Despite the nasty June weather we are on target to reach the half year up by around 2% year on year for garden centre volume sales. And with some hot weather forecast for the weekend a lot of hopefully pent up gardening demand could come through garden centre pay tills.
Gardening activity this year has been very high, as demonstrated by our Growing Media sales index, up 8.4% year on year. Plant sales have lagged behind after a great start in March, so there is plenty of stock looking great ready to cope with a summer rush.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 24) Garden Products - down 6% Growing Media - down 9% Wild Bird Care - static 0% Veg-2-Gro - up 14% All Plants Index - down 5% All Items Index - down 5%
The new Plant Centre at RHS Wisley (pictured below) has increased stocks to fill the new plant area. That includes 30 metres of ferns which are in great demand.