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Tributes for Eddie Topping MBE, Founder, Pioneer, Dad
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Phostrogen plans a growth spurt for season 2022
Haskins Snowhill and Squire's Hersham pick up GCA honours in South Thames region
Tributes pour in for Pat Coutts following her death at the age of 76
Perrywood Tiptree and Thurrock win in North Thames
Hillmount takes hit on rising prices
Glee 2021 content programme details unveiled
Plant sales beat August 2020
Heat is turned up for August sales
Garden Kitchen by Pugh's is a unique concept
Glee 2021: COVID-19 measures FAQ
Thanks Plants campaign celebrates office plants
Growing Media sales beat August 2019 by 47%
Maximising growth and opportunity for independent garden centre operators
Westland Visiroot ™, Visibly better results!
Woodlodge’s Down to Earth to increase impulse spend
Furniture and barbecues top July’s GCA Barometer of Trade
Foodie focus for garden centre's ‘Meet the Heartisans' event
Autumn Fair is back...a safe and secure event
Hardware Retailers (IHA) to merge with the Global Home Improvement Network
Antony Harker to launch Altico at Glee - Read GTN's August issue on-line now
Video, video. Watch the SOLEX SUN video showreel from SOLEX On-Line 2021
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
Kent & Stowe launches Eversharp® - New secateurs with Formula 1 technology
Tomorite leads the way for August growth
Call in the professionals – 67% of British homeowners are unaware of gardening regulations!
Post-lockdown boom for GYO continues
Pandemic creates nation of gardeners and home-growers
Veolia innovation increases composting recovery by 30,000 tonnes per year
Event offers export advice for garden product suppliers
Wild Bird Care benefits from cool summer
Commercial Kitchen’s full Keynote Speaker line-up
Scholarship season open for horticulture students
Start of anniversary year and several innovations at GROEN-Direkt’s Autumn Fair
The best of last week's
Monkton Elm and Old Railway Line scoop top Wales & West honours in GCA Awards
Expansion for family-owned garden lifestyle business
Success for St Peters and Planters in the Midlands
Evergreen Garden Care launches pesticide-free range
Scotland and Northern Ireland winners revealed
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All the latest news from the world of pet products
AQUA 2021 all set for eagerly anticipated return
Pet abduction to be made new criminal offence
Earth Animal supports homeless pets cause
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Furniture and barbecues top July’s GCA Barometer of Trade

 

Gardeners keen to make the most of their outdoor spaces in July helped boost furniture and BBQ sales, according to the Garden Centre Association’s recent Barometer of Trade figures.

 

The report shows sales of these home entertaining items were up for the month by 71.62% year-to-date and there were also increases in 10 of the 13 recorded categories.

 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explains: “These strong figures for July suggest outdoor entertainment and alfresco dining have continued to dominate. There has been an increase in demand as people have either decided to do more hosting at home, and outside, or have found they have been unable to book holidays in the UK due to such high demand for and lack of availability of holiday accommodation this year, post-pandemic.

 

“With the ending of restrictions in July, people were entertaining outdoors with friends and family and the hot weather towards the end of the month helped fuel demand further.

 

“A significant category within our sector that has been massively hampered during the past 17 months has been catering. It has been a rollercoaster for our members with cafés and restaurants. In June, we saw a massive increase from 2020 with sales up 2,481.82% year-to-date. This figure is an indication of the severe limitations that were affecting the hospitality industry prior to summer 2021.

 

“As we came into July things evened out somewhat. Garden centre catering operations re-opened on July 4 in 2020, so we have been able to compare 2020 and 2021 figures, with a caveat or two. People were very keen last year to be out and about after the first lockdown and the good weather then also helped boost sales. Things still aren’t as settled as they would normally be, so catering is down slightly year-to-date by -5.37% for July this year.

 

“This may also have been due to the impact of changing rules this year in July with dining numbers and service restricted. Plus, the ‘pingdemic’ which led to staffing shortages when people were required to isolate and, in some cases, some facilities had to close completely when a member of the team tested positive.”

 

Houseplants have continued to sell well in July with sales up 60.42% and outdoor plants up 57.29%, year-to-date.

 

Iain adds: “Our members are still seeing a good number of newer, younger gardeners as they continue to participate in their new pastime, which they took up last year in the lockdowns. They are proud plant parents, keen to add to their floral and foliage families, whether they have a windowsill or something bigger to fill.”

 

Other categories that performed well in July compared to the same month in 2020 include gifts, with sales up 54.19% and clothing up 49.61%, although last year it must be remembered that many centres were trading with in a limited capacity due to supply shortages in these departments.

 

Hard landscaping was also up year-to-date to 48.42%, attributed to on-going garden improvements to match the need to entertain outdoors this summer.

 

The garden sundries category leapt up to 42.05% this July, year-to-date, too and seeds & bulbs also performed well this month at 38.15% up on last year.

 

The food hall and farm shop category was up at 41.34% as well and pets and aquatics saw a 31.49% increase on 2020’s figures.

 

Overall sales for the month were up year-to-date by 1.86%.

 

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

 

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

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