Cowells of Newcastle and Barton Grange Brock have retained their grip on the GCA’s Garden Centre of the Year Awards, announced last night by comedian host Justin Moorhouse

Cowells were nominated Garden Centre of the Year for the fourth time, with Garden Wise and The Old Railway Line centres runners-up.  Barton Grange won ther Destination Garden Centre of the Year title, also their fourth, against competition from Bents Garden & Home and Burston Rose & Garden Centre.

The other eight centres making up this year’s Top 10  Garden Centres of Excellence in the GCA’s annual inspections audit were: Ayletts, Bents, Burston, Garden Wise, Perrywood, Poplars, Simpsons and Squires Twickenham.

Martin Cowell dedicated his award to his later grandmother, who died earlier this month. “She brought up me and my two sisters while mum and dad were building up the business – this is for her,” he said.

It was unbelievable, Martin said, to have won the award four times in five years. “I feel so humble to have won this again,” he said.

Barton Grange managing director Guy Topping said: It is just amazing. To win this four times is something else, not something we would ever have dreamed of. Seeing the quality of retail this year, we didn’t think we were going to win this year.

“My team are getting nervous now, they see the rest of you closing in on us. You are all our inspiration, you drive us on, you give us confidence to do what we do at Brock.

Guy praised the quality of this year’s conference, the second organized by Will Armitage during his year of office as chairman. “The team have been so fired up by the speakers we have heard,” he said. “For Will to have put on a second conference of this quality of remarkable.”

The entire Barton Grange delegation took the stage for the presentation of the trophy – all except one have worked at the centre since the Brock site opened.

Kirsty Clark from Essex garden centre Perrywood was voted the UK’s best young garden centre employee in the play-offs of the GCA’s Rising Stars competition sponsored by Westland.

Five entrants out of the 27 who entered this year’s contest made the final cut, selected by GCA inspector Ian Boardman, GCA chief executive Iain Wylie and Westland marketing director Keith Nicholson. But it was the delegates who watched Monday’s conference presentations who were given the task of casting votes for an overall winner.

The runners-up were Matthew Fay (Stewarts), Hannah Mason (Chessington), Lisa Waim (Haskins Snowhill) and Cerys Williams (Perrywood).

Kirsty Clark said it felt great to win and she looked forward to returning to conference as her career develops to challenge Barton Grange’s domination.

Westland joint MD Edward Conroy said he was pleased to see garden centres reacting so positively to the Rising Stars programme and treating it as a serious opportunity to develop their young employees.

Now, Kirsty is urging other garden centre staff to sign up for the 2015 programme before the closing deadline of February 19.

The Rising Stars Programme, run by Westland Horticulture and supported by the GCA has been running since 2009. Its aim is to develop the best new talent in the garden centre industry through a year-long training course facilitated by Ian Boardman, IBBIS Director. The course helps the Rising Stars understand the importance of merchandising and worked with each to show what they could implement at their own garden centres and measure results.

Ian said “I was proud of them all and what they had achieved. Their presentations were very professional and they received great applause and many compliments from the audience. I liked the way they were all cheering each other on and had bonded as a mini team”.

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture, said: “Encouraging new and emerging talent is essential for the future of our industry, bringing fresh ideas and inspiration. That’s why Westland will continue to invest heavily in training for garden centre staff and will once again support the next Rising Stars programme.”

The Cedar Associates consultancy won the Associate of the Year award for the second time.

Garden Centres of Excellence:

• Aylett Nurseries Ltd

• Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston

• Bents Garden & Home

• Burston Garden Centre

• Cowell’s Garden Centre

• Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre

• Perrywood Garden Centre

• Poplars Nursery Garden Centre

• Simpsons Garden Centre

• Squires Garden Centre, Twickenham.

Boyd told GTN Xtra; "I have managed to go through the whole conference without really highlighting Briers support for the Glovies campaign. If it hadn't been for the beer they bought me last November the idea would never have been born!"

The economy is looking up and oil prices will stay low for up to three years, leading economist Roger Martin-Fagg told the GCA conference yesterday in a session that left delegates visibly cheered.

He said the recent collapse of oil prices represented a bonus of about £600 a year for the average UK family – and the cash would probably be spent. “If you were to get 10% of that, you would have a great year,” he said.

Roger reminded delegates of the close link between house prices and consumer confidence, which had been rising over the past 18 months. There had been a £25 billion increase in mortgage lending in 2014 but there was no chance of another house price bubble; the government wanted to restrict mortage payments to around 9% of household income.

 He was confident interest rates would not rise this year and probably not next and over a period of  three to seven years were likely to reach no more than 3%.

Price and wage inflation would remain low for the time being, he said, and retail margins had held up well, even during the economic crisis.

He believed it would not be in the UK’s best interests to leave the EU following a referendum. “The EU needs reform and you have to stay at the table to achieve it,” he said. “It would be a mistake to leave.”

His personal prediction for the General Election in May: a Conservative victory by five or 10 seats.

Nicky Moffat,CBE, former director of HR and the highest ranking female officer during a 27-year career in the British Army, shared her secrets of good leadership with delegates in a compelling presentation.

She was the only woman to reach the rank of Brigadier  - the other 200 were men – battling against initial low self-belief and prejudiced attitudes to earn the respect of “my soldiers”.

She said the key lessons she had learned included:

Develop knowledge-based self-confidence – being able to answer questions correctly makes you more credible

Be clear where you are heading – and have a clear vision

Make well-considered and timely decisions

Set the highest attainable standards and then lead by example

Give clear directions – you are far more likely to get results when you communicate effectively

Empower your workers – with a ‘what, not how’ approach

Build your teams and develop your people

Be balanced, consistent and fair

Celebrate success and value everyone’s contribution.

Retail “rescue” specialist Bill Grimsey – a former customer service director at Tesco and later CEO of Wickes – warned delegates not to ignore the way consumer shopping habits were changing.

“Because of technology, the shoppers of tomorrow will not be like us and they won’t care about some of the things that we care about,” he said.

There would need to be a paradigm shift in thinking. Customer service was just not enough for tomorrow – customers would expect excellence as a given. Customer experience was the new dimension and would be where “tomorrow’s world will be won”.

“Technology is on the rampage,” he added, “and the consumer of the future will want to be on the edge of an experience. I predict that in 10 years time there will be stores without stock, using holograms . The technology exists.”

Kevin Gaskell, who as CEO turned round the fortunes of Porsche, BMW and luxury boat builders Fairline, brought the conference to a finale with a stirring call  to “believe it, inspire it, achiever it”.

First, he said, business leaders should make a positive commitment to change, then connect with teams by implement plans with a visible process that gave people opportunities to contribute and create the magic of shared achievement.

Peppering his presentation with tales of exploits like parachute jumping and journeys to the North and South Poles to raise money for a cancer treatment centre, he urged delegates to “start with the end in mind and work backwards”.  “I believe it starts with a dream,” he said.

One “keep it simpler” technique he shared was his ‘ideas wall’ – a sheet of AO paper on which people could pin their own ideas and suggestions. “It’s better than a PowerPoint presentation because it’s big and can’t be filed and forgotten,” he said.

The GCA audits inspection team handed out trophies to top-scoring centres in the 2014 inspections round at yesterday's conference session.

Joint winners of the Environmental and Community Award were Poplars and Simpsons, with Planters at Bretby second and Garden Wise and Thompsons Canterbury joint third.

The Barton Grange Trophy for creativity and innovation went to Planters at Tamworth. Webbs of Wychbold were second and Burston Rose & Garden Centre third.

Sunshine GC won the Customer Service Award, with Scotsdales runners-up and Ayletts in third place.

The garden centre Indoor Lifestyle award went top Fairways of Ashbourne. Harlow Carr were second and Garden Wise third, while the destination award for the category was taken jointly by Burford and Poplars. Perrywood and Raemoir were joint runner-up and Squires Twickenham were third highest scorers.

  

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Product Retailer was won by Cowells in the garden centre category (Garden Wise were runners up and Fairways Ashbourne third); the destination centre winners were Barton Grange, with Burston second and Burford third.

The Dick Allen Trophy for the most improved score went to RHS Hyde Hall (who increased their marks by 13% over the previous year). Podington came second and Brechin Castle third.

  

Weber’s Outdoor Living Award was won by Sunshine (Donagadee  second, Klondyke Beverley and Frosts Brampton third) in the garden centre category. Van Hage Great Amwell were destination centre winners, Hayes Garden World and Whitehall Laock coming joint second and Poplars third.

Finally, the Ifse Award for Catering Excellence was taken by Fron Goch. (runners-up Klondyke Wilmslow, third Klondyke High Legh) while Bents and Frosts Woburn Sand were joint destination centre winners, Barton Grange and Chessington coming joint second and Ruxley Manor third.

Brilliant…fantastic…awe-inspiring…these were some of the words of praise showered on garden centres by retail consultant Neville Stein at the GCA Conference in Chester yesterday for their Christmas displays.

“What you are doing is world class,” he told delegates before announcing the winners of this year’s GCA Christmas competition. “We in the UK lead the world in garden retailing, with displays created by very skilful people. Congratulate your staff on doing a really great job.”

Neville judged Castle Gardens at Sherborne as winners in the garden centre category, with Squires Shepperton runners-up and Fron Goch in third place. In the destination centre category, Bents took top honours, with Van Hage at Great Amwell second and Webbs of Wychbold third.

He applauded the effort many centres had put into the plant content of their Christmas displays. “We are garden centres,” he said, “so should we not be be strong on this?”

Cowells Garden Centre extended their impressive run of GCA awards with success in this year’s Ruxley Rose planteria competition, which this year rewarded the best autumn displays.

Judge Roger Crookes said he was pleased to see so many centres “getting stuck in” to the autumn message and suggested that the ‘nature’s time for planting’ message promoted in the past might be due for renewal.

Close behind Cowells – and, according to Crookes, both “hungry for the top spot” – were Newbridge Nurseries, with St Peter’s Garden Centre, Worcester, in third place.

In the destination centre category, Bents were awarded the top prize, followed by Coolings, with Perrywood Garden Centre third.

Roger said the formula for successful autumn plant sales was to do a really great job on display with a focused approach to stok levels to ensure commercial  viability and minimise wastage.

Over £10,000 was raised on the eve of the Garden Centre Association Winter Conference at Carden Park in Cheshire when a team of garden centres (Pansies) took on a side made up of suppliers (Cabbages) in the 5th Annual Greenfingers Challenge Cup.

The event, made up of a series of fun events followed by a race night and auction was the curtain-raiser for the two-day conference, with all the proceeds going the industry's charity, Greenfingers.

And it was the Cabbages team captained by Danny Adamson, which took the honours.

The Greenfingers Challenge Cup took a Roman Games theme, with events including:
Hadrian's Fort Building
Chariot Racing
Caligula's Road Building
Maximus Sling Shot
Titus Tug o War
Hostillian Football

Sponsors for the event were: Cadix, William Sinclair,
Handy Distribution, Deco Pak, Forest Garden, Westland, Brier's, Taylor's Bulbs, Woodlodge Pots, Karcher and La Hacienda.

The final amount raised from the day will be announced at the GCA Annual Dinner on Tuesday night.   Sarah Loveri, of Greenfingers, said: "It has been a fantastic day. The amount of money from this one event is outstanding, simply incredible."

Charlecote Garden Store, part of Hillview Garden Centres, is looking for a Deputy Manager.

Serving the gardening communities of Stratford Upon Avon / Warwick the store has a great reputation for horticultural excellence.

Plant sales are a major part of the business therefore a Plant Department Manager looking for the next step in their career‎ would be an ideal candidate. 

Hillview Garden Centres has grown rapidly and now operates 9 centres across the Midlands. With further plans to grow through ‎acquisition and store development this is an exciting time to join the company. 

Please send your cv and introductory letter to boyd.ddavies@hillview-group.com

www.gardenstoreonline.co.uk

I am currently looking for an experienced garden retail management candidate to join the senior leadership team of a large garden centre. 
  
You will be required to lead a team of section managers ensuring excellent customer service and standards at all times enabling the business to grow and meet objectives.

Garden retail experience is preferred but general retail experience may suffice if at a high level.
  
A working knowledge of health & safety legislation is also required.

To discuss further, please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530 quoting reference #7012

• Are you a talented, experienced, business-focused account manager?
• Do you have a proven track record in developing long-term, profitable relationships with customers?
• Are you a strong team player - someone who can bring fresh ideas, excellent communication skills and plenty of energy to an already dynamic sales team?
• Are you hungry to take your career to the next level within a fast-growing family-owned business?

STV, the UK's leading supplier of pest control products to garden and hardware stores, is looking to recruit an experienced Key Accounts Manager with an impressive contacts book and extensive knowledge of the UK homes and gardens sector.

This office based role is exciting and varied. You will be expected to:

• manage and develop selected national accounts in line with STV’s overall business plan
• build on STV's existing category-leading position
• work with senior managers and STV's commercial team to contribute to the overall sales, marketing and NPD strategies
• provide accurate but challenging revenue, volume and profit forecasts – and achieve them

Think you can do that? Then we’d love to hear from you. Send your CV and covering letter to marketing@stvpestcontrol.com. A full job description is available on request.

         

www.stvpestcontrol.com 

I am currently looking for a talented site manager who is looking for a challenge. 

The role will be managing a large site in the midlands. 

This role is highly confidential at the moment and more details will be provided upon receipt of application.

For a confidential discussion, please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530 quoting reference #7000

Plant Area Assistant (full time, incl alternate weekends) – Hersham

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire, with GCA award winning plant areas.  We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in plant and horticultural retailing.  We want our employees to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic, customer focused environment.  

Hersham won GCA’s ‘Best Garden Centre’ in the South Thames Area 2013 has a fully opening plant canopy. The modern technology keeps the plants, trees and shrubs in excellent condition and protects customers from the weather.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who is quick and willing to learn and who sees customer service as their main priority.  Candidates must have relevant experience and/or a horticultural qualification.

The role will involve bending and lifting some heavy items therefore applicants must be physically fit.

Free Parking on Site

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk  

Woking Plant Area Department Head - full time, including alternate weekends.

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire, with GCA award winning plant areas.  We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in plant and horticultural retailing.  We want our employees to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic, customer focused environment. 

Situated near Horsell Common, on the outskirts of Woking, this currently smaller centre, rebuilt in 1995, has high standards and a friendly atmosphere.  Planning permission was recently granted for a significant extension.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our garden centre at Woking.  You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.

You must have experience and/or horticultural qualifications and garden centre/retail experience.  You will be able to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets whilst motivating your team to maximise all sales opportunities and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of customer service.

You must have the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, have a passion for plants, be highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays.

Free Parking on Site

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk  

West Horsley Bedding Supervisor - full time, including alternate weekends.

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire, with GCA award winning plant areas.  We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in plant and horticultural retailing.  We want our employees to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic, customer focused environment. 

West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead.  An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community.  

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our forward-thinking family-owned company, which is committed to our staff, growing our business and setting high standards.

You will be responsible for the bedding plant department at our West Horsley Garden Centre which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.  

You will have extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and a horticultural qualification.  A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment are essential.  You will be flexible, enthusiastic and highly motivated, commercially aware and have the ability to create dynamic displays.

Free Parking on Site

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk  

I am currently seeking a bright plant area retailer to join the team at a large award winning independent. 

I am seeking candidates with previous plant retail experience who can join a challenging environment. 

Horticultural qualifications are preferred but experience in a garden centre will also be of interest. 

Candidates must be excellent at customer service and will be keen to take on a role where excellence is expected.

To discuss further, please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530 quoting reference #6881

Stanmore Plant Area Department Head - full time, including alternate weekends.

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire, with GCA award winning plant areas.  We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in plant and horticultural retailing.  We want our employees to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic, customer focused environment. 

Stanmore is a thriving site in a busy suburb of North London, winner of GCA category awards, also featuring a large Pets & Aquatics department and cafe.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our garden centre at Stanmore.  You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.

You must have experience and/or horticultural qualifications and garden centre/retail experience.  You will be able to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets whilst motivating your team to maximise all sales opportunities and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of customer service.

You must have the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, have a passion for plants, be highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays.

Free Parking on Site

To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk  

My client is a large independent garden centre with an excellent reputation in the industry.

They are currently looking for a talented horticulturist with good retail experience to join their team.

You will be responsible for leading a team in the shrub area of the plantarea, and will be responsible for maintaining quality of both the customer service and the plants.

The planteria team must have excellent plant knowledge and would be able to potentially cover other areas outside of shrubs.

For a confidential discussion, please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530 quoting reference #6291

The Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Chairman Will Armitage marked the end of his first year in office at the organisation’s annual conference last month (January 25-28, 2015) with much to rejoice.

Will told attendees in his address at the start of the event at the De Vere Carden Park in Chester how pleased he was with the GCA’s on-going progress.

He continued: “It is not until you take on the mantle of GCA Chairman that you actually appreciate how interesting and rewarding the role is.

“Last year I made a pledge that, with the help of the executive committee we would improve the value of our memberships, citing our area meetings, stronger links with other industry organisations and our training programme GROW as our main focus. I would like to think I have gone some way in achieving these goals.

“Since making those three pledges to you, I have travelled thousands of miles and been to almost every regional meeting so far this year, many of which have seen record attendance.

“It has filled me with pride to see how well supported the association is and I cannot stress enough to all our members how important it is to visit fellow members to talk about the issues of the day and share your ideas.

“It can only help to improve what we are all already doing so well and in turn improve and strengthen our industry, adding even more value to our membership and it must be working because it is a pleasure to welcome some new members to the association. Pacific Nurseries, Thetford Garden Centre and Thirsk Garden Centres have all joined as full members. Millbrook Staplehurst and Creative Gardens Galgorm Castle became new subsidiary members.  

“We also have some new Associate Members, joining us Ellis Whittam, Ovation, Karcher, Paroh, Pacific Lifestyle, G J Handy and Hug Rugs. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of them.

“I would like to take this opportunity thank the members of the Executive Committee that are stepping down this year for all the support and the time they have contributed to our association.

“Philippa McKean (Midlands Area Chairman), Tim Mason (South Thames Area Chairman) and Mike Lind (Wales & West Area Chairman) leave the committee with our best wishes and gratitude for their hard work. I look forward to welcoming Will Blake, Jolyon Martin and Peter Self who will join the committee in 2015 as their respective replacements.”

In the future, Will said the organisation had lots to look forward to.

“Back in 2011 we held a strategy meeting to plan the next five years, as with many things once you set a goal and a timescale things tend to happen quicker than you might expect, as a result the five year plan has arrived in three years, so we will now begin a review of the association’s strategy again in March this year and plan for the next five.

“The nearly normal weather pattern and some consumer confidence creeping back has afforded the GCA and its members some reasonably better sales in 2014, especially when compared with some high street and large DIY retailers.

“It is however always worth remembering that the rise in sales this year is still behind the curve we enjoyed in the noughties and the new issues that the new world of retail will bring will continue to offer us our challenges for the future, but as GCA members these issues are of course, always better shared.”

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/GardenCentreAssociationorfollow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association 

#gcaconf

GROW, the GCA’s exclusive online learning programme, now has 8,000 people and 91 garden centres taking part, delegates learned.

Tammy Woodhouse (MD of the Millbrook Garden Company, who has been supervising the project with Mike Burks, MD of Castle Gardens) said 61 modules had been built to date, with two new ones scheduled for 2015 (Grow Your Own Vegetables and Grow Your Own Potatoes). Other modules in the pipeline include garden watering, barbecues, outdoor living and customer service.

Contact the GCA office  or visit the website (gca.org.uk) for information.

The next IGC Congress will be held in Denmark in late summer 2015 (9-14 August).

GCA delegates heard details from Per Boisen Andersen, editor of the trade magazine Danske Havecentre, who said participants would find plenty to learn not only about Danish garden centres but how major theme parks like Legoland attract footfall. “We have to learn from them,” he said. We all want to attract each other’s customers.”

Details of the congress can be found on their Facebook page or from Paul Cooling at Coolings Nurseries.

HTA chief executive Carol Paris took delegates through details of the Garden Industry Marketing Board’s new ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ consumer promotion, which kicks off this spring.

The approach would be based on de-mystifying gardening (but not dumb it down) for the 30-45 age group and inspire them with achievable ideas.

The publicity campaign would target the home and lifestyle press, not traditional gardening magazines.

A roadshow will visit take mini display gardens to locations and events across the country in April and May and a series of Masterclasses will give garden centres a chance to take full advantage of the promotion’s momentum.

William Sinclair Horticulture has finished location shooting in South Africa of the launch TV commercials for its new Growing Success GrowQube® tomato planter and Deadfast 4L RTU weedkiller spray.

The 30 second commercials will start to air on March 26 and the campaign will run until the end of June – including prime time slots on ITV1, Channel 4 and several Sky channels. It required a production team of 75 people to complete the week-long shoot in Capetown under the direction of Sinclair Marketing Director, Simon McArdle.

Local production company, Groundglass first had to find a garden location without tropical or native plants so that it could be made to look like a natural English garden.

Erica Brumage who directed the GrowQube® video, said: “I wanted to capture a little girl’s delight in the joy of growing her own tomatoes and I’m sure the final cut will stir the emotions of a British audience.”

The Deadfast Weedkiller commercial required a different approach. Director Ari kruger was commissioned to bring the effectiveness of the product to life using a complex mix of live action and CGI special effects. He said: “The Deadfast brief called for drama and excitement,” he said, “and viewers will pay attention, for sure.”

“It’s an intensive process, but extremely rewarding,” said Simon McArdle. “Winter filming requires that we follow the sun to the Western Cape of South Africa. It’s a big investment but we anticipate it will be returned with interest when these new products hit the shelves. The agency, production company and the directors have exceeded all our expectations.”

Creative and media work was done by Jola Jackson from Sinclair’s London agency, Premier Communications. “We approached this brief in a very innovative way,” she said, “and this enabled us to give our clients exceptional results and value for money.”

For trade enquiries, call Decco on 01635 556600 or contact Sinclair on 01522 780300; or see the Sinclair online trade area at www.william-sinclair.co.uk/gardening/trade. E-mail enquiries may be sent to info@william-sinclair.co.uk.

In practice, this means that the UK division will now be able to independently make its own trading decisions, which ensures that all decision-making is faster.

A statement from the company read:

"For our trade customers, there will be no change – it’s business as usual – actually, it will be better! The changes will enable us to better meet the needs of our customers and the consumer.

"Our 2015 operational plan is in progress and we’re excited by the opportunity for our new products to drive new sales opportunities for both our customers and for Scotts. There are no changes to our supply chain, and we will continue to provide excellent service levels to all our customers.

"These changes do mean, sadly, that Martin Breddy has left the company. Martin’s role as Scotts Miracle-Gro’s VP and General Manager of the UK and Asia Pacific spanned two worldwide regions. Martin leaves us on a high in his personal career, having been pivotal to the thriving position of Scotts Miracle-Gro in the UK, culminating in the highly successful acquisition of the Solus business last year. We wish Martin every success in his new ventures."

Sheila Hill has replaced Martin as UK General Manager, so the company is in very safe hands moving forward. Sheila has worked for Scotts Miracle-Gro for many years. She started 18 years ago as Lawns Brand Manager. More recently, her role was Vice President and International Marketing Lead, working on new product development, strategy and marketing plans across all the European countries.

There are no changes to our local sales and marketing teams, which continue to be led by Rainer Schubert and Paula Parker respectively.

Sheila says: “I am delighted to take the baton from Martin and lead the UK business. I have been fortunate to stay close to the UK business in my international marketing roles, and know it and many of our key customers very well. I look forward to immersing myself in the UK business and am lucky to have the support of the existing UK Management Team to continue to drive the business forward. The UK is already the star performer in the Scotts’ portfolio and with these changes we will drive even more value for the consumer as well as greater growth for our customers as well as for Scotts.”

Onion sets and seed potatoes from Taylors Bulbs are the flavours of the moment in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart.

With 25 of the Top 50 bestselling lines by volume it’s no surprise that eight Taylors products make up the bulk of the Top 10 with Stutgarter Giant Onion sets just outselling Red Baron again at the top of the chart.

Other strong performers:

• Mr Fothergill’s Beetroot Boltardy seed packs are this week’s highest new entry at No 20.
• Thompson & Morgan Rocket Dragons Tongue and Suttons Climbing French Bean Cobra are venomous new seed entries this week.

Jack’s Magic from Westland looks set to dominate the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart for January again.

Last year it was the No 1 bestselling line all the way through to February as keener gardeners take advantage of early bird offers.  This year it’s at No 1 for the third week running with sales volumes equal to the total of the next 17 lines. 

Other strong performers:

• Ericaceous compost sales have seen a boost this week.
• Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost 50l jumps nine places with a 70% increase.
• Westland’s 25l Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost packs are the highest entry at No 36.

Post-Christmas orchid feed product sales are the big story of this week’s GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart. Nine items feature in the Top 50 with Vitax Orchid Drip Feeders taking the No 1 spot for the first time.

Other top performers include:

• Growth Technology Orchid Myst 300ml is the highest re-entry at No 21.
• Fito have four drip feeder lines in the Top 50, including Bonsai and Poinsettia mixes.
• Bayer’s top selling houseplant line is the perennial Baby Bio Original at No 7.

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

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

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2012 as well as 2013 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

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

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

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

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

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.