Volume sales in January were 15% down on 2022 levels and only 4% up on 2019 according to analysis of GTN Bestsellers weekly garden centre EPOS Data.  However volume garden centre sales in February 2023 were 14% higher than 2022 and 35% higher than 2019.  That meant we reached the end of February only 0.6% down year on year and 20% up on 2019.

January and February garden centre sales are always affected by the weather so using them as an indicator for the rest of the year can be tricky, but the fact sales volumes for the last week on February 2023 were the highest for that week in any of the previous five years does point to the possibility that when the weather is right, garden centres will be busy with customers looking to make an early start with their growing for the season.

With Mother’s Day, Garden Re-Leaf Day and Easter all in quick succession from the middle of March onwards there are plenty of opportunities to drive footfall and sales.

Watch this space for regular GTN Bestsellers updates.