As I write this I’m watching a live webcam feed of Sidmouth’s Port Royal on the Visit Sidmouth website…Wish I was there…bathed in autumn sunshine, the sea lapping gently on the sand, late season tourists walking the seafront (a tad briskly, I feel, considering it’s a balmy 16C there…slow down everyone)…and, just a minute….who’s that?  Is it…surely not…Guy Hands!  It can’t be…he’s a Channel Islands tax exile and anyway is too tied up running Terra Firma to spare time for a stroll on the promenade (sorry, Sidmouth…Esplanade). No, on closer inspection, it’s definitely not him (sorry, Guy, a clear case of mistaken identity, you must have a döppelganger, should have gone to SpecSavers…ahem…). But it so easily could have been…because, if the rumourmongers have got it right, his company is about to announce it has become the proud owner of a lovely piece of local real estate – Sidmouth Garden Centre.

If, as has been expected since the deal was strongly tipped at SOLEX in July, Sidmouth becomes what would be the Wyevale group’s 151^st centre, Mr Hands and his team would have good reasons to become further acquainted with the resort’s many charms (which include a donkey sanctuary, in case you’re interested).

In the meantime, a seafront stroll would be the perfect opportunity to contemplate the next set of challenges facing Terra Firma – how to meet its growth aspirations for Wyevale Garden Centres in line with an exit strategy.

Once group turnover has broken through the £300 million barrier, with pbt showing potential, the business becomes seriously attractive to appropriate investors while handing Terra Firma a handsome premium on the £276m it paid in March 2012.

Pushing turnover would have been easier if Tesco had played ball over Dobbies, but the supermarket giant indicated this week that its portfolio review was now complete, without making any mention of divestment.

So we would not be surprised to learn that the tempo of Wyevale GCs’ trawl of the market for its next acquisitions had quickened as it attempts to meet Terra Firma’s preferred timetable, which surely means an exit sooner rather than later while the garden market is visibly buoyant in a relatively stagnant retail scene.

Where will it look? You’ll already know if you are in the line of sight. But we hear that another well-respected centre in the south of England has had a loud knock on the door.

Just now, though, watch out for Wyevale transport on the A3052 and the sound of hammer and nails as the sign ‘Sidmouth…a Wyevale Garden Centre’ marks the spot for Guy Hands’s next long week-end.

Wyevale Garden Centres has won a major award for its coffee shop concept, Coffee Grounds, first introduced last year.

The concept won the ‘Best Restaurant or Bar in another space’ UK category, at the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, which attracted 1000 entries from more than 70 countries. They are the only awards in the world dedicated to recognising the care and consideration given to the design of food and beverage spaces.

The judges included leading architects, designers, brand directors and chefs from all over the world.

The Coffee Ground concept was launched in September 2014 to link a wholesome shopping experience with a high quality food and beverage offer. All the coffee is organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance-certified, using only handpicked beans.

WGC is the only coffee shop provider in the UK to roll out micro roasting, using automation designed in house for a 1kg roaster. “It means we can roast in small batches throughout the day, filling the air with wonderful aromas and adding the theatre of roasting to the heart of our operation,” said Jason Danciger, food and beverage director at WGC.  The unique pateneted technology ensures a consistent roast set by a master roaster to the company’s own profile, to give an outstanding ‘crema’ (creamy head on the surface). “We have the exclusivity on this new technology but know that soon every single coffee shop on the high street is likely to follow us,” Mr Danciger said.

WGC sends its used coffee grounds to recyclers, who use them to produce article such as tables, cake stands and garden compost.

Mr Danciger said the award was testament to WGC’s growing credibility in the leisure industry and is recognition of its efforts to strategically diversify the business to cater to a growing customer base. “We are proud of this achievement and of how far our award-winning Coffee Ground has come since its initial conception. We are delighted that not only is the quality of our coffee praised but also that our design consideration and our innovative use of space has been recognised.”

Earlier this year Coffee Ground won the Menu Innovation and Development Awards (MIDAS) for the best New Restaurant Concept of the year.

Garden Trade News’s Greatest Awards, supported by the HTA, recently recognised WGC’s Food & Beverage head office team as the ‘Greatest Garden Centre Team’ of 2015.

The local Chamber of Commerce fears that Wyevale’s intention is to create an out-of-town shopping centre on Ivybridge’s doorstep.

Although the plans were refused by South Hams Council planning committee members in July, Wyevale has now appealed against the decision.

Ivybridge Chamber of Commerce chair Margaret Punchard said: “Our feeling is, if you let them put in what they’re planning, they can just go ahead and do whatever they want.

“They just don’t seem to understand that Ivybridge is struggling, even without all these new concessions they want to put in. They’re not small concessions either. It’s too close to Ivybridge for an out-of-town shopping centre.”

The council has previously opposed changes allowing Endsleigh to expand what it is allowed to sell.

Town centre shopkeeper Pat White, proprietor of the Footnote shoe shop in Glanville’s Mill, is doing her best to raise awareness of the appeal quickly with posters of how to respond in shops.

New Ivybridge town councillor Gareth Derrick is also behind the campaign to keep Endsleigh as it is. He has launched a petition that he intends to submit to the planning inspector.

“The continued expansion and diversification of Endsleigh Garden Centre acts to destroy the viability and vitality of Ivybridge’s town centre,’ he said.

“In the original planning approvals in July 2000, there were significant conditions – to retain the character of the site as a garden centre and to protect the vitality and viability of Ivybridge town centre.

“These conditions have already been flouted, with the centre regularly trading in goods outside the intent of the approvals.

“If the appeal by Endsleigh Garden Centre is upheld, this will be in complete disregard of the clearly expressed wishes of the residents and traders of Ivybridge and those in the surrounding areas.

“It would also mean that the South Hams Council planning authority failed in its duty to “recognise town centres as the heart of their communities and pursue policies to support their vitality and viability”, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework.”

The petition can be found at www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-ivybridge-town.

By lunchtime on Wednesday, just 24 hours after the petition’s launch, it had attracted 224 signatures and 78 comments.

A spokesperson for Wyevale Garden Centres told GTN Xtra: "Endsleigh Wyevale Garden Centre is not just a place to shop for the garden, but a welcoming space to enjoy a meal, a cup of coffee, or to bring the family. As part of our ongoing investment in our garden centres, we are in the process of applying for approval to improve the quality of the shopping experience and the choice available to customers."

• New Botanic Kitchen - serving a classic twist on British dishes. Its open-plan design, within a beautiful plant-filled setting, features a new autumn/winter menu that includes delicious breakfasts, afternoon teas and warm hearty mains.
• Kids’ soft play area - tuck in whilst the little ones have a great time.
• New Walter Smith Farm Shop (22nd Oct) - offering locally-sourced produce.
• New concessions: Clarks Outlet, Christy, Mountain Warehouse, Laithwaites Wines, Craft Craft shop and Yankee Candle

• Little Diggers Halloween (26th – 30th Oct) - jam packed half-term activities for the little ones
• Christmas Preview Shopping Evening (29th Oct) – Christmas lands in centre with VIP shopping night
• Santa’s Arrival with reindeer parade (7th Nov)
• Grotto including elf workshop (7th Nov)
• Breakfast & Tea with Father Christmas (14th Nov)
• Ice-rink launch (14th Nov)
• Make Your Own Tinsel (21st Nov) – with our unique tinsel machine
• Food & Drink Festival (28th / 29th Nov)

• Garden Products - down 14%
• Veg-2-Gro Products - up 6%
• Growing Media - up 6%
• All Items Index - down 6%

Chapel Garden Centre has joined the British Garden Centres family bringing the group up to nine garden centres throughout the UK.

The Garden Centre has been purchased by the independent family run business and will ensure the continuing development of the Garden Centre. Integrating the strategies and policies that have helped to make British Garden Garden Centres a success.

Marketing Director Phillippa Stubbs told GTN Xtra: "The decorators are already in and we are getting ready for Christmas.  The centre used to be reknowned for Christmas so we intend to bring that back."

"We are already looking for extra staff" added Phillippa who was tsraight onto the tills when the business was taken over.

British Garden Centresexpects this merger to widen the customer base and develop the site to improve the customers shopping experience. Recent developments within the group have included the addition of a Leisure Park to the portfolio and the continuing investments into existing garden centres.

British Garden Centres is the garden centre brand built on the strong family values of two Lincolnshire brothers with a passion for developing garden centres. With 23 years of experience and a wealth of gardening knowledge Charles and Robert Stubbs are now owners of nine well established garden centres throughout England. Each with its own unique character but equally committed to offering the very best in quality products and expert advice.

Chapel Garden Centre occupies a six acre site approximately 5 miles north from Skegness on the A52. It has been family owned and run for over 25 years. The Garden Centre includes a plant area, aquatics, giftware and homeware departments along with a farm shop. The site also includes a 70 seat coffee shop. 

At the same time Alexander Mackie who advised on the sale of Chapel Garden Centre announced that Claremont Garden Centre, in Maldon, Essex had been sold to The Maldon and Danbury Home & Garden Centre.

Claremont Garden Centre is a freehold circa 5.589 acre (2.262 hectare) garden centre located on the A414.  The garden centre had been owned and operated by Mr. & Mrs. Bradley for over 18 years.  Mr. & Mrs. Bradley are retiring.

Visitors to the exhibition at Telford International Centre on October 14-15 can expect a busy and exciting event as all the exhibitor stands have been snapped up.

The exhibition halls will be packed with companies from both the UK and overseas, and as well as meeting up with a long list of AQUA regulars, visitors will be greeted by a host of new faces.

Show organiser Annie Foord said: "It's great to see so many newcomers booking stand space at this year's AQUA.

“I’m also happy to report that the UK’s major exhibitors are again heading for Telford, and many companies have increased their stand space this year.

“Another pleasing aspect is the fact we will be welcoming more overseas companies as well. They obviously regard AQUA as their major platform to showcase products to UK buyers.

“It’s a really exciting time for AQUA and I can promise visitors it will be the biggest ever AQUA show.”

And AQUA event chairman Dr David Pool added: “This event was set up by the aquatic trade for the aquatic trade and the organisers are constantly listening to feedback and looking for new ways to improve the visitor experience. We’re certain that time spent at AQUA 2015 will prove to be both memorable and valuable.

“An important part of the show is the opportunity for visitors to make new contacts with suppliers and manufacturers as well as meet up with old friends. We expect the exhibitor stands to be a hive of activity throughout the two show days, so we have also provided relaxation areas together with free tea and coffee and a free lunch to help you recharge your batteries or have a meeting in a more informal setting.

“A lot of planning and hard work has gone into organising this show and I’m confident you will have an enjoyable and profitable visit.”

One of the most popular aspects of the show is the AQUA dinner held on the first evening of the show. Retailers and buyers have been invited to join exhibitors at the dinner, which has been moved to a larger room to accommodate 700 people.

And another popular AQUA feature – the New Product Showcase – has also been given greater prominence with a new and bigger home.

Nearly 100 new products were showcased in 2013 when AQUA was last staged, and the indications are for a higher number this year. All the items will be entered into the New Product Awards, which will be judged by team of independent retailers on the opening morning of the show.

In recognition of the growing importance of the New Product Showcase and Awards, there will 10 different categories compared to five in 2013.

The categories that now make up the Showcase and Awards are:

• POS/Merchandising Idea
• Reptile Product
• Pond Construction/Decoration
• Pond Pump
• Pond Filter
• Pond Food, Care and Accessories
• Aquaria and Furniture
• Aquarium Equipment
• Aquarium Food, Care and Accessories
• Aquarium Decoration

New exhibitors to the show sum up the excitement that AQUA 2015 is creating. All Pond Solutions Ltd supply aquatic products to hundreds of stores across the UK and Ireland and they’re looking forward to their first AQUA show. “It promises to be a great event,” said All Pond Solutions general manager Charlie Kenton-O’Neill. “It’s the ideal stage to launch our new product ranges.”

And Aidan Wallace, of Nauticalia, said: “We’re new to the show and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Philip Nicholl, sales director of Hamac Trading Company, commented: “Several of our customers have recommended the AQUA show and we are excited about exhibiting this year.”

Visitors can benefit from free parking next to the exhibition hall, and will be able to take full advantage of a new events village called Southwater Square, recently opened close to the centre with a new hotel, restaurants, and one of the UK’s largest town-centre parks.

A full list of exhibitors can be found on the AQUA 2015 website www.aquatelford.co.uk. For anyone with inquiries call the AQUA hotline on  +44 (0) 1892 862848.

The final category of The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015, The Greatest Garden Centre Teams, is a culmination and aggregation of our experts views from the hundreds of visits made during this summer.  There were three awards for Gold, Silver and Bronze grouping the garden centres together as Large Garden Centre Teams, Small Garden Centre Teams and Garden Centre Teams that are part of Groups.

HTA Immediate Past President joined Carol Paris and Trevor Pfeiffer on stage to present the awards.

GTN's MD, Trevor Pfeifer said; "from our judging visits it’s clear our garden centre teams are people we should be proud of.  Performance at this level does not happen by chance, this is really where great teamwork is at it’s best."

"The Gold Winning small garden centre team are on the right track from The Old Railway Line in Wales."

The judges said of the Gold winning team froma group of centres, Haskins Roundstone; “they are setting high standards for professional garden centre retailing.”

HTA CEO, Carol Paris told HTA Futures dinner guests:  "There may have been close decisions for Bronze and Silver in the large team groupings but this year in The Greatest Awards there was a standout Gold winner – The Greatest Garden Centre team are from Bents!"

The Greatest Garden Centre Team of the Year Full Results, sponsored by the HTA

Finalists:

• Alton's
• Barton Grange
• Bents
• Chessington
• Coolings
• Cowells
• Fron Goch
• Frosts Woburn Sands
• Gouldings
• Groves Bridport
• Haskins Roundstone
• Newbridge, Blue Diamond
• Perrywood
• Polhill
• St Peters
• The Old Railway Line
• Woodside Plant Centre
• Wyevale Percy Throwers

Bronze Award - Small centre:  Cowells

Bronze Award - Large centre:  Scotsdales

Bronze Award - Group of centres:  Wyevale Percy Throwers

Silver Award - Small centre:  Fron Goch

Silver Award - Large centre:  Barton Grange

Silver Award - Group of centres:  Newbridge, Blue Diamond

Gold Award – Small centre:  The Old Railway Line

Gold Award – Large centre:  Bents

Gold Award – Group of centres:  Haskins Roundstone

Bonuses often involve sizeable investment by UK employers, but new research has found that the majority of retail workers are not motivated by lump sums.

One4all Rewards’ Push the Button Report questioned 1,000 UK workers about what motivates them in the workplace.

The study found that, while rewards and incentives are often effective for maintaining morale and attracting staff, simply handing out lumps of cash is not an effective way of increasing staff efforts - indeed, 75% of those working in retail, would not work significantly harder in exchange for a bonus equivalent to 10% of their annual salary.

And even incentives equivalent to 25% of annual salaries would not motivate over half (59%) of staff in this sector. A 10% pay rise would result in only one in four (25%) working harder.

These findings suggest that incentivising staff to work harder is about much more than bumping up their bank balances - and suggests that those UK retail employers who are currently awarding incentives and bonuses need to design and distribute them carefully, in order to achieve tangible increases in staff output and motivation across the entire workforce.

For those retail businesses looking at alternatives to financial incentives, the report findings identified several effective options.

Almost a quarter of retail employees are motivated to work harder by regular rewards such as weekly or monthly treats. In addition, a bonus linked directly to an individual’s work performance would result in an increase in output for more than one in four (26%).

Declan Byrne, UK managing director at One4all Rewards, comments: “From this research, it’s clear to see that while bonus culture is impactful, it isn’t always an effective driver of increased output or motivation for many employees – and it seems this is especially true in the retail sector. As it can be very expensive for businesses, this is an important learning for many UK employers to acknowledge.

“As one of the leading providers of reward schemes for UK small to medium-sized businesses, we would recommend employers clearly define their objectives for an incentive and benefit scheme, and find out which types of reward does and does not switch on the desired results in their employees, at the very initial stage. It is important to define the goals and the likely results from the outset.

“When used in this way, financial incentives can be really effectively utilised to ‘switch on’ employees to work harder - often with great results for the bottom line.”

John Byrne, performance coach at Mindcoach, said: “We know from research in this area that direct monetary incentives work more effectively with some people and some roles more than others. So I’m not surprised that money isn’t an equal motivator for all employees, because we’re human and it’s natural to want different things and value things differently.

"If you want to get the best return on your investment in rewards and incentives geared towards engaging and motivating employees, you are better to tailor your approaches. After all, no one wants to be just another employee.

"It’s very often quoted that businesses lose customers because their clients don’t feel valued, or they feel a perceived attitude of indifference to them. A singular approach to employee motivation has the same effect. Employees leave high paying jobs because their other human needs aren’t being met. It’s human to want to feel understood, valued, cared for, connected and relevant.”

To read the full Push the Button report and to find out more, visit the website: http://www.one4allrewards.co.uk/

The Person:

We are looking for motivated, dynamic, passionate and professional sales agents with experience in the gardening industry.

The Responsibilities:

• To research relevant retailers and identify new accounts for growth
• Work with the Kingfisher range to come up with a sales strategy
• Communicate with current and potential stockists to manage sales

The Requirements:

• A great sales person: tenacious, assertive, resilient, with initiative and ability to communicate well.
• Good knowledge of gardening wholesale business practices
• Excellent understanding of different stockists
• Likes working in a start-up environment, and has the passion to be an instrumental part in the growth of an emerging garden centre
• Has the firm grasp of the Kingfisher brand positioning and the ability to target stockists
• You will be well presented, trustworthy and love being with customers

The Position:

This is a freelance position. The sales agent will work independently in his/her own time.

Required experience:

• Sales – 1 year

Please send CV to Laura@bonningtonplastics.com

Bonnington Plastics Ltd, Kingfisher House, 9 Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham, NG8 4GP

Telephone:  0115 985 4119

www.bonningtonplastics.com

Plant Propagation Seeding Supervisor (ref:DS7708)

Location: Hampshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

• Have reasonable plant knowledge
• Be capable of working to deadlines and production targets
• Have excellent communications skills and be able to manage a team

Trainee Technical Growing & Production Manager (ref:DS7698)

Location: West Sussex
Salary: £16,000 to £20,000
Date: 05 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

• Assist in the Day to day management of growing of all crops including environmental control and watering systems
• Assist in the Management of propagation operations.
• Assist in crop protection management
• Assist in Crop planning, batch scheduling and monitoring using relevant software
• Liaison with other managers to achieve the business goals

• Good understanding and ideally a background working in commercial horticulture, knowledge of growing principles and ability to apply them to different crops.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate others to effectively achieve goals
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a number of tasks at once
• Ability to supervise
• Formal qualification in Horticulture or relevant experience
• Other qualifications desireable but not essential BASIS, FACTS, First Aid, PA1&6
• Computer literacy in Excel and Word (desirable or willing to achieve)

• Consumer behaviour
• Customer care
• Marketing
• Managing the team
• Developing staff
• Managing safety and security
• Stock management
• Productivity
• Future responsibilities

Taking place on Wednesday November 4^th at Melbicks Garden Centre, Coleshill, delegates will also hear from Kingfisher Bonnington Plastics about how they are successfully tackling IP infringement and on-line counterfeiters.

Stax has grown into one of the UK's biggest non-food cash & carry wholesaler & trade suppliers.  David will talk us through the changes the business has made, particularly over the last 5 years, to cope with the distribution demands for its growing gardening category.

After winning several legal cases recently, Kingfisher Bonnington Plastics are keen to share their experience and spread the word about how they’re winning the battle against the on-line counterfeiters.  Their legal team will provide delegates with practical tools to help them do the same.

Rebecca Hardy, Director of Client HR from Kidwells Solicitors, will also be providing delegates with an update on the latest changes to HR legislation including the recent EU Working Time Directive changes.

The day conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend, with GIMA members benefiting from subsidised rates. 

To book your place, visit www.gima.org.uk/gima-day-conferences or e-mail info@gima.co.uk

• Apta Large Pot Feet are the highest new entry, jumping straight in to No 11.
• Westland Aftercut Autumn All in One Box (400 sq m and 150 sq m) are two other newcomers to the chart.
• The highest climber is Woodlodge 5-inch Standard Spang Pot, moving up 35 places to No 9.
• The highest re-entry is Algon Organic Algae Remover Patio Cleaner at No 21

• Taylors Garlic Early Purple White is the highest climber, jumping 18 places to No 11.
• Taylors Onion Sets Electric moves up four places to the No 1 spot.
• Outside the Top 12, Thompson & Morgan Green Manure Organic Mix is the highest re-entry.

• Scotts Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost (56 litres) is the highest re-entry at No 7.
• The highest climber is Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost (50 litres), jumping 32 places to No 16.
• Westland Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost & 4 Month Feed (50 litres) also returns to the chart.

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 2013 as well as 2014 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 up-to-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 Veg-2-Gro 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.