In This Issue
GIMA Awards Roll of Honour & Full Glee New Products Directory in GTN November issue - read online here
Customer Voting for The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Team gets underway with hundreds of on-line votes already submitted
Our biggest ever Christmas judging journey begins
Thank you to the Sponsors of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2024
New Environmental Horticulture Group (EHG) reports set out sector delivery plan and key new data
Further recognition for RocketGro, as it takes home accolades at two top industry events
Ben Reid Garden Centre implements WinRetail
Flopro's Cobra poised to strike in 2025
GCA reveals ‘encouraging’ October figures for members
HTA and FPC ask for urgent action on border crisis
Dobbies Antrim to remain open
Forest Garden secures global health and safety award
Garden centre sales down during challenging conditions
Homebase – a recollection and a hope
Great potential for Autohydrate Smart Bracket
Spring Fair to expand fashion sector with addition of Pure
Shining spotlight on best bellwether brands
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
Renowned garden designer Pip Probert to speak at APL Awards 202
YPHA seeks expressions of interest for 2025-2026 sponsorship positions
Top Yorkshire flower show calls for entries to its Show Gardens and Creative Borders showcase
Ten companies named finalists for IGOTY Awards
The best of last week's
Kent garden centre announces closure
The Gardens Group and Plymouth GC join Future Marketing Group
Greenfingers Charity announces its 2025 challenge
Garden centre group donates over £11,000 to charities
Quinton Edwards celebrates 35 years
G Plants welcomes Andy Lewis as Regional Account Manager
Be part of GTN's Sustainability Directory
GIMA Buyers Guide & New Product Digest Autumn 2024
Glee: 50 years of influence, read GTN's Glee Review Issue on-line
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Quinton Edwards celebrates 35 years

 

Chartered surveyors Quinton Edwards is marking 35 years as the UK’s foremost expert in the sale and valuation of garden centres, horticultural nurseries and farm shops – and is forecasting huge opportunities in the sector for investors willing ‘to buy small and build big’.

 

With family leisure becoming an increasingly popular and profitable market for the industry, companies investing in food halls and farm shops, restaurant and coffee shops, children’s soft play and even adventure activities can reap the rewards of running successful retail and leisure one-stop destinations. 

 

Director Simon Quinton Smith of Quinton Edwards, said: “I believe there is huge scope for new entrants to come into the industry, who can start small and grow their independent businesses over the coming years. It is widely recognised that having successful independents is important to ensure diversity and continued innovation within the sector.  The large groups obviously offer lots for customers but innovation tends to start at the grass roots level with smaller, independently-owned businesses.”

 

Quinton Edwards was founded by specialist chartered surveyor Simon in autumn 1989 and over the last three decades, Simon and his team have supported the garden centre and horticultural industries through three recessions, various retail booms, a pandemic and the successful completion of millions of pounds worth of sales and valuations. This has included landmark valuations of some of the UK’s largest garden centres, including Bents, and Webbs of Wychbold and garden centre groups such as Dobbies, Hurrans and Wyevale.

 

The business is part of Quintons (Commercial) Ltd, which manages commercial sales and lettings and also has a successful property management arm Deal Varney Management – where the team currently manage two garden centre sites, in addition to commercial and residential property.  Simon is MD of Quintons (Commercial) Ltd.

 

Simon (pictured left) is an Associate Member of the Horticultural Trades Association, Garden Centre Association and Farm Retail Association, and he is recognised as the leading specialist garden centre and horticultural Chartered Surveyor, having over the last three decades helped clients buy, sell and lease more garden centres, horticultural properties and associated businesses, than any other UK company. 

 

He has also been an industry expert witness for over 20 years, acting for individuals, businesses and the courts in valuations, and is a registered business valuer.

 

Over the 35 years, Simon has seen many changes and developments in the horticultural industry.  He said: “Over the years the changes in the garden centre industry have been enormous.  In the 80s, garden centres were starting to take the form that they have now but without a lot of catering, without Christmas, without concessions, and without leisure.

 

Originally plants were 35%-50% of the turnover of the average garden centre but now, although the volumes haven’t changed, the overall percentage has dropped as other departments have increased.

 

Catering started small, becoming 10% of overall turnover.  Now it is 20% to 25% and growing, with many garden centre restaurants having between 200 and 300 covers and with the main restaurants becoming so popular, coffee shops are being opened to cater for those customers who just want a coffee and a sandwich or cake, rather than a full meal. 

 

Clothing has also become big in garden centres with Blue Diamond stating that clothing is their best performing department. 

 

In the past, May was probably the highest turnover month; now it can be November or December because of Christmas – and Christmas does not just revolve around selling product, it revolves around leisure experiences; curling, ice rinks, simulated train rides, roundabouts, circuses, and this leisure now continues at other times of the year too.”

 

Crazy golf, Dino Park, Go Ape, all feature in garden centres, and one of the more recent trends are farm shops/food halls, and those garden centres who had successful farm shops or food halls, did particularly well during Covid. These continue to grow and often now have a cook shop alongside with Lakeland opening as concessions at some garden centres.”

 

Concluding Simon said: “It has been a fascinating 35 years for the industry and we have enjoyed supporting our clients through the many changes and advances that have taken place in the sector over those years. The future is looking extremely positive for garden centres, horticultural nurseries and farm shops and we are excited to be a part of this evolving and exciting market.”

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