James Barnes from Dobbies – on the past: “If we strip out the weather effect going back the last five years I think we’ll see a decline of about 15% from 2005 to now.”  On the future: “it’s not a promotional thing it’s everyday low prices across the board.”

Alan Roper from Blue Diamond Group – on the past “We’ve been in an industry where margins have been pretty luxurious and all that over a period of time is going to change.”  On the future: “Number one is to target the consumer from a socio-economic point of view.  It’s very, very important to deliver a point of difference.  I don’t think there’s a future in franchising.  I have to look a scale which gives me the ability to talk to suppliers about the shape and colour of products and we can deliver our point of difference by shaping the products we sell.”

Andy McIndoe of Hilliers Garden Centres and Nurseries - on the past:  “Over the past 40 years the garden industry, gardening has changed beyond belief.  The palette of plants available to gardeners is vast, people are more affluent, people do have more leisure time and they spend quite differently.” On the future: “We need the people who can inspire, who can deliver, who can advise and give that personal experience.  We’ve got to make garden retail and commerce attractive to the right people for the future. “

Mark Pearson, CEO of Gardman – on the banking world:  “They are challenging people and I do face the task of explaining to them that this industry is a little different.  It’s not facing the economic challenges in quite the same way as so many retail sectors are at the moment and essentially my view is that we are on a long term journey.  One that is driven by cultural and social change.” On sharing of information:  “You’re part of a really unusual business community of people who actually share ideas, and that’s not normal in other industries.  Your challenge is to go and talk to those who are outperforming you because the lessons are there.”

Summing up the debate and the conference as a whole HTA Director General Carol Paris said, “There is no doubt that as an industry we need to be adaptable in order to grow. That said for many survival has been key this year. Despite the weather there is plenty that we can do ourselves to help the sector grow and collaboration across the supply chain and within the industry is key to achieving this.”

Survive, adapt, grow was the apt theme of last week’s HTA Conference and delegates we left in not doubt that having survived the wettest summer in living memory there are some key issues on the horizon that need to be considered and acted upon if we are to see future growth.

The scene was set by Dr Brian Clark, Senior Economist at Barclays Corporate Banking, man making it very clear that there are at least another three years of tough economic conditions to be encountered and that could be longer if the euro zone crisis deepens.   So we can’t count on a consumer spending boom to stimulate growth.

Although consumers may not suddenly start increasing spending they will continue to change their opinions and actions even faster than we’ve known before.  Marshall Dirks, Marketing Director of Proven Winners, told delegates:  “The industry is always wrong, because men think they know what women’s favourite colour is.  We can’t afford to make mistakes.  Your staff needs to know what your bestsellers are.”   We get your promotions and advertising material reviewed by customers before going live.  That way we keep up with their changing opinions and buying desires.”

Retailers are already picking up on trends highlighted by the Future foundation.  The likes of Starbucks and Ikea are trialling new retailing environments designed to make their retail experiences more pleasurable and in the USA, garden centres are taking the bathroom visit to a new level with unique restroom decorations as see in the Garden Centres of Americas Best Bathroom Awards.


See the results of the GCA (USA) Best Bathroom Awards here

And then when customers are spending money they will do it differently.  By 2020 over 50% of 45 to 64 year olds will own an app enabled phone making access to product and price information so much easier.  And by 2015, 100 million credit or debit cards will be contactless enabled.  With contactless transactions becoming live on public transport and at more and more outlets, perceptions will change and payments will become quicker and more mobile.  As a result people won’t expect to queue at checkouts in the future.

“The Future Foundation frightened the pants off me with the speed at which it is all moving along so there needs to be some focus here on E commerce and M commerce.  I absolutely take on board the comment of ‘get personal with the customer’ to find out what they want.” Jolyon Martin, MD of Chessington Garden Centre told GTN.

“The big drive to be in contact with the customer via the social media came across very loud.  The need to go contactless in the restaurant is obvious as our average sale is £7 and this will speed sales up at the weekend with the younger customer in store.”

And social networking will play a big part in driving future growth, particularly at a mobile level, but not at a corporate level.   Hillier’s Garden Centres are leading the way in making their social media activity local and personal.  “It’s not about followers, it’s all about Klout” said Mark Pitman.

Conference delegate Boyd Doulas-Davies of Hillview Garden Centres told GTN after the conference “it’s clear we will struggle if we are not at the top of our game, we have to work together more than ever before.  If the HTA can drive footfall to garden centres that will enable us retailers to sell more plants and products, that’s how we can grow.”

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton have delayed setting up for Christmas to give gardeners the chance to make the most of autumn, and are offering freed advice on planting.

Andrew Pitman, Plant Managerat the independent, family-run garden centre, explained: “We’re backing the Horticultural Trades Association’s campaign to make autumn special and doing our own celebration of the season by hosting a free Autumn Planting Advice Weekend on October 27 and 28.

“During the past decade all the focus has been on spring planting but autumn is actually a better time to plant many shrubs, trees and fruit bushes and canes as the soil is still warm and moist. Therefore plants can establish ready for next year, before the winter sets in.

“A recent HTA survey suggests gardeners have forgotten autumn. This year with the drought in the spring and the rain in the summer it’s now time to embrace autumn gardening. Gardeners need to be aware that they don’t need to wait until spring to do some planting.”

Andrew added: “We’re delaying bringing in some of our Christmas stock to give people a chance to enjoy the autumn and its mist and mellow fruitfulness first.

“Autumn is a lovely time in the garden centre, with the changing of the season we top up with lots of lovely fresh new plants, looking great ready for planting in your garden.

“Now in stock are a fabulous array of late flowering hardy plants, colourful berries, wonderful autumn tints and bright evergreen shrubs.”

For more information visit www.monktonelmgardencentre.co.uk

GTN Xtra has been out and about this week to see for ourselves what garden centres are doing to attract Christmas customers.

And it’s clear from our pictures from Bents and Bayrtee that the results get more impressive every year.

There are some great displays being erected in garden centres up and down the country. Here are some examples from Bents and Baytree.

Bents Garden Centre opened their Christmas festivities with this 6ft giant pudding in the company of their local Town Crier and Santa Claus (picture above).

Meanwhile Baytree have taken the ski chalet theme and made it their centre piece this year (below)

We’ve also got a picture of a display at the HTA Conference that took the Kaemingk team less than 30 minutes to produce (bottom).

Tell us about your Christmas displays. Email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The GTN Bestsellers Christmas Chart has returned and it’s good news for those garden centres that have got their displays up early. According to our data, shoppers are already getting into the swing of things with encouraging sales of festive items.

It’s no surprise that History & Heraldry occupy the top three places in the Top 50 chart but what is surprising is the fact that favourites, Snow Globe Decorations and Waiting For Santa Stocking, aren’t top. That honour goes to new entry – the Christmas Money Box.

Premier Decorations’ ‘Colour Your Own’ range is proving popular with their Christmas Hanger at No 4 and Christmas Glass at No 36.

Kaemingk products are also selling well in these early season weeks with 14 different items in the chart. The best of the range are Mushroom with Hanger, Glass Bowl 13cm x 5cm, and Pearl Mask (Oxblood) holding down places 8, 9 and 10 respectively.

Advent calendars and books also show up prominently in the chart. The Lindt Children’s Advent Calendar is at No 46 while pets refuse to be outdone as Armitage’s Dog Advent Calender sits at No 30. Baker & Taylor Fireman Sam Book, Runaway Santa, is a new entry at No 11.

See the full GTN Christmas Bestsellers Chart here.  Subscribers Only

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WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business.  Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction

Fermoys staff surprised teachers and children at Bradley Barton Primary School in Newton Abbot by interrupting assembly with the news that they had won The Greatest Jubilee Doorstep Award for Schools.

Margaret Portas from the school received the award with children from The Green Gardening Club and was delighted with the news.

“Our school works really hard to create a green environment for the children and we take great pride in our wonderful gardening department. Our school has an outdoor classroom and every child gets an hour’s gardening each week, so it’s an important part of our curriculum.”

Fermoys presented the Greatest Jubillee Award along with £100 of Fermoy’s Garden vouchers for the school to spend in store.

TV presenter David Domoney has called on the garden industry to restyle its image if it wants to attract new blood.

Domoney was speaking at the annual conference of the Institurte of Horticulture at Capel Manor Gardens.

Taking inspiration from careers in the nursing and fire service sectors, he said that horticulture needed to promote how it meets young people’s aspirations. He suggested representing horticultural careers to reflect  Kids' Key Performance Indicators – money, self-respect, respect among peers, excitement and the keys to independence.  

The IoH used the conference to highlight its campaign to inspire young people about careers in horticulture and demonstrated the on-going support it provided to professional horticulturists in their progression through the many rewarding career paths in the industry.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Defra, delivered the IoH James Bruce Memorial. He said “Horticulture is hot!” There is huge potential for British horticulture but to be the best the industry needs “investment, innovation, technology, research and skills."

Gerald Bonner, General Manager for Coblands, gave top tips on recruiting and retaining horticultural apprentices, highlighting the need to invest in apprentices’ terms and conditions, including their studies, and keeping apprenticeships relevant, reflecting the contemporary demands of young horticulturists.

The conference was preceded by the Institute’s AGM at which Leigh Morris FI Hort was appointed as the new IoH President. Leigh said: “I am totally delighted to have taken on the role of IoH President. With the petition for Chartered status recently submitted, and a marketing plan and recruitment strategy being drafted and the current ramping up of the Grow Careers initiative, administered by the IoH, it is certainly exciting times immediately ahead, both for myself and the IoH"

The conference was a sell-out with over 90 delegates, including both members and non-members, representing a wide range of sectors across the industry. A series of expert speakers maintained the IoH reputation for delivering high quality conferences which bring together likeminded professional horticulturists and students to tackle industry issues and hot topics.

IoH President Leigh Morriswith previous competitors & winners of the IoH Young Horticulturist of the Year.

Independent garden centre Simpsons of Inverness have joined the buying group, Future Marketing Group.

The move follows the recent addition of Poplars Garden Centre into FMG's portfolio and news that Millbrook Garden Centre have decided to bring their second centre at Crowborough into the group – that now takes the total to 14.

Group Chairman Martin Davies, of Raglan Garden Centre,  explained: “We are very happy to add one of Scotland’s premier garden centres to FMG.

"It is very satisfying to see that the hard work of existing members negotiations with our suppliers is being recognized across the country by good independent businesses.

"I am sure they will want to take full advantage of the increased purchasing power and marketing initiatives available to them.”

Andrew Simpson said:  “We are delighted to be joining Future Marketing for not only the obvious advantages that group membership will give but for the opportunity to share business ideas with like-minded people.”

Look out for a man on a mower on the roads of the UK over the coming weeks as an epic Mowerthon is under way.

Phil Voice of the Landscape Juice Network is driving 1,250 miles on an Etesia H124 ride-on mower to raise £10,000 and awareness for national horticulture charity Perennial.

Perennial provides free, confidential advice, emotional support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in or retired from horticulture and their spouses, partners and children.

The charity helps professionals such as gardeners, landscapers, tree surgeons, greenkeepers, plantsmen and groundsmen. Its work depends entirely on voluntary donations from the horticulture industry and the garden-loving public, and the funds raised from the Mowerthon will be invaluable to the charity’s ongoing work to help individuals and families such as that of John Foley, BBC Young Gardener of the Year 2012.

“Perennial helped my family when my Dad became ill and all the family went through a difficult time," said John. "The Caseworker visited us regularly. They paid for my school trips and driving lessons so I could drive the van to flower shows. And they helped me access funding so I could go to Askham Bryan Horticultural College and complete my studies. Now I have a wonderful future and life is good for me.”

Phil Voice is driving the Etesia ride-on mower from Bergerac in France all the way to John O’Groats in Scotland. Phil set off on his 1,250 mile (2,000 km) journey on 1st October from his home in France and landed on to UK soil in Portsmouth last Saturday.

“I’m always thinking of ways to help, and sitting at my desk one day I thought about walking from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity, but this had already been done,” commented Phil.

“I then had a brainwave. Why not do it on a mower? Better still, why not do it from my home in France? After an email to Les Malin at Etesia UK which he forwarded to Patrick Vives, Etesia’s President, they offered a machine with their full support.”

Phil is calling on motorists, gardeners and horticulturalists from across the UK to show their support by honking and tweeting if you spot him (#mowerthon #iveseenphil), following his progress via the Landscape Juice Network blog and donating online or via free text. (Text HORT47 to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/mowerthon).

Staff at Suttons Seeds have presented a cheque for £8,500 to Greenfingers, the charity dedicated to creating gardens at children’s hospices nationwide.

The seed suppliers raised the funds by donating £1 from every £1.99 packet of Nasturtium ‘Jelly Beans’ sold from March onwards.

David Arnold, Marketing and Sales Director of Suttons Seeds, said: “We are thrilled to have raised £8,500 for Greenfingers through our promotional counter display unit.

“We’d like to thank the garden centres and retailers who helped us to support this worthy charity by placing our specially designed display units at till points in their stores.

“Nasturtium ‘Jelly Beans’ are a particularly popular variety and one of the easiest flowers to grow. They produce brilliant colours and look excellent in hanging baskets, tubs and borders.”

The fundraiser was held as part of Garden Re-Leaf Day, which is a nationwide initiative to encourage members of the horticultural industry to mark the start of the spring gardening season by organising events or activities.As well as creating awareness of gardening, one of the main aims of the day is to raise money for Greenfingers.

Sue Allen, from the Management Committee at Greenfingers, said: “It was a huge pleasure for Greenfingers to be presented with the cheque from Suttons Seeds.

“Without such support, Greenfingers would not be able to continue in its work of building much needed gardens for children’s hospices. 

“So much money can be raised by a company pledging the percentage of a sale. Suttons Seeds has raised a huge sum of money and brought the charity to the attention of thousands of gardeners in the country.”

To find out more about Greenfingers visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

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

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 and on the GTN website www.gardentradenews.co.uk.

Access is by subscription only.  For £120.00 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, or subscribe on-line here

 

or e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

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

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

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Bestsellers chart for this week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business.  Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.

Andrew Simms,Fellow of the New Economics Foundation, author of Tescopoly and keen gardener, made his case for the voluntary introduction of National Gardening Leave.

“I propose a scheme called National Gardening Leave in which employers, public and private, offer all employees the voluntary option of working a four day week, working the same number of hours but in a compressed space.  Leaving an extra day that people could be positively encouraged to garden, either for themselves or for the community.”

“This is a scheme which will lead to the rapid expansion of the pleasure of gardening in Britain’s towns and cities with the added economic benefits of a healthier more dynamic population.”

“Normal isn’t working at the moment and we need to do something differently.  As a sector you’ve got an opportunity to lead and benefit from a vital transition in life in Britain.”

See the "National Gardening Leave" brochure here. National Gardening Leave - Andrew Simms

"We look forward to working with Stephen Murphy as he builds on the strong platform for growth that Nicholas leaves behind."

Squire’s Garden Centres have triumphed again in this year’s South Thames Region Ruxley Rose competition.  

The Garden Centre Association judges inspect garden centres for their plant quality, ranges, displays and technical skill.  The Garden Centre Association judged each region in the UK in categories appropriate to the size of the business.

Squire’s Garden Centres took first and second place in the smaller garden centres category again this year, with a role reversal as Hersham centre, just pipped last year's winner Shepperton to the top spot.
 
Squire’s of Twickenham, who have the best selection of trees, shrubs and garden plants in southwest London, won the regional award in the larger garden centres category.
 
The judges were impressed with the fresh seasonal stock, the health of the plants and some truly inspirational displays at all of the Squire’s centres. Highlights included wonderful wildlife displays and winter colour ideas.

“We’re extremely proud to have received these accolades this year,” said Sarah Squire. “Being judged so highly is a great honour, as we’re judged by our peers in the industry. I am delighted for the plant area teams who have worked so hard to promote high standards and interesting displays across our plant areas at Squire’s and it is wonderful to see them rewarded for their continued efforts.”

Alan Titchmarsh was awarded the Pearson Memorial Medal at the HTA Garden Futures Conference dinner in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the horticultural industry.

HTA Director General Carol Paris said, “Alan has played an invaluable role in communicating his passion for gardening to such a wide audience and I can think of no better or deserving recipient for the Pearson Memorial Medal for services to the industry.

"He is a great ambassador for gardening and has always been very supportive of the industry. There can be no doubt that his television programmes have had and continue to have a huge impact and help so many people discover gardening for the first time.”

On receiving the award from HTA Vice-President Stan Green, Alan said: “This is a great honour for me and I am delighted to follow in such auspicious footsteps.

"This award really matters as it is from the horticultural industry. We are all in the same business across all the branches of horticulture. We all want to encourage people to green their surroundings and this begins with the environment outside the back door – the garden. The industry provides people with the knowledge and where with all to do their bit.”

He went on to thank the industry for their support for ‘Love Your Garden’. “We couldn’t have achieved what we did without you. Thank you for coming to our aid for the greater good and to help encourage more people to garden,” he said.

Love Your Garden is set to return to ITV in 2013 for a third series.

Weed product promotions are still proving popular with gardeners, and the best example is Roundup Pump ‘n’ Go, 5 litres, which has re-entered the Garden Products Chart this week at No 2.

There’s also evidence of strong Autumn gardening bestsellers in  the charts with Bayer Boltac Greasebands, 10-12 trees, jumping 20 places this week and Growing Success Cat Repellent, 500g, re-entering the chart at No 40, as gardeners continue with their digging.

The Autumn clear-up also continues, and as a result gardening gloves are a popular item. There are five glove lines in the Top 50 this week. The best performer is Gardman Multiuse Ladies  Glove, Triple Pack, which is the highest new entry.

Other gloves in the charts include: Gardman Heavy Duty Mens Gloves, Twin Pack; Town & Country Master Gardener Ladies Gloves; and Town & Country Ladies Aquasure Twin Pack Gloves.

The other new entry this week is the Burgon & Ball Kneelo Knee Pads, which had their official launch at Glee. Designer Nicola Reed (below) was “really excited” when the knee pads received a Top Pick in the Glee Shop Window.

Nicola will be even more pleased to see that the knee pads are becoming bestsellers now they’re on sale in garden centres.



See the full GTN Garden Products Bestsellers Chart here.  Subscribers Only

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here 

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business.  Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.

Caroline Owen from Scotsdales Garden Centre has resumed the role of HTA President and chair of the HTA Board.

The appointment was ratified at the HTA AGM which took place on Tuesday ahead of the HTA Garden Futures Conference,

Caroline takes up the Presidency for a one-year term following the appointment of previous President Carol Paris as the new HTA Director General. This move means that Stan Green from Growforth will continue as Vice President for a further year.

The AGM also saw the adoption of new Articles of Association for the HTA that will allow, amongst other things, for members to exercise a proxy vote at general meetings.

Pictured (from left to right): Caroline Owen, Stan Green and Carol Paris at the HTA AGM.

Around 44% of shoppers purchasing online from DIY and ‘out of town’ retail brands are choosing to collect their goods rather than have them delivered according to new research commissioned by retail communications specialist, Quail Digital.

Of those that do collect, convenience was cited as the main motivation for collecting (47% of respondents) considerably ahead of cost saving (17%) and not being tied to a delivery time (13%).  Among the least important factors was the ability to buy additional items.

In addition, the traditional male stereotype of disliking shopping seems to be borne out with men rating having goods ready and quick transaction with store staff as priorities, although they also rated the ability to ask questions and get advice as important. 

When arriving at the collection point, having the goods ready for collection was by far the most important criteria with 67% of respondents rating this as the number one priority.

Quail Digital, whose wireless headset communications systems are used by major grocery and out-of-town retailers such as the Co-operative,  Sainsbury’s, Homebase, IKEA and drive thru restaurant brands KFC, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Quick, commissioned the research to establish how and by whom click and collect was being used across the country.

“Click and collect, or click-pay-and-collect, is very popular,” says Quail Digital CEO Tom Downes, “but execution needs to be thought through. Our research shows that customers want to pick up their orders quickly and without queuing, and ideally, have their goods loaded into their cars.”

According to the gender breakdown in the research, some female shoppers also rate cost saving and not being tied to a specific delivery time as key reasons for choosing to collect their goods. 

By region, Scottish shoppers are most likely to collect their orders, with people in Northern Ireland least likely. For shoppers in the East Midlands speed of transaction is key, although they are also most likely to buy more items. People in East Anglia rate not being tied to a time slot as most important and they also appreciate designated parking. Convenience and having their cars loaded is most important to shoppers in the South East.

“Prompt collection of click and collect is likely to make or break the success of the service, and that needs efficient staff communication in store” says Downes, “On-line ordering is about efficient fulfilment, so getting the order from storage area to customer is all-important.   

“If DIY and other out of town retailers want to encourage more take up of click and collect they could consider the drive thru model where operators have fine-tuned fulfilment of car-bound order taking. With a combination of order points and headsets, store staff are pre-alerted to customer’s arrival, with wireless headset communication maximising the prep time to expedite orders from storage areas and getting them into the hands of the customer efficiently.”

The HTA has appointed three new directors to join its board to help steer the continuing development of the garden industry trade association. 

Peter Cook, Robert Hewitt and Mark Pearson will join a refreshed HTA Board bringing substantial business and industry experience to the association’s work on behalf of its members.

Peter Cook, Managing Director of Roundstone Nurseries, trained as a management accountant in the building industry prior to moving into sales and marketing with blue chip companies including Kellogg’s, Mars and Scottish & Newcastle (S&N). His career progressed into supplying pre-packed salads to leading grocers prior to joining Roundstone Nurseries in late 2008.

Robert Hewitt is currently Chief Executive of Klondyke Garden Centres having held the same role at Wyevale Garden Centres from 1997 until 2005. Robert began his career with J Sainsbury plc before moving into the garden retail sector in the late 1980s.

Mark Pearson was appointed CEO of Gardman Group in 2008 following the purchase of the business by Barclays Private Equity (now Equistone). Mark previously held a variety of international roles with a number of blue chip companies following training as a Chartered Accountant and an early career with Price Waterhouse.

HTA President Caroline Owen commented: “The last 9 months have been a period of review and reflection for the HTA as the board has sought to build on the association’s many strengths and look to the future. We were delighted to announce the appointment of Carol Paris as our new chief executive in the summer and these new board appointments bring to the HTA new levels of support and insight to underpin this important work.”

The new board members join Ian Ashton of Lowaters Nursery, Stan Green of Growforth Ltd, John Lord of John Woods Nurseries, David Norman of Abercorn Plant and Garden Centre, and Caroline Owen of Scotsdales Garden Centre.

Gardeners are still very active on their plots this autumn with multipurpose compost, top soil and farm manure all selling well.

Westland products are dominating the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media Chart with eight of the company’s items in the Top 10 places.  Multipurpose 50 litres keeps hold of top spot.

Westland John Innes No 3 Compost is the biggest mover at the top of the chart, jumping six places.

Two farm manure products have sold well as customers continue preparing their plots for next years growing – Arthur Bowers Blended Farm Manure, 50 litres and Westland Organic Farm Manure, 60 litres, are both Top 10 Bestsellers.

There are five re-entries in the chart this week: Arthur Bowers John Innes No 2; Arthur Bowers Bulb Fibre, 35 litres; Shamrock Multipurpose Compost; Arthur Bowers Coarse Grit, 5kg; Westland West+ Container & Basket Compost & 4 Month Feed Mini Bale, 25 litres.

See the full GTN Growing Media Bestsellers Chart here.  Subscribers Only

To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts can seriously improve your business.  Only subscribe if you want to invest 15 minutes each week in improving your turnover and customer satisfaction.

The Garden Communication & Media Company Ltd is the UK gardening industry’s most useful media publisher with the industry leading monthly Garden Trade News, the weekly e-newsletter GTN Xtra, the weekly subscription service GTN Bestsellers and Garden Radio that plays in 100 garden centres across the country.

Due to retirement we now need to find a new editor.  This is a unique opportunity that gets right to the heart of UK garden centre retailing so we need a talented writer who understands the needs of garden centre owners, managers and department leaders.

Based in our offices just outside Peterborough, the successful applicant will run both the print and digital versions of GTN and manage the editorial content of Garden Radio.  Print layout and design abilities, using Quark Express will be required and an ability to work closely with our commercial advertising sales team will be essential. 

You will be expected to:

• Write for a horticulturally based business to business readership.
• Develop and maintain relationships with manufacturers and PR agencies.
• Understand digital media.
• Have a basic knowledge of magazine production (e.g. flat plans).
• Be adaptable to changes in workload and pagination.
• Have a working knowledge of Quark Express.

A competitive salary will be paid depending on the level of experience.

How to apply:

Please email your CV and covering letter to trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk.

The company said it was restructuring its Eastleigh office in order to create a more customer "agile" retailer, and was offering "enhanced redundancy packages".

Last month B&Q's owner, Kingfisher, said the summer's heavy rainfall cut its profits in the UK and northern Europe by £30m.

Fraser Longden, from B&Q, said the company recognised "this is a difficult time for everyone".

He said the changes were "fundamental to creating sustainable jobs and the future growth of the business."

Winner of the Red Dot Design Award, the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor claims to take the guesswork out of plant care.

The sensor is placed in the soil of any pot plant to monitor the key vitality parameters of a plant: soil moisture, temperature and light intensity.

Using a built-in Wi-Fi module, the data is sent to the Koubachi Cloud, where it is analysed based on scientific care models developed in co-operation with leading biologists. The plant owner is then provided with detailed instructions via the Koubachi Phone App or Web App to show how and when to care for their beloved plants. One Koubachi Wi-Fi sensor can be used to monitor and set up alerts for all your household plants.

“The Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor is the first device ever that enables real-time monitoring of a plant’s vitality,” says Philipp Bolliger, CEO and inventor of Koubachi.

“It’s been very well received by the users and press since launch at CeBIT 2012 and we are happy to deliver the first pre-ordered units to our customers. With production fully lined up, the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor is now available across Europe.”

The Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor has been designed to seamlessly blend in with a plant's environment, while using cutting edge technology that enables a simpler, yet more powerful plant care experience.

The Koubachi apps – which can also be used in basic function without a sensor – are available for free, whilst the Wi-Fi Plant Sensor costs £89.

For more information visit www.koubachi.com