One week doesn’t make a trend, but what a way to start the year, in the first week of January the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Chart index is up 11% on 2011 and beating week 1 sales from 2010 and 2009 too...
One week doesn’t make a trend, but what a way to start the year, in the first week of January the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Chart index is up 11% on 2011 and beating week 1 sales from 2010 and 2009 too.
Orchid feed products from Fito and Growth Technology take the top two positions in the first chart of 2012.
Along with a plethora of chart re-entries as the season starts there are 7 completely new Garden Product Chart entries this week from Fiskars, Sankey and Gardman.
It looks as though solar lights will continue to be bestsellers during 2012 and after the high winds it’s no surprise that Greenhouse Clips are in the chart for the first time. In the Fens we lost half a dozen panes of glass. What other products did you have a run on after the storms? If we get any more winter storms are you prepared for the extra sales?
See the full GTN Garden Products Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
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An anonymous petition aiming to oppose Millbrook Garden Centre’s recent alcohol licensing application was hand-delivered to local residents in Tubwell Lane and Mottins Hill in Crowborough.
However, the misinformed complainer need not worry about late night revellers stumbling drunk out of the garden centre.
Millbrook owner Tammy Woodhouse said: “On the application form, you need to tick what evenings you want to play music on, but we don’t want to limit ourselves on when we can hold events so we ticked all of them.
“All we want is low-key, occasional music such as carol singers or a jazz band. We’re not trying to turn ourselves into a nightclub!”
The centre applied to the council to serve alcohol from 9am to 11pm seven days a week, and live music from 7 to 10pm from Monday to Thursday, and from midday to 10pm on Friday and Saturdays.
Numerous garden centres across the UK are extending invites to their customers to join them in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch on Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 January, however, this year’s results will be hard to predict...
Numerous garden centres across the UK are extending invites to their customers to join them in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch on Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 January. Many of the centres will have voluntary staff from the RSPB on hand to provide observation forms as well as advice on what to look out for. The watch lasts an hour. Last year, house sparrows were the most frequently counted.
However, this year’s results will be hard to predict. The 2011 results – which had a record number of 609,177 participants recording 10,262,501 birds – provided much-needed information on how smaller bird species were recouping after the harsh winter of winter of 2009/10. This winter, wild birds have been eating noticeably less due to the milder weather, making higher sightings less frequent.
If the forecasts are to be believed, colder weather is on its way, however, which could signal a boost for sales of food and feeders. In addition, upcoming National Nest Box Week provides further chance for in-store promotion of wild bird care, as well as events such as nest box building, or talks by experts.
What have you noticed in your store in terms of wild birdcare sales? And what are you doing to tie in sales with national wild bird events? Contact us at: katherine.watt@tgcmc.co.uk
IPM 2012 sees the largest number of UK exhibitors yet, many of who don’t exhibit at UK shows. This makes the event an important date for garden centres looking to source original plants. At the show last year, more than 1,500 exhibitors from 46 countries presented themselves to some 60,000 visitors from 94 countries.
There are two large national pavilions in Hall 3 (Technology – stand 3B51) and 10 (Nursery – 10C13 and 10C17) – organised by the Commercial Horticultural Association (CHA). Building on their first presence in the Technology Hall in 2011, CHA will showcase a range of products and services from UK horticultural specialists including water soluble and liquid fertilisers, professional grower substrates, retail plant displays, specialist film-clad structures and a range of hydroponic and lighting equipment, growing media and propagation products.
In Hall 10, British exhibitors will include the world’s leading breeder and propagator of English Pinks, an internationally recognised English rose breeder, a specialist micro-propagation company and one of the largest specialist clematis nurseries in the world. For the first time a world leading soft fruit nursery will exhibit, and they will be joined on the UK Pavilion by the manufacturer of a specialist root control system.
If you have schools in your area that are registered, stock up on tree care products such as planting tools, tree stakes and tree ties, or even offer advice or assistance to help with planting...
The RHS is working with online nursery www.treesandhedging.co.uk to offer 2,000 schools registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening five free trees each in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. So, if you have schools in your area that are registered, stock up on tree care products such as planting tools, tree stakes and tree ties, or even offer advice or assistance to help with planting.
Between 10 January to the 29 February, schools within the RHS Campaign for School Gardening can order a set of bare-root 40–60cm tree saplings for just £5.95 postage and packaging. The five trees are wild cherry, crab apple, silver birch, common hornbeam and field maple. Each tree is native to the UK and has been chosen for its beauty and heritage.
Jacky Chave, RHS Strategic Schools Manager, said, “Gardening in schools is a fantastic way of engaging children in learning; not just in science but in every subject, from history to current affairs. We wanted to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2012 in a way that was fitting and would leave a legacy for all. These 10,000 trees kindly supplied by treesandhedging.co.uk will do just that; providing enjoyment for generations to come, while also supporting local wildlife and ecosystems.”
Busy Bee Garden Centre – who are Greatest Christmas Catering Team finalists – awarded their Christmas Eve raffle winners Derek and Myra Moore of Pondwell with a red children’s pedal car.
The couple have decided to share their good Christmas fortune by donating the £295 toy car to Limpets Nursery in Ryde.
The highest GTN Veg 2 Gro Bestsellers chart index for the first week of January in 3 years indicates that at least when the weather is in our favour the demand for grow your own is still high...
The highest GTN Veg 2 Gro Bestsellers chart index for the first week of January in 3 years indicates that at least when the weather is in our favour the demand for grow your own is still high.
Unwins Rocket Seed Potatoes are the first Veg 2 Gro No.1. of the year with that Bestsellers consitent performer, Beetroot Boltardy at No.2.
For this first week of 2012 there are 7 new Veg 2 Gro Top 50 Bestselling chart entries.
See the full GTN Veg 2 Gro Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
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Andrew Pitman, Plant Manager at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, during last year’s (2011) sapling giveaway
The RHS are not the only ones giving away trees – Monkton Elm in Somerset is inviting worthy causes from the county to contact them and they could qualify to receive free young trees....
The RHS are not the only ones giving away trees – Monkton Elm in Somerset is inviting worthy causes from the county to contact them and they could qualify to receive free young trees.
The centre is offering between 50 and 100 saplings to schools, charities, village organisations and community groups that would like them.
Andrew Pitman, Plant Manager at the family-run garden centre, explained: “To tie in with the start of the New Year and our 30th anniversary, we’ve got 2,012 small sapling trees to give to any worthy causes that would like them for projects they are running this year.
The garden centre will be giving away groups of between 50 and 100 small saplings, known as whips. The trees are indigenous British varieties. Worthy causes that apply for the trees must write in to Andrew at the garden centre giving details of their project and why they think they deserve to receive a group of saplings.
Last week’s strong winds caused a surprise for the Olive Tree Café customers in South Downs Nurseries when the cafe roof blew off.
Pam from South Downs Nurseries said: “We’re right at the foot of the South Downs, and it was the particular angle in which the wind caught underneath the roof that cause it to tear off. Every other part of the centre was ok.”
The roof was repaired within 24-hours by the in-house team, and all of the employees of the family-run centre mucked in to mop up the rainwater, which had left the café ‘like a swimming pool’.
It’s now business as usual for the level-headed team, with no lasting damage to the centre.
The HTA has launched a new mobile version of the National Garden Gift Vouchers website in the scheme’s 50th anniversary year...
The HTA has launched a new mobile version of the National Garden Gift Vouchers website in the scheme’s 50th anniversary year. The company netXtra, who specialise in the development of online solutions for membership and not-for-profit organizations, were tasked with providing the new “mobile web application” (app) for the ‘Find your nearest Garden Centre’ directory featured on the site.
The new site enables customers with mobile devices such as Netbooks, iPads, iPhones, Blackberry, Android phones and other mobile and smartphone devices to find the nearest UK garden centre or garden retail outlet where they can buy and spend vouchers. The advanced search facility on the new site will also provide a useful resource for those looking for their nearest UK garden centre café or restaurant whilst they are on the move.
An icon can be downloaded from the site which can sit on a phone homepage or a computer or tablet desktop and looks and functions like a mobile app.
HTA Gift Voucher and Card General Manager David Butler said: “For the first time this new site will enable customers to search for their nearest garden centre using GPS technology as well as more traditional search methods like a postcode search. The app also has features such as ‘search by facilities available’. For example whether there is a café or restaurant, disabled access, aquatics and pets. This function could be particularly useful for people on the road who might also buy vouchers or other items within the store if they need a quick present. This is a new and innovative way to support the industry and the National Garden Gift Voucher scheme which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.”
The new National Garden Gift Voucher site joins the HTA Garden Gift Card site launched last year.To view the mobile sites go to <http://www.thevouchergarden.co.uk> or <http://www.gardengiftcard.co.uk> and click on the mobile link at the top right hand corner of the page.
Camellia is the HTA’s Plant of the Month for February and is one of the most popular plants for adding a bright and vibrant splash of colour when there is little else flowering in the garden.
The range of flower colours is vast, from light pinks to dark reds and stunning whites, with single, double and other flower forms available such as peony and anemone. Depending on the cultivar, the flowers can be enjoyed from November through to April. They grow particularly well in a container provided the container is placed out of the early morning sun in frosty weather.
Eyecatching Plant of the Month point of sale materials for 2012 can be purchased through HTA partners Hortipak and Floramedia.
One of the Garden Centre Group’s stores near York expects to be granted planning permission to extend its indoor retail space, and build a larger café. The extension of Poppleton Garden Centre to the east and south will also involve extending the canopy above the plantarea.
More landscaping area is proposed for the current car park area, and a pedestrian access point is planned next to the crossing island on the A59. The centre also aims to use the land at the back of the centre to grow additional stock.
Planning officers, who met on Thursday, recommended the plans for approval, which would mean the creation of around 50 new jobs.
This year’s RHS list has two pests that are in the top ten for the first time. Fuchsia gall mite, at number six, was unknown in the UK before 2007, and the other new entry, at number eight, is leek moth.
Slugs and snails have taken the top RHS pest enquiry slot for 2011 after having been toppled from the first place by viburnum beetle in 2010. Usually they are the number one problem in most years with 2010 being a slight variation. Nearly all gardens suffer from slugs and snails and since they damage a wide range of plants it is not surprising that they often generate most enquiries.
This year’s RHS list has two pests that are in the top ten for the first time. Fuchsia gall mite, at number six, was unknown in the UK before 2007. It was discovered when a sample from a Hampshire garden was sent to the RHS Members’ Advisory Service for identification. Since then it has become widely established along the south coast and is moving northwards.
These microscopic mites are having a major impact on the growth of fuchsias. Their feeding at the shoot tips and in the flower buds causes severely distorted growth. Affected plants are unable to produce normal leaves and flowers.
RHS Principal Entomologist Andrew Halstead. “Unfortunately there are no effective pesticides for garden use. Because the damage cannot be controlled, it may lead to a decline in the popularity of this valuable garden plant.”
The other new entry, at number eight, is leek moth. Although mainly a problem on leeks, it also affects onions and shallots. The moth produces two generations of caterpillars during summer. The second generation in late July–August is particularly troublesome. The young caterpillars mine the leaves but later they bore into the stems of leeks and the bulbs of onions and shallots. Infested leeks often become infected with secondary rots and die.
Leek moth is mainly found in the south of England and South Wales but, like fuchsia gall mite, is also spreading northwards. Another pest affecting leeks and allied vegetables is allium leaf miner. This small fly was first discovered in the Wolverhampton area in 2003 and is now widespread in the Midlands and is also present in northeast Surrey.
Although there are no pesticides available, knowledge of these pests mean that garden centres can help to identify any problems that gardeners have, and offer the advice to grow the plants under mesh.
Potato experts from two leading national seed and plant suppliers will be offering February visitors to a Monkton Elm Garden Centre free advice on growing their own spuds.
A representative from Unwins will be at the centre on February 18-19 and Thompson & Morgan is on-site on February 25-26.
Tom Berry, part of the Grow Your Own Special Team at the family-run garden centre, said: “We are delighted that Mark Fletcher from seed suppliers Unwins and Colin Randell from seed and plant supplier Thompson & Morgan will be joining us for our week-long Potato Festival starting on February 18. Colin is a Royal Horicultural Society Chelsea Flower Show judge and has a wealth of knowledge about allotments and growing vegetables, as well as potatoes.
“They will be available to give people tips and advice on potato growing, whether they are keen gardeners with experience in growing vegetables or beginners looking to take up a new hobby.”
During the week in-house experts will be offering advice to customers on varieties of potatoes to buy and grow and how to care for them to get the best yields.On Saturday, February 18 only, there will be free potato printing for children at the garden centre’s Craft Centre from 10am until 12noon.
Last minute bookings for The Greatest Awards Christmas Party can be made until 3:00 pm Sunday 15th January...
Have you booked your tickets for The Greatest Christmas Awards party yet? It doesn’t matter if you haven’t entered for the awards – as long as you are part of the garden retail industry you deserve to let your hair down at this renowned annual event. This year, our band will be ‘The Tzars’, a popular offset of the original Bogus Brothers. Fronted by a feisty female, the band plays all the popular chart hits as well as well-known dance-along songs from throughout the decades. Not only have The Tzars toured with the popular London rock band Scouting For Girls, but also played for the legendary Jools Holland himself.
So in case you didn’t manage to have a Christmas party in December because you were simply too busy, make sure you book your tickets for this event – they are selling out fast. Guests will get mulled wine on arrival, followed by a three course meal with wine, then plenty of partying & dancing into the small hours!
Tickets are £78.00 + VAT each with discounts available for bookings of 3 or more.
To book your tickets call The Greatest Awards team on 07973 504214 or e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk, but hurry the last few tickets are selling fast and the final cut off for bookings is 3:00pm.
Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts.
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 and on the GTN website www.gardentradenews.co.uk.
Access is by subscription only. For £120.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most upto date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales. To subscribe call 01733 775700, or subscribe on-line here, or e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Sunshine and mild weather have got our customers out there digging and preparing like no other first week of the year...
Sunshine and mild weather have got our customers out there digging and preparing like no other first week of the year. At least not since we started the GTN Bestsellers charts in 2008. Sales this week are even up over 100% on the first week of 2009 which was a great year for gardening sales.
Westland West+ Multipurpose Compost, 60L takes the first No.1. of the year and Lorbex Orchid Compost 2L, appears in the GTN Growing Media Chart top 50 for the first time.
See the full GTN Growing Media Bestsellers Chart here. Subscribers Only
To Subscribe to the full GTN Bestsellers Weekly Charts for only £120.00 per year click here
As the housewares market becomes an increasingly integral part of garden centre retailing, the new Housewares Conference & Innovation Awards event has proved a popular attraction.
As the housewares market becomes an increasingly integral part of garden centre retailing, the new Housewares Conference & Innovation Awards event has proved a popular attraction.
The Garden Centre Group, plus Fermoy's, Barton Grange, and Grosvenor Garden Centre are just some of the centres that have signed up for the event so far.
The event, which takes place on 27 March at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire, will combine a line-up of speakers for the conference, with the presentation of the new Housewares Innovation Awards.
Manor Garden Centre in Leasowe was broken into last Saturday, then again on Sunday, leaving the centre thousands of pounds down and the owner without his company truck.
Manor Garden Centre in Leasowe was broken into last Saturday, then again on Sunday, leaving the centre thousands of pounds down and the owner without his company truck.
The seven-and-a-half tonne Eurocargo tipper truck was stolen, along with four Stihl chainsaws, a stone cutter and a leaf blower. Although the truck was later discovered in a ditch, the extent of the damage or whether any evidence can be obtained from the find is not yet known. Not only did the centre lose products and had to pay for extensive repairs where the thieves forced their way in, the stolen tools and truck were also vital to the garden centre owner Steve Mole’s tree surgery business.
Steve said: “Garden centres are very hard to make totally secure, and as a small business we can’t afford to have someone on constant patrol.”
The steel gates of the centre were smashed open, which set off the alarm, but despite this there were no witnesses.
“There is a flyover near the centre, but other than that it’s quite quiet and there is no residential area for a way, meaning the thieves were undisturbed.
The only thing to do is to install even more, top of the range CCTV, but as a small business it’s just another additional expense
Anyone with any leads should call Merseyside Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Flintshire-based Dandy’s Garden Centre has been selected as one of a hundred businesses across the UK to join the new ‘ITV Business Club’....
Flintshire-based Dandy’s Garden Centre has been selected as one of a hundred businesses across the UK to join the new ‘ITV Business Club’.
A series of short shows and features for the channel will be produced, focusing on current business events and affairs, the economy in general and the ups and downs of running a company in these economically troubled times.
Managing Director and Owner of Dandy’s Garden Centre, Adam Dandy was approached by ITV to represent the highly successful but small, family run and owned company.
Adam said: “Although we’ve seen success in recent years, the bubble may burst at any time, putting us in the same boat as so many businesses across the UK that are suffering from the devastating effects of a recession and an ever worsening economy. It is important now, more than ever, that we re-focus as a team and ensure that Dandy’s stays ahead of the game with products, marketing tactics and fresh, exciting projects.”
ITV Wales Business Correspondent, Carole Green, spotted Adam – Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010/11 and'Business Person of the year 2010/11 – after seeing some local press coverage regarding the company’s recent endeavours and successes.
Adam was interviewed on camera last week about his thoughts on the economy and the business in general. The camera crew also caught the management and sales team having a ‘new year, new start’ back to work meeting where they discussed plans for 2012 including marketing strategies, new products, competition and the up-coming North Wales Truck Stop, the building of which will begin this summer with an official opening in October to coincide with the anniversary of Dandy’s second year at Deeside.
The ITV Business Club ultimately plans to organise a programming event with the Prime Minister; allowing a team to listen and interact with UK government on the subject of how things in the economy are really working for those who face the day to day challenges of running a business.
The club is comprised of eight to ten diverse businesses from each region of the country, with Dandy’s representing North Wales as a small, family run business. The first filming of the entire Welsh Business Team will take place on Friday 13th January in Cardiff where the heads of some leading welsh businesses will meet for the first time to discuss the project, the economy and their individual business aims, concerns and plans for the coming year.
A culinary tour of the globe has been unveiled by Merryhatton Garden Centre this month – a series of monthly international evenings in its award-winning café...
A culinary tour of the globe has been unveiled by Merryhatton Garden Centre this month – a series of monthly international evenings in its award-winning café.
Designed to give East Lothian residents the chance to sample a range of different cuisines without having to travel into the city, the first countries on the menu will be Thailand (2 February), Morocco (1 March), and Germany (29 March).
Steve Gent, the Head Chef at the Café at Merryhatton explains: “The idea came from some of our customers, who told us they would like to be able to find a wider range of cuisines on offer locally. To test the water, we decided to put on a Spanish night in December. It proved to be so popular we had to run it twice!
“The idea is to offer a different nationality of cuisine each month, with a reasonably-priced set menu and great service, in our informal, comfortable setting. From the feedback we’ve had so far, people are seeing it as a great way to meet up with friends and do something a bit different, without having to travel too far.”
The international evenings are just one of a range of new developments at Merryhatton which will be rolled out over 2012.
LOFA has officially launched its new environmental trademark, Made Aware. Suppliers to be awarded the coveted Made Aware label have to prove they are taking progressive action to reduce their environmental impact and to improve the welfare of the people who make their products. Each year these suppliers will have to show they are continuing to make a worthwhile improvement, and have to pass stringent testing by a panel of independent judges to ensure they can keep the prestigious Made Aware label.
To promote the Made Aware campaign, LOFA will be undertaking a tour of garden centres and retail outlets across the UK to highlight its members’ Made Aware products.
If you want to know more about the Made Aware campaign and the latest range of Made Aware labelled products, visit www.madeaware.org.uk.
Keen photographers are being urged to get snapping ready to enter the annual Webbs calendar competition in aid of local hospices...
Keen photographers are being urged to get snapping ready to enter the annual Webbs calendar competition in aid of local hospices.
The Webbs Garden Centres in Wychbold, near Droitwich and West Hagley are launching the photo competition for the eighth year running. More than 1,500 images were entered from 330 photographers into last year's competition, which judges then had to whittle down to the final 12, depicting each month of the year.
Webbs is planning to produce a calendar for 2013 from original photographs in aid of the firm’s chosen charities: St Richard's, Primrose, Kemp, Mary Stevens and Acorns Hospices in Worcestershire. The judges are searching for wonderful photographs of flowers, gardens, garden scenes, flora & fauna.
The competition is open to everyone, amateur or enthusiast of any age. Entry forms available in-store at Wychbold, West Hagley or to download from <http://www.webbsdirect.co.uk>
The 12 winning entrants will each receive Webbs Gift Vouchers worth £30 and 12 copies of the calendar to give to friends and family.
The HTA has published a Directory of HTA Training and Business Development Events outlining the diverse range of HTA-run events, training and business improvement scheme dates for 2012...
The HTA has published a Directory of HTA Training and Business Development Events outlining the diverse range of HTA-run events, training and business improvement scheme dates for 2012.
The directory, available in print and online, brings together the whole range of events that HTA offers for garden industry professionals; from innovative conferences like Bedding Focus and Garden Futures to in-depth training on technical and horticultural business skills to tactical meetings on improving business through sharing expertise.
HTA Director of Business Development Tim Briercliffe comments, “Learning and development really come into their own in tough economic times as businesses differentiate themselves through knowledge and expertise. The new HTA Directory of Training and Business Development Events will enable HTA members at a glance to look at the diverse range of events, training and learning opportunities taking place throughout that year so that they can plan accordingly.”
The directory can be viewed online at www.the-hta.org.uk/calendar <http://www.the-hta.org.uk/calendar> along with further event details and booking forms.
Forthcoming Events:
17 Jan - CBIS Scotland - Study Tour - Discover how your peers do business and bring home ideas to rejuvenate yours
17 Jan - RBIS East Anglia - John Woods Nurseries, Suffolk - Exploring opportunities to drive your gross profit up through improved buying
18 Jan - RBIS North West - Bayview Garden Centre, Lancashire - Setting targets and business planning
18 Jan - RBIS West Midlands and West of England & Wales - Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth - Networking and innovative retail improvement techniques
19 Jan - RBIS Devon & Cornwall - Fermoy’s Garden Centre, Newton Abbot - Exploring opportunities to drive your gross profit up through improved buying
23 Jan - APL Cluster Meeting - The Grasshopper Inn, Westerham, Kent - Network with local landscapers and designers – focus on converting an enquiry to a sale
24 Jan - BASIS Guardian Certificate in Garden Care (Course 1, Day 1) - Shipley Garden & Leisure, Wolverhampton
25 Jan - BASIS Guardian Certificate in Garden Care (Course 2, Day 1) - Shipley Garden & Leisure, Wolverhampton
25 Jan - RBIS Scotland - Jamesfield Garden Centre, Perthshire - How to increase stock turn, cash flow and increase customer choice
26 Jan - CBIS North West - Walkers Nurseries, South Yorkshire - Labour costs, wage comparison, selection and recruitment
31 Jan - APL Cluster Meeting - Balkerne Gate, Essex - Network with local landscapers and designers – focus on irrigation and lighting
31 Jan - Engaging Communities and Growing Business Seminar - Dobbies Garden Centre, Peterborough
01 Feb - BASIS Guardian Certificate in Garden Care (Course 3, Day 1) - Melbicks Garden & Leisure, Birmingham
01 Feb - Engaging Communities and Growing Business Seminar - Coolings Garden Centre, Kent
01 Feb - RDF Central - Planters Garden Centre, Staffordshire - Getting the most out of your bank
02 Feb - BASIS Guardian Certificate in Garden Care (Course 4, Day 1) - Melbicks Garden & Leisure, Birmingham
02 Feb - RDF South - Study Tour – London - Discover how other retailers do business and bring home ideas to rejuvenate yours
06 Feb - Catering Workshop - South East
07 Feb – BASIS Guardian Certificate in Garden Care (Course 5, Day 1) - Cadbury Garden & Leisure, Bristol
08 Feb - Catering Workshop - North Midlands
08 Feb – BASIS Guardian Certificate in Garden Care (Course 6, Day 1) - Endsleigh Garden & Leisure, Devon
09 Feb - The Garden Retail Diploma – Induction - Barton Grange Garden Centre
Gardman has just appointed a Product Standards Manager for the first time to support the growth of the business and the expansion of its China operations. Alex Martin joins from AMDEA (Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances) where he was Technical Officer.
Previously at Sony and Powergen, Alex will be responsible for compliance and product quality, and he will also be developing Gardman’s sustainability policy.
Alex reports to Andrew Bremer, Head of Category Management who says, “As we develop more new categories and build our sourcing in China, it’s crucial that we have correct and consistent standards across the business.”
Sunshine and mild weather have got our customers out there digging and preparing like no other first week of the year...