In This Issue
Countdown to Garden Re-Leaf Day!
There's still time to have Jude Law, David Tennant and other stars presenting the Garden Re-Leaf Day quiz
Some of the highlights of Garden Re-Leaf Day 2013
Oakham is new group's fourth site - and target is 10
Poor selling skills letting centres down says consultant
Late February sales dip...but not the worst winter ever
Plant growth leads to product sales increases
Good forecast puts retailers in buying mood at Classiflora Zelari
Waitrose and Next step up gardening assault
Briers to expand into new markets
New Tesco and garden centre plans for Gloucester site...but will it be Dobbies?
Garsons Garden Centre awards £2.4m catering contract
Plans to increase serving capacity at Darlington garden centre cafe met with opposition
Hillier centres raise funds for leading military charity through poppy sales
Mr Fothergill’s Nation of Gardeners sees its first bloom of the year
New marketing director at Gardman drives brand investment
A positive outcome for Monkton Elm staff
CN Seeds benefits from UKTI advice and funding
Onion sets in huge demand
Steady growth in compost sales
APL offers discounted membership for limited period
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news.  Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700

 


Oakham is new group's fourth site - and target is 10
Rutland Garden Centre at Oakham, founded by Brian and Ruby Hamilton more than 30 years ago, has been acquired by Paul Chessum’s Bedfordshire-based ‘Home & Garden’ group.

The acquisition, the group’s fourth centre, is part of a plan to grow to 10 sites over the next few years. “We’re interested in talking to low-turnover traditional businesses with potential in the right areas,” operations director Karen Gill told GTN Xtra.

An introductory sale soon after the Rutland deal was completed triggered such an influx of trade that police were called to control the traffic.

The existing employees, including manager Kevin Barker, have been retained and additional staff have been taken on, with more recruitment in the pipeline.

Mrs Gill said the group, whose main nursery facility is Chessum Plants at Biggleswade, was focusing on plants and gardening. “We want customers to feel they are in a gardener’s garden centre when they walk in the door,” she said.

The other Home & Garden sites, all trading under their local names rather than the group banner, are at Willington (Beds), Kettering (Northants) and Uttoxeter (Staffs).

Info: 01767 603990

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Del.icio.us Digg
Email Software by Newsweaver