As ‘the Beast from the East’ has caused garden centres to close across the country we’ve been looking back through the GTN Bestsellers data to when we last had a cold March in 2013.

In that year, as you see in the graph above, there was a noticeable dip in sales at the start of March as we expect to see this year with this week’s snow and the freeze predicted to run into next week too. 

Then there was a good week’s trading in the middle of March around Garden Re-Leaf Day followed by more cold weather at the end of the month.

Everyone is now hoping that this very cold start to March is not followed by more bad weather later as in 2013, fingers crossed.  It does however place even more importance on implementing Garden Re-Leaf Day promotional ideas to get people back out to garden centres after the big freeze.

Garden Re-Leaf Day is Friday 16th March, which could be ideal timing at the end of the thaw, so make sure your teams get involved to help make up for lost sales this week and next. 

To find out more about Garden Re-Leaf Day go to: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf

One of the great fun-draising ideas is the Garden Re-Leaf Plantathon which always generates loads of local press coverage and extra sales during March. 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 8)

• Garden Products - down 15%
• Growing Media - down 18%
• Veg-2-Gro - down 14%
• Wild Bird Care - down 9%
• All Plants Index - down 4%
• All Items Index - down 9%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk