Scotts Miracle-Gro wants to exit UK and Europe
Reports say talks with potential strategic partners or financial buyers have resumed
Scotts Miracle-Gro is actively seeking to exit its UK and Europe business, chairman Jim Hagedorn has told analysts...
Scotts Miracle-Gro is actively seeking to exit its UK and Europe business, chairman Jim Hagedorn has told analysts. The company is aiming to concentrate on improving returns for its shareholders by focusing on its core US lawn and garden business, including the fast-growing legalised cannabis market in the United States. Following the release of Scotts latest financial results, Hagedorn has been quoted as saying: “We continue to explore strategic options for Europe as we maintain our bias that Europe is not a long term priority for us.” Reports say negotiations for a possible joint venture with a European partner fell through earlier this year but discussions with strategic and financial buyers resumed at the end of the summer. Scotts UK business was hit by the closure of the Solus brands, which the company bought after the wholesaler collapsed, but had recovered after “a difficult spring”. Across Europe as a whole, sales fell by 10% and profit before tax by 4%. Scotts is the principal distributor almost worldwide of Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller brand, a key source of revenue for the company.
There has been no suggestion that the companys plans have been influenced by Britain's decision to leave the EU.
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Winners of GTN's first-ever Greatest Marketing Awards revealed
GTN's first-ever Greatest Marketing Awards were presented at the HTA Marketing Forum on Tuesday with Gold Awards going to Cooks GC, Perrywood GC, Green Pastures and the Tillington Group's Beautiful Gardens. Westland Horticulture also picked up a prestigious Gold Award....
The Greatest Garden Centre Marketing Teams of the Year receive their awards from the HTA's Carol Paris and GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer.
GTN's first-ever Greatest Marketing Awards were presented at the HTA Marketing Forum on Tuesday with Gold Awards going to Cooks GC, Perrywood GC, Green Pastures and the Tillington Group's Beautiful Gardens. Westland Horticulture also picked up a prestigious Gold Award.
The new awards, hosted by the HTA's Carol Paris (above) and GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer, have been established to recognise excellence in garden industry marketing.
Heather Culpan, managing director at Burgon & Ball who won Silver in the The Greatest Supplier Marketing Team of the Year category, said: “We’d like to thank all at Garden Trade News for organising these tremendous new awards, and of course the many garden centres who voted for us. We are more determined than ever to give our retail partners the tools they need to deliver excellence to their gardening customers.”
The Greatest Social Media Team of the Year
Gold Awards: Cooks Garden Centre and Perrywood Garden Centre
Silver Award: Glendoick Garden Centre Bronze Award: Bosworths Garden Centre (pictured above)  The Greatest Marketing Event of the Year Gold Award: Green Pastures Silver Award: Greenfingers 24 hour Plantathons Bronze Award: Baytree Garden Centre 
The Greatest Supplier Marketing Team of the Year Gold Award: Westland Horticulture Silver Award: Burgon & Ball Bronze Award: Smart Garden Products
Finalists: Briers, Burgon & Ball, Gardman, Growth Technology, Mr Fothergills, Smart Garden Products, Weber, Westland Horticulture.  The Greatest Garden Centre Marketing Team of the Year Gold Award: Tillington Group, Beautiful Gardens Silver Award: Millbrook Garden Centres Bronze Award: Poplars Garden Centre
Finalists: Alton, Baytree, Blue Diamond, Bosworths, Choice Marketing, Cooks, Cranswick, Deepdale, Ferndale, Fresh @ Burcot, Glendoick, Green Pastures, Hillview, Klondyke, Knights, Millbrook, Pennells, Perrywood, Poplars, Tillington Group, Trowell, Whitehall.
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Four Oaks Horticulture to remain under current ownership
Following the announcement in September that Four Oaks Horticulture Ltd – owner of the Four Oaks Trade Show and Four Oaks Nurseries Ltd – was to be sold, Richard Harding has decided to take the business off the market. The decision was taken despite there being several offers for the business...
Following the announcement in September that Four Oaks Horticulture Ltd – owner of the Four Oaks Trade Show and Four Oaks Nurseries Ltd – was to be sold, Richard Harding has instructed the selling agents Timothy Lea & Griffiths to take the business off the market.
The decision was taken despite there being several offers for the business.
The management of the nursery will be restructured, giving opportunities for advancement within the company and allowing Richard Harding to take semi retirement, which was the reason for putting the business up for sale.
Pat Coutts will continue in the role of Trade Show Director.
Extension of the popular exhibition house E by HBS Design is planned to take place immediately after the 2017 show in readiness for 2018.
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GCA moves HQ to Chester but retains close HTA links
The Garden Centre Association has moved its head office to Chester following the relocation of the Horticultural Trade Association to Chilcot. Iain Wylie, the GCA’s Chief Executive, said: “We will still have a solid working relationship with the HTA..."
The Garden Centre Association has moved its head office to Chester following the relocation of the Horticultural Trade Association to Chilcot.
The GCA says the recent decision by the HTA to move offices gave it the impetus to find an alternative headquarters too but that the rapport and bond between both organisations remains robust.
Iain Wylie, the GCA’s Chief Executive, explained: “We originally moved our offices to be within those of the HTA in 2013 as industry-body partners and we felt that it would be mutually beneficial to do so and it has been a tremendous success for both parties.
“We will still have a solid working relationship with the HTA, despite the separate locations we now both have. In fact, we recently announced a new collaboration with the HTA with regards our Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) e-training programme and this represents a significant milestone in our on-going close connection.
“We also have a room at their new offices in Chilcot, which we will be using for meetings and other activities, and this will also mean our ties will be maintained and strengthened.”
HTA members will now be able to access the GCA’s GROW e-learning package*. This will help provide greater access to industry training opportunities.
Iain added: “This a fantastic opportunity for the GCA and HTA to collaborate to bring benefits to our industry. GROW, as existing users will know, is a great resource to deliver staff training. The flexibility offered by GROW helps the individual user and their garden centre employer.”
The HTA’s decision to move offices came at an opportune moment for the GCA.
GCA Chairman, Julian Winfield said: “I am delighted that we have been able to relocate the GCA office to Chester. We’ve been discussing how we could make arrangements easier for our head office team and to allow Iain greater time in the office and increased flexibility for members.
“This represents not just a more convenient location for Iain, who lives in the area, but also provides a more central location for members who are spread as far afield as Scotland, Northern Ireland, across in Lincolnshire and down in Cornwall. This will allow Iain to have a greater amount of time in the office, as he will not have to travel so far to work, but it will also allow him to have more time visiting and supporting our members.”
The GCA’s new address is: 4 Marcher Court, Sealand Road, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 6BS.
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Christmas, bulbs, manure and garden lighting were the major areas for bestsellers as another week of increased sales year on year sees the GTN All Products Volume Sales Index move ever closer to parity for 2016.
A 10% average year on year increase between now and mid December will get us there.
The past seven weeks have averaged at 9% up year on year so with continued favourable weather and all the superb Santa events across the country adding to footfall that goal of parity on volume, which will mean revenues up everywhere, is well within reach.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - up 12%
- Growing Media - up 15%
- Christmas Products - up 30%
- All Items Index - up 5%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Author and broadcaster Andy McIndoe is to become the gardening expert for the new Vitax Garden World website. Launched this autumn, Vitax Garden World contains information for experienced and knowledgeable gardeners, with the aim of driving them into garden centres to purchase Vitax products. Projects, seasonal growing information and everyday gardening advice will be offered. McIndoe saysVitax is a trusted brand known for formulating products that work. “The new website provides enthusiastic growers with crucial information at the touch of a button and I am thrilled to working with them,” he added. The site combined gardening knowledge matched to specific products to get the best results. During his time at Hilliers, where he spent many years as managing director, he was responsible for designing 25 Gold Medal exhibits at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Daniel Wilkinson, Vitax’s MD, said: “As a user of our product range and well-respected writer, Andy has an authority that appeals to both professionals and amateurs, which makes him the perfect advisor for Vitax Garden World.”
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Smart ways of marketing that don’t cost the earth
HTA Marketing Forum 2016
Maximising your potential without a big marketing budget was a key theme at the HTA Marketing Forum, which took place on Tuesday (November 8) at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire...
Maximising your potential without a big marketing budget was a key theme at the HTA Marketing Forum, which took place on Tuesday (November 8) at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire.
A total of 100 delegates from across the industry heard how creating unique and relevant content, using smart ways to find out what your customers want and getting the most out of your staff are more important than a big advertising spend.
“This is the age when staff come into their own,” according to marketing consultant Nigel Temple. "They are knowledgeable, know the business and they can help you with your online content creation.
"There’s an opportunity for garden centres to share relevant, helpful and up to date content with gardeners online as a mimic to what people might find in the shop. “A continual conversation about your business is happening out there. But you can’t see or hear it. Pay attention to what is being said online as it is a window to conversations that happen behind closed doors.”
Content is king and traditional advertising can no longer match it according to Antje Derks, Senior content manager at Haymarket business media, who gave an overview of the different approaches they have used to generate content for different brands and clients to create unique leads. A creative blend of live events, webinars, blogs, video can help you stand out in a crowded space.
Pete Doyle, founder of SocialRetail, spoke about moving your social media channels away from promotion and more towards making connections and starting conversations. Listen to your customer feedback and reply intelligently. Be humble and think of the customer you are speaking to. Use local hashtags and empower your teams. People who work in store are local and can connect you with the local area – empower them to respond to customers!
Cleeve Nursery’s Alan Down demonstrated the less conventional ways they have engaged with their community and younger audiences, including planted up pick-up trucks in Bristol city centre and giant planted watering can at Bristol Airport. He said:“The less conventional approach reaches a younger audience and is very good for staff morale. Engaging with your community largely involves time rather than money. Providing expertise, rather than products.”
Create your own community – utilise your customer data and provide a calendar of niche and targeted events says Sally Cornelissen from Burleydam Garden Centre. Showcase the talents of your staff and establish yourselves as experts. Link up with a charity and become visible in your local press. Creating loyalty and engagement through events can help you build your customer base.
Ann Bryant, Account Director at Garland PR presented an overview of the 2016 Love the Plot You’ve Got campaign in which social media has been core. Putting a small amount of money behind Facebook posts has been critical to spreading the message wider. Plans for 2017 include further developing the digital side of the campaign and creating a consumer website.
Greenfingers Garden Re-leaf Day 2016 raised over £140,000 for the Greenfingers Charity. Trevor Pfeiffer explained how taking part in the campaign offers a great PR opportunity and adds to your garden centre credentials. Next year the event takes place on Friday 17th March and the industry is encouraged to get behind the campaign once again to enable Greenfingers charity to continue its work creating magical gardens for children who spend time in hospices.
Google has become the third half of our brains according to Romeo Summers, addressing our obsession with smartphones. Attention spans are getting shorter and the customer is changing and so they need to be approached differently online and offline. Customers need to feel good when buying a product, whether it’s helping the environment or helping wellbeing. This is where storytelling is really important – don’t sell a plant, sell a story. Employing good staff, having excellent customer service and using storytelling can make a real difference between online and offline. “The digital world is not a threat – it has created more opportunities."
Visual merchandising consultant Maxine Groucutt demonstrated how she created stories instore at Liberty in London. She explained how they stopped having departments, but instead focused on ‘rooms’, giving their customers the experience of walking from one room to another. Offer escapism and comfort throughout the shopping experience. One customer described Liberty as a “journey where you discover hidden treasures in every room." Another described it as a “decompression zone” in that they liked to walk through to relax and unwind after a hectic day at work. All ideas that could be translated in garden centres.
Delegates also heard from Mark Mars, Managing Director of Perceptive Flow who demonstrated how effective Facebook advertising can be. Facebook adverts are cheap, and targeting is exceptional. You can narrow down your audience by criteria including location or age or boost your audience by identifying those with similar profiles as your existing customers.
Mark Palmer who has led the marketing for Pret a Manger urged delegates to invest in customer experience ahead of advertising to develop customer trust. Show your customers you are listening to them and that you’re trustworthy. It’s important to have the right people working for you so invest in your team – happy teams mean happy customers. Innovate to stay relevant; Pret has been using contactless payment systems since the technology first became available. Now three quarters of all card payments at Pret are made via contactless methods, as customers continue to seek fast, convenient ways to pay.
QVC is one of the most trusted brands in the UK, ahead of Amazon, Virgin Atlantic and Waitrose. Gardening presenter Richard Jackson highlighted the opportunities for the garden industry in that it can really build brands. He said “Don’t be worried when you see garden products on QVC. Appearances on TV will drive customers to stores too.”
Matt Young, Executive producer at Spun Gold TV discussed how the presence of gardening on TV could be developed. Looking at cookery programmes such as Bake Off and Masterchef, it’s the competition format of programmes about food that attracts non-foodies to tune in. Also the human, storytelling element entices people to watch. Garden designer and presenter on ITV’s Love Your Garden, Katie Rushworth said the industry should not dumb down in order to attract a younger audience. “Being smart is cooler than ever for those millenials between the ages of 26 and 36, particularly if its anything sciency. So offer educational content with their interests, not their wallet in mind. Get weird – our age group loves weird!”
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Emma Cooke from Springmount Garden Centre in Co.Wexford has been voted as the first winner of the Westland Rising Stars in Ireland.
At the REI Awards on Saturday, Emma's name appeared in lights as she was invited up to collect her award. The programme in Ireland is run in association with and supported by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) and Bord Bia.
In the UK Rising Stars programme Daniel Holden (Barton Grange), Rupert Sleight (Squires Cobham), Kathryn Crouch (Haskins West End), Hana Parker (Monkton Elm) and John Bradley (Stewarts) have all made it through to next year’s GCA Conference at Fairmount, St Andrews in Scotland. There they will deliver their presentations on stage, in front of colleagues and peers. The overall winner – the 2016 Rising Star of the Year - will then be chosen by conference delegates.
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David Domoney is to design an artisan show garden for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) at next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, celebrating the commission’s centenary. CWGC director of horticulture David Richardson said: “With a global gardening workforce of more than 850 men and women and a maintenance commitment of more than 710 hectares, we’re proud to be one of the world’s largest horticultural organisations. “Our horticulture has always been an essential part of our commemoration of the war dead – ensuring the cemeteries and memorials are places of beauty and quiet remembrance for the hundreds of thousands who visit them each year. “We’re delighted to have the chance to work with David Domoney and showcase our work at Chelsea.” The garden will be an intimate space with echoes of the great architecture and craftsmanship found in the CWGC cemeteries and memorials worldwide. Commission artisans will be working on many of the built elements in the garden, which will incorporate materials used at many CWGC sites, including Portland stone and bricks hand-made in Belgium. The planting will use species from sites in the CWGC global estate to create a calm, contemplative and reflective space for visitors to enjoy. The garden is accessed through an imposing circular arch. Portland stone steps lead to a raised platform affording a view over the garden. To the front are multi-stemmed trees, the canopy of which provide an area for quiet contemplation. Globe-headed flowers nestled in the floral landscape of silver, mauve and blue hues remind us of fallen soldiers. Inside the garden, visitors can see their reflection along the garden walls.
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GrowQuip 2016 hailed as a great success
GROWQUIP 2016 delivers inspiring and enlightening presentations and an excellent networking dinner enjoyed by leading growers and commercial horticultural suppliers. Sponsors, showcase participants and delegates confirm the value of the networking and information exchange event format organised by the Commercial Horticultural Association (CHA)...
GrowQuip 2016 delivers inspiring and enlightening presentations and an excellent networking dinner enjoyed by leading growers and commercial horticultural suppliers.
Sponsors, showcase participants and delegates confirm the value of the networking and information exchange event format organised by the Commercial Horticultural Association (CHA)
Following a programme of diverse and expert presentations from a wide variety of leading figures across the spectrum of commercial horticulture, and a lively networking dinner and breakfast attended by delegates and suppliers, feedback at the close of the inaugural GrowQuip event was extremely positive:
“I found the event incredibly useful, informative and motivating; the speakers were excellent," confirms Andy Merrick of Farplants Ltd. “I thought GrowQuip was great; really good speakers!," confirms Guy Moreton from one of the sponsors of the event, MorePeople. “We more than recouped the cost of attending by the contacts we had made by the evening," reports Hortifeeds, another sponsor and showcase participant. GrowQuip was organised by the Commercial Horticultural Association to provide an opportunity for the trade to meet to exchange information on growers’ successes, the equipment available to increase success in the future and to hear industry figures give their views on future challenges and opportunities in the sector.
The excellent presentations focused on how growers of fruit, vegetables, salads and ornamentals can equip themselves for success, and covered topics from how three dimensional growing systems are increasing cropping, to reducing pests and improving yields, how improvements to bio-friendly pest control are drastically reducing thrips damage, how mechanisation and robotisation are changing the face of growing, how growers and suppliers can work together up and down the supply chain, and an inspiring talk on how to capture consumers’ attention by transforming the marketing of your products, which gave food for thought to delegates across all the sectors represented.
Further presentations included hearing AHDB’s CEO outline their future plans, which was listened to attentively and there was considerable interest in the presentation at the breakfast briefing on the 27th by British Business Bank-backed URICA, on how growers and suppliers can benefit from their flexible finance platform which does away with personal guarantees and turns traditional factoring on its head. Through URICA, CHA supplier and grower members can use the firm’s online platform, enabling them to get their customer invoices paid in cash as early as the day after approval. For those businesses, there is no risk, zero debt, and no fear of late or non-payment of their invoices any longer.
The two day event at Stratford Manor Hotel encompassed a themed conference programme --Equip yourself for success-- which brought together the best brains in horticulture to provide growers with help in overcoming some of the common problems they face in the day to day running of their businesses.
The presentations were made by Marshall Dirks, Proven Winners, USA; James Simpson, MD of Adrian Scripps Ltd, UK top fruit growers; Jane King, CEO of the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB); Dr Ed Moorhouse, Technical Consultant to G’s Fresh; Alex Fisher, Saturn Bioponics and Consultant for Valefresco Ltd; Bruce Harnett, Nuffield Scholar and MD for Kernock Park Plants; and Dr Clare Sampson, Keele University and Russell IPM – pest & disease expert, were introduced by Carol Paris, CEO of the Horticultural Trades Association and Amanda Sizer Barrett MBE, Director General of the Federation of Garden & Leisure Manufacturers. All of the presentations are available to watch on the video of the conference’s programme, which you can access on the GrowQuip Channel via You Tube. (Link to the presentation playlist is https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfSVHf11nDmkOPMJE_C0ieQuYhFV3Xt28). More details of the new exclusive CHA business benefit provided by URICA are available by contacting the CHA secretariat on 01959 565995 or by emailing the secretariat at gemma@cha-hort.com. (A video case study of one of URICA’s customers is available at https://urica.com/case-studies/hownd-solves-cash-flow-issues). Delegates also welcomed the opportunity to visit the exhibition showcase and network with fellow growers and suppliers. Sponsors of the event who were represented at GrowQuip included Bulrush Horticulture, Hortifeeds, XL Horticulture, PG Horticulture, Hortivation, URICA and MorePeople. GrowQuip was also supported by the trade organisations, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). CHA Chairman Pat Flynn comments: “GrowQuip 2016 proved its worth as a cross-industry commercial horticultural conference which provided ideas, inspiration and possible solutions which may come from a different commercial horticultural sector to growers’ own – equipping you for success, equipping you for the future.” Following the positive reaction to the content of the programme and the high calibre of speakers, the Commercial Horticultural Association is now working with its sponsors on ways in which to progress and develop this inaugural event. Please contact Pat Flynn if you wish to become involved in the next edition. E-mail Pat@cha-hort.com or ring Pat on 07778 313623 or Gemma Chandler on 01959 565995.
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Catch-up videos for pot and bedding buyers
Plant breeders who took part in this year’s FlowerTrials circuit in the Netherlands have made a series of videos available on the FlowerTrials website to help buyers catch up on news of the latest pot and bedding plant introductions...
Plant breeders who took part in this year’s FlowerTrials circuit in the Netherlands have made a series of videos available on the FlowerTrials website to help buyers catch up on news of the latest pot and bedding plant introductions. Most exhibiting breeders produced a video, which you can view here .  Videos are available from following companies: ABZ Seeds, Agriom, Anthura, Armada Young Plants, Beekenkamp, Benary, Bock Bio Science, Brandkamp, Cohen, Danziger, DHM, Dümmen Orange, Elsner PAC, Evanthia, Floranova, Florensis, Florist, Gediflora, Endisch, Hassinger Orchideeën, Hilverda Kooij, Hishtil, Jaldety, Jonge Planten Grünewald, Kientzler, KP Holland, Lily Looks, Moerheim Young Plant, Morel Diffusion, PanAmerican & Kieft Seed , Royal Van Zanten, Sakata, Schneider, Schoneveld, Selecta one, Sion, Syngenta FloriPro Services, Takii, Van den Bos Flowerbulbs, Volmary, VWS Export and Westhoff. Markus Eiermann, retail account manager at Selecta one, and board member of FlowerTrials in charge of the video project, said the videos would keep the latest novelties in the spotlight. “The FlowerTrials website…has become a rich, non-commercial information source where growers, buyers and other interested parties can re-discover the introductions for 2017. ” Next year’s FlowerTrials will take place in week 24 (Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 June 2017) with breeders in the Westland and Aalsmeer region (NL) and Rheinland Westfalen (GE) opening their doors to growers, buyers and trade partners from all over the world.
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Plantarea Supervisor Manager (ref:DS8811)
Location: Berkshire
Salary: Excellent
Date: 08 Nov
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a wonderful independent garden centre and nursery set within the grounds of a rural estate. This lovely centre has a large plantarea and café, along with a garden shop that offers customers a range of quality gifts and garden sundries. They are currently looking for a superb plants person to assist their Nursery Manager in running the Plant Centre. They are open minded and will look at Supervisory to Management level candidates for the role.
The Role
- Will be to manage the plant centre on a day to day basis - ensuring plant stock is in tip top condition and merchandised to a high standard.
- Buying of additional stock needed for the centre - liaising with suppliers on delivery etc.
- Supervising staff and holding key holder responsibilities when senior managers are unavailable.
The Candidate
For this role candidates must have:
- A proven track-record in the industry along with good management and supervisory skills.
- Excellent plant knowledge and a good background in horticultural retailing is a must for this role as they offer over 3 acres of quality plants from their own nursery as well as choice plants sourced from a variety of other suppliers.
Salary will be competitive and depend on experience and what you can bring to the role.
To apply for this role click here
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Nursery Grower Technical Manager (ref:DS8734)
Location: West Sussex
Salary: Excellent
Date: 03 Nov
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Based in West Sussex this leading Ornamental Plant Nursery are looking for an enthusiastic person who can work on their own and as part of a wider management team as their Technical Growing Manager. The nurseries have the reputation as high quality innovative businesses growing container garden plants for retail sale in Garden Centres and Multiples across the UK, with a combined production total circa 5 million pots, total growing area in excess of 25 acres - glasshouses, polythene tunnels, and outdoor production.They are looking for someone who can pay excellent attention to detail, is self-driven, able to question their own actions and learn from their own and others experiences.
The Role
As Technical Manager you must contribute positively to developing and improving staff and be directly accountable to the joint Managing Director of the nursery businesses.
- You will have overall decision-making authority on Crop Protection matters.
- You will benefit from attending events, training days and conferences and working within a team including growing departments across the nurseries (Propagation, Plant Breeding, Trials and Crop Growing).
- Liaise with external consultants who provide regular crop walks and advice.
- Also be part of group committees and working groups including external organisations such as the AHDB, APHA and the HTA.
Other key performance areas include managing workloads using bespoke/off-shelf decision support
software and databases; setting and reviewing cost budgets; health, safety and security; working with
internal departments on accreditation and assurance schemes, e.g. BOPP and LEAF. You must also maintain and
develop relevant qualifications e.g. BASIS, FACTS, PA1&6 , first aid.
The Candidate
For this role they are looking for someone who has previous experience within the commercial growing sector and ideally you will be educated to degree level and hold BASIS and FACTS qualifications combined with a proven track record in senior management.
To apply for this role click here
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Horticultural / Plantarea Manager (ref:DS8535)
Location: Berkshire
Salary: £20,000 - £24,000
Date: 26 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
We are seeking an outstanding plants person with great merchandising and retail skills to take the role of Horticultural Manager of this Berkshire based garden centre which is part of a Nationwide group that are continually growing and developing their leading garden centres across England and Wales.
The Role
The role will be to take responsibility for one of the largest departments within the centre. As Horticulture / Plantarea Manager you will look after the day to day merchandising and maintenance of the plant stock as well as motivating the team to provide the highest standard of customer service. The role will also have duty management responsibility across the entire centre.
The Candidate
For this role we are seeking a leader with superb retail experience to head this busy department.
Candidates MUST HAVE strong horticultural knowledge both practical and academic and be able to demonstrate a very high level of plant knowledge.
The plantarea is the focus point of any garden centre and your standards for customer service, merchandising and the little details that make a department special will make you stand out. Experience within a garden centre is desirable as is supervisory skills.
To apply for this role click here
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Technical Growing Operations Nursery Manager | UK based (ref:DS8773)
Location: England
Salary: Excellent
Date: 21 Oct
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Technical Growing Operations Nursery Manager UK based is required by a leading supplier of quality Ornamental. Candidates must have a proven background in nursery management at a senior level, preferably from the HONS sector.
Please send your CV for more details.
To apply for this role click here
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Andy King, MD of Dobbies Garden Centres under Tesco ownership, has moved to Evans Cycles as CEO.  King, a former MD of Notcutts and global marketing director at The Body Shop and Mothercare, replaces Nick Wilkinson, who left the company earlier this year.
King, a keen cyclist, said: “ I can honestly say I have long wanted to work at Evans Cycles, so taking the job was an easy decision for me. I’m a big fan of the company and its aim to be at the heart of UK cycling as both a retailer and a supporter of grassroots cycling.” George Moss, partner at ECI Partners, who invested in Evans Cycles in May 2015, said Andy was bringing great knowledge and experience from a career in specialist retail. “We are looking forward to working with him through this next period of growth.” Evans Cycles was founded in 1921. The company has 60 stores nationwide.
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Poinsettia sales start to get going
A sales increase of over 400% sees Poinsettias climb into the Top 10 of the GTN Bestsellers Plants chart during the first week of November...
A sales increase of over 400% sees Poinsettias climb into the Top 10 of the GTN Bestsellers Plants chart during the first week of November.
Cyclamen hold on to the No 1 spot and between them the top 6 plant genus sales still account for over 50% of all plant sales with Orchids moving up to No 6.
Other highlights were:
- Berried Gaultheria move up 35 places as gardeners seek to add winter colour.
- Planted Hyacinths are also big chart movers, up 26 places to No 14.
- Highest percentage sales increase goes to Tiarella, up 420% to enter at No 42.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Another successful year for Go Wild with Peckish
Leading garden bird food brand Peckish have had a brilliant response to its Go Wild with Peckish event this year. The event is hosted within garden centres across the UK and Ireland to give a real boost to the bird care category and to encourage customer participation...
Leading garden bird food brand Peckish have had a brilliant response to its Go Wild with Peckish event this year. The event is hosted within garden centres across the UK and Ireland to give a real boost to the bird care category and to encourage customer participation.
Young people hatched into bird-feeding enthusiasts during the week-long campaign, held over the October half term. Activities included fun bird mask, fat ball making sessions and a bird spotting activity with cut out bird characters. Thousands of goodie bags were provided by Peckish for garden centres to issue to participants.
Rachael Dickinson, Senior Marketing Manager for Peckish said: “This is the third year the Go Wild with Peckish campaign has encouraged ‘generation digital’ to switch off their devices and experience the enjoyment of nature and wildlife. It’s a wonderful family event which brings active participation within the Garden Centres and inspiration for the next generation to start feeding the birds in their gardens.”
Craig Turnbull, of Gould Garden Centre in Weymouth said: “The Peckish bird hunt went extremely well over the week. All goodie bags were given out and it received a good response. We were really pleased to have taken part in this promotion.”
There was also a drawing competition run through the garden centres and online at the Go Wild with Peckish website, in which there were lots of creative entries. Lola Facer, aged 10 who attended Stewarts Garden Centre in Dorset won the competition with her drawing of a blackbird she named Elvin Cooper!
 Main picture: Three sisters take part at Hornsea Garden Centre.
Left: The winning entry by Lola Facer.
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Christmas bestsellers this year are coming from a variety of lines.
Personalised baubles continue to dominate but below them there are lights, jingle sticks, doormats, 3D glasses and chocolates in the Top 10 with Kaemingk’s Christmas Mugs still holding onto the No 1 Christmas Bestseller spot.
Here are the highlights:
- Kaemingk Artificial Tree In Jute 35cm was the highest new entry at No 26.
- Premier 40 x 30cm LED Canvas Snowman Scene was the highest re-entry at No 25.
- Boltze Royal Charger was the highest climber.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Garden lights are benefitting from Christmas sales with five lighting lines in the Top 10 this week. Perhaps some of the battery operated garden lighting lines are being purchased for use indoors over the festive period, but ‘ho,ho, ho’ they are all extra sales.
As colder weather moves in from the north four fleece lines increase sales in the top half of the chart and as trees turn a leaf rake appears in GTN Bestsellers for the first time this year.
The main highlights this week were:
- Growth Technology Orchid Pot Clear 12cm was the highest climber, jumping 23 places to No 18.
- Woodlodge Pot Feet Large was the highest re-entry at No 16.
- Gardman Leaf Rake was the highest new entry at No 27.
- Other new entries included Smart Garden Battery Operated Coloured Glass Light Bulb, Nortene Fibre Fleece and Hozelock 360 Degreee Mini Sprinkler.
- Fito Drip Feeder For Orchids 32ml retained the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Ground preparation for next spring is the order of the day for growing media sales now with three large bag lines of manure in the GTN Bestsellers Top 5.
Combined sales of those lines increased by 8% in a week where the Top 50 growing media sales volumes dropped by 22%.
This week’s highlights were:
- Westland Gro-Sure Rose, Tree & Shrub Compost & 4 Month Feed (50 litres) was the highest re-entry at No 19.
- Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost 50L was the highest climber, jumping 20 places to No 10.
- Scotts Levington Multipurpose + John Innes (56 litres) retained the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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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 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period. Access is by subscription only. For £195.00 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 Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Christmas 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.
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Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters delivered via the post for only £195.00.
GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £120m.
Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.
For further information contact karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.
Buy your subscription today and start receiveing the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.
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All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Planters chef makes finals of pizza and pasta contests
Simon Wilkes from Planters Garden Centre at Tamworth reached the finals of last week’s Pizza & Pasta Chef of the Year competitions alongside 29 other top pizza chefs and 11 other top pasta chefs from across the country...
Simon Wilkes from Planters Garden Centre at Tamworth reached the finals of last week’s the Pizza & Pasta Chef of the Year competitions alongside 29 other top pizza chefs and 11 other top pasta chefs from across the country. Although failing to get an award on the night, Simon won through to the Grand Final run by the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association with his unique creation: App-Le Wood (Norseland Cheese Category), his Salmon Surprise (Euro Pizza Dough Category) and his pasta - Pappardelle Nicolina. Simon said: “This competition is a great way of inspiring new ideas and we've got this new creation on our specials board. It's been selling really well.”
Above: Planters directors Gerald and Christine Ingram with chef Simon Wilkes.
Gethin Evans from competition organisers PAPA said: “The quest to find the country's best pizza & pasta chef takes us on an amazing journey not only across the UK but across the pizza & pasta spectrum, too. From classical Neapolitan bases to indulgent and densely topped designs, new flavour combinations and an array of ovens and methods. It's a pizza & pasta lover's dream!” The Pizza Chef of the Year competition required contenstants to design a pizza recipe around a specific sponsor's product in six categories. In the Pasta Chef of the Year competition, contestants had to work with a variety of pasta shapes and styles. The final was held at the inaugural European Pizza and Pasta Show at Olympia in London last Thursday (10 November).
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