GIMA are holding a Business Breakfast on Tuesday 21 October.

It will feature a short presentation from GIMA Associate Member More People about succession planning, talent mapping and effective recruitment.

The meeting, to be held at The Orangery at Squires Shepperton Garden Centre (8.45 to 10am), is free for members, £30 + VAT for non-members.

More information: geraldine@gima.org.uk

GIMA members who complete the ‘Have Your Say about Glee 2014’ survey could win a £50 Majestic Wine voucher in a draw.

Comments will be dealt with confidentially and the results will be fed back to the organisers to help shape the 2015 event.

To take part in the survey, click on this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6BN6NVL

GIMA have negotiated a 30% discount off the recently published "Garden Products & Garden Centres Market Research & Analysis - UK 2014 from MTW Research. It forecasts market trends to 2018 and offers detailed analysis of the UK garden centres market.

Prices from £395 (usually £565).

To find out more, click on this link to the MTW Research website http://www.marketresearchreports.co.uk/GIMA-Garden-Products-Market/GIMA-Garden-Products-Market-Size.htm

There is still evidence in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart that gardeners are still active on their plots, but they’re now turning their attention to indoors as orchid products take over the top spots.

Growth Technology Orchid Myst (100 ml) jumps six places to take over the No 1 position.

Bestsellers favourite Fito Drip Feeder for Orchids takes second position away from a Gardman lighting product.

The highest climber this week, moving up 42 places, is Growth Technology Orchid Pot Clear.

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

Biomass technology, crop protection and legislation were among the primary topics at British Ornamental Plant Producers  AGM and Technical Seminar at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, last week.

The fully booked seminar brought together retailers, growers and suppliers to learn about current issues affecting the industry and provide an update on the strategy and activities of the BOPP Scheme.

Renewable energy continues to be a hot topic, with increasing horticultural sector interest stimulated by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidies currently available. Biomass technology gives growers the potential to address rising fuel prices and reduce their environmental impact, although its pratical implementation still leaves unanswered questions for many.

Jon Swain from the Farm Energy Centre outlined renewable energy options; Tony Budd, from EcoVision, an HTA CRoP partner, talked about the technology available from ground source heat pumps to biomass boilers.

In a grower panel session, Richard Harnett from Kernock Park Plants and Simon Earley from Earley Ornamentals shared their experiences of installing biomass technology. At Kernock, a central biomass boiler installed in 2006 replaced 13 boilers across their site). He emphasised the need for a backup boiler and also a dedicated member of staff – essentially “a Fred Dibnah type with IT skills”!

Simon stressed the importance of researching the right fuel, which is critical for boiler efficiency. Wood pellets are more manageable but come at a higher price than wood chip. “The heat that you get out depends on the quality of material you put in,” he said. Kernock manage this by buying in and storing their wood a year in advance so they can control their fuel source.

Delegates also heard about ethical trading in the supply chain, updates on legislation impacting on the sector and the latest HDC news about crop protection and R&D. All had a common theme about the need to work collaboratively in order to make progress.

Two interactive workshop sessions from Paula Edgington and Anna Cook looked at developing and implementing a quality management system and supplier management providing plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate.

BOPP Scheme Manager Anna Cook said: “The theme of the seminar was ‘Setting New Standards’ and all of our speakers have picked up on a common theme; working collaboratively. We hope we have assisted the attendees to understand that new requirements, whether they be legal, ethical, environmental or certification driven can be met by working together and seeking support from the right sources.”

The seminar sponsors were Bulrush, Ecovision, Fedden USP, HTA Insurance Services, HTA Utility Services, Phytolux and Sedex.

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 2012 as well as 2013 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 upto 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.