Buttacup Flow is the world's first self-watering planter designed to brighten up the common water butt. Curved to fit the side of any standard circular water butt, its drip-feed valve system keeps plants watered even when homeowners are away on holiday. 

Buttacup Bloom is a crescent shaped planter which can be stood alongside anything circular in the garden from tree trunks to pots, or they can just be left free standing.

Developed and manufactured in the UK, both planters are robust yet lightweight. The rangeis available in a choice of colours, easy to install and comes complete with all components and clear instructions.  Patented and trademarked, Buttacup Flow retails at £11.95 and Buttacup Bloom retails at £5.95.

Launched to the UK market at GLEE 2015, Buttacup Flow was a winner at the exhibition’s coveted New Product Awards, achieving second runner up placement in the prestigious Best Home, Gift and Clothing category. Buttacup Flow also recently came runner up in the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund award.

“This recognition of our low cost garden innovation, Buttacup Flow, establishes it further as a must have item for gardeners of all ages,” commented Bjorn Wood, Buttercup’s founder.

Buttacup has one simple mission… to create a lasting improvement to gardens and open spaces all over the country by developing attractive, self-sustaining products that will make it easier for gardeners with any size of plot to grow green.

For further information and images please visit www.buttacup.co.uk. To become a stockist or for more information, please contact Bjorn on 0208 785 2802 or 07830 174573 or e-mail bjorn@buttacup.co.uk.

“Enjoyed engaging and sharing ideas” 

“Pooling of thoughts and ideas with other Stars” 

“Looking at what I have been doing for years and how I can change” 

“Clear, informative, supportive” 

“Plenty of opportunity to participate” 

“Excellent content and good to see everyone and exchange experiences” 

“It made you think”

Watch this space for details of the five selected for the next round.

Wyevale Garden Centres re-launched its Heighley Gate destination garden centre near Morpeth on Friday, following an 11-week first-phase redevelopment.

New concessions and shops within the centre have created create 20 new jobs.

A second phase, which will include a redeveloped outdoor area within an attractive 98,479 sq.ft. landscaped environment, will be completed in early 2016.

New features include:

• A Costa Coffee outlet
• Dinosaur Golf mini golf course (from 26th Oct)
• Cotswold Outdoor (early December), Rockin’ Baby childrenswear and Dash (both later this year).

Heighley Gate has appointed a charity champion and an environment champion who will be responsible for building links with the local community. Leah Grimwood (charity) is responsible for raising money for charity partners  Marie Curie and NSPCC as well as selected local charities.  Nicky Maddison (environment) will spearhead centre-level campaigns to reduce the business’s impact on the environment, in line with company-wide green objectives.

The centre expects 250,000 shoppers through its doors between now and Christmas.

Christmas is finally under way and great garden centre displays are driving increased footfall year on year, as seen from EPoS data supplied for GTN Bestsellers. Volume sales are up 6% on the same week last year.

With half term on the horizon, all efforts are going into make sure that sales opportunity is maximised. A focus on Halloween is also apparent at many centres.

At the AQUA aquatics and water gardening trade show this week,  the team from Chesington Garden Centre told  GTN Xtra about their Spooky Zoo, Halloween Circus, spooky film shows and spooky teas. Sounds like they’re going to be working their socks off down there!

If you’re planning on creating a sales spike for half term and maximising all that footfall to drive repeat visits next year, send us your ideas.

Email: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year

* Garden Products – up 2%

* Xmas Products  – static

* Growing Media – up  23%

Don’t get carried away with that week-on-week leap of almost 120% - this is our first Christmas Bestsellers Top 50 following relatively modest festive sales volumes in the past couple of weeks, almost certainly due to the long autumn gardening season we have enjoyed until now.

However, Christmas is now clearly well under way, and our figures show that sales this season to date are keeping pace with last year’s and are comfortably up on the same point in 2013.

The ‘Love the plot you've got’ award Silver winners in GTN's The Greatest Awards –  St Peter’s Garden Centre at Worcester – are making the most of their ‘Love the plot you've got’ displays by theming them for Halloween to drive seasonal sales for half term week.

Then after half term they will be turning them into ‘Love the Plot you've got’ Christmas displays.

The ‘Love the plot you've got’ campaign organised by the Garden Industry Marketing Board proved really useful for many centres during the summer but it also has year-round appeal to drive increased gardening sales to less experienced gardeners.

Wiltshire plant collector Tom Mitchell has sold his specialist nursery so that he can devote more time to the exploration of exotic plants…

Former banker Mitchell says he has not been able to make a commercial success of Evolution Plants but believes the new owners, a young couple, have a business plan that will work.

The couple, Mr & Mrs Macdougall, plan to continue as wholesale suppliers of perennials from the 11.5-acre nursery at Bradford-on-Avon.

Mitchell writes on his Facebook page: “I know that a lot of supporters of Evolution Plants are disappointed that I haven't been able to make it work. In truth, I'm a terrible businessman and a terrible nurseryman. I love seeing plants in their native habitats. I love talking about them with fellow enthusiasts. I love writing about them and I love giving them away. But selling plants just isn't my thing. Sorry.”

He has found new homes (including Hilliers gardens) for most of his plant collections but will be keeping a selection of favourites.

The nursery sale was handled by agents Alexander Mackie Associates.

The Notcutts group is embroiled in a row with Surrey planners over new plans for the development it was once due to share with a Waitrose superstore on its former nursery site at Bagshot.

Notcutts had planned to occupy about half the new building with a garden centre but a year ago said it was pulling out of the scheme because it was no longer viable. Waitrose went ahead with its new store but the remaining space has remained vacant. 

Notcutts has since submitted an alternative application to create a pet store, café, outdoor clothing shop and another as yet unspecified store in the space.

The original application was approved on condition that Notcutts and Waitrose shared the site.

Surrey Heath Borough Council’s planning committee was due to vote on the new proposal earlier this week, but was told that Notcutts had taken the plan to appeal on the grounds that the council had taken too long to reach a decision.

The issue will now probably be decided early next year by an independent inspector, who will have to take into account this week’s resolution passed by the committee recording that it would have refused the application. The case officer had recommended refusal because the proposal contained no assessment of the impact the shops would have on existing traders in the village.

More than 4,600 customers converged on Bents Garden & Home this week for the centre’s official Christmas opening.

The Bent family was joined by the Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Geoff Settle as customers joined in the traditional countdown to unveil adisplay that is always keenly anticipated in the north-west.

 “Bents is a hugely successful local business which undergoes a fantastic transformation at this time of year, “said Cllr Settle.  “The Mayoress and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit and believe the team has once again set the scene for another inspiring display.”

The Christmas display was kept strictly under wraps during the ten weeks, it took to build.

This year’s main theme captures the elegance of a traditional Victorian Christmas, but a ‘Twist on Tradition’ injects a contemporary touch with the colours red, white and gold anticipated to be one of this year’s favourite colour combination.

Matthew Bent said: “A lot of our customers tell us that the opening event is the starting point for their Christmas preparations and going by this year’s turn out there’s a lot of people who are already thinking about how they’re going to celebrate. It’s definitely our biggest turn out to date and we are delighted that so many people were able join us for the occasion.”

AQUA 2015 has broken all records for visitor attendance, exhibitor stands and the number of new products being showcased.

A total of 1,711 visitors attended the show at Telford International Centre, a 9% increase on 2013. Added to the fact that this year’s event attracted the highest number of exhibitors (more than 80), there’s clear evidence that AQUA 2015 has been a huge success for everyone concerned.

The superlatives flowed thick and fast after the two-day show, and among the words being used to describe the event were ‘record breaking’, ‘excellent’, ‘innovative’ and ‘fantastic’.

As the doors closed on a highly successful show, organiser Annie Foord said: “I am delighted with the enthusiasm shown by exhibitors and visitors to our biennial event. The record-breaking attendance proves that the format of AQUA is continuing to deliver the audience our exhibitors have come to expect from the largest show of its kind in the UK.”

Matthew Bubear, CEO of Casco, summed up the mood in the exhibition hall, saying: “It’s amazing, this show keeps getting better. It attracts a high-calibre of visitor and is right up there with other international shows. AQUA is a great showcase for a thriving UK market.”

And Mark Winter, of Aqua One, was equally enthusiastic about the outcome of the event. “For us it has been a very successful two days capped off by winning a New Product Award. This industry is full of innovation and it needs an event like AQUA to showcase everything that is being launched.”

International companies have also given the show the thumbs-up. Peter Workum, of Arpe BV, said: “It’s the first time I’ve exhibited here and I think this show is fantastic. The quality of the visitors to my stand has been of such a high standard.”

Another international company exhibiting for the first time was Bimex BV from The Netherlands. Ton Dielissen admitted: “The show has exceeded all our expectations already. We have visited AQUA in previous years to see if it would be worth us exhibiting, and I have to say the decision to show our products this year has paid off in a big way.”

Satisfaction among visitors was equally high. Jerry Arnold, managing director of Seapets, said: “This year’s AQUA exceeded my expectations in every way. The exhibitors had clearly made a huge effort in their presentations and fully utilised the excellent facilities and benefits that Telford and the show organisers present. It’s well worth the time and effort of every aquatic retailer to visit and it seemed as though they did.”

Kevin Rose, of Lynchford Aquatics, admitted: “It is a great business opportunity that provides all sectors of the industry a chance to come together under one roof which, in turn, engenders a feeling of community.”

Phil Lawton, of Kidsgrove Tropicals & Water Garden Centre, said: “The show was huge success. It was very well presented to the retailer with lots of ideas on what products to stock.”

As well as the record number of new products being showcased, one of the main talking points was the AQUA dinner attended by 700 guests after day one of the show.

Jo Bladon, who organised the dinner, said: “It was a great evening with an amazing number of exhibitors and visitors enjoying themselves,” a comment echoed by Giuliano Buccino, from Tetra. He said: “Wow, what a fantastic event. I’m astounded that so many people from the industry were able to attend.”

The final word goes to Annie Foord, who thanked everyone for making it such a memorable event, adding: “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Telford in two years’ time.”

See below for our picture gallery from AQUA 2015.

Their decisions took into account a number of guideline criteria such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging and value for money.

The judges agreed that the New Product Showcase had produced a high calibre of entries with a tremendous amount of innovation. They were pleased to see such a wide range of products, and felt the majority of items on display showed some great innovation.

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

POS/Merchandising/Support

Winner: Seaming Courses

Entered by: Gordon Low Products

Judges said:  This product is innovative, relevant, and educational for the trade.

Pond Construction/Decoration

Winner: FTS Tivoli 100 Musical Fountain

Entered by: FTS Aquatics

Judges said: It stands out from the crowd, has excellent workmanship and is very well priced for its quality.

Pond Pumps

Winner: AquaMax Eco Titanium

Entered by: OASE

Judges said: This product has full control and flexibility on the performance ratio, and the power consumption was impressive. All this sets it apart from its competitors.

Pond Filters

Winner: ProfiClear Premium Compact

Entered by: OASE

Judges said: Quality workmanship and innovative design make this a stand-out product.

Pond Food, Care & Accessories

Winner: Floating Fish Dome

Entered by: Velda BV

Judges said: A good and unique product that creates extra interest to pond keepers.

Aquaria & Furniture

Winner: MiniReef 90

Entered by: Aqua One

Judges said: Stylish, sensibly priced and a good piece of kit that would fit in most people’s homes.

Highly Commended: biOrb HALO 15 MCR, entered by Reef One Ltd.

Aquarium Equipment

Winner: ASAP Filters

Entered by: Aquael

Judges said: It is very easy to maintain and has a price point that’s accessible to a wide market.

Highly Commended: Aqua One J-Bar 80 LED, entered by Aqua One.

Aquarium Food Care & Accessories

Winner: Pro-f

Entered by: NT Labs

Judges said: This is a good range with an innovative pour or shake feature, innovative packaging, has colourful packaging and a great price point.

Highly Commended: SHRIMPLAB, entered by Sharnbrook Shrimp.

Reptile

Winner: ProRep Species Specific Life Series Substrates

Entered by: Peregrine Livefoods

Judges said: Cleverly packaged with a wide species-specific range and is very well priced.

Highly Commended: Zoo Med Cavern Kit with Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, entered by Peregrine Livefoods.

Plant Buyer | Plant Area Manager | Destination Centre (ref:BP7739)

Location: South West England
Salary: £30000-£35000
Date: 16 Oct 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

The role

The Plant Area Manager will be responsible for managing a very large plantarea in a destination garden centre that is the flagship of the group. This role will involve communication at a head office level to ensure retail standards, merchandising and stock maintenance are the highest level. 
This role will also serve as the group plant buyer. The Plant Buyer will be responsible for creating and sourcing a unique range of plants from a diverse supplier base. Quality must be paramount in the plants you source as well as delivering cost to a budget. 

The candidate

We are seeking a retailer with proven plant buyer experience, or a plant buyer with proven retailing experience. This role is unique in its responsibility but also in its opportunity for the right candidate! 
The highest priority for this candidate is they must be a planteria expert, you must have the knowledge to control the business's horticultural offering across their centres and also the passion for plants so you can lead and inspire your retail team. 

Your current job title could be:
Plant Buyer, Horticulture Buyer, Junior Buyer, Buyer, Plant Area Manager, Planteria Manager, Plantarea Manager, Garden Centre manager, Assistant Manager

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530.

The Person:

We are looking for motivated, dynamic, passionate and professional sales agents with experience in the gardening industry.

The Responsibilities:

• To research relevant retailers and identify new accounts for growth
• Work with the Kingfisher range to come up with a sales strategy
• Communicate with current and potential stockists to manage sales

The Requirements:

• A great sales person: tenacious, assertive, resilient, with initiative and ability to communicate well.
• Good knowledge of gardening wholesale business practices
• Excellent understanding of different stockists
• Likes working in a start-up environment, and has the passion to be an instrumental part in the growth of an emerging garden centre
• Has the firm grasp of the Kingfisher brand positioning and the ability to target stockists
• You will be well presented, trustworthy and love being with customers

The Position:

This is a freelance position. The sales agent will work independently in his/her own time.

Required experience:

• Sales – 1 year

Please send CV to Laura@bonningtonplastics.com

Bonnington Plastics Ltd, Kingfisher House, 9 Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham, NG8 4GP

Telephone:  0115 985 4119

www.bonningtonplastics.com

Grower | Wholesale Nursery Stock | UK Specialist (ref:DS7716)

Location: Essex
Salary: £16,000 to £18,000
Date: 13 Oct 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our Client is one of the UK's leading specialists in the import and supply of hardy exterior European specimen plants, trees, shrubs and topiary. They offer an extensive range of plants individually selected from ten different European countries with a large proportion of the total offering sourced from Italy.

Product range varies from 3 to 1500 litres of containerised stock and within season, rootball as well. They work in partnership with all their clients to ensure they continue to offer unrivalled quality, service, price and convenience.

Their 'core' sectors are Garden Centres, Nurseries, Developers, Landscapers and Designers as well as working on bespoke projects when required.

The role

Currently they are seeking growers and nursery operatives / Team Leaders to work on their Nursery based in Essex.

The candidate

Experience of working in a nursery or garden centre / plant centre
Horticultural training and qualifications
Spray certificates PA1 & PA6 are desirable
Good plant knowledge 
Adaptable and ambitious with desire to build a career with a progressive nursery

Salary will be dependent of level of experience - Basic will be circa £17,000 with plenty of opportunity to increase this with overtime.

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 01780 480530.

Indoor Supervisor | Destination Centre | Hampshire (ref:BP7740)

Location: Hampshire
Salary: £20000-£21000
Date: 16 Oct 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

My client is a family owned garden centre based in the South of England. The business owns several successful sites bringing home awards for excellence. An independent business this company fosters growth amongst its staff through training and accountability.

The role

This Indoor Supervisor is based in a beautiful family owned destination garden centre. The role will cover the management of indoor sundries, pets and wildlife. We are seeking someone who can manage a team of between 5 and 10 assistants daily. You will be accountable for managing retail standards in your area including merchandising, stock control and customer service.

The candidate

We are seeking an experienced sundries supervisor to lead a busy department in this multi million turnover garden centre. 
Candidates will have man management experience and also product experience in either sundries or pets.
Buying experience would be ideal but experience working and building relationships with reps would also be sufficient.

Junior Sales Manager | Office Sales Manager | Wholesale Nursery (ref:DS7717)

Location: Essex
Salary: £16,000-£18,000
Date: 13 Oct 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our Client is one of the UKs leading specialists in the import and supply of hardy exterior European specimen plants, trees, shrubs and topiary. They offer an extensive range of plants individually selected from ten different European countries with a large proportion of the total offering sourced from Italy.

Product range varies from 3 to 1500 litres of containerised stock and within season, rootball as well. They work in partnership with all their clients to ensure they continue to offer unrivalled quality, service, price and convenience.

Their 'core' sectors are Garden Centres, Nurseries, Developers, Landscapers and Designers as well as working on bespoke projects when required.

The role

Currently they are seeking a junior sales person to be based in their Essex office, carrying out tasks from tele sales to existing clients, to following up new business leads, advising clients of stock availability and 'looking good' lists, preparing marketing and promotional information.

The candidate

Will be personable, driven and target focused with the ability to forge good relationships with customers and offer superb customer service
Experience of working in a horticultural business either a nursery or garden centre / plant centre is desirable
Horticultural training and qualifications
Good plant knowledge 
Adaptable and ambitious with desire to build a career with a progressive nursery

Salary will be dependent of level of experience - Basic will be circa £17,000 with plenty of opportunity to increase via on target bonuses.

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further please call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 01780 480530.

Picking out trends from this week’s patchwork quilt of sales figures has been tricky – apart from the obvious downward week-on-week slide as attention turns towards Christmas. Garden product sales volumes were 21% down on last week, 6.1% behind the same point lastyear and marginally down on 2013.

• The interest in orchids is still providing plenty of volume sales, with Growth Technology’s Orchid Myst, Orchid Bloom, Orchid Drip Feeders and Clear Orchid Pots giving the company five entries in the Top 50
• The moist autumn conditions are still driving sales of Bio Slug & Snail Killer, which challenged orchid drip feeders for the top spot.
• Tomorite makes a re-appearance - end-of-season clearance sales or gardeners thinking ahead?
• Solar lights remain llively sellers, with Gardman (highest climber) and Smart Solar showing good gains.

The Gardening Industry Marketing Board is searching for a part-time project co-ordinator to help take the cross-industry ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ initiative into its second year.

The job, which is expected to take four to eight days a month, will involve organising meetings, liaising with other organisations, media communications, online/social media campaigns and duties as the campaign’s key ambassador.

The organisation says it is looking for a “creative and inspiring” individual who is passionate about the garden industry, has a desire and enthusiasm to reach out to potential new gardeners and a flair for communicating and co-ordinating.

Further information is available from Martin Simmons at the HTA on 0118 930 3132 or 07738 801584 (email martin.simmons@the-hta.org.uk)

Interested parties will be invited to present their thoughts, approach and ideas to the GIMB Steering Group. Initial expressions of interest are required by Friday 23 October.

Growing media sales volumes are well down this week, and only marginally better than the same week in 2014 and 2013. It’s been an almost perfect autumn for potting and planting so far in most parts of the UK but temperatures are dropping and more frequent frosts over the next two weeks may well put the brakes on demand even further, althohugh gardeners may be waiting until the frosts before clearing out their summer containers to make way for their winter and spring plants.

• Westland Landscape Bark (100 litres) is the highest climber, up 15 places in the chart.
• Scotts Levington Organic Choice Top Soil  (25 litres) shows a gain of 13 places,and so does Growise MP Compost (50L).
• Scotts Miracle-Gro  Eco Sense Bulb Compost climbs 10 places as bulb sales pick up now that summer containers are finally going over.

The HTA is to hold a one-day Marketing Forum next month to explore ways ways in which businesses can make their marketing budgets stretch further.

This event at Chesford Grange, Warwickshire, is aimed at all marketing and PR personnel in the garden industry. Based around the topic of ‘Tools for Success’, the forum promises inspiration and top tips on how to maximise marketing spend.

Speakers include:

Laurens Doesborgh, commercial director of De Haan Group, whowill discuss “how to make better choices in who we want as our customer to better serve specifically them and their lifestyle”.

Boyd Douglas-Davies, CEO of the Hillview Group, who will share an entertaining and insightful look into lessons learnt since opening a soft play area at Hilltop Garden Store.

John Ashley, Scotsdales Garden Centre, will talk about their success in  targeting key postcodes, enticing the customer to visit and spend money through voucher offers.

Edwin Meijer, founder and MD at Garden Connect, will offer ideas for creating a more personal, mobile and interactive loyalty scheme.

Trevor Pfeiffer of The Garden Communication & Media Company will highlight the unique bespoke in-store marketing opportunities that the Garden Radio service can deliver.

Tim Mason, renown for launching Tesco’s Clubcard Scheme, Tesco Express, Tesco.com and Tesco Personal Finance, and Gerald Ratner, former CEO of Ratner’s Group (now the Signet Group), area also on the bill.

Information: hta.org.uk/marketingforum

Wyevale Garden Centres has climbed 13 places to No.83 in this year’s Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table.

The  table ranks Britain’s top private mid-market companies with the largest sales, including those who have increased sales or operating profit by at least 10% over the past year. WGC is the only garden centre retailer featured.

CE Kevin Bradshawsaid: “We are ranked alongside Britain’s best and most-loved companies and we are proud of this achievement as it recognises our contribution to strengthening the UK’s economy.

 “Our improved ranking year on year demonstrates that our aims to strengthen the garden retail market as whole have been fruitful. We are the only garden centre retailer in the list, highlighting our ongoing success of nurturing our business, growing the garden retail market and driving recognition of the joy this British past-time brings to all.”

Squire’s Garden Centres has appointed Ed Ridgeon as manager at its Woking centre. 

He has worked at Squire’s for six years, as assistant manager at both Badshot Lea and Twickenham centres.  Although his earlier career was in the finance sector, his interest in horticulture stems back to his university days when he studied for a biological sciences degree.

Squire’s will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year.

• Plant insecticides
• Rose care
• Fungicides
• Household insecticides
• Animal repellents
• Rodent control
• Baby Bio®
• Weedkillers
• Garden essentials

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 2013 as well as 2014 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 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 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.