15% sales surge in warm September
 |
The weather-driven footfall surge in September pushed garden centre sales up 15 per cent compared to last year, say the HTA. Latest HTA Garden Retail Monitor figures show that garden retail sales are currently ahead by 10% (to the end of September) compared with 2013, following a wet August, when the national benchmark was at 2%. Figures are vastly improved from June 2014 when the average benchmark for national sales was -8% and gradually rose to 1% in July 2014. The figures highlight the difference a warm September can make. Media gardening coverage may be helping, too. Nature programmes indirectly linked to horticulture (such as Countryfile) made the top five of most popular programmes, reaching a high of more than 7 million views in October. New gardening programmes introduced by the BBC in October included 'Glorious Gardens from Above' presented by Christine Walkden and 'Big Dreams, Small Spaces' with Monty Don. This latest edition of HTA’s Market Update includes a special feature on attitudes of 30-45 years olds towards their garden, with a focus on marketing tactics that work, and the upcoming ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ industry campaign. You can download it by clicking here.
|
|
