As we approach peak season for growing media and plant food sales, we talk to Manos Kanellos, Sales & Marketing Manager at leading manufacturer Growth Technology about the increasing popularity of orchids.

GTN: Manos, Growth Technology products make regular appearances in GTN’s Bestsellers Top 50, against stiff competition from other leading brands. How have sales been this year so far?

MK: Simply put, beyond expectations. Our sales grow steadily every year and in March we reached a new record. 2017 promises to be our best year by far.

GTN: What is it about the quality of Growth Technology products that makes them special?

MK: We focus on plants for unparalleled quality. We don’t cut any corners and we go the extra mile to create truly excellent products. For example our fertilisers are urea free, and they contain all of the 14 nutrients plants need. Our Orchid Focus Repotting Mix is simply graded bark for the best results with orchids. In turn our products enjoy a great reputation and a loyal following with the public.

GTN: Persuading consumers that your products are the best is a big challenge. What’s the best way to help garden centres get that message across?

MK: Our product design and packaging conveys quality, and people respond to that, but we also try to educate garden centre staff and customers with talks. Information leaflets, online tutorials and talks all help to convey the message.

GTN: What kind of service can stockists expect from Growth Technology?

MK: We are a good company to do business with. We always try to go the extra mile for customers. We have a wide range of products, a minimum carriage paid order of just £200 and we normally dispatch within one to two days. We supply product stands where required and we help stockists increase sales with events aiming to educate customers on how best to care for orchids. We have helped stockists organise more than 60 events this year so far with excellent feedback from stores and customers.

GTN: What happens at Growth Technology’s ‘Orchid Day’ events?

MK: The format is flexible but an orchid day normally consists of two talks about orchid care, each followed by a plant clinic. People are encouraged to bring their own plants for an MOT and possibly repotting if needed. We have had people bring as many as ten plants for repotting. The average audience is 40 to 50 people with talks often attracting over 70 orchid enthusiasts. These talks are a great way for garden centres to differentiate their offer from other outlets. We have been helping garden centres organise such events for over eight years now and they are growing more popular every year.

Our team of orchid experts include Peter White (President of the Orchid Society of Great Britain), Chris Channon (retired orchid grower), Ian Parsons (Vice-President of the British Orchid Council) and myself, a plant scientist by training. The calibre of people who are involved in these talks is a testament to the quality of our products. They are long days but very rewarding. It is a great feeling to share our enthusiasm about plants and help people grow better orchids.

GTN: Do you have any tips for stockists on how to merchandise your product range to maximise sales?

MK: A brand specific stand in the houseplant area seems to increase sales especially where we attach a TV showing how to best use the products and how to repot an orchid. We are looking to increase the quantity of video clips with tips on how to care for and repot other plants.

GTN: Does the market you operate in have potential for further growth?

MK: Absolutely. Houseplants and orchids always brighten our homes. As the average house and garden gets smaller houseplants satisfy a basic need to have plants and beautiful flowers around us. And let's not forget we also manufacture and sell products for a wide range of plants from palms and olives to tomatoes and chillies.

GTN: Finally, do you have plans for new products or projects that you can share with us?

MK: We have a number of new products in the pipeline but as one of my favourite TV characters says: “I couldn’t possibly comment...”

What garden centres are saying about Growth Technology’s Orchid Days

Jo Dales, marketing manager, Tong Garden Centre: It was an extremely successful event in store that we are keen to repeat. It generated lots of interest and customer feedback was excellent. We saw an increase in both the sale of orchids and orchid-related products.

Katrina Holford, Parker’s Garden Company: Our orchid day was a huge success with over 80 people attending the talks. Houseplants and sundries sales were much increased as a result. Thank you for an extremely interesting and informative orchid day.

Hannah Powell, Perrywood Garden Centre: We have run Orchid Days with Growth Technology for several years now, and they are always well attended. Saturday is always more popular than Sunday. The talks from Peter White and Manos are very informative (although we have to be on hand to stop them talking, they are so passionate!) and the re-potting service is extremely popular, with some people bringing in their entire collections. The main benefit for us is the opportunity to buy in a larger range of orchids for two weeks, and to showcase these stunning plants. Customers keen on orchids know that it's the best time of the year to come in and buy at Perrywood and are delighted when we have something a bit different for sale. Sales of products and orchids do increase as well, and the extra footfall drives sales in the rest of the garden centre and coffee shop.

Daryl Pollard, Sunshine Garden Centre: We have hosted several Orchid Days over the past couple of years. They are usually held twice a year, spring and autumn. Attendance is usually between 20-30. The event is advertised with flyers and posters provided by Growth Technology. Manos gives talks on a host of orchid species and fields all sorts of queries. He also runs a repotting clinic where customers can bring in an orchid for a health check and a repot, resulting in a sale for pots and compost. Customers usually ask when the next one is.

To find out more about Growth Technology Orchid Days and the full product range, go to the website, call 01823 325291 or email