September garden centre sales are set to hit record levels this year if we have a good last week of the month. After three weeks the GTN Bestsellers All Products Index is 7% up on last year and the best first three weeks of September since 2014...
September garden centre sales are set to hit record levels this year if we have a good last week of the month. After three weeks the GTN Bestsellers All Products Index is 7% up on last year and the best first three weeks of September since 2014.
Last week saw year on year sales increases for most areas of garden centre sales including plants which were up for the week for only the second time since March.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 38
• Garden Products Top 50 – up 11%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 56%
• Wild Bird Care Top 50 – up 10%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 19%
• All Plants index – up 19%
• All Items index - up 22%
As Christmas opens in more and more garden centres across the country, next week GTN Bestsellers will publish the first full Christmas Bestsellers chart of the year. To get your copy of the GTN Bestsellers Christmas Top 50 every week you can subscribe using this link.
In the meantime, here are the Top 10 Christmas products from the GTN Bestsellers Epos data for week 38, the third week of September 2109:
1. Playwrite Christmas Magic Elf Door - 5016064100636 2. History & Heraldry Angel/Snowman Hanging Decoration - 886767124810 3. Lang Boxed Christmas Mugs, 3 Assorted - 739744130499 4. Playwrite Plush Woodland Friends - 5016064101428 5. Lang Christmas Message Coaster Red - 5055034705334 6. Suki Angel Personalised Hanging Decoration - 5053154290020 7. History & Heraldry Personalised Christmas Storybook - 9781780707419 8. Playwrite Christmas Plush Elf 28cm - 5016064092689 9. Armitages Dog Advent Calendar - 5000239103911 10. Premier Taper Dinner Candles Red Or Ivory - 5053844106617
The third week of September 2019 is only the second week since March this year that plant sales volumes have been up year on year...
The third week of September 2019 is only the second week since March this year that plant sales volumes have been up year on year. With gardens still looking great after the summer it’s good to see that autumn planting, along with bulb sales, is getting going.
Erysimum sales increased by over 50% to climb up 4 places to No 11.
Helleborus are the highest re-entry for the week, back in at No 26.
Rhododendron are the highest chart climber of all plant genus, up 21 places to No 24.
Last week, these were the Top 10 bestselling plants in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data, did that match your sales? Were all of these plants in your hotspots?
Subscribers to GTN Bestsellers track plant sales by genus groupings every week and make sure bestselling lines are in the best sales positions. Subscribe via this link
The Blue Diamond Group of Garden Centres has donated £6,000 to the Rose Society at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show...
The Blue Diamond Group of Garden Centres has donated £6,000 to the Rose Society at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show (28th and 29th September).
Blue Diamond, who own Fryer’s Roses, pledged the donation to the Society to enable the Society to do more to support the rose industry and to promote roses generally.
Fryer’s Roses are internationally renowned and have gained prestigious awards from all over the world. As such, Blue Diamond want to celebrate the brand’s heritage and also ensure that roses remain a firm favourite of the public.
Fryer’s Roses are now sold exclusively in all 37 Blue Diamond Garden Centres and are promoted by Blue Diamond throughout the year at various local and RHS shows.
The rose industry has found the last few years difficult due predominantly to increases in growing and production costs and a shortage of experienced workforces. Family businesses are no longer being passed to the younger generations (younger generations wanting a different life to their parents) and as such rose breeders are becoming themselves a dying breed.
With Blue Diamonds donation it is hoped that the Rose Society can put the money to good use in continuing to promote and support roses.
Alan Roper the Managing Director of Blue Diamond says: “Roses are a cornerstone of the English garden but many new gardeners do not always embrace the plant due to the mysteries and challenges people perceive surround the plant. Blue Diamond are proud owners of the Fryer’s Roses brand and hopefully play a pivotal role in promoting roses to gardeners. A rose is more than just part of quintessentially English gardens, it evokes memories and makes a perfect gift to mark an event in one’s life. Therefore, we are pleased to make this donation to The Rose Society and we thank them for the good work that is being done to promote roses to the wider audience”.
The Rose Society said "As a new society we are always conscious of our tight financial restrictions and always have to conduct our business with this in mind. Our mission is to support and encourage the rose lovers of the UK to grow great roses. We do this through our website, social media, quarterly newsletters and at flower shows throughout the country with amateur rose shows and educational and scientific stands.
"We have had great support from the rose trade in general and the very generous gesture by Blue Diamond will be used to further the efforts of the society.
"Our intention is to use the Blue Diamond sponsorship in several ways including;
As our membership gradually increases, we will need to improve our management system to keep our members up to date and fully informed.
Our Educational and Scientific stands have done very well at RHS and regional shows, winning Gold medals and interacting with the general public. Encouraged by our success so far, we hope to have a stand at the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show. This will mean developing and making improvements to our current stand and will involve additional costs. A presence at Chelsea, we hope, will give the society greater exposure and in consequence increase membership.
A new rose trial ground has been established in Hertfordshire to provide a testing ground for new roses that may be introduced onto the UK market. This is a very important facility as it will give UK rose growers and gardeners, a clear indication of the performance and the health of roses that are offered for sale. We have been asked to get involved with the judging of the trials and will be supplying and managing the awards that are handed out to the worthy winners.
"Naturally, as the society moves forward, we will undoubtably encounter new challenges. Having a solid financial footing is something that the Blue Diamond sponsorship gives us."
The Rose Society stand was at stand 807 in the Harvest Pavilion at the Malvern Autumn Show.
3 Shires Garden Centre, part of the Blue Diamond Group, was also at the show in the Plant Village at stand 256, selling a wide of seasonal and herbaceous plants and planted containers.
Pictured above at the cheque presentation from right to left, Chairman John Anthony, Jill Kerr Events Manager for Blue Diamond, Pauline Martin- Chair of Shows and PR, Ray Martin -Secretary, Derek Lawrence- Executive Director of the World Federation of the Rose Society, John McCarthy- Member, Eric Miller-Stand Builder, Gareth Davies- Vice Chairman of the Rose Society and two other members.
Perrywood have been celebrating their first anniversary at the Sudbury centre they acquired from Wyevale garden Centres last year...
Perrywood have been celebrating their first anniversary at the Sudbury centre they acquired from Wyevale garden Centres last year.
Perrywood Sudbury was bought from Wyevale by the directors of Essex-based Perrywood Garden Centre, and had its first day of trading under the Perrywood banner on 25 September 2018.
Since Perrywood took over the Newton Road site, they have created 13 more jobs, and increased contractual hours for nine of the ex-Wyevale team. There are now 34 employees in total.
During the last year the team has turned the centre around. It has focused on improving the offering and bringing a Perrywood feel to the store with ‘how-to’ leaflets, houseplants at the front of the store and more stock including new and improved ranges of bird care, gloves, tools, indoor and outdoor plants (including plants from the Perrywood Grown range) and pots.
They invested more than £100k in a new kitchen and coffee shop, reopening it as a destination for customers looking for home-cooked breakfasts, soup, hot lunches freshly made sandwiches, cakes and of course Perrywood’s famous scones.
To help celebrate its first birthday, staff will be hosting a week of in-store promotions and social media competitions. This will include free tea or coffee when buying any food in the coffee shop on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September.
Simon Bourne, Retail Director at Perrywood, says: “We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating our first year in Sudbury.
“The community has been so welcoming to us and has really supported us since we took over. We have some regular and very loyal customers so we hope to see as many as possible in store to help us celebrate.
“The high street is not an easy environment for retailers at the moment but we believe our fabulous, hardworking and knowledgeable staff, high quality plants and inspiring visual merchandising, have helped us buck the trend.”
Perrywood has more than 30 years’ experience running its award-winning Tiptree garden centre, which comprises of a plant production nursery, gift and home shop and 260-seater coffee shop and restaurant. As a £10m turnover business, the company employs 164 staff and is ranked at number three in the Garden Centre Association (GCA) league table of UK garden centres.
As a business, Perrywood is committed to supporting charities and the local community. During 2018, Perrywood Tiptree donated more than £26,000 to charities.
Garden Centre Manager Steve and Plant Area Expert Jane from Perrywood Sudbury recently took part in a sponsored skydive, raising £1035 for Colchester Hospital which was matched by Perrywood. In addition, the store has donated hundreds of pounds worth of gift vouchers, plants and products to local schools, charities and community groups – such as Sudbury in Bloom.
David Webb and Peter Seabrook both worked for Cundy’s in the 1960s and 1970s. Cundy’s was a nursery which was on the site that is now Perrywood Sudbury and Peter remembers cycling there from Chelmsford.
The HTA has called for more local authorities to collect non-black recyclable plant pots from the kerbside. HTA research has found that the recycling of plant pots could result in an estimated 8,000 tonnes being diverted from landfill and recycled back into pots...
During Recycle Week (23-29 September) the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) called for more local authorities to collect non-black recyclable plant pots from the kerbside. HTA research has found that the recycling of plant pots could result in an estimated 8,000 tonnes being diverted from landfill and recycled back into pots.
Speaking at the RECOUP Plastics Recycling and Resources Conference in Peterborough on 26 September James Clark, HTA Director of Policy and Communications, highlighted how the UK horticulture industry has come together to move to using non-black polypropylene kerbside recyclable plant pots. Working with RECOUP the HTA has completed a Recyclability by Design framework document providing technical assurance to recyclers that these new pots meet the necessary criteria for recycling in kerbside collections.
There is a huge opportunity to recycle more plant pots with clear demand for polypropylene from UK re-processors. If all kerbside compliant pots sold each year were collected this could divert an estimated 8,000 tonnes of quality polypropylene away from landfill and energy from waste and back into the recycling stream to be made into more pots. With a total of 23,000 tonnes of polypropylene recycled in the UK in 2016 (WRAP) the recycling of plant pots is set to contribute a significant proportion. A number of local authorities already collect recyclable plant pots highlighting that it is possible - especially given that they are made from a valuable material with an end market.
James Clark comments, “Gardeners are environmentally conscious, concerned about using materials sustainably and expect the garden industry to do the right thing. The industry has made huge developments over the past year in introducing non-black kerbside recyclable plant pots. We will be stepping up our campaign activity and want to work with the waste and recycling industry to progress this initiative. There is no better time to do so given that the evidence is clear that non-black plant pots are recyclable, particularly with the launch of the Recyclability by Design document.”
The RECOUP Conference attracts over 500 delegates comprising stakeholders, NGO’s, Local and National Government and companies with business interests within plastics recycling to network and share best practice. The conference was chaired by Tom Heap, BBC Countryfile and BBC Radio 4 'Costing the Earth'.
James Clark took part in a session titled ‘The growing issue of farm and horticultural plastics’, which also involved representatives from Berry BPI Group, The Co-op, IFFPG/EPRO Agriculture Working Group and the Environment Agency.
Dobbies Garden Centres have introduced a new free plastic plant pot and tray return service...
Dobbies Garden Centres have introduced a new free plastic plant pot and tray return service. The UK’s leading garden centre is guiding the way by encouraging customers to drop off any old plastic plant pots and trays and they will ensure that they don’t end up in landfill. After a quick wash customers can take all shapes, sizes and colours of pot or tray, as long as they’re plastic and not polystyrene – and then they can be dropped off at the allocated return point based in each Dobbies centre.
Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director at Dobbies says ‘Our ethos goes beyond providing the best garden products, service and advice. We make it our number one priority to be responsible and care for our environment. Our pot and tray return service is a huge step in the right direction on reducing the environmental impact and a sustainable approach for the future.’
See our pictures from Dobbies Peterborough last week below, including their "Inspired by Downton Abbey" displays
Horticultural businesses need to prepare now for the imminent changes to the plant passporting regulations which come into force on 14 December 2019. In preparation for this, the Horticultural Trades Association have produced an animated infographic video and guidance sheet to inform members about plant passporting...
Horticultural businesses need to prepare now for the imminent changes to the plant passporting regulations which come into force on 14 December 2019. In preparation for this, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) have produced an animated infographic video and guidance sheet to inform members about plant passporting.
This new information, available to members at www.hta.org.uk/plantpassporting builds on the on-going campaign the HTA are implementing to clarify what the new regulations mean for businesses and explain the different steps that need to be taken over the coming months.
The regulations, which come into force in the event of the UK leaving the EU with a deal or in the event of an extension, mean that all plants for planting* and plant products** will need to travel with plant passports. All businesses that are involved in selling to other companies or online will need to be authorised to issue plant passports and register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to be able to do so. This affects any business professionally involved with plants.
HTA President, Boyd Douglas-Davies, commented, “As a garden retailer myself I can see how it is so important for the plants we sell to be sourced responsibly. It’s clear that having the ability to trace back the journey through the supply chain of every plant that is moved throughout the country is not only great for plant health purposes, but also needs full co-operation of every business involved in the trade in plants. The HTA plays an active role in supporting members with the implementation of new laws, interpreting the finer detail and making our industry robust and biosecure.”
He adds, “Given that many retail businesses will be focussing on plans for Christmas plant sales it is imperative that action is taken now so that trading can continue as seamlessly.”
HTA Policy Manager, Sally Cullimore, commented, “The introduction of the new plant passporting regulations on 14 December is part of wider legislation coming in to force on Plant Health Controls. We have been representing the industry views to the Government to establish clarity around the changes and keeping members fully informed over the last few months through E-News, HTA News and website updates, member meetings and advice sessions. These latest resources are part of our on-going communications plan to provide access to the critical pieces of information in a digestible format. It is time to take action now and make sure your business is prepared for the changes.”
To find out more information on plant passporting, view the video or read the guidance sheets, please visit www.hta.org.uk/plantpassporting
Groves in Bridport are sponsoring Bridport Mind Fest in October and are running a number of projects with local schools to encourage children to take up gardening...
Groves in Bridport are sponsoring Bridport Mind Fest in October and are running a number of projects with local schools to encourage children to take up gardening.
There has been an alarming increase in mental health issues among the young. UK charity Action for Children surveyed 5,555 people aged between 13 and 15 from across the country and 1,840 – 1 in 3 – were found to have a mental health issue such as depression or inability to focus. And an Education Policy Institute investigation found that referrals to children’s mental health services in England had increased by 26% over the past five years.
Gardening is now seen as an ideal way to mitigate the increase in mental health issues among schoolchildren. The benefits to mental wellbeing are now widely known. This year at the Chelsea Garden Show the Duchess of Cambridge’s Back to Nature garden highlighted how time spent in natural environments can build the foundations for positive mental wellbeing that lasts through childhood and over a lifetime.
Before the Summer, Groves Nurseries sent schools free sunflower seeds and pumpkins to grow. This October Groves will be part of the “little daffodils” campaign launch to get children planting bulbs. Daffodil bulbs are being delivered to local primary schools including St Mary’s Primary and Mountjoy School in Beaminster.
During Half Term Groves will be displaying the local school’s pumpkins around their pond in a Schools Pumpkin Showcase.
Getting kids into gardening this October might make life a bit brighter for young people so if your school is interested in participating please get in contact with Groves at garden@grovesnurseries.co.uk.
Groves are sponsoring this year’s Bridport Mind Fest Sunflower Project which runs from Friday 11 – Sunday 13 October, 2019.
British garden product suppliers returning from the spoga+gafa international garden trade fair in Cologne emphasised that the popularity of UK garden items with overseas buyers is still strong...
British garden product suppliers returning from the spoga+gafa international garden trade fair in Cologne (1-3 September) emphasised that the popularity of UK garden items with overseas buyers is still strong.
Charlie Parker, commercial manager of the Gardenex export federation, which has organised and manned the British pavilion at spoga+gafa for over forty years, commented on some of the successes achieved at this year’s fair:”The Gardenex industry information stand attracted dozens of distributors, mail order/ecommerce companies and garden–related buyers from a wide variety of retailers from Europe and around the world. Many of the buyers were past participants at Gardenex ‘Meet the Buyers’ events, but others were completely new contacts from other international markets”.
Specific sales leads for members were taken from buyers from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Malta, and Slovenia and also from as far away as the US, Canada, India and Kenya. Exhibitors in the British group saw buyers from some of the leading European garden centres including Dehner in Germany and Intratuin in Holland, as well as distributors from virtually every European country and beyond.
The Gardenex view was supported by exhibitors including Concept Research, G Plants, Smart Garden Products and Waspinator.
Chris Blackburn, sales manager of Concept Research stated that the company had acquired new on-line customers from Germany and Holland and was in discussion with potential new distributors from France and Spain. He added:”We also received over fifty expressions of interest from quality buyers from seventeen countries around the world. Our new product, Pest Free Plus, utilising ultrasound and LED technology, attracted considerable interest from buyers looking for effective alternatives to poisons and traps.”
Good quality sales leads were also reported by G-Plants’ managing director Alex Reihl: ”We had over forty quality sales leads and gained contact with new customers from the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway and France. The show gave us the opportunity to discuss the expansion of our garden gift ranges with existing customers and customers that are just about to come on board. Key products of interest were our Vintage gift range which is seen by export customers as typically English.”
According to Nigel Clarke, business development manager of Waspinator, his company returned from Cologne with fifty-six business leads from sixteen countries. He said:”We also had discussions with potential new distributors from France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Most buyers were particularly attracted to our new Waspinator display units and box packaging.”
Smart Garden Products showcased an exciting new technical innovation in solar lighting, 50 new lighting designs, as well as a re-launch of the Briers range of gloves and footwear. This attracted over 150 enquiries from buyers representing most European countries. The company’s European director, Xavier Faure added:”We are also hoping to extend our overseas distributorships into Hungary and Slovenia as a result of the spoga+gafa show.”
For further information on the British exhibitors or on the services provided by Gardenex, the trade association that works on behalf of British companies to help them increase sales worldwide,
HTA grower member support has been boosted by the appointment of botanist and broadcaster Pippa Greenwood as HTA Horticulture Manager...
HTA grower member support has been boosted by the appointment of botanist and broadcaster Pippa Greenwood as HTA Horticulture Manager.
With qualifications in Botany and Crop Protection, Pippa is a well-known figure in the garden industry as a horticultural and gardening writer, author, broadcaster and media commentator, advisor and speaker. She is best known for previously presenting BBC Gardeners’ World and is a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. Her previous work experience includes running the Plant Pathology department at RHS Wisley.
Pippa will be a key part of the grower, nursery and plant production committees and groups within the HTA, as well as providing horticultural and technical input across the organisation. She will represent the organisation externally on horticultural matters and will work closely with Alistair Yeomans in driving forward the Plant Health and Biosecurity Alliance.
HTA President Boyd Douglas-Davies comments, “This is a significant appointment for the HTA and we are delighted to have Pippa on board to further our grower member liaison. This is a very different role for Pippa to the one that people will know her for but with her technical knowledge and strong media credentials she will be well placed to ensure our grower members’ needs are met.”
Pippa Greenwood said: "With such a vibrant UK horticulture industry and recognising the importance that plants and gardening play in our lives I am looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to the role of Horticulture Manager."
Garden product sales have had a great start to September, the GTN Garden products Top 50 is currently 13% up on last year after three weeks of the month. Lawncare is selling particularly well at the moment as gardeners get into autumn gardening...
Garden product sales have had a great start to September, the GTN Garden products Top 50 is currently 13% up on last year after three weeks of the month. Lawncare is selling particularly well at the moment as gardeners get into autumn gardening modes.
Westland Lawn & Turf Dressing 25 litres moves up to be the No 1 gardening bestseller of the week.
Evergreen Garden Care Evergreen Autumn Complete 100 sq m Refill moves up 6 places to No 4.
Westland Aftercut Autumn All in 1 Bag 400 sq m is the highest new entry for the week at No 30.
Highest chart climber of the week is USP’s Wonderwall vertical planters, up 31 places to No 5.
Last week the Top 10 products in the GTN Bestsellers Garden products chart were:
1. Westland Lawn & Turf Dressing 25L - 5023377844881 2. Woodlodge Small Pot Feet - 5021346110852 3. Smart Solar 25 Super Bright Orbs 15 Lumen - 5050642020251 4. Evergreen Garden Care Evergreen Autumn Complete 100 sq m Refill - 5010272183313 5. USP Wonderwall Vertical Garden Planter with 3-pockets - 8800214898392 6. Tildenet Weed Block Mat Bulk Roll 1x100m - 5032042000569 7. Evergreen Garden Care Evergreen Complete 360 sq m + 10% Extra Free - 5010272183320 8. Smart Solar Bug Lights - 5050642027373 9. Evergreen Garden Care Weedol Gun Pathclear 1L - 5010272013153 10. Evergreen Garden Care Roundup Total Ready To Use 1.2L - 5017676018012
Five years ago for the same week the Top 10 Garden products were:
1. Fito Drip Feeder For Orchids 32ml - 8006320027705 2. Bayer Bio Slug & Snail Killer 1kg - 5000371052023 3. Growth Technology Orchid Myst 100ml - 5025644912736 4. Gardman Solar Mini Ice Orb - 5024160836038 5. Smart Solar Owl Solar Light - 5050642060707 6. Gardman Marker Light Single - 5024160182661 7. Scotts Evergreen Autumn 100 sq m - 5010272042306 8. Woodlodge Small Pot Feet - 5021346110852 9. Bayer Baby Bio Original 175ml - 50371280 10. Gardman Gard Stakes 11mm x 120cm - 5024160079022
Growing activity has zoomed back up to pre-summer levels as customers get going with their autumn gardening. So far September growing media sales volumes are running at 9% up on last year...
Growing activity has zoomed back up to pre-summer levels as customers get going with their autumn gardening. So far September growing media sales volumes are running at 9% up on last year.
Westland Gro-Sure Lawn Seeding Soil, 30 litres, moves up 21 places to No 13.
Evergreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost, 40 litres is the highest re-entry at No 29.
Evergreen Garden Care Levington Multipurpose + John Innes, 56 litres and Westland Jack's Magic All Purpose Compost, 60 litres remain the top 2 most popular growing media purchases for the week.
Subscribers to GTN Bestsellers track the Top 50 Bestselling growing media lines each week making sure they have the right products in the right place for their most important growing customers.
Wild Bird Care is still to get into acceleration for autumn and winter with volumes static during September. This week, sunflower seed feeds have seen big increases...
Wild Bird Care is still to get into acceleration for autumn and winter with volumes static during September. This week, sunflower seed feeds have seen big increases.
Westland Peckish Sunflower Seed 1.25kg are the only new entry for the week, in at No 47.
Gardman Sunflower Hearts 2kg + 25% Extra climbed 33 places up the chart to No 6.
Tom Chambers Sunflower Hearts 2.5kg increased sales too, moving up 2 places to No 5.
GTN Bestsellers tracks the Top 50 Bestselling Wild Bird care products throughout the year. To subscribe use this link.
The playground creators at Playscheme are getting behind the Association of Play Industries (API) “Play Must Stay” campaign, which highlights alarming trends in playground closures and increases in children’s screentime...
The playground creators at Playscheme are getting behind the Association of Play Industries (API) “Play Must Stay” campaign, which highlights alarming trends in playground closures and increases in children’s screentime.
The API’s research shows that more than one public playground is closed every week, with a 44% decrease in spend on play facilities forecast by 2020/21 when compared to 2017/18. Simultaneously, parents are highlighting that having access to playgrounds would make their child more active and that nearly 50% of parents are struggling to persuade their child to leave their screen behind.
As API members, Playscheme is echoing the Association’s call for urgent and sustained investment in public play provision.
Steve Danby, Playscheme Managing Director, said, “The API’s research shows that increasing local play provision encourages children to play outside more and to move away from their screens.”
He adds: “As well as sustained local and government investment, we believe there’s a need for us all to play our part in encouraging children to be active. We can set good examples ourselves, and we can also call on those who have influence – such as social media companies – to do their part. Today, for example, if you want to post a status update to Facebook to say you’re “playing”, the lead icon that pops up is a games console. If you search for social media gifs on the theme of “play”, you’ll find plenty of cat videos, but scant evidence of children playing. In our view, this does little to encourage children to be active.”
Whether it’s encouraging friends and family to use their local playground more frequently, lobbying your local council for playground investment, or using the #playmuststay hashtag on social media, we can all play our part in securing the future of our playgrounds.
The best of last week's
If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...
AMES has today announced that Antony Harker will step down as Managing Director of its operations in the UK and Ireland...
AMES has today announced that Antony Harker will step down as Managing Director of its operations in the UK and Ireland.
After nearly 2 years of hard work under Antony’s leadership, the AMES UK team are rightly proud of their achievements; delivering the business integration of Kelkay, La Hacienda and Anchorfast Products (now Woodshaw), transforming brands, refocusing core categories and launching into completely new market segments. Culminating in a record-breaking Glee, with over 100% uplift achieved on early pre-season orders.
Antony sold Kelkay Ltd in 2018 to Griffon Corporation, a US public company with approximately USD$2billion annual revenue. Antony has spent the last 30 years within the UK garden centre sector and has recently chosen to make an investment in the British Garden Centre Group. The AMES Corporation has invited Antony to take on a strategic advisory role for the global AMES business, which holds market leading positions in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Talking of the changes, Antony said, “I have complete confidence that my transition comes at the perfect time for the team here at AMES UK, as we conclude our financial year and go in to 2020 with fantastic prospects. AMES and Griffon have been hugely supportive and their continued commitment demonstrates the opportunities they see in the UK market and just how serious they are about the group’s long-term growth and expansion plans. I’m really looking forward to this new chapter and I have no doubt that the business will continue to go from strength to strength.”
As the dust settles on the completion of the sale and winding down of Wyevale Garden Centres, here's GTN Xtra's complete list of which centres went where...
Out of the 145 Wyevale Garden Centres put up for sale at the end of May 2018, 129 have been sold as garden centres and 16 sold for development or closed (2 of these will be run as garden centres for up to 2 years by British Garden centres before being developed.)
The trading sites were bought by 31 different businesses. British Garden Centres and Dobbies have each bought 37 centres with Blue Diamond buying 16 sites, Hilliers 5 sites and In-Excess 4 centres.
Using the "offers based on prices" listed by Christie & Co in May 2018, Dobbies spent almost £240m on 20 freehold sites and 17 leasehold garden centres. British Garden Centres purchases total up to £57.5m of which 18 are freehold and 19 leasehold. The Blue Diamond sites were valued at £50.5m and are split 5 freehold and 11 leasehold.
See the October issue of Garden Trade News for more analysis and views.
Here's GTN Xtra's A-Z list of all 145 centres and where they have ended up.
Rosebourne is celebrating a fantastic first year of trading after turning over more than £6 million...
Rosebourne is celebrating a fantastic first year of trading after turning over more than £6 million.
On the approach to their one year anniversary, Rosebourne will be celebrating this impressive achievement by throwing a huge birthday party for the public on Sunday 6th October.
The event will include a guest appearance from Strictly Come Dancing Judge, Craig Revel Horwood, who will be book signing from 3pm onwards.
The first 100 customers will also receive a free orchid on arrival and all shoppers will get 10% off their purchases (excluding the restaurant).
Executive Director Jon Kitching said: “We’ve enjoyed a very successful first year at Aldermaston, customers tell us how much they love our food offering and the fact we’re a little different to the norm. Our garden furniture and plants are also proving popular.
“Looking to the future, a third site has been purchased in Hampton-in-Arden near Solihull and we have exciting plans to develop this into a fully operational Rosebourne with large food hall and restaurant this winter.”
Trade response to the new furniture covers from Tom Chambers has been outstanding. Launched at Solex in July, the new range has already been listed in a number of major independent garden centres and groups...
Trade response to the new furniture covers from Tom Chambers has been outstanding. Launched at Solex in July, the new range has already been listed in a number of major independent garden centres and groups.
The covers bring a completely new approach to protecting outdoor furniture and BBQs. Manufactured from a stylish and contemporary woven material producing a luxury feel which is new to the UK market. The covers have been designed to not only protect furniture but to add to the overall appearance of the garden or patio.
The Tom Chambers RainGuard PVC free material is water repellent and weather proof ensuring year-round protection against all the elements. Heavy duty aluminium eyelets with extra strong bungee cords ensure firm security. High quality packaging incorporating product information and full colour graphics uses the same material as the covers to stand out in store. A free-standing display module is available.
Commenting on the success of the new covers, Vicki Medley, Marketing Director said: “We recognised that there was a clear gap in the market for covers that offer more than just protection. The new Tom Chambers covers are manufactured from a fabric which is new to the sector and moves the category to a completely new level. The new material is available from Day 1 with no phasing in, so that Retailers may benefit from this new and advanced range immediately."
Tom Chambers is a family business with over 50 years’ experience and has an enviable reputation for producing top quality products for the garden market.
The Gardens Group has announced open evening dates for the award-winning Christmas displays at all three of its garden centres, with the team now making plans to take their festive silverware tally into double figures...
The Gardens Group has announced open evening dates for the award-winning Christmas displays at all three of its garden centres, with the team now making plans to take their festive silverware tally into double figures.
Having won the Garden Centre Association’s Best Christmas Display Award at Castle Gardens nine times in the past 10 years, The Gardens Group has received consistently high praise from the judges for its inspirational themes, unique product range and ability to transport gardeners of all ages into magical wonderlands.
With top secret themes now taking shape, which Louise Burks, director of The Gardens Group, and her team have been planning since January, the three centres are hoping to wow the judges yet again this year, while keeping their environmental impact to a minimum.
Festive food and drink will be on offer at each open evening, helping to charge up the Christmas cheer. The Apple Tree Farm Shop at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil will also open its German-inspired Christmas Market on Wednesday 16 October, kicking off with a meet-the-producer event, where visitors will be able to sample local produce and get a few early Christmas presents sorted along the way.
Christmas display open evenings:
Poundbury Gardens, Dorchester - Wednesday 2 October at 7:30pm
Brimsmore Gardens, Yeovil - Wednesday 9 October at 7:30pm
Castle Gardens, Sherborne - Thursday 17 October at 7:30pm
Christmas Market open evening:
The Apple Tree Farm Shop at Brimsmore Gardens, Yeovil - Wednesday 16 October, 4pm – 7pm.
Following each open evening, the Christmas displays and Christmas Market will be open every day up to and including Christmas Eve.
RHS Retail Director, Damian Powell, took GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer on a guided tour of the new plant centre and retail areas at RHS Wisley last month.
With 70% extra display space across the shop and the plant centre stocks have been increased stocks to fill the new plant area. That includes 30 metres of Ferns which are in great demand.
Read the full interview with Damian Powell in the August Issue of GTN, out this week.
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