William Sinclair Holdings PLC said today its shares had been suspended from trading on AIM “pending an announcement”.

The share price had plummeted by more than 85% over the past year to 9.73p.

The suspension follows the news in a statement at the end of June that the company was arranging meetings with investors to gauge demand for a significant share placing. Chairman Rupert King said at the time that progress on a funding solution was needed within a few weeks and “there can be no certainty as to the outcome of any of these discussions”.

Sinclair’s pretax loss increased to £8.6 million in the six months ended March 31, compared with £3.1 million in the corresponding period a year ago. Revenue fell by £3 million to £18.7 million.

Reasons given for the company’s worsening economic situation include the costs associasted with moving to the new £50 million manufacturing site at Ellesmere Port and poorer than expected trading.

It is not clear when a new funding announcement can be expected but some sources believe it could be later today.

• Garden Products – down 12%
• Veg-2-Gro Products – up 6%
• Growing Media – up 2%
• All items index – up 7%

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

• The highest climber is the Gardman Black Nickel Solar Mini Ice Orb, which has jumped 33 places to No 14.
• Gardman Solar Black Nickel Glass Marker Light is the highest re-entry at No 17.
• Stewart Smithy Patio Tub, Gun Metal, Small, has also returned to the chart after a particularly impressive sales week.
• Scotts Levington Tomorite retains the top spot.

Homebase managing director Echo Lu has joined the line-up for the HTA Garden Futures Conference, which takes place on 30 September at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire.

Described as an ‘agent for positive change’, Echo joined the Home Retail Group board of Homebase in April 2015, following 10 years with Tesco for 10 years in various roles in Asia and the UK, including a non-executive director’s role for Dobbies Garden Centres.  She as joins Homebase shifts from a DIY chain to a home enhancement store.

The theme for this year’s conference, sponsored by Hozelock and Scotts Miracle-Gro, is ‘Embracing Change’ and the programme will include a panel session about what the changing landscape means for garden retail. Panellists include Matthew Bent, MD of Bents Garden & Home, Sam Bosworth, director of Choice Marketing and Julian Winfield, chief executive of Haskins Garden Centres.

Other speakers include Simon Jack, business and economics presenter for Radio 4’s Today Programme who will provide a topical overview of the current economic climate and Dennis Reid from Retail Performance Specialists who will look at how retailers should respond to the changing retail environment.

The conference gala dinner will include presentation of the HTA Pearson Medal and GTN’s The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards. This year’s after dinner speaker is former BBC senior weatherman Bill Giles OBE, who will provide an insightful and entertaining look at the subject that everyone, especially those in the garden industry, likes to talk about.

The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards Categories

• The Greatest Garden Care Retail Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Customer Service Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Training Team or Initiative of the Year, sponsored by MorePeople
• The Greatest Garden Centre Merchandising Team of the Year
• The Greatest Gardening Supplier of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre of the Year (Public Vote), sponsored by National Garden Gift Vouchers

As usual The Greatest Awards team of experts will be out and about meeting nominated teams, gathering information and taking photos of their work so that the Gold, Silver and Bronze Greatest Awards winners can be chosen.

Plus your team have the chance to become The Greatest Garden Centre Team of 2015 by involving your customers in the public voting later this summer.  The Greatest Garden Centre Teams, small, medium and large will be the teams that have the best relationships with their customers and generate the most votes (taking size of centre into account) and in the event of a tie, the centre with the most complimentary comments form their customers.  To take part in the public vote please e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call The Greatest Awards on 01733 775700 to request an in store voting pack.

As this issue of GTN Xtra goes to press the expert judges are meeting to decide the winners of The Greatest Plant Retailing Team Awards in advance of The National Plant Show.  Make sure your Outdoor Leisure, Garden Care and Garden Centre teams are nominated for visits later in July and August.

The Greatest Awards would like to thank sponsors, Elho, National Garden Gift Vouchers, MorePeople and The HTA plus the event organisers at The HTA Catering Conference, National Plant Show, GIMA Awards and HTA Futures for agreeing to be presentation venues for The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015.  The date and venue for The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Awards will be announced in a future issue of GTN Xtra. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for product and service suppliers seeking to gain the highest possible exposure between now and November this year.  Please contact mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk for details.

Garden Centre Manager | Small Chain | Staffordshire (ref:BP7541)

Location: Staffordshire
Salary: £28,000 to £32,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Garden Centre Manager 

The Business

My client is a small growing garden centre group with centres based throughout England. They are an innovative business that prides themselves on a different retail approach for the garden centre market. 

The Role

The role will have full responsibility for the day to day operations management of the garden centre as well as responsibilities with strategic decisions such as staffing and merchandising strategies.

The Person

The right candidate will have excellent retail management experience in an established garden centre, this does not have to be at site level but will be at least at department manager level previously. If you do not have garden retail experience but have relevant retail experience and a passion for horticulture you may still be suitable. Leadership is the most important skill we are looking for but candidates must display a good level of commercial acumen as well.

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Assistant Manager | Independent Garden Centre | Surrey (ref:BP7537)

Location: Surrey
Salary: £30,000 to £38,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Assistant Manager

The Business

My client is a family owned garden centre based in the South of England. The business owns several successful sites bringing home awards for excellence. An independent business, this company fosters growth amongst its staff through training and accountability.

The Role

This role will take on a prominent position in the senior leadership team of the centre. You will be accountable for the day to day operations management of the centre and will be involved in staffing and buying decisions. This site is a large turnover business and requires a committed and innovative approach to retailing.

The Person

I am seeking a retail manager. You will have previous assistant management experience if not site management experience in a smaller centre. I am looking for an intelligent and committed individual with a good level of academic success preferably with either industry focussed or business based qualifications. This will serve to prove with your experience, a high level of commercial awareness that is essential to manage and grow this business. We are looking for a customer service champion, someone who preaches customer first and can drive a team to produce the best consumer experience possible.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Are you talented, enthusiastic and a team player? We are looking for a numerate, articulate and experienced person to join our busy buying team. You will have extensive horticultural and plant knowledge, with proven experience of buying and range planning.

You will be based at our Marlborough office in Wiltshire, but will need to travel to visit plant suppliers and horticultural trade fairs and events on a regular basis. You will report directly to the Managing Director.

Your role will involve keeping up-to-date with the current trends, developing new horticultural ranges, tracking competitor activity and ensuring our bulb, plant and seed offer is unique, exciting and commercial. It will also involve working with Sarah and her gardening team to log seed and plant trials and visiting Perch Hill approximately 4 times per year in key seasons to view trials as well as key horticultural shows and events. You will also work closely with our web and customer service teams to assist with the content posted on our website and on social media. You will have a keen eye for detail, be very proficient at Excel, have a clean driving licence and be keen to join a busy and fast-growing company.

Salary dependent on experience.

To apply please send an email with subject title ‘Horticultural Buyer’ with your CV, and current employment and salary details to sally@sarahraven.com.

Nursery | Production | Grower Manager | (ref:DS7527)

Location: Cambridgeshire
Salary: Dependent on experience
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Production Manager / Grower / Propagation Manager

The Business

Our client is a large, family owned nursery business that specialise in the propagation and production of choice hardy perennials destined for the garden centre market across the UK. 

Currently they are seeking an experienced Production Manager / Grower / Propagation Manager to be based at their Cambridgeshire site, someone to help drive the business forward in a competitive market place. 

The Role

This role will report to the Directors and the successful candidate will be responsible for up to 15 staff in peak season. Responsibilities will include:

• To be responsible for the day to day running of the new propagation unit.
• Monitoring and adjusting growing needs of the crops
• Estimating yields for labour and sales demand
• Supervision of staff

For this role they are seeking an ambitious, driven and focused grower who has a good understanding of supply chain management. Someone who has experience in leading and motivating a team and can continue to help develop the business along with the Directors. 

The Person

Desirable skills:

• Must have experience in Hardy nursery stock production
• Good Plant Knowledge
• Have an ambitious mind to fill this long term position
• Excellent planning and Organisational skills
• IT literate (ideally Excel / Word and Growmaster Program or equivalent)
• Formal training in horticulture - preferably commercial horticulture
• PA1 & PA6 spray certificates

Full time position / permanent 
Salary Depending on experience

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929 013910

Interior Landscaping Regional Manager (ref:DS7544)

Location: East of England
Salary: £28,000 to £30,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Interior Landscaping Regional Manager

The Business

Our client is a leading Interior and Exterior Landscaping and Maintenance Company based in East Anglia who carry out a wide range of commercial contracts throughout the UK. They are currently seeking to recruit an experienced Regional Manager to oversee commercial interior landscaping contracts throughout their region. 

The Role

Reporting to the Operations Director 

The ideal candidate will currently be employed in a similar role or be seeking to take their next step into a more senior management role. Responsibilities will include 
Overseeing the implementation of contracts to strict deadlines and budgets
Assisting in development and bidding for new works
Liaison with clients
Implementation and management of health & safety and quality procedures
Supervision of teams
Maintaining contract files

The Person

The successful candidate should hold a relevant horticultural or landscape qualification, preferably with 3 plus years experience in the interiors sector 
A full driving license is essential.
They should also have significant experience in managing commercial contacts and be able to give superb customer service to clients. 

Ideal candidate should be based within one and half hours commute of Cambridge. 

Salary range: £30,000 depending on experience

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

We are a family run centre based in Lincolnshire and have been trading for over 40 years.

JOB BRIEF

We are looking for a resourceful Restaurant Manager to join us as we plan to re-invent our Restaurant to look after our existing customer base and introduce a new generation of customers, with new menus and a new atmosphere.

You will be responsible for meeting all restaurant revenues, profitability and quality goals. You will ensure efficient operation and maintain high production, productivity and customer service standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate the restaurant operation.
• Organise and supervise shifts.
• Estimate consumption, forecast requirements and maintain stock.
• Control costs and minimise waste.
• Manage health and safety and hygiene.
• Report directly to the directors of current and future operations and financial states.
• Create a positive working environment and lead by example.
• Respond efficiently to customer complaints. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Experience in garden centre catering or similar.
• Proven working experience as restaurant manager.
• Extensive food knowledge.
• Computer literacy and familiarity with restaurant  ‘EPOS’ systems.
• Strong leadership, motivational and people skills.

Nigel Wallis

General Manager

Christine Loader has been appointed by Suttons as technical advisor, fulfilling sa long-held ambition. She has wanted to work for Suttons ever since attending an open day at their trial grounds.  

Impressed by the trials and the knowledge of the staff, Christine jumped at the chance of applying when the job vacancy came up.

Christine says 'I knew that this was for me as soon as I saw the job advertised.  I have arrived at Suttons via a variety of roles in business and horticulture. My love and passion for plants has come from travelling and living all over the world.”

A month into the job, she is enjoying the challenge of dealing with enquiries from the gardening public.

• Taylors Autumn Planting Seed Potatoes top the Veg-2-Gro chart with Charlotte, Pentalnd Javelin and Maris Peer filling the first three places.
• Quantil Chard (Rainbow Mixed) jumps 41 places to No 7 to be the highest climber.
• Lettuce Mixed Baby Leaf is the highest re-entry.
• Chill Pepper Vampire is the highest new entry.

• Westland Top Soil (Value Bag) 35 litres moves to the top spot.
• Scotts Levington Organic Choice Farmyard Manure (56 litres) jumps to No 3 spot.
• GroWise Landscape Mini Chip Bark (100 litres) is the highest climber, rising 26 places to No 12.
• The highest re-entry is Arthur Bowers John Innes No 3 (25 litres) at No 25.
• STV International Bug Bat is the highest new entry at No 45.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last 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.