Wyevale Garden Centres announce today the sale of John Browns Garden Centre.

 John Browns Garden Centre will be sold to Hillier Garden Centres, the second transaction with the group following the sale of four centres in April.

It will continue to be run as a garden centre and the sale is expected to complete by the end of September.

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “I am very pleased that John Browns will continue to be operated as a garden centre, and by an operator that we now know well thanks to having sold centres to Hillier over the last year. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our colleagues for their hard work and passion over the years, and wish them all the best for the future under new ownership.”

Chris Francis, Retail and Wholesale Director of Hillier, said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of John Browns Garden Centre, joining the Hillier family business, growing the group to 17 garden centres serving customers across the South of England.

"The Hillier team look forward to working with our new colleagues and getting to know the local gardening community, inspiring them with our great quality products and wide range of home-grown plants, all backed by renowned Hillier expertise.”

Wyevale Garden Centres also announce today the closure of a leasehold centre, Thatcham Garden Centre. The freehold and leasehold interest have been acquired by the current landlord, who has asked for vacant possession and the centre will therefore close by the end of September.  

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres said:

We strive for a positive outcome with all our centres and so I am disappointed to announce that Thatcham Garden Centre will close by the end of September - we have informed our colleagues and would like to wish them all the very best for the future.”

The first week of August sees the fifth week in a row where garden centre sales have been up on last year, an average of 18% up, according to GTN Bestsellers.

After speaking with a number of centres much of that increase is credited to the changeable, but more bearable weather. This has been encouraging more people to eat in garden centre restaurants – remember last summer many restaurants were unbearable for weeks, and that resultant increase in footfall is driving the increased sales.

How have your restaurants and coffee shops been performing this summer? Have you made significant menu changes to help increase sales?  Email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 31)
Garden Products - up 34%
Growing Media - up 4%
Wild Bird Care - up 26%
Veg-2-Gro - up 5%
All Plants Index - down 4%
All Items Index - up 15%

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

Thieves used a recovery truck to steal an employee’s car in broad daylight from Wentworth Garden Centre’s car park at Rotherham last week.

The white VW Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 was James Hudson’s pride and joy. Mr Hudson speculated that the car may have been ‘stolen to order’.

He said: “I work at the garden centre  – it isn’t just a customer’s car. They have clearly been checking my car out and it has probably been stolen to order and they clearly knew it was there.

“This car is my pride and joy and I am devastated, as you can imagine.”

The registration number is YR17PDZ. Footage from CCTV cameras in the garden centre’s car park showed that the recovery truck’s registration plate was FX10XCK.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 480 of August 7 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

At this year's Glee, Durston Garden Products' message is one of Simplicity and Consolidation.

All too often we see the market flooded with goods that don’t always make it out of the warehouse, let alone onto retail shelves. And that’s why Durston Garden Products are sticking rigidly to its core range.

“After all, a simple choice of composts, developed for all types of gardens, and for use all-year-round, is all any consumer really needs”, says company spokesman Dan Durston.

“When shopping for compost there’s nothing worse than being confronted with too many choices and too much jargon. When you think about it, compost has been the main staple of gardening for hundreds, if not thousands of years and as such it doesn’t need to be too technical or confusing”.

Durstons comprehensive selection of composts, offers garden centres and other retail outlets everything they need to supply their customers with what they want, and includes its ever popular Multi-Purpose Compost, Seed and Cutting Compost, Bulb Fibre, John Innes ranges and much more. 

“One thing our years of experience as a compost supplier has taught us” continues Dan, “is that the simpler you keep the choices, the more engaged the consumer will be. The sheer fact that the majority of compost suppliers best seller is its
Multi-Purpose, says it all”.

All Durstons composts are home-produced here in the UK, which gives the company an advantage over many of its competitors. The quality of its growing media and the value-for-money its products offer is also well documented and what’s more, you won’t find Durstons products cheaper in any of the supermarkets! Combine this with the company’s five-day delivery promise, yes that’s right, only five days from receipt of order and soon you will see why many garden centres chose Durstons as its preferred supplier.

At this years GLEE in Hall 8, Stand E20-21 Durston Garden Products will be exhibiting its entire range of composts and will continue to push its latest packaging which is 100% recyclable and for which it ‘s John Innes Multi Purpose design was shortlisted at the GIMA awards earlier this month.

So, if you’re looking for a new supplier or just a company to fill a short term gap, visit Durston Garden Products - you won’t be disappointed. Alternatively, and for more information check out the website: www.durstongardenproducts.co.uk or call the sales team on: 01458 442688.  They will be delighted to take your call.

Festive has recently teamed up with the world’s largest battery brand, Duracell, to help you maximise your Garden Centre battery sale opportunities.

According to extensive research carried out by Duracell, there are two types of battery shoppers: 

1. Those that buy batteries as a destination purchase.
2. Those that buy on impulse, when they see a point of sale display in store.

This relatively new and exciting partnership gives you the opportunity to boost your sales and profit from both types of shoppers.

According to an IPSOS Quantative study, batteries are ranked the 2^nd most wanted and expected item at the checkout. In fact, 40% of all battery sales are bought on impulse, where the shopper is only adding batteries to their basket after seeing them on display - which tells us that display is key.

To help you boost your sales by 40% and add to your profit margin, we now offer a huge selection of Duracell batteries in a number of bespoke quality displays at a competitive price.

How many items do you sell that are powered by battery? On average, there are 17 battery operated devices per household. This figure is expected to increase by 20% year on year.

Our fully merchandised support for the world’s leading battery range also includes a replenishment system to provide all year round management of the category. With the peak selling season for batteries fast approaching, be sure to place your order now for autumn delivery.

Here’s to winning with Festive.

To learn more about our Duracell offering and how we can help you, get in touch today.

Landing page: http://www.festive.co.uk/festive-catalogues/duracell-catalogue/

As consumers turn their backs on single-use plastics, homewares exhibitors at Glee are channelling efforts into sustainable alternatives.

Sapana Carpet Mats are made in India and imported to more than 25 countries, to be stocked by retail giants like Ikea. Sapana Mats’ Nishith Gupta said: “Until recently, most of our rugs were made using virgin polypropylene, which was recyclable but risked leaving a negative impact on the environment. The primary reason to use virgin polypropylene was to ensure that no harmful chemical residues were in the final product. We have now successfully developed a range of products which are made from safe recycled plastic. They have the same functional and visual attributes as products made from virgin polypropylene. This range will be available in Ikea stores in early 2020 and will gradually be rolled out to other customers.” 

British artisan design team Julie and Beth Dodsworth have created a plastic-free home fragrancing collection, to be launched at Glee, along with new plastic-free seed and growing pots. The mother and daughter team at Julie Dodsworth moved away from imports and will exhibit their UK-made products for the first time this autumn. Julie explained: “Our buyers are asking for plastic-free and we were anxious to deliver. The collections are also paraffin-free, vegan-friendly and palm oil-free. We love the garden centre trade and worked hard to bring in these important parameters, at a price buyers need for their clientele. Our new seed pots are ceramic, with a biodegradable bag holding the contents. We are anxious to tick every box!”

The need to cut down on single-use plastics is even impacting on products designed to make disposing of household waste easier. Wheelie Klips is a fledgling company in Northamptonshire that has developed its initial product range over the past two years. Its plastic clips have been designed for use in conjunction with bin liners, helping to keep bins clean. Wheelie Klips’ Mike Deacon says: “Our clip products are made from recyclable plastic; our spray bottle is made from recyclable plastic; our blister packaging is all recyclable and our bin liner products are made from recycled grade materials. Using our liners and throwing household rubbish directly into the wheelie bin, as opposed to using those from a kitchen environment such as under-sink rubbish bin liners, involves more than 52% less plastic going into landfill and keeps wheelie bins clean.”

Clothing and footwear are rapidly expanding garden centre categories, and manufacturers of garden boots are keen to shout about their green credentials. Amanda Wooldridge, of kids wellie brand Squelch Wellies, said: “Our welly boots arrive in a 100% cotton drawstring bag, replacing the wasteful shoebox. The tags on our socks are all made from recycled paper. Our colouring-in product comes in the small squelch bag. When a child grows out of their welly boot that’s not the end of the boot’s life. We encourage handing down, and our gender-neutral sole makes this even more possible.”

With the growing trend for alfresco living, the market for outdoor cleaning products is expanding. Block Blitz, an eco-friendly brand of paving cleaner, revealed the steps it is taking to cut down on plastic in product packaging. MD Dave Moore, said: “We understand and support the need to reduce our plastic usage and have spent time sourcing and looking at alternatives. We’re currently updating our packaging ready to launch at Glee, and are reducing the amount of plastic in our packaging by 30%. This will see our brand moving away from unrecyclable laminated plastic packaging to fully recyclable plastic and cardboard packaging for our range of products. Environmental concerns have always been paramount to our brand and at the forefront of our ethos. Our products contain no biocides, pesticides or petrochemical-derived ingredients and Block Blitz products aren’t classed as toxic to the environment. All raw ingredients used are from sustainable plant sources and from abundant mineral resources.”

Even trollies that consumers push around garden centres are under scrutiny. Formbar claims to be the only UK distributor of Polycart lightweight plastic shopping trollies. It points out that plastic has a number of advantages over wire trollies – including a longer lifespan because they won’t rust, unlike some wire trollies. Formbar’s Hannah Lewis explained: “I am concerned that the backlash against plastic risks throwing the good away with the bad, which will regress product design and manufacture. Wire trolleys go through a 12-step finishing process where trolleys are dipped into a series of chemicals that plate the trolley with protective coatings. This has a big environmental impact but also means recycling the trolley at the end of its life is difficult because the different metals used in construction and plating have to be separated. Plastic trolleys potentially last longer than wire and are easily recyclable at the end of their life. They don’t damage shop fittings because they bend and flex on impact.”

As single-use plastic bottles are increasingly frowned on, Glee exhibitors are embracing reusable or sustainable alternatives. At Valerie Graham, MD Michael Stein is preparing to launch an autumn 2019 collection of re-useable water bottles, coffee mugs, tumblers and stemless wine cups. The company’s Swig brand is getting ready for increased demand by adding new on-trend colours including crimson and green to its hydration range.

With disposable coffee cups also under scrutiny, Refreshment Systems’ head of marketing Katie Hall, points out that the company, which has been carbon-neutral for more than 10 years, supplies cups that are accredited by PEFC – the world’s largest forest certification system. All of its cups can be collected by waste management companies and recycled, which is good news because the UK currently throws away 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every day!

Visit any garden centre and you’re likely to see a growing range of pet care products and treats. With Pets at Glee showcasing more brands and products than ever before to cater for demand, manufacturers have been keen to emphasise how they’re caring for the environment, too.

With over 30 years’ experience in the pet care market, Butcher’s has taken “crucial steps towards using more sustainable materials and helping their customers to recycle”. A Butcher’s spokeswoman says: “Over the past year, we’ve removed plastic shrink-wrap packaging from our can multi-packs and replaced it with recyclable and biodegradable cardboard. New boxes are the first of their kind in the pet care market to be manufactured in the UK, and could save up to 92 tonnes of plastic wrap per year – that’s equivalent to 4.2 million plastic bottles!

“Butcher’s has taken the extra step to ensure that the cardboard it uses is sourced from managed, sustainable forests, where harvested trees are always replanted. All the steel cans and 150g trays in production are plastic-free and 100% recyclable, too. These metals can be easily and sustainably turned into new materials such as car parts, bicycles or even aeroplanes.”

Pet bedding looks set to become greener too. Danish Design is switching to “100% recycled PET bottle flake” to produce its pet bedding fibre fill from September. Danish Design’s director of sales and operations Rob Newsome said: “Billions of plastic bottles are thrown away every year, with only around 9% being recycled. It’s predicted that, by mid-century, the oceans could contain more plastic waste than fish.” Rob adds: “By switching to PET-recycled fibre, we can ensure that around eight million plastic bottles a year are stopped from reaching landfill.”

Similarly, PetDreamHouse is manufacturing pet blankets that are made from RPET, polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. Each blanket will comprise around 24 recycled plastic bottles, with the company claiming that the manufacturing process cuts energy and CO2 emissions by 70%. PetDreamHouse director Dr Wen Liu said: “We believe this material will change the pet industry and our planet, and pets will love it!”

Speaking about the strides that exhibitors have taken to boost their green credentials, Glee Event Director, Matthew Mein, said: “The backlash against single-use plastics is resonating throughout every retail category represented at Glee, and manufacturers are constantly innovating to bring environmentally friendly alternatives into production. While probing the depth of change surrounding plastics, we have discovered genuinely innovative ways in which exhibitors are cutting down on waste throughout their operations. Glee will raise the bar when it comes to showcasing responsible manufacturing, and will provide the ultimate platform for exhibitors to drive home their green credentials to buyers who are seeking eco-friendly merchandise.”

Vitavia are pleased to announce that from 2020 they will be the new UK distributors for Janssens greenhouses and garden rooms from Belgium.

Janssens specialises in developing, producing and distributing greenhouses, garden rooms, verandas, orangeries, conservatories and much more via their network of agents based across Europe and in the USA. 

Janssens market middle and high-end products developed in-house for customers who attach paramount importance to quality and style. Over the years they have earned a reputation for high quality design and innovation. 

Seen as the perfect complement to the already well established Vitavia Range, the new alliance will be launched on the Vitavia Stand at Glee, Hall 20 Stand X20 Y21, in September 2019.

Marketing Manager, Andrea Wells explained that “it adds a new dimension to our existing successful business and we are looking forward to adding market share for Janssens alongside Vitavia’s forever growing brand.”

The former Wyevale on the High Street in Podington officially started trading as Podington Garden Centre by Cherry Lane last week as the retained team of 40 staff geared up to make big changes.

Now the country's ninth biggest garden retailer, Cherry Lane is the UK's only value garden centre group. From Wednesday, there was an initial 50% sale on selected Wyevale stock before the centre started stocking plants grown in the group’s three nurseries around the UK.

A new 140-seater café bistro  – The Watering Can café – is planned, as well as a new Garden Tots indoor play area.

The centre will eventually will stock an extensive outdoor living range including garden furniture, sheds, tools and accessories, plus homewares, kitchen products and furniture, gift ranges and toys. There will also be wild bird,wildlife and pet products.

The centre will remain open during the improvement works, which are expected to be completed by the end of September.

Nick Rubins, chief executive of the QD Group which owns Cherry Lane, said: “Our aim is simple, to sell high quality items at the lowest possible price, so that there's always excellent offers and spectacular deals to be discovered. As a family-run business, we are also keen to make the centre even more family orientated with additions like the new café and indoor soft play area. We are also looking forward to organising lots of fun events and providing some great seasonal offerings including our famous Christmas department with Santa's grotto."

Podington by Cherry Lane is the group’s 14th garden centre.

Squire’s Garden Centres has bought Heathlands Garden Centre in Wokingham. Previously owned by Wyevale, the garden centre (new entrance pictured right) will now be known as Squire’s in Wokingham.

All 33 employees will stay on, including manager Graham Carter, not forgetting Petunia, the resident cat! A clearance sale is now on before the autumn gardening ranges arrive.

Anthony Jones, chief operating officer at WGC, said: “We are delighted to have sold Heathlands Centre to a highly respected operator, and that it will continue to be run as a garden centre. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our colleagues at Heathlands who have been so instrumental in making it the brilliant operation it is today and wish them all the best under new ownership.”

Sarah Squire, Squire’s chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Heathlands to Squire’s Garden Centres. As a family business, firmly rooted in south-west London and nearby home counties, Heathlands is an excellent addition to our group and will be known as Squire’s in Wokingham. We will be making improvements to the garden centre over time, but we like our garden centres to be different and have their own unique character. We look forward to working with the team at the centre and really getting to know and understand the local community.”

Squire’s now has 16 centres across Surrey, Sussex, North London and Berkshire.

London’s houseplant trend shows no signs of slowing and in response to huge demand, W6 Garden Centre is dramatically expanding its indoor plant range.

The centre, based under the railway arches of Ravenscourt Park tube station in the heart of London, has created ‘The Green Room’, West London’s largest collection of indoor plants.

The arch has been respectfully restored so that the finished result will be a spectacular marriage of old brickwork and green life.

The Green Room at W6 will open its doors in the autumn 2019 with a launch event including giveaways and a talk from ethno-botanist writer James Wong.

W6 is the second unloved piece of London space transformed by owner Beryl Henderson into a flourishing garden centre. The first, 19 years ago, was N1 at Dalston in North London. W6 won an award in 2017 for best boutique garden centre. Its café focuses on a plant-based, seasonal sourced menu created by head-chef Anton Petrov.

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has seen a record number of new members join in 2019 – with 10 signing up so far in 2019.

These include three centres from the Klondyke Group, an additional centre for Perrywood Garden Centre, as well as six other independent garden centres from across the country.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, explained: “We’d like to welcome all of our new members, Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre, Buckingham Garden Centre, Dunbar Garden Centre, Haddenham Garden Centre, Parkers Garden Company, Waresley Park Garden Centre, Klondyke Garden Centres in Edinburgh, Livingstone and Polmont and Perrywood Sudbury.

“It is a real pleasure to welcome a record number of new members joining us within a year. We accept applications at any time of year, and we have already received interest from other centres which will increase this record total even further, so if there are any centres out there thinking of joining us, then please don’t hesitate get in touch.”

The centres have already received visits from their regional inspectors. These differ from the GCA’s annual inspections as the date is pre-arranged, rather than unannounced, in order to give the new members a chance to meet their inspector and be talked through the process.

Michael Cole, one of the GCA’s regional inspectors, said: “I recently visited five of the new centres and they are already doing great, and now that they are members, they will benefit hugely from our inspection process as well as our annual conference, where they can network with other centres.

“Our members say our unique annual inspections and feedback sessions are one of the biggest benefits of membership. They are a fantastic motivational and management tool, they keep everyone on their toes and make sure we’re always doing our best.

“We always aim to help our members achieve the highest standards across all areas of their business including customer service, merchandising, plant quality and marketing.”

GCA members are also able to access the Association’s e-learning initiative Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW), which helps member garden centres keep their customer service at the highest standards.

Mike Burks, Chairman Elect of the GCA for 2020/21, pictured above, said: “There are so many benefits for centres to join an organisation like ours. We’re a friendly and inclusive bunch and membership enables businesses to easily share information, experiences and ideas, which helps them make decisions.

“We also help members to achieve high standards in areas like customer service and plant quality, which are important in making sure they stand out from their competitors.”

Other benefits include access to the GCA’s Barometer of Trade results, this allows members to compare their trading positions with other members garden centres. 

Elizabeth Bellis-Marks, Director at Bellis Brothers Farm Shop and Garden Centre in Wrexham, said: “We have been planning to join the GCA for a while and decided now was the perfect time to take the plunge. Our management team have lots of ideas to improve our site and we thought the annual visits would give us the incentive we need to support moving the centre forward.

“Our staff work incredibly hard to offer our customers a unique and memorable shopping experience and being able to promote our centre as GCA approved reassures them that we are a quality garden centre.

“We have already benefitted in many ways from our membership. GCA Inspector, Gordon Emslie’s introductory visit and feedback proved incredibly informative. He offered us thought provoking advice regarding our unique selling points and we felt reassured that we are on track with our ideas.

“We also attended the recent regional awards meeting at Bents Garden & Home and were delighted to realise that networking wasn’t as frightening as we had thought! The other members were incredibly welcoming. We are looking forward to our journey as a member and our staff have renewed enthusiasm to improve their departments with next year’s visit in mind.”

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme it helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please call 01244 952170. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association. 

Evergreen Garden Care will unveil marketing campaigns, new POS and new products at Glee next month.

The new stand features a number of different immersive zones aligned with each product area, including lawn care and feeding, to showcase the company’s ongoing commitment to product development.

Designed to illustrate its impressive research and development heritage and unique facilities in Levington, the stand features a modular greenhouse to create a supersized world where visitors can be immersed in the brand and gain a deeper understanding of the products.

As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, marketing manager Jane Hartley will give talks throughout the show,  highlighting key initiatives like the reduction in the amount of single-use plastics across its packaging.

Visitors will also be able to find out more about the multi-platform consumer marketing plans for 2020, which includes a TV, digital and in-store campaign.

MD Mark Portman says product innovations for 2020 will include Performance Organics and Small & Simple ranges, plus rebranding across growing media.

“Our new products are the result of extensive consumer research, which has identified key drivers for growth within the category, and our unique research and development facilities.

“We have put a high level of investment behind the marketing campaign for next year to support the new product development, which will continue to drive footfall into our retailers and convert consumer interest and awareness into more sales.”

Evergreen Garden Care will be on stand 8E30-F31 in hall 8. Click here for current information. 

As previewed in GTN Xtra, Groves Nurseries at Bridport launched its own brand of violet gin – aptly named ‘Mr Groves’ Violet Gin’ – at its Summer Fair last weekend.

Groves Nurseries is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive collection of violets in the world.

Pictured: Clive Groves enjoys a G&T with Jasmine Miles, PA to CW Groves.

Flavoured with Clive Groves’ Bridport-grown violets, the gin was distilled at the garden centre itself by Devon Distillery’s ‘Still on the Move’, a converted 1960s VW van. It is available by the bottle or – by enjoying by the glass as a G&T – in  the Groves Nurseries restaurant.

The Groves violet collection is registered with Plant Heritage and is the only National Collection of Viola odorata and Parma Violets in the UK.

The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) is funding Julie Lin, a biological sciences student at Imperial College London, as part of a plant health undergraduate studentship.

DCF worked with the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) to select a plant health project for its Plant Health Undergraduate Summer Studentship Programme for 2019. The selected project is the life cycle and biology of an emergent pest, the agapanthus gall midge, hosted by RHS Garden Wisley and supervised by Dr. Hayley Jones.

Julie Lin is working at the forefront of research alongside the plant health team. She says: “I applied to this project after I was enticed by the idea of uncovering information completely new to science...Last summer I undertook a placement which involved the rearing of small insects and annelids efficiently within a lab. To do this, I delved into the literature describing the life cycles of these little critters and during this time became increasingly impressed by the fascinating and diverse life cycles of insects. The summer studentship project to elucidate the life stages of the newly discovered agapanthus gall midge brought these ideas together and so piqued my interest…I am already very thankful for this opportunity and I am looking forward to carrying out the experiments which will likely reveal critical information towards the development of control against the agapanthus gall midge.”

The project has got off to a great start. Dr. Hayley Jones said: “We selected Julie for this project because of her enthusiastic and well written application and performance in a telephone interview, where she outlined her biological research skills and experience with entomology. So far, she has proved an excellent student, working very hard and efficiently and making good progress with the project…She has already successfully photographed the pupal stage and deduced that they do not form a cocoon, a key gap in our knowledge that her project was tasked with...We are only a third of the way into the project and Julie has already achieved so much, I look forward to the rest of the project.”

The agapanthus gall midge, Enigmadiplosis agapanthi, causes damage to the popular ornamental plant. The larvae form galls in the flower buds, deforming them and stopping their flowering.  The knowledge gained from the project will inform the development and targeting of control options, with the aim of improving the economic stability of Agapanthus breeders and nurseries, and empowering gardeners to protect their garden plants.

Stax Trade Centres has acquired hardware and ironmongery manufacturer M.P. Smith and Co. Ltd, a long-standing supplier to the company.

Stax says it’s a strategic move to strengthen its supply chain but that the companies will continue to run as separate businesses.

M.P. Smith was established in the mid-70s and using the brand name SECURIT has been a market leader in the UK ironmongery sector. Company founder Mike Smith was keen that any sale would ensure that the company name and reputation would continue after his retirement.

“M.P. Smith has been a supplier to Stax for over 30 years, and it will continue to operate and supply the wholesale trade exactly as it has done previously,” said Stax purchasing director Simon Wright. “Customers of M.P. Smith will continue to receive the same great service they’re used to from the existing team.

“Making M.P. Smith part of the wider Stax organisation simply makes our supply chain even more robust and allows us to continue offering our retail and trade customers a very successful range of hardware and security products under the SECURIT® brand.”

The company says the deal is another example of its commitment to independent retailers and tradespeople.

Pictured at the announcement of the deal: Mike and Gloria Popek Smith with David Hibbert (first left) and Eddie
Brady (second left) of Stax.

The organisers of Netherlands plant fair Plantarium 2019 (Boskoop, 21-23 August) have released more details of novelties to be judged at the event.

The following descriptions are based on details provided by the entrants.

Agapanthus 'Panaga' (Blue Infinity) has exceptionally large flowers with a diameter of more than 30cm, produced throughout the summer, hence ‘Blue Infinity’. The bright blue colour typical of Agapanthus is enhanced by the dark blue, central stripes on each petal. Stems grow to 1-1.5 m.

Astilbe 'Heavy Metal’ has flowers of very bright red, in contrast to varieties such as 'Fanal', 'Red Sentinel' and 'Glut', with thick, full panicles and striking large petals.  Growing to 65-75cm, it is suitable for pots, garden use and as a cut flower.

Clematis ‘Little Lemons’, a variety of C.tangutica, is the first yellow miniature clematis and is already widely available in the UK. This mound forming clematis, which is attractive to bees and butterflies, is well suited for use in hanging baskets, window boxes or restricted spaces.

To coincide with National Allotments Week this week (12 August), South East Water has dug out some top tips for water savvy gardeners to keep their allotments and gardens thriving.

Lee Dance, Head of Water Resources at South East Water, said: “Water is a limited and valuable resource, but is also essential for plants and gardens. There are lots of ways we can all use water more wisely in our gardens and allotments this summer which will help us to save water and keep costs down.

“Collecting rainwater in a water butt is an easy and effective way to ensure plants and vegetables have all the water they need all year round. In fact, plants prefer rainwater to tap water. One water butt holds enough rainwater to fill a watering can 25 times and rainfall in the South East can fill each butt up to 450 times a year.”

Di Appleyard from the National Allotment Society said: “Harvesting rainwater from sheds, polytunnels and greenhouses helps to conserve a precious resource and saves money.”

Other top water-saving tips for those tending allotments and gardens during National Allotments Week include:

• Mulch with bark chippings or gravel – it reduces the need to water and reduces annual weed growth
•  
• Try to choose plants that thrive in dry conditions.
•  
• Move containers, hanging baskets and pots into shady areas where possible
•  
• Water the soil not the plant, using a watering can at the base of the plant
•  
• Water early in the morning or in the cool of the evening. If you water when it’s hot, most will be lost by evaporation.

Free water-saving gadgets for gardeners are available from South East Water here.

Pictured: One water butt can hold enough rainwater to fill a watering can 25 times

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Riding on the back of the year on year footfall increases this summer Garden Product sales continue to perform well enough to increase the year to date sales index to over 2% up on last year.

Highlights were:

• Evergreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro All Purpose Soluble Plant Food, 500g, is a re-entry, coming back in at No 2.
• Smart Solar’s Flutterby Butterfly climbs furthest up the chart, 30 places to No 17.
• Fallen Fruits Flower Fly Swat and Garland’s Log Roll Pin Large are both new entries to the GTN Top 50.

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

spoga+gafa (Cologne Messe, 1 to 3 September 2019) offers more than just a trade fair experience. With its theme worlds, practice-related formats, lectures, special events and industry parties, it creates added value for the horticultural industry as well as much-anticipated new products and product highlights.

The latest garden technology will be on display at the IVG Power Place Akku and Power Place Smart Gardening in Hall 6, together with a section focusing on the urban gardening trend.

A partnership between Koelnmesse and GARDENA sees a new focus on sustainable solutions for the future of the ‘digital garden’, with the GARDENA garden award endowed with €10,000 in prize-money.

The Outdoor Kitchen World in Hall 8 is where you’ll find barb ecues, grill stations, compact cooking islands and spacious, luxurious outdoor kitchen units. A special event this year is BEEF! ON STAGE – lectures, interviews and show cooking.

The POS Green Solution Islands will once again offer practical examples of POS for trendy plant themes. Green Solution islands will present themes like 'Wellness in Nature', 'Kids Garden', 'Flower Power' and 'Living with Plants - My Tiny Coffee Shop'.

The classic islands of the Boulevard of Ideas will once again showcase selected new products on the Central Boulevard.

Practical Garden Day on 2 September will see five first-class speakers focus on the gardening and landscaping needs of older age groups.

The Outdoor Furniture & Decoration Trend Show in Hall 10.2 will turns its attention to increasing urbaniosation, a growing elderly population, sustainability and the increased desire for individualisation.

On the shows’ 45-minute Guided Tours, experts will show you innovative products and optimal solutions for four different themes for a useful overview of spoga+gafa. 

Late summer growing activity continues a pace and the first week of August sees yet another where growing media sales volumes are the highest of the past four years. 

With the sector at almost 9% up year on year so far it will be interesting to watch how sales perform in the autumn. 

Have you got plenty of core gardening promotions and hotspots planned?

Highlights of the week were:

• Growth Technology Cactus Focus Repotting Mix, 2 litres, is the highest chart climber this week, moving up 32 places to No 16.
• Evergreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost, 50 litres, re-enters at No 34.
• Westland Jack’s Magic All Purpose Compost, 60 litres, increased sales by 60% to stay at No 8.

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

The changeable weather and increased garden centre footfalls are helping drive increases in Wild Bird and Wildlife related sales. 

Highlights of the week were:

• Gardman’s Poppy Feeder With Stem has re-entered the GTN Chart at No 3.
• Westland Natures Feast Hedgehog Food increased dramatically to re-enter at No 13.
• Gardman Mealworm Pouches, 200g, were the highest chart climber, up 22 places to No 12.

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

The summer season for plants has finished as late summer colour and autumn planting sales increase significantly.

This week’s big plant groups that saw huge sales increases were: chrysanthemums, asters and pansies.

This week is the first since 21st April that Zonal Geraniums are not the No 1 Bestselling Plant in UK garden centres this year.

• Chrysanthemums re-entered the GTN Top 50 at No 4.
• Cyclamen climbed furthest up the chart, moving up 19 places to No 5.
• Pansy sales grew by almost 500% to re-enter at No 18.

All Plants volume sales change: Week on week DOWN 6.6%.  Year to date vs 2018 DOWN 6.3%, vs  2017 UP 2.6%.

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

Warwickshire based family business Hawkesmill Nurseries is offering a stunning selection of Japanese anemones for delivery this month.

The species of Anemone hupehensis was first named and described in Flora Japonica (1784), by Carl Thunberg. It is native to central China, though it has been naturalised in Japan for hundreds of years. Commonly known as the Chinese anemone or Japanese anemone, thimbleweed, or windflower, these are flowering herbaceous perennials in the family Ranunculaceae.

The Anemone x hybrid cultivars supplied offer three main colour options for welcome late summer and early autumn colour.

* 'Andrea Atkinson AGM' has white flowers that are touched with mint green and soft pink on the outside and with lobed leaves.

* 'Serenade' has large, dusky pink semi-double flowers with yellow stamens in the centre, over a mound of rich green foliage

* 'Bressingham Glow' has an abundance of rich pink multi-petalled blooms surrounding a centre of golden stamens, hovering above rich green foliage.

All are all supplied in 3-litre pots with large lock-in labels and a colour bed card. Orders contain 36 plants in the three varieties.

Click here for more information, call 01676 532334 or  send an email. sales@hawkesmillnurseries.co.uk

Wyevale Garden Centres have announced the sale of Bridgemere Garden Centre and Bridgemere Nursery to Blue Diamond, and Cheltenham Garden Centre to Webbs Garden Centres.

The acquisition of Bridgemere Garden Centre and Bridgemere Nursery increases the footprint of the Blue Diamond brand to 37 centres and brings the total number of garden centres bought by Blue Diamond during the Wyevale Garden Centres sale process to 16. The site will continue to operate as a garden centre and nursery.

Webbs Garden Centres’ purchase of Cheltenham Garden Centre increases their Midlands based operation to three centres. This site will also continue to operate as a garden centre.

Both sales are expected to complete by mid-September.

Anthony Jones, Chief Operating Officer at WGC, said:

“Alan and the Blue Diamond team’s decision to acquire Bridgemere centre and nursery demonstrates the strength and potential of this historic garden centre. I am also delighted Cheltenham will be under new ownership with the respected garden centre operator Webbs. I would like to thank all of our colleagues at these centres for their skills and hard work and wish them the very best under the new ownership.”

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond, said:

“As a horticulturalist, I am personally so pleased to be acquiring Bridgemere centre and nursery, which I have known since the 1980’s. I look forward to focusing on its original virtues and to working with our new colleagues at the centre. I would like to thank the team at Wyevale Garden Centres for their support and professionalism throughout this process.”

Edward Webb, Chairman of Webbs Garden Centres Ltd, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Cheltenham to the Webbs family of stores. We are an independent, family owned garden centre operator with over 150 years of horticultural roots in the Midlands. Cheltenham will be our third centre and is the perfect fit, giving us a very natural extension to our existing and long-established

customer base. We look forward to welcoming the team on board and continuing to develop Cheltenham into a store that embraces the local community.”

WGC also announce the closure of two leasehold garden centres, Potters Bar and Syon Park. Both centres are expected to close in the autumn.

Anthony Jones said: “I am disappointed to announce two centre closures. Our ambition has always been to find a positive outcome for all centres but unfortunately Potters Bar Garden Centre and Syon Park Garden Centre will close in the autumn. I would like to thank all colleagues at these centres and wish them the very best for the future.”

Seperately a Wyevale Garden Centre spokesperson has confirmed to GTN Xtra that as well as Potters Bar and Syon Park, one of Nicholas Marshall's favourite garden centres, Elm Court in North Kent has also been handed back to their respective landlords. 

"Wyevale Garden Centres can confirm that is has surrendered its existing lease at Elm Court Garden Centre but has agreed terms to continue operating the site as a WGC under a license arrangement until September 2019. At the same time, WGC is working closely with the landlord to secure the future of Elm Court as a Garden Centre.

"On Syon Park, Wyevale Garden Centres can confirm that is has surrendered its existing lease at Syon Park Garden Centre but has agreed terms to continue operating the site as a WGC under a license with closure likely during Autumn 2019."

That now leaves just 28 Wyevale Garden Centres remaining to be sold from the original 145 that were put up for sale in May 2018.  They are:

• Blooms Swindon
  Bournville
  Braintree
  Brockworth
  Carmarthen
  Chilton
  Chipperfield
  Crawley
  Findon
  Harrow
  Hitchin
  John Brown
  Lewes
  Ongar
  Osterley
  Paddock Wood
  Playhatch
  Pulborough
  Ramsgate
  Rayleigh
  Sprowston
  Stanway
  Stevenage
  Thatcham
  Tring
  Upminster
  Wimborne
  Winnersh

Wyevale Garden Centres have this afternoon (Wednesday 7th August) announced the sale of Findon Garden Centre in Worthing, to Findon Garden Centre Ltd, a new company set up by the current Wyevale Garden Centre Manager, Dylan Penhaligan (right), and his partner, Chrissie Chaplin.

The sale is expected to complete by mid-September and the site will continue to operate as a garden centre.

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “I am delighted to see Findon Garden Centre continue operating under management who have such an in-depth knowledge of the site. Dylan and Chrissie’s commitment to this centre has been clear throughout the sale process and I am confident we leave Findon in good hands. I would like to thank all of our colleagues at Findon Garden Centre for their skills and hard work and wish them the very best under new ownership.”

Dylan Penhaligan and Chrissie Chaplin, Directors of FGCL said: “Findon Garden Centre is now a local, independent, family run garden centre. We have years of experience in horticulture retail, including, in Dylan’s case, two years managing Findon Garden Centre, and are both looking forward to working with our colleagues and greeting our customers.”

Wyevale Garden Centres have also announced the closure of a leasehold centre, Rayleigh Garden Centre in Essex. The centre is expected to close by the end of September, following confirmation from the Landlord that a new lease will not be granted to potential new operators.

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “Our ambition has always been to find a positive outcome for all centres but I am disappointed to announce that Rayleigh Garden Centre will close by the end of September, shortly before the lease expires. I would like to thank all colleagues at this centre and wish them the very best for the future.”

Following the completion of this and other previously announced sales, Wyevale Garden Centres will trade 26 garden centres plus 6 centres trading under license. The 26 still to be sold as completion of the "Sale of the Century" of all 145 Wyevale Garden Centres that started in June 2018 are:

Blooms Swindon
Bournville
Braintree
Brockworth
Carmarthen
Chilton
Chipperfield
Crawley
Harrow
Hitchin
John Brown
Lewes
Ongar
Osterley
Paddock Wood
Playhatch
Pulborough
Ramsgate
Sprowston
Stanway
Stevenage
Thatcham
Tring
Upminster
Wimborne
Winnersh

Katie Blake Outdoor Furniture has really made an impact on the market. After its launch in 2013 it has gone from strength to strength and is now a serious contender in the world of Garden Furniture with more than 400 outlets.

Quality and price has been the key to its success as it outsells all other brands, according to stockists. One garden centre said:”Its great when the customers walk in and after a short while end up selecting Katie Blake – and we know that there is not going to be any returns or problems.”

Katie Blake can’t be purchased cheaper online as Glencrest monitors the internet and quickly jumps on anyone cutting prices. Of course, customers help by informing the company of anyone offering ridiculous discounts. “Being a family business Glencrest understand their customers’ needs and how important margin is. When customers buy by container, which is very little furniture really, the margin of profit is amazing – and because it’s backed up with UK-held product, it means if ever you’re unlucky enough to be of stock, you can still make profits.

The Holiday Competition was an offer dreamt up by the chairman Jack Whiteley, who loves warm sunny beaches on castaway islands. “I wanted to make this prize something really special,” says Jack,  “and trust me it will be. The hotel is the 5-star Mango Bay in Barbados which looks beautiful and is all-Inclusive. Flights will be by either British Airways or Virgin from Gatwick and Heathrow. All the winner has to do is get themselves to the airport and take enough money for tips."

Initially the flight had been organised for October but the holiday can be taken at any time except over Christmas and the New Year. Visit Katie Blake for more information.

The winner, selected randomly by the team at Garden Trade News, is Phil Stevenson of Charlton Park Garden Centre in Wantage, Oxford. Congratulations to Phil and his partner.

Record temperatures in July have been matched with record garden centre total sales for the month.

Analysis of garden centre Epos data for GTN Bestsellers shows July 2019 was 22% up on 2018,  1% up on the previous July high set in 2015 and 6% higher than the 9 year average for the month.

After July’s record performance, garden centre sales for the year to date are now 3.6% up on last year and 1.1% up on 2017.  How many other areas of retail are in that position?  It appears 2019 is going to be yet another good year. 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 30)
Garden Products - up 41%
Growing Media - up 15%
Wild Bird Care - up 8%
Veg-2-Gro - up 3%
All Plants Index - down 3%
All Items Index - up 29%

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

Demand for natural slug controls will continue to grow, despite the withdrawal and review of the metaldehyde ban following a High Court ruling, says ecofective.

The news that the ban on chemical metaldehyde slug pellets had been overturned on a technicality following a legal challenge by a commercial slug pellet producer took the industry by surprise. DEFRA’s ban saw retailers clear shelves of metaldehyde-based products by the end of June.

Ecofective’s head of sales, Nigel Thompson, said: “The news that metaldehyde could return as a result of this decision is disappointing and flies in the face of growing consumer demand for natural and environmentally friendly pest control products. We know that retailers and consumers are crying out for slug control products that protect precious plants from molluscs without posing a risk to nature or the wider environment - and that is what we will continue to deliver.”

Ecofective Slug Killer uses a ferric phosphate formula approved for organic gardening on bare ground outdoors, in greenhouses and under permanent or temporary covers. It contains a bait that causes slugs to stop feeding and move away from the area. Other manufacturers also use ferric phosphate in their formulations.

A Defra spokesperson saidthe government has decided to withdraw and review the decision made in December 2018 to restrict the sale and use of metaldehyde products following concerns raised about the decision-making process.

“We will retake the decision as swiftly as possible, taking account of the procedural points raised.  Our priority is to protect people and the environment, and all decisions on pesticides are always based on the best available science,” her added.

Sources close to suppliers said it was unlikely production of metaldehyde pellets for UK retail use would be resumed until the results of the review were available.

A spokesman for the Common Sense Gardening Group, which encourages consumers to use of pesticides responsibly, said: “The High Court has overturned the 2018 withdrawal of products containing metaldehyde by Defra on the basis of a legal technicality. Whilst this court case is an important decision, we will wait to see the practical outcome of this with further comments from Health and Safety Executive/Chemical Regulations Division.”

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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.

Festive has recently teamed up with the world’s largest battery brand, Duracell, to help you maximise your Garden Centre battery sale opportunities.

According to extensive research carried out by Duracell, there are two types of battery shoppers: 

1. Those that buy batteries as a destination purchase.
2. Those that buy on impulse, when they see a point of sale display in store.

This relatively new and exciting partnership gives you the opportunity to boost your sales and profit from both types of shoppers.

According to an IPSOS Quantative study, batteries are ranked the 2^nd most wanted and expected item at the checkout. In fact, 40% of all battery sales are bought on impulse, where the shopper is only adding batteries to their basket after seeing them on display - which tells us that display is key.

To help you boost your sales by 40% and add to your profit margin, we now offer a huge selection of Duracell batteries in a number of bespoke quality displays at a competitive price.

How many items do you sell that are powered by battery? On average, there are 17 battery operated devices per household. This figure is expected to increase by 20% year on year.

Our fully merchandised support for the world’s leading battery range also includes a replenishment system to provide all year round management of the category. With the peak selling season for batteries fast approaching, be sure to place your order now for autumn delivery.

Here’s to winning with Festive.

To learn more about our Duracell offering and how we can help you, get in touch today.

Landing page: http://www.festive.co.uk/festive-catalogues/duracell-catalogue/

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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 newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2017 as well as 2018 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 Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here

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

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care 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.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £120m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.