Make Christmas 2014 go ker-ching by taking note of Stars for Europe’s top tips guaranteed to pimp poinsettia sales… you’ve had the first five, so here come the next lot!

Get geared up for International Poinsettia Day on December 12^th by preparing your stock and guiding your staff to make the most out of the big day, upping the profits for the Christmas season.

Your first port of call should be the trade site, www.sfe-web.com, where you’ll find photos, POS materials, PR advice, training videos and even web banners and interactive games for you to embed into your own website.

Check out the second batch of top tips below, and click here for the first five.

6. Educate
Whether it’s how to keep their Poinsettia going for years (not really what you want but some people do seem to want to hang on to them!) or how to use them as a cut flower for DIY table decs, be the point of sale that informs and inspires.  That’s the sort of service that keeps customers coming back. Why not have some of our videos on a running loop by the display … it’s an idea that worked brilliantly for other garden centres last year.

7. Secondary Sell
Place potted and pimped Poinsettia amongst your displays of other Christmas lines to encourage impulse purchases.  Have mini Poinsettia plants at the cash points as a low-cost grab and buy line.

8. Poinsettia as Prizes
There’ll be plenty of local events looking for prizes.  Large Poinsettias are a low cost prize with oodles of impact so shouldn’t dig into the budget too much but still keeps you in with local organisations.

9. Swot up
There are loads of ideas and information on the Stars for Europe trade site www.sfe-web.com which covers everything from how to write a press release to a fabulous portfolio of photos you can use in store or on your website.

10. Tell them a story
The Stars for Europe 2014 theme is ‘Once upon a Star’ and uses three of the most famous fairy tales to showcase poinsettia in very different ways.  Contact your local newspaper or radio station and offer to do a Christmas plant feature around the themes.  As the local expert you can astound them with information and get your name in lights as well. 

Stars for Europe are here to help you maximize your sales so don’t ignore their offerings. The pan-European PR movement has tons of material and ideas set to help you sell more than ever before.

Visit www.sfe-web.com for trade information.

Follow them via:

www.facebook.com/thechristmasstar

www.twitter.com/mypoinsettia

Cerys Williams has a huge passion for plants, and now she is a Rising Star from Perrywood Garden Centre who has applied the merchandising techniques learned in the Garden Centre Association Rising Stars Programme, sponsored by Westland Horticulture, to achieve phenomenal sales increases.

Plant Area Assistant Cerys told GTN Xtra: “I have been surprised by the results.  You wouldn’t think simple changes like just moving a bench somewhere else, like nearer a doorway, would improve sales so dramatically but it really does help.   Just keeping things simple goes so far in trying to sell things faster.  Don’t over complicate things and it makes life a lot easier for sales.”

Cerys joined Perrywood five and a half years ago after gaining a degree in horticulture.  She had worked at Woolworths since the age of 16 and was there at the bitter end.  “Perrywood was the only place that didn’t want extensive experience when I decided I should really get a job in horticultural retailing.  They were quite happy to train you on the job.  Everywhere else wants five years experience which for a new graduate is not always the easiest of things to have.  I’ve been here ever since out in the Plantarea in all winds and weathers.”

Cerys says that the merchandising skills from the Rising Stars Master classes work in the planteria as well as the shop.  “They work no matter what you do.   You have to adapt, I don’t have a roof so that does make certain things difficult to do outside but it’s the same principles.”

Cerys explained that learning on the job at Perrywood has been a great experience.  “There’s only so much Latin you can learn at university and suddenly here there’s so much more Latin to learn. Because you are looking at the plants you can absorb a lot more information.  And a lot of customer’s questions are the same over and over again so you’re teaching yourself as you go along so I’ve learnt a lot more just by being practically in horticulture.”

The management team at Perrywood nominated Cerys for Rising Stars so that they could help steer her passion for plants in a direction to get the most out of her and so she could learn some new things.  “She has really taken on board what they have learned at the workshops, particularly with hot spots, positions of plants and making sure customers can instantly see what plants can look good in their garden,” said Simon Bourne.  “In some of the areas where Cerys has worked the sales increases have been phenomenal.  From selling ten plants in a month to over 100 plants in a month,  the numbers show why it’s been helpful.”

As with the other Rising Stars interviewed by GTN Xtra growing in confidence has been a great benefit for Cerys.  “It has boosted my confidence.  I was always a bit scared of doing anything like this.  I would rather hide in the corner and get on with things but I’ve never had merchandising training even though I’ve been in retail since I was 16 years old so a simple bit of training has opened my eyes to how things should be done, and should be done better and how you can improve your sales dramatically as a result.”

Simon Bourne and Cerys’ colleagues agree: “It’s given her more confidence.  Cerys knows a lot about plants and she’s worked in a retail environment for a long time but this is putting it all together.  Everything relates to the garden centre, it really does work.”

Cerys, along with the other four finalists for 2014, will be presenting at the GCA Conference in January.  Delegates will then be able to vote for the winner of Rising Stars 2014.



The five finalists of the Garden Centre Association Rising Stars Programme, sponsored by Westland Horticulture, are: Kirsty Clark (Perrywood GC), Matthew Fay (Stewarts Garden-Lands, Christchurch), Lisa Waim (Haskins Snowhill), Hannah Mason (Chessington) and Cerys Williams (Perrywood) have all made it through to the final challenge, where they will present at the GCA Conference in Chester on 26 January. The overall winner will be chosen by conference delegates.

The results are the culmination of an eight month programme in which candidates attended three merchandising Masterclasses run by IBBIS director and training facilitator Ian Boardman. Thanks to Ian’s efforts, many of the Rising Stars went on to increase sales in their departments by keeping hotspots fresh, creating clear signage and organising themed displays throughout the year.

Ian Boardman said: “All the Rising Stars who took part in the programme were top notch and I’d like to thank every single one of them for their efforts and praise them for the progress they have made. The results of their achievements in their workplace prove they are all stars in their own right!”

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture said: “On behalf of Westland I’d like to congratulate the Rising Stars finalists for getting this far. We now face a very exciting GCA conference final where delegates will get the chance to vote for the winner – Rising Star of the Year 2014.”

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie said: “The five finalists have some really exciting presentations prepared for delegates. It is always the highlight of the GCA conference and this year will definitely not disappoint.”

Twenty-eight of the most aspiring young representatives of the horticultural industry kicked off the Rising Stars Programme earlier this year.

The original list of 28 was whittled down to 10 in September before the final five were chosen.

GTN Xtra will be featuring a spotlight on all five over the coming weeks.




Aftercut Even-Flo, guarantees ‘lawn satisfaction’ every season

AFTERCUT Even-Flo technology delivers perfect results, all year round, ensuring gardeners can get ‘lawn satisfaction’ with minimum fuss.

Using pioneering ‘ball design’ spreader technology, the Aftercut Even-Flo range has revolutionised lawncare, delivering the perfect even spread of granules across any sized lawn.

 With the introduction of Aftercut Autumn All In One earlier this year, there’s now an Even-Flo spreader for every season, making it even simpler for consumers to pick the best Aftercut product, whatever the time of year.

Available in All in One, Lawn Thickener, 3 Day Green, Patch Fix and new for 2014, Autumn varieties.

Find out more from your Westland sales representative or by logging onto the Westland trade website http://trade.gardenhealth.com/

Use pesticides safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Westland Aftercut All In One contains 2, 4-D, ferrous sulphate and mecoprop-P. Aftercut Autumn All In One contains ferrous sulphate.

Kelkay, the market leading manufacturer and distributor of aggregates, continues to build its business on the solid foundations of quality products and unrivalled service.

Kelkay commits to a fast turnaround of orders and aims to never let its customers down.

The company recently doubled their field sales team in the South East and South West of England supported by Liam Walsh. Currently a 23 strong sales team now covers the UK and Ireland.

Going the extra mile to achieve customer satisfaction is central to Kelkay’s philosophy. The company ensures excellent stock availability throughout the season, especially at peak times, while its £500 carriage paid order service is valued by retailers of all types and sizes across the UK. Making all this possible is Kelkay’s outstanding and tightly managed logistics department responsible for processing orders as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Antony Harker, managing director at Kelkay, said: “As we saw at Glee this year, Kelkay’s products and merchandising displays have had a great response from retailers. Creating new and innovative products means working closely with customers to understand their needs. At the same time, we invest heavily to ensure we have sufficient stock and the capability to get products into customers’ hands as soon as possible. Our aftersales team is on hand to help both retailers and consumerswith any queries relating to a Kelkay product.”

Kelkay’s brand portfolio includes Borderstone®, Build Mate®, easyfountain® and Henri® providing retailers with single source of supply for a wide range of garden products.

By promoting aggregates, paving and fountains with eye-catching point of sale, merchandising units and display stands, garden retailers have seen sales grow in these categories.

For more information, visit www.kelkay.co.uk.

GIMA welcomed the stamp duty changes announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement this week because an upturn in the housing market should boost demand for home and garden products.

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall, said: “A buoyant UK housing market tends to result in increased consumer confidence. This coupled with the upwardly revised UK growth forecasts should help to encourage consumer spending in 2015.

“Fuel and haulage rates continue to be a major problem for manufacturers and suppliers. The freeze on fuel duty will go some way to help our members battle this ever increasing overhead.

“Smaller members will be delighted that the government has continued to pledge funds to support and guarantee lending to SME's via banks and venture capital funding. We tend to forget that although there are a number of dominant brands and suppliers in our industry, there are also a huge number of smaller suppliers trying to stake their claim in the garden industry.

In the longer term, Nuttall said, the proposed review of the business rates system should go some way to support the traditional bricks and mortar retail channels in their fight against on-line retailers. “Anything that helps support our member's retail customers businesses should be good for our members too, as long as they choose to re-invest in the gardening category.”

With less than a month to the end of this year’s massive cash back rebate scheme, Stax Trade Centres’ customers have a narrowing window to maximise their pay out in January 2015.

Stax paid out over £1.2 million (ex VAT) in rebate to their independent retail customers in January 2014 – and all the signs for this coming January point to another record pay out. 

Customers who have signed up to the scheme can earn significant rewards for shopping with Stax, giving retail customers the opportunity to either pass on these savings to their own customers, or cash in on the extra margin.

Joint Managing Director David Hibbert commented: “The Rebate Scheme was set up simply to give our most loyal customers a reward for shopping with us. In order to be even more competitive both on the high street and online, we understand that any additional saving can be crucial.”

Customers of both Stax and Wishart can check their current spend online by logging into their online dashboard on the Stax or Wishart websites. With the percentage rebate paid increasing at specified spend levels customers have already been sent a reminder email showing how much rebate they have accrued so far, in efforts to ensure that no customer falls short of the next rebate threshold.

As Hibbert continues: “Stax have always invested in customer support and following feedback from last year’s rebate scheme we have made it easier for customers to check their current rebate level online. We also came to the decision to let people know how much they are on track to receive whilst they still have the chance to reach the next level for rebate.”

Participating customers have until the end of December 2014 to maximise their January 2015 rebate pay out. The 2015 scheme will start from the 1st of January with those who have registered eligible for rebate on all of their purchases during the whole of the year.

Gardenex is to organise British pavilions at the National Hardware Show (NHS) in Las Vegas in May 2015 and at Spoga+gafa in Cologne at the end of August 2015.

The Federation will be applying for government grants for exhibitors via the UK Trade & Investment’s Tradeshow Access Programme in order to enable eligible firms to exhibit at these two international trade fairs at a reduced cost.  More details of these arrangements can be requested from the secretariat. 

The Gardenex director general, Amanda Sizer Barrett said: “The decision to include these two shows on the Federation’s list of initiatives again in 2015 was based on the high level of export orders secured by UK companies in the Federation’s exhibitor groups at both of these shows over many years.  Both the NHS and Spoga+gafa have proved time and time again that they attract key buyers from around the world who are keen to source British products.  We expect that our plans for these important trade fairs in 2015 will deliver further significant opportunities for UK suppliers.”

The National Hardware Show in Las Vegas is North America’s leading national show for all hardware related goods.  The lawn and garden section is the largest product segment, and the British firms exhibiting in 2014 in the Gardenex-organised group met with buyers from many leading retailers.  These included major names such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Ace Hardware, Crate & Barrel, Canadian Tire and Lee Valley Tools.  The show attracts a wide range of North American buyers from leading mail order and e-tail companies, landscapers, garden centre chains, high-end retailers, distributors and wholesalers, as well as major players from other important overseas markets.

Spoga+gafa in Cologne is one of the most important trade shows on the Gardenex export programme and has been an annual highlight in the federation’s overseas initiatives for over 40 years.  In 2015, the exhibition zones will comprise garden living, garden care, garden creation, as well as halls for premium and basic garden products.  Suppliers that have exhibited in the Gardenex-organised groups over the years have discovered that new business as well as considerable repeat sales are secured as a result of contacts made at the show and several firms have been exhibiting at the event for over 30 years.  The 2014 edition attracted 36,800 visitors from 110 countries.     

British firms find that exhibiting in the Gardenex group at important overseas exhibitions simplifies the whole process of organising their participation with the benefit of the association’s comprehensive exhibitor support package.  This includes help with logistics and exhibition technicalities, advance marketing and PR promotion, advice about travel and accommodation, stand planning, how to transport exhibits to the show, market information and guidance on how to maximise their presence at the show.   

Gardenex personnel have extensive experience of overseas markets and their key buyers, and will be manning a British garden industry information stand at both of these exhibitions from where they will be providing on-site support and assistance to UK exhibitors as well as taking new sales leads and making business contacts and signposting overseas buyers to the stands of the British exhibitors. 

Companies wishing to learn more about exhibiting at these shows should contact either Emma Lewis or Theresa Swann at: e-mail: emma@gardenex.com; theresa@gardenex.com  or visit the Gardenex website on www.gardenex.com,  telephone:  +44 (0) 44 1959 565995   or   fax:  +44 (0) 1959 565885

Young patients at Acorn’s Children’s Hospice in Worcester will enjoy a chirpy chocolate Christmas treat, thanks to long term supporters Webbs.

The garden centre, which has stores in Wychbold and West Hagley, donated a giant chocolate robin for the youngsters to enjoy at a forthcoming Christmas party.

Webbs has donated thousands of pounds to Acorns over the years and recently held a choirathon at the Wychbold store to raise money for the children’s charity and four other local hospices.

Mandie Fitzgerald, fundraising officer at Acorns for the Three Counties, said: “This is a lovely and generous donation that further reinforces the fantastic relationship Acorns has with Webbs. We’re very grateful for their continued support.”

Webbs chairman Ed Webb said:  “We value our partnership with Acorns and wanted to give the children an extra treat this Christmas. Acorns works so hard to make it a special time for patients and their families.”

Pictured: Mandie Fitzgerald of Acorns receives the donated chocolate robin from Ed Webb.

Penguins, poinsettia and personalised Christmas products are the key bestsellers as we run into the busiest weeks of the year.

That John Lewis TV ad and the Penguins of Madagasgar film are doing the sales promotion trick with a Vivid Arts Penguin at No 7 and the Smart Solar Bright Eye Penguin returning to the charts at No 8.

Poinsettia and orchid sales are riding high as indicated by sales of Fito drip feeders and cover pots (although there are not as many cover pots as last year in the charts just yet).

In Christmas departments the personalised lines continue to outsell everything else.

The Epos data supplied to GTN Bestsellers is showing some dramatic shifts this Christmas season with sales volumes last week having extremes of plus 46% through to minus 30%.  How are your sales compared to last year?  Let us know by emailing trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...

• Garden Products – down 41%
• Xmas Products  – down 24%
• Growing Media – down 5%
• All items index – down 18%

karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Pictured: Penquins at Fresh@Burcot Garden Centre.

Greenfingers trustee and HTA CEO Carol Paris is leading the Christmas charge for Greenfingers this year by taking part in the London Santa Run today (Sunday 7th December.)

Carol will be joined on the route by others from the industry including:

Paul Ormond, Greenfingers trustee; Adam Wigglesworth, HTA Vice President and Director of Ayletts Garden; Pat Adams from the HTA; Chris Ramsden from Suttons; Al Sheppard from Burgon and Ball; Andrew Burton from Cedar Associates; industry consultant John Mosley; Craig Hall from Deco-Pak and Tara Ballinger from Williams Sinclair.

Two VIP four-legged guests will also join our team of runners – no, not Rudolf and Blitzen – but Carol Paris’s two spaniels Max and Murphy who will no doubt put their fellow two-legged Santa’s to shame!

Carol sent us the picture of Max and Murphy (above), saying: "Not looking too keen to run! Maybe they need some sponsorship to get them going! Clearly you should never work with children or animals."

All of the Santa Runners will complete the route dressed in Father Christmas outfits (including Carol’s dogs) as they run either 5km or 10km, which should make it quite a sight to behold – and definitely worthy of sponsorship! 

Keen runner Carol said: “What a great idea to link into the Santa theme that will be generating so much business for garden centres, but this time to raise money for our industry charity.” 

Greenfingers are thrilled to have such a strong team flying the flag for the charity at the run and are now calling on people across the industry to take the time to sponsor their sterling efforts and help raise much needed funds for Greenfingers’ gardens this festive season.

For many of the children and families who use the hospice system across the UK Christmas will offer little respite from their daily situations - Greenfingers are urging people to think of these children and dig deep in support of the Santa Run.  The charity is aiming to raise £5,000 through the run to put towards more much-needed gardens at children’s hospices around the country. 

Money raised from the Santa Run will directly contribute to the gardens Greenfingers hope to build in 2015 including at EllenorLions Children’s Hospice in Kent where there are currently no dedicated outdoor facilities for the children and families who spend time there.  Greenfingers plan to create a lush ‘urban oasis’ at the hospice that will provide a valuable haven for the children and offer them a vital chance to engage with the natural environment.

Sponsoring the Greenfingers’ Santa Run participants takes just a couple of minutes and can be easily done through Carol Paris’s dedicated Just Giving page

www.justgiving.com/greenfingerssantarun

Or text 70070 with the code SANT61 and the £[value of donation]

The Santa Run 2014 takes place at Victoria Park in London on Sunday 7^th December.

In addition to calling for sponsorship for the Santa Run Greenfingers are also suggesting people send their E-Christmas Card this year, instead of a traditional card – thus helping the environment and raising money for a good cause at the same time.

The Greenfingers E-Card is available in three different designs featuring scenes from gardens the charity has created this year.  Cards can be adapted to suit individual needs with company names, logos and personalized messages.  The charity is asking for a minimum donation of £50 where after use of the card is unlimited.

Any businesses interesting in arranging a personalized copy of the e-card should email Hannah@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Asked why Deco-Pak takes the time to support charity work, Marketing Manager Craig Hall said: “We’ve learned that it’s really about supporting the community around you, rather than just doing charity work for the sake of it.  Businesses are part of their local community, so it is essential that they support them – whether through donating money or stock, or by simply lending a helping hand.”

Craig is currently gearing up to join other HTA association members in the Santa Dash in London on the 7th December to raise further funds for Greenfingers.  

Deco-Pak can be contacted by telephone - 01422 204394, fax - 01422 204544, or email via the ‘contact us’ form on their newly relaunched website www.deco-pak.co.uk.

Wyevale Garden Centres is aiming to raise significant funds for its national charity partner, Marie Curie, this Christmas.

All money raised will help Marie Curie Nurses provide more free care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes and in the charity’s nine hospices.

A number of activities will take place across each of the 143 garden centres in the newly re-branded Wyevale Garden Centre group as part of its ‘Gardens for Good’ community programme, which recognises the benefits that gardens and gardening can bring to individuals and local communities:

Memory Trees – every garden centre will display a special Christmas tree which customers can decorate with gold stars personalised with the name or memory of a loved one in return for a donation.

Stock Our Shops for Christmas - every garden centre will encourage staff and customers to bring in their unwanted items to donate toMarie Curie Shops. The activity will run until December 12. The goods will be sold duringthe Christmas period, where on average, every bin bag sized bag of goods donated has a value of £20 for Marie Curie, which pays for anhour of nursing care.

Christmas raffle - staff and customers will be invited to enter a raffle for £1 a ticket which is drawnon December 19. First prize is £5,000 or a luxury family holiday to Lapland, and there are prizes of £500 or an iPad, £250 and 26 runner-up prizes.

Christmas jute bag (below) - 40p from the sale of each £3.99 bag will be donated to Marie Curie.

Gift ideas

• Briers has created a range of Marie Curie products:
• Ladies Cotton Gloves being sold for £4.99 with 50p being donated to Marie Curie
• Men’s Rigger Gloves being sold for £4.99 with 50p being donated to Marie Curie
• Premium Aluminium Bodied Secateurs being sold for £9.99 with £1 being donated to Marie Curie
• Umbrella being sold for £5.99 with 60p being donated to Marie Curie

Further activity is happening on a local level. Wyevale Garden Centres are donating Christmas trees to each of Marie Curie’s five hospices in England, and individual garden centres are organising Christmas markets and Santa grottos to raise funds for the charity.

All funds raised will help Marie Curie Nurses to provide more free care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes or the charity’s hospices meaning they can continue to enjoy and benefit from the garden they have tended over the years or the hospice garden, which provides a relaxing environment for families to spend time together.

Stephen Murphy, Chairman, at Wyevale Garden Centres said: “We’re so pleased to be helping Marie Curie this Christmas. We know that many people being cared for by Marie Curie Nurses like to be at home or in the hospice because it means they can enjoy their or the hospice’s garden. It’s great to know that people who love gardens and gardening will be helping terminally ill people be cared for at home or in a hospice this festive season.”

Marie Curie Nurses will be working over the Christmas period to provide care and support to terminally ill patients and their families, at home or in one of the charity’s hospices. For many terminally ill people it would not be possible to remain at home over Christmas without the help and support of Marie Curie.

Olive Hoare, Marie Curie Nurse said: “Christmas is often both a happy and sad time for the terminally ill people we care for and their families. They are glad to be able to spend this special time of year together but celebrating, what is very likely to be, their last Christmas together can be very emotional.

“One Christmas Eve, I was caring for a very poorly lady who was determined that her family went out to midnight mass. They had originally refused, wanting to spend the time with her but when I could see how much it meant to my patient I persuaded them to go. As soon as they left she said: ‘Are you any good with wrapping?’ pointing to a bag full of presents. I spent the next hour wrapping and reminiscing with her. Being able to give her and her family happy memories of that last Christmas together is what my job is all about.”

Wyevale Garden Centres has chosen Marie Curie as their first national charity partner and is aiming to raise over £500,000 nationally from 2014-2016 to help Marie Curie provide care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes or in one of the charity’s nine hospices.

The Business is GREAT campaign has created a festive calendar, featuring 24 diverse and innovative small businesses from across the country, including The Urban Botanist, which sells stylish terrariums across UK and beyond. The Urban Botanist gives a traditional idea a modern twist, bringing the concept of a terrarium – an indoor garden – into the 21st century.

Lucy Serafi from Manchester-based, The Urban Botanist said: “We’re very proud of the business we have built and grown, and to celebrate our successes by being part of the Business is GREAT advent calendar is fantastic. Here we join 23 other businesses across the country highlighting the organisations and people doing great things for small businesses, and the government support that has made some of it possible.”

All 24 businesses involved in the calendar have received government support or used its services, from help with exporting to new markets and tax relief for innovation, to hiring apprentices to grow their teams.  They are backing the advent calendar to let other businesses know about the advice and support available to them.

December is an important time for small businesses. According to the latest statistics released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), in the run up to Christmas, online sales are 40% higher than an average month. Online spending in December is up 200% since 2007 and has been rising by around £100 million year on year. This calendar has been created to celebrate small businesses and highlight their diversity and innovation during this key period for sales.

Over 24 days, 24 small businesses will be revealed, unveiling their story of growth and their route to success. The Business is GREAT campaign is run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). It aims to celebrate and inspire small businesses and provides relevant advice and information for small and medium-sized enterprises looking to grow, hire, export, lead and access finance.

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: “There are a record number of small businesses in the UK – over five million in total – and the Business is GREAT campaign is doing a fantastic job of spreading the word about the advice and support out there for small firms who want to grow and create jobs. They fully deserve to be celebrated. We want Britain to be the best place in the world to start and grow, and The Urban Botanist is a shining example of why we’re backing small businesses every step of the way.”

To find out more about the businesses involved or support available, and to follow the small business advent countdown every day visit: www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/adventcalendar.

Horticultural celebrities from TV and radio are busy recording questions for the 2015 Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz at the moment, and garden centres who sign up to take part in what is set to be the biggest and best quiz yet can take advantage of the ‘early bird’ entry fee of just £50 - if they sign up before 1st January 2015.

Popular stars of TV and radio Christine Walkden and Chris Beardshaw are currently recording questions for the quiz, along with their BBC Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time colleague Eric Robson and BBC weatherman Peter Gibbs. Other well-known gardening experts such as Anne Swithinbank, Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness, Matthew Biggs and Matthew Wilson (Greenfingers Chairman) are also contributing to the esteemed quiz.

All monies raised from the quiz, with questions this year written by Andy Bunker of Altons Garden Centre and produced in the studios of Garden Radio, will once again go to the Greenfingers ‘Rosy Cheeks’ campaign. The campaign aims to provide much needed gardens for children who spend time in hospices around the UK, along with their families, by creating inspiring gardens and outdoor spaces for them to relax in and enjoy.

The 2015 Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz is available to all garden centres, gardening societies and other organisations and is the perfect way to participate in the fourth, annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day, which takes place on 27th March 2015.

For the £50 early bird rate (£100 after 1st January 2015) participants will receive a pack containing all they need to host the quiz – it includes a special CD or Mp3 download of pre-recorded questions (and answers) to play to the audience, everything needed for the picture round, and a bonus pack of fundraising ideas, hints and tips.

Bosworth’s Garden Centre in Burton Latimer were one of the many garden centres that received great interest in last year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz. Marketing Co-ordinator, Jonathan Biggs, said: “The quiz was so easy to run, our teams were delighted to hear celebrities’ voices asking the questions, and the ‘heads and tails’ game was great fun.”

Garden centres wanting to take part should register on the Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day website, and can also take advantage of free publicity for their events, by filling in the simple form online at www.gardenreleaf.co.uk/register-an-event. Once registered, each individual event appears on the site’s ‘events’ section, and is searchable by area to help the public find their local participating garden centre.

The quiz is just one of many ways to raise funds for Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day. Other retailer participation ideas include in-store sponsored cycle rides, as well as fun family day activities such as making cress heads and sowing Sunflowers – the Home Garden Association’s plant of the year for 2015. Suppliers can also get involved with the Loose Change promotion.

To ensure maximum exposure for your event, make sure to register soon via www.gardenreleaf.co.uk/register-an-event. To order your 2015 Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day quiz pack, explore other opportunities for supporting the 2015 event as a supplier, or participate as a retailer, email info@gardenreleaf.co.uk.

More than 2,500 visitors to the RHS garden at Wisley have voted named ‘Sun Harmony Compact Lavender’ and ‘SunPatiens Spreading Variegated Salmon’ as their favourite New Guinea impatiens cultivars.

More than 100 cultivars, supplied by breeders from all over the world, were on display between July and October 2014. Wisley visitors were invited to pick their favourites from container and border displays.

‘Compact Lavender ‘was voted the most popular New Guinea impatiens grown in the borders and Spreading Variegated Salmon was the favourite container-grown selection.

Mark Heath, RHS trials dfevelopment manager, said the results did not surprise him. “The green and yellow leaf-marking on ‘Spreading Variegated Salmon’ is so wonderfully uniform and the colour of the flower is splendid. Plus, and you may have guessed by the name, it grows with fantastic vigour – plant one in a 40cm diameter pot and it fills up in no time!

 “Compact Lavender is all about flower power – big and beautiful, an absolutely gorgeous colour.”

The second most popular cultivar grown in containers was ‘SunPatiens Compact Electric Orange’ and in third place was ‘SunPatiens Spreading Variegated White’. In the borders, second place was a tie between ‘Sun Harmony Violet’ and ‘SunPatiens Compact Electric Orange’. In third position was ‘Impacio Pearl’. 

Mark added: “Breeding of this species has increased fantastically over the past few years and a host of new selections are now on the market. However, many of these plants are being sold without a proper name and description, meaning the consumer can be baffled and confused by the number of cultivars available and purchase them without well-informed knowledge of the plant’s performance in the UK.

 “It is for this reason that we held an RHS Plant Trial of New Guinea impatiens and we’re delighted to say that out of all those trialled 10 have achieved RHS Award of Garden Merit status. This means consumers purchasing these plants will be completely clued-up and the quality of the plants will be guaranteed. Having spoken to the suppliers, they are delighted and will ensure the name with the AGM logo will be used in their marketing promotions and campaigns, and the name and logo will be used on plant labels for the consumer to recognise.”

The quest for The Greatest Christmas teams is on.  The expert team of judges are now out and about visiting all of the teams nominated in this years The Greatest Christmas Awards.

You’ll find out who are The Greatest at Christmas this year by joining us at the first awards event of 2015, The Greatest Christmas Awards Christmas Party, sponsored by Premier Decorations, on the night of Sunday January 11^th at The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate.

Our annual awards presentation and Christmas party is an event not to be missed whether you are visiting the Harrogate Christmas and Gift show or just want to have another great Christmas Party with some great garden centre people.

Tickets are now on sale for the party, which includes reception drinks, a 3 course meal with wine, the awards presentation and dancing the night away to a live party band.

Early Bird discounts apply for all tickets purchased before December 7th.

Early Bird Ticket prices for The Greatest Christmas Awards Party, sponsored by Premier Decorations.

Please call The Greatest Christmas Awards team on 01733 775700 or e-mail harry.sinclair@tgcmc.co.uk to book your Early Bird tickets today – before November 28th or buy on-line using these links:

Prices below include VAT

Tickets

1 Ticket £96.00 GBP2 Tickets £192.00 GBP3 Tickets £273.60 GBP4 Tickets £364.80 GBP5 Tickets £432.00 GBP6 Tickets £518.40 GBP7 Tickets £604.80 GBP8 Tickets £691.20 GBP9 Tickets £777.60 GBPTable of 10 £816.00 GBP

Our client is a well-known Nursery stock grower who are looking for an experienced candidate to come and joint their team.

The role will be to:

• Plan, organize, direct, control, and coordinate activities of workers at all stages of growing, harvesting, packing, distribution and selling to the highest standards of quality.
• To be responsible for the provision of timely and quality support at a time and place which meets the requirements by ensuring there is a safe and adequate provision of materials and equipment, to budget and in consultation with the Nursery manager.
• To be co-responsible for coordinating Health and Safety issues, such as risk assessments within the Horticulture unit. 

The work is increasingly complex, requiring managerial, business and IT competence.

A good background in commercial production is essential.

Any of Fire Safety Trained, First Aid Certificate and FEPA P.A 1&6 would be advantageous but not essential.

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV quoting reference #DS6907 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is looking for an experienced manager to head up their domestic landscaping division. As the General Manager of this unit you will  report to the Sales and Marketing Director and will be responsible for the general running of that division 

The General Manager will:           

• With the Sales and Marketing Director and the Managing Director, agree an annual budget for the division that is achievable and in-line with the aspirations of the Company.
• Working with the Sales and Marketing Director, agree a Marketing Plan for the division that is capable of generating the level of sales expected for the division.    
• Be responsible for the financial control of the Division in line with the Division’s budget. 
• Act as the first point of contact for all enquiries received by the Division.           
• Where appropriate, arrange for design and costing skills to be contracted in by the Division in response to such enquiries.
• Ensure that an appropriate, costed, quotation is  provided by the Division in reply to each enquiry received.              
• Ensure that all such quotations maintain the Division’s expectation of margin on labour and materials costs              
• Co-ordinate and control the Division’s labour resource to ensure that work is carried out in a timely and efficient manner, in line with the costings relating to each job.       
• Ensure that the purchasing of materials is controlled and in line with the costed budget for each job undertaken              
• Ensure that adequate records are kept to allow complete control of all work undertaken and that such record keeping is acceptable to the Company’s Finance Director. 
• Ensure that staff working within the Division do so in accordance with the Company’s policies, including those of Health and Safety and Environment.
• Ensure that all machinery and equipment used by the Division is used and maintained safely and responsibly and in accordance with any related policies of the Company, including those of Health and Safety
• Ensure that all staff disciplinary issues are conducted in accordance with the Company’s employment policies  
• Ensure that all staff working for the Division do so in a way that will uphold the good reputation of the Company.

Suitable candidates will have experience in:         

• The practical aspects of landscape construction
• Compiling quotations for landscaping projects                
• Management of staff in landscape construction  
• Cost control in a management position
• Face to face negotiate and discussion with clients 

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate: 

• basic understanding of business finance and  familiarity with Profit and Loss accounts.    
• strong  management and organizational skills      
• good communication skills         
• understanding of the high quality standards required of high-end domestic contracting     
• the ability to work well with colleagues and other members of the management team in a larger organization.

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV, quoting reference #DS6861 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is looking for a dynamic Chef for their busy garden centre

Key Responsibilities are to:

• Assists the Head Chef to plans menu to achieve and maintain the budgeted food cost / gross profit. 
• Ensures that all equipment and fittings are cleaned and maintain in a safe and proper manner and record on the cleaning schedule.  
• Keeps work stations, surrounding work surfaces and floor, clean, tidy and organized at all times. 
• Adheres to the company’s Purchasing Policy. Ensures supplies are properly issued, used and accounted for. 
• Carries out stock takes and food rotation procedures under the supervision of the Head Chef.
• Maintains records relating to food production activities and supplies information as required by the Restaurant Manager and Head Chef.
• Prepares and participates in special functions, which may be outside normal working hours.
• Have a hands-on approach for all Kitchen staff and to get involved in many aspects i.e. cleaning duties etc.  
• Report any issues with food quality and freshness to the Head Chef / Restaurant Manager
• Follow the Stock Labelling and Rotation System to ensure the products are identifiable and used in the correct order
• Help to establish the Kitchen area as a positive work environment for all

.  Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV, quoting reference #DS6902 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client runs a small design and build landscaping company that also carry out garden maintenance of the landscapes that they build and due to expansion of the business they are now looking for an experienced Hard & Soft Landscape Operative

Working on residential and commercial throughout Kent. As an experienced Hard Landscape Operative you would be responsible for carrying out a wide range of manual landscaping duties under the guidance and direct supervision of the person you are responsible to.

Whilst you will generally be working with others you will at times need to work under your own initiative without close supervision. The work is physically demanding and you would be working outside in all weathers.

We have teams that undertake hard landscape works, soft landscape works and grounds maintenance operations. The contracts that we undertake are very varied and the industry is seasonal by nature and so whilst you will primarily be involved in hard landscape works, there are likely to be occasions when you will be required to undertake soft landscaping and garden maintenance.

KEY TASKS

At all times: 

• Promoting the company's professional image on site and working in accordance with the Company Health and Safety Policy.
• Work to a high standard without constant supervision.

The key tasks of the position can be broadly summarised as follows:

• Hard Landscaping
• Undertaking minor demolition works.
• Assisting in the construction of stone or brick walls, retaining structures, laying kerbs, timber edgings, setts, slabs, stone paths/surfacing's, concrete slabs etc.
• Erection of various garden structures
• Assisting in the erection of various types of fences and timber structures
• Assisting in the installation of land drainage and surface water drainage systems
• You may be required to use a wide range of power tools such as disc saws, drills etc. and to operate many different items of plant including mini excavators, dumpers, rollers and the like whilst undertaking the above works.

Soft Landscape Works

• The cultivation and preparation of ground for turfing, seeding or planting.
• Taking delivery of and planting trees, shrubs, ground cover and herbaceous plants.
• Mulching planted areas with bark, mushroom compost, manure or similar materials.
• Completing turfing and seeding works.
• Lawn mowing
• Hedge cutting
• General garden maintenance

Working Hours

• The basic working hours are 08:00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday with a half an hour lunch break (unpaid) and a 15 minute unpaid morning and afternoon break.

Experience Required

• Ideally the successful applicant will have gained previous experience within the landscape industry however applications will be welcomed from candidates who have gained relevant experience through working for building, groundwork's or civil engineering contractors.
• training and qualification is hard landscape, patios, paving and fencing

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Dianne Saunders or apply with your CV, quoting reference #DS6832 to info@morepeople.co.uk

STV has pledged a further £1,000 of fund-raising support to the Greenfingers ‘Rosy Cheeks’ Appeal – or a £1 donation for every one of its FSDU displays delivered to UK garden centres this side of January-end pre-season, the company says.

“We’re expecting to deliver at least a 1,000 FSDU display units to garden centres before the end of next month,” says managing director, Edwin Allingham.  

“And this is a great opportunity to focus our team and garden centre customers on our short term sales and delivery target, as well as to raise extra money for such a worthwhile cause as the Greenfingers Rosy Cheeks Appeal.”

The STV team has already taken on a raft of Greenfingers fund-raising initiatives since the summer, including 5km, 10km and half marathon charity runs and company quizzes.

All told STV has raised an impressive £1,500 and the company is aiming to almost double this amount by the end of January 2015.

STV’s pre-season offer on FSDUs features key seasonal lines and proven best-sellers, all priced exceptionally competitively.  “We’ve focused on the big sellers,” says Edwin Allingham.  “And the featured products are all problem-solvers with an attractive money-off consumer offer built into the deal.”

STV’s pre-season offer ends 31^st January 2015 and is available to order direct, or through Stax and Decco wholesale branches.  For more information visit STV’s trade website at www.stvpestcontrol.com/trade or contact the STV customer service team on 01953 881580.

A professor who has helped celebrities complete various physical challenges will be sharing his secrets on achieving the seemingly impossible at the Garden Centre Association’s annual conference in January.

Professor Greg Whyte OBE, who has led 18 Celebrity Comic Relief Challenges raising more than £33 million for charity, will be speaking at the conference on Monday, January 26.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “We are really pleased Greg will be joining us and sharing his secrets on achieving the seemingly impossible. He’s had a fascinating career, working with some well-known celebrities including training David Walliams for the cross-channel and Thames swims and helping Eddie Izzard run 43 marathons in 51 days.

“During his presentation Greg will be showing us that success is rarely a chance event and that it is all about having the right strategy as well as delivering to plan. We can’t wait to hear what he as to say.

“We’ve also been told that he may reveal what happened when he led Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, formally known as Cheryl Cole, and Gary Barlow to the summit of Kilimanjaro.”

In addition to his work with celebrities, Greg is Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University and a Director at the Centre for Health & Human Performance on Harley Street in London.

He has also served as Director of Science & Research at the English Institute of Sport, and on the British Olympic Association Performance Management Group and the Commonwealth Games Advisory Panel.

Early in his career Greg represented Great Britain in the Modern Pentathlon, which involves fencing, running, shooting, show jumping and swimming. He competed at the Barcelona and Atlanta games and at ten World Championships.

The GCA conference, which is sponsored by Scotts and Westland Horticulture, takes place in Chester from January 25 until 28. More than 300 delegates are expected to attend.

Iain continued: As always our conference will provide attendees with pertinent information on key aspects of the garden centre industry to assist members in achieving their business goals.

“The information shared will focus on a wide range of topics, including merchandising, marketing and management. There will also be plenty of opportunities for delegates to network and socialise.”

The GCA annual conference will take place from January 25 until 28, 2015 at the De Vere Carden Park in Chester. To book a place, please visit the members’ area on the GCA website via www.gca.org.uk.

Anyone who books a full conference attendance including accommodation before November 30 will benefit from a 10% discount off the total price.

As the cold weather sets in, there is still time for gardeners to protect trees, plants and shrubs from harsh winter conditions in preparation for the spring.

Vitax’s winter range features a host of products such as the Winter Tree Wash, Tree Bands, Fruit Tree Grease and Compost Maker.

Completely organic, the Winter Tree Wash is a blend of natural oils formulated to remove dust, debris, dirt, wax and any other substances insects use to secure their eggs. Applied as a fine spray, it can be used on fruit trees, bushes and ornamental plants. Available in a 500ml pack - RRP £14.50.

As an additional deterrent, trees can be protected from insects and pests by Tree Bands. Pesticide-free, the bands are treated with a non-drying adhesive that once fitted around the tree trunk, stops pests in their tracks. Each pack contains two, 1.75m lengths of bands - RRP £7.50.

Moths are not just a problem during the fairer weather as winter moths can destroy fruit trees. Fruit Tree Grease has been specially developed to prevent moths from laying eggs in tree bark crevices which, when hatched, become a serious pest by feeding on any tree or shrub. Applied by simply brushing, it prevents damage to fruit trees and comes in a 200g pack, RRP £6.75.

Winter is the ideal time to produce rich, dark compost ready for the spring season. Vitax’s Compost Maker produces nutritious compost in weeks by rapidly breaking down recycled organic garden and household materials. It should be mixed with waste materials as the bin is filled to ensure maximum results. Available in a 2.5kg pack, RRP £5.30 or 10kg, RRP £13.50.

To best prepare the garden for the start of the spring season, the winter products should be applied between November and March.

For more information about Vitax and its products, visit: www.vitax.co.uk.

HTA have announced new speakers for the Contact 2015 Conference  ‘Growing Opportunities’ which takes place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 January 2015 at JCB Global Headquarters in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.

Lewis Normand, Coblands Nurseries and Amanda Sizer, Director General of Gardenex will join an already impressive line up of speakers at the biennial conference for growers and nurserymen.

Amanda will be joined by Charlie Parker, Commercial Director, Gardenex and will lead a session on developing an export strategy.  Sarah Mayne, ADAS UK Ltd has also joined the programme and will speak on crop protection.

This year’s event will also feature a supplier and buyer discussion hosted by Wayne Eady, Delamore Young Plants, Tim Clapp, Adam Dunnett, Wyevale Plants, Charles Carr, Lowaters and Marcus Cousins of Aylett Nurseries where delegates will be able to pose their questions to industry experts.

Other confirmed speakers include Guy Moreton, MorePeople and David Frost, Group Human Resources Director at Produce World who will give advice on recruitment in the session entitled ‘People’.

Graham Spencer, Plants for Europe will talk on how growers exploit the opportunities that new plant varieties represent, whilst David Denny, Horticultural Trades Association will lead a session on how to develop trade based on the findings of the HDC project to export plants to 25 countries.

The conference dinner takes place on the evening of 14 January at the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport and will feature some charity fundraising for Perennial.

Delegates will be able to pick and choose the workshop sessions to attend on Thursday 15 January. Topics include “Making Horticulture Attractive” and “Understanding the value of Research”.

A highlight of the event will be a tour of the JCB factory and JCB Story where delegates will see the process of how a machine is built from the delivery of the sheet steel to the finished product.  JCB will also be highlighting the JCB Teletruk, a forklift truck designed to fulfil a mission; reduce overheads, save time and space, and improve site safety.

Contact 2015 is an invaluable and unmissable event for anyone in the hardy stock sector. Book your places today to benefit from the early bird rates, which end on 19 December. 

For further information and to book your place, please visit www.contactconference.co.uk 

HTA members are encouraged to take advantage of the HTA Packaging Waste WorkBook in order to comply with Packaging Waste Regulations. A 5% discount is available for all orders placed by 31 December 2014. 

If a company or group turnover exceeds £2 million per annum, and if they handled more than 50 tonnes of packaging in 2014, there is a legal obligation under the Packaging Waste Regulations to pay a proportion of the costs of the recovery and recycling of that packaging.

The Packaging Waste WorkBook is updated yearly using the last 12 months of sales data and packaging factors to ensure that members comply with the latest packaging waste laws.

=Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries comments: “I have used the HTA Packaging Waste Workbook for many years now and it is an essential tool for us in submitting an accurate and timely submission of Packaging Waste figures. We were inspected by the Environment agency and I am confident that the fact that we had used the workbook resulted in a smooth and quick inspection. The book is an acknowledged methodology so users benefit from the confidence that it meets with the regulations. The amount of time and work the workbook saves makes it superb value for members.” 

To order the workbook contact the HTA membership services team on 0118 930 3132 or email  membership@the-hta.org.uk

See more at: http://www.the-hta.org.uk/page.php?pageid=172

Choice Marketing Group, the UK's marketing & buying group of independent garden centres with 36 members, has appointed the Mr Fothergill's Group as a seed supplier in a two-year deal. 

Initial results for the new partnership are encouraging, with Choice reporting seed sales are so far (November 2014) up 25 per cent year-on-year.

All three of its seed brands - Mr Fothergill's, Johnsons and Country Choice - will be stocked by the garden centres, with the Mr Fothergill's Group now supplying at least 60 per cent of all seed stocked, making it the lead seed supplier.  Choice members will also be able to choose from the company's seed-related and added-value gardening products, which form an increasingly important part of its portfolio.

Choice Marketing Group's Michelle de Lavis-Trafford confirmed "We are pleased to be working with Mr Fothergill's, as the company is both a traditional seedsman and has a dedication to innovation, service, quality and sales development."  

David Carey, joint managing director of the Mr Fothergill's Group said "Our team is delighted our brands will be stocked in so many leading garden centres, and we look forward to cementing our new relationship with Choice and working closely with its members."

A series of fun, participative and motivational regional master classes on the industry wide ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ campaign have been announced by Ian Boardman of IBBIS (UK) Ltd. The one day master classes, designed to help garden centre teams help their customers ‘love their plot’, with take place in late February/early March 2015 at a number of venues across the UK.

Aimed at garden centre teams from the plant area, garden care and outdoor living the sessions will cover different aspects of the campaign. This will include the findings of the consumer research into what 30-45 year olds want from their outdoor spaces along with information about how the campaign is being publicised, how you can link in with the activity from your centre, before and after garden concepts and ideas on maximising sales opportunities.

The master classes will run from 9.30 am - 4.30 pm with tea/coffee and biscuits provided. The cost of attending is £75 per person (plus VAT). To find out more and to book your place contact Ian Boardman – i.boardman@ibbis.co.uk

Love the Plot You’ve is a new garden industry campaign to demystify and popularise gardening amongst consumers who currently see the pastime as hard work and primarily for older people. The campaign is targeting consumers aged between 30-45 years old who have access to a garden or outdoor space but don’t currently make great use of it.

A consumer website will go live in early 2015 which will provide inspiration and ideas for this audience. There will also be a series of regional roadshows taking place across the country providing real examples of different themed gardens and projects.

For further information visit www.loveyourplot.com or contact Garden Industry Marketing Board Project Manager David Arnold. Tel: 07876643638 Email: daaltd@virginmedia.com to find out how you can get involved.

It’s a Vivid Arts takeover of the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products this week with 13 of their decorative lines in the Top 50.

Penguins are the stars but also in the chart are donkeys, huskies, reindeer and snowmen.

• The highest new entry of the week is the Vivid Arts Playful Husky Pup (below) at No 35.
• Vivid Arts also have new entries in the form of Snowman Plant Pals, Playful Running Reindeer and Playful Husky Pup Sitting.
• The Playful Husky Pup Lying is the highest climber.
• The highest re-entry is Smart Solar Bright Eye Penquin.

Glee organisers i2i Events have confirmed that next year’s show will run from Monday to Wednesday.

Many Glee 2014 exhibitors had complained about poor Sunday attendance.

Subsequent feedback “clearly points to a widely supported view that Sunday is no longer an essential day for those attending the show,” said I2i, “and that a weekday-only format offers greater flexibility and a stronger platform for business to be done for both exhibitors and visitors”.

But not all retailers agree. Edward Boult of Tenterden Gaden Centre commented: "Almost all garden retailers I've spoken to prefer Sunday as travel time is much faster and you can actually get on the stands and talk to the relevant people... I can understand why suppliers like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday due partly due to cost savings but in reality there are less and less buyers in the industry with more centres being taken over by groups so visitor numbers are unlikely to rise, thus there will always be quiet times during the three days ... unless Glee merges with the Autumn Fair!"

Andy Bunker of Alton Garden Centre emailed: "Oh well...that's another night's hotel to sort out."

Glee’s event manager, Matthew Mein said Glee’s opening days have been a part of an ongoing debate for many years.  “In 2014 we tackled a number of vital aspects, and believe that the changes that were made have kick-started a period of regeneration for the show, whilst also creating a vibrant and revitalised platform for business,” he continued.

 “The change to a weekday show provides the opportunity to deliver a number of additional benefits, most notably the potential for an increase in visitor numbers, and additional flexibility for those who visit - including when they attend, how many team members they can bring with them, and how long they stay at the show. This latter benefit was certainly a trend which emerged in 2014, in that more people were staying at the show for longer.”

Four hundred more people revisited the show on the Tuesday this year compared to 2013, whilst attendance on the Monday was also up year-on-year. Mein said he had no doubt an additional weekday would enable this trend to continue.

Glee 2014 — scores highly

Echoing the positive feedback received from the garden retail industry, i2i have also confirmed that the 2014 show’s Net Promoter Score increased by 41 points year-on-year. Net Promoter is considered the worldwide standard for organisations to measure, understand, and improve their customer experience. Respondents praised Glee for its revised format and improved layout, the customer experience, facilities and educational platforms and overall benefit to their businesses.

Information www.gleebirmingham.com. 

For details on exhibiting at Glee, call 0203 033 2160

There have been a few changes in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart this week with 12 products re-entering the Top 50 and two new entries.

The highest re-entry is Cambark Mini Nugget Bark, returning to the chart at No 21.

Westland Soil Conditioner (60 litres) also returns at No 23, and Arthur Bowers Houseplant Compost Reduced Peat (10 litres) is back among the bestsellers.

Other star performers this week include:

• Westland Gro-Sure Rose, Tree and Shrub Compost & 4 Month Feed (50 litres) is the highest climber, jumping 17 places to No 25.
• Westland Aquatic Compost (20 litres) is the highest new entry at No 41.
• Arthur Bowers John Innes No 1 (25 litres) is the other new product to enter the chart this week.

Fresh new beginnings are on the horizon for Suttons Seeds, as the company announces that former owner Limagrain - through Vilmorin & Co – and the Torbay Council, along with the Torbay Development Authority, have facilitated and supported the management buy out (MBO) of Suttons Consumer Products Ltd, effective as of December 1st.

The significant agreement combines the desire for Limagrain to find the right future for Suttons and the goals of Torbay Council to retain and promote business in the area. The deal ensures continued growth and employment for Suttons as well as providing a springboard for new business.

Multinational Limagrain has grown rapidly in recent years to be a world leader in the seeds and cereals industry. As a French cooperative of grower farmers with a strong Corporate Social Responsibility ethos, Limagrain sought a strategic solution that would optimise the future prospects of Suttons - especially for its employees and their families. They have actively contributed to the MBO.

The MBO - led by Managing Director David Robinson and Operations Director Rufus Roberts – heralds a new era for Suttons Consumer Products and their team. Although no longer a direct shareholder, Limagrain will remain an important trading partner.

The Suttons Group – which includes Carters and Dobies of Devon – will continue to operate from its current facilities in Paignton.

David Robinsons said: “Suttons have plans to launch innovative and new products for both our faithful and new customers. It is an exceptional household brand widely recognised for quality. Watch this space… innovation is the key.”

Rufus Roberts – with over 17 years experience with Suttons – added: “We’re looking forward to consolidating our base business and adding new opportunities within this new dynamic, as together, we seek to build a solid platform with long-term focus. This can only be good news for our loyal customers, suppliers and staff.”

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 Christmas 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.