Autumn plant sales head back towards past glories GTN Bestsellers analysis
For years, the industry has tried to get the Autumn planting season back to levels of past glories. Now, thanks to all the new gardeners and increased activity spurred on by lockdown, plant sales in the first three weeks of September 2020 have already exceeded sales for the whole month in any of the previous 4 years.
We could be looking at a 40% or even higher increase for the month when we report on the GTN Bestsellers Epos data next week. Watch this space.
We do need to remember that the missed sales during seven weeks of lockdown have still impacted on year to date sales volumes, with the GTN year to date All Plant Sales Index sitting at 24% down year on year. Plant sales values may not be down by that much, however, as more plants of a higher value have sold through this year, especially for planting in pots.
Cyclamen, Pansy, Viola, Calluna and Chrysanthemum are the Top 5 Bestselling plant lines for all three weeks of September so far.
Helleborus climbed 34 places to No 20 after doubling sales.
Pennisetum were the highest re-entry for last week, back in the GTN Bestsellers Plants chart at No 28.
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