GTN Xtra - GTN Xtra - Issue 49 2018

Westland has reported this morning that the acquisition of Gardman, taking it from administration, is developing well and that real progress is being made. “Acquiring Gardman from administration has been a complex and challenging process, but what is clear is that the loyalty and support the customer is showing Gardman is beyond all expectations..."

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How will the Wyevale "Sale of the Century" play out?

With about £135m raised out of a target £442m and time dragging on even the national newspapers are now speculating on the future of the remaining 115 Wyevale Garden Centres...

Read more and let us know your views

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Erin acquired by Westland

Westland Horticulture further enhanced its position in the UK growing media market last month when it acquired Erin from parent company LeisureGrow...

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Have you seen the TV ad that Thanks Plants?

We spotted this ad on TV and social media last week. Is your houseplant area ready to serve the needs of people who are inspired by this?

See the Thanks Plant TV ad here

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The Pot Company helps ‘DIY SOS’ bring dream to life

The Pot Company has helped BBC One's 'DIY SOS: The Big Build' create a stunning garden for a disabled father-of two, whose life was changed in a split second by a freak accident...

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Rugby World Cup winning coach signed up for GCA conference

Former English rugby player and coach Sir Clive Woodward OBE has been announced as the first speaker booked for the Garden Centre Association’s annual conference, taking place in Luton on January 20-23 2019...

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Smart Garden invests in NPD and supply chain

Smart Garden has announced further investment in its New Product Development and Supply Chain teams, with the appointment of Michelle Lee as Category Management Co-Ordinator and Darren Bailey as Supply Analyst & Planner...

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Deforche parent rescues Thermoflor after bankruptcy

Thermoflor, whose parent company Grimbergen went bankrupt in October, is to continue trading as Thermoflor Construct BV under the proprietorship of KSPL, owners of leading commercial glasshouse makers Deforche.

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October sales figures above average, according to GTN Bestsellers

October 2018 volume sales were above the average for the previous seven years by 3% but fell below last year by 7%, according to statistics produced by GTN Bestsellers. Star performers for the month were growing media, up by 12%...

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Wyevale Nurseries announces 2020 Amenity Plant Range

Wyevale Nurseries has this month unveiled its new amenity crop range for 2020. Eight new plants have been carefully selected based on their habit, colour and functionality.

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Award winning designer Peter Dowle re-opens abandoned garden centre

The former Huntley Garden Centre in Gloucestershire has re-opened as Leaf Creative under the ownership of award-winning garden designer Peter Dowle...

Above: Peter Dowle on his Chelsea Gold Medal garden for L'Occitane.

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Tong launches biggest ever Christmas family fun weekend

Tong Garden Centre will mark the opening of Santa's grotto and its new pop-up Polar Bear Café with a two-day family event that begins on Saturday November 17th...

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Look who's most excited about Christmas...and what they expect to spend...

With less than two months until Christmas, how excited are different regions of the UK about the festive season – and who is going to spend the most?...

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Ansells re-opens in full with new shop two years after fire

Two years after a fire completely devastated Ansells Garden centre near Heathrow Airport the business fully re-opened yesterday, Saturday November 10th, with a sparkling new shop...

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GTN November 2018 Issue. To view a digital version click here

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Garden Product sales up slightly in October

Garden Product Top 50 sales held their own in October, year on year, but are still on a downward trend over the past four years...

Pots of growing media sales

Growing media was a star performer in October, ending the month up 12% year on year for the Top 50 Bestsellers Chart sales volumes...

Christmas product sales riding high

GTN’s Christmas Bestsellers Top 50 shows a drop of 8% for October year on year, but still riding high compared to October Christmas sales volumes from three or four years ago...

Plant sales still running 8% up year on year

Plant sales volumes have slowed through October into November according to the GTN Bestsellers Plants Chart analysis. October sales volumes were 2% down on last year...

New scholarships available to students

The David Colegrave Foundation scholarship season is open for student horticulturists...

Neudorff's man in the South retires

Lee Squires, a key member of staff at Neudorff since it launched in the UK in 2013, has retired...

Glee at Spring Fair kick-started a fab year for Potty Feet

Having celebrated its first anniversary of trading at Glee, Jardinopia – designers and manufacturers of Potty Feet plant pot feet – is reflecting on a year of significant growth that started at Glee’s Spring Fair inaugural appearance in February...

HTA beefs up executive team

The HTA has strengthened its executive team following a review of anticipated member needs...

The best of last week's

If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...

Wyevale Garden Centres confirms sale of Old Barn

Wyevale Garden Centres has confirmed that the Old Barn Garden Centre has been sold to Tates of Sussex, who will continue to run it as a garden centre. Old Barn Nursery was included in the sale and will be operated under license by WGC for a period of at least 12 months..

James Ducker takes the reins as the MD of Langlands

Langlands Garden Centre, which trades from three sites in York, Leeds and Sheffield with 180 staff, is looking to the future as its ownership passes to the third generation of the same family...

"The government needs to sit up and take notice of this sector." Alan Titchmarsh tells MP's and peers

"The government needs to sit up and take notice of this sector. If it continues to be undervalued and overlooked and we carry on building houses without gardens it will have a devastating effect not only on our national economy but also on the environment and our living conditions as a whole."

Listen to Alan's speech at the Houses of Parliament in full

Amazing British compost from an amazing British company

When it comes to supplying compost, there’s no better company you can rely on than UK based Durston Garden Products Ltd