In This Issue
HTA Chairman calls on industry to celebrate efforts of 2020 and look toward 2021 from a position of preparedness
GCA Chairman's New Year message: "I am looking at 2021 with optimism"
New Year predictions from the "Bunker Booth"
HTA President says we must make sure we understand the modern gardeners needs
The GTN Xtra Top 100 Most Read Stories of 2020
No 1 Most Read Story 2020 - Garden Centres close their doors "We want to be part of stopping the spread of Coronavirus"
No 2 Most Read Story 2020 - Trading update from this weekend - UPDATED
No 3 Most Read Story 2020 - Garden centres in England and Scotland can stay open - now is the time to review Covid-19 safety
No 4 Most Read Story 2020 - Exeter garden centre stays open but cannot sell plants - Cherry Lane close all centres
No 5 Most Read Story 2020 - Dobbies remain open and social media gets heated
No.6 to No.10 Most Read Stories in 2020
Who will be the winners in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards? There's still time to enter before the New Years Eve closing date
GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer reviews 2020 with Peter Seabrook
The New Environmentalist - Nature will become ‘second nature’ to future generations
Over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Stax emerges strong from a trying year
Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA launch new initiative following Brexit trade deal
The best of last week's
Decision to close Scottish garden centres ‘disappointing’
Local community saves Thetford Garden Centre from flooding
Record entries to popular Illumination Street contest
Christmas decorations made from natural materials
Get set for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021!
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
British Garden Centres open their 58th centre at Thatcham
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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HTA Chairman calls on industry to celebrate efforts of 2020 and look toward 2021 from a position of preparedness

James Barnes, Chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association has recognised the remarkable efforts of people in Britain’s horticultural industries and committed to getting straight back to business on their behalf in January 2021, urging the trade to do everything it can to be prepared for the new year in advance.


James Barnes, Chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association has recognised the remarkable efforts of people in Britain’s horticultural industries and committed to getting straight back to business on their behalf in January 2021, urging the trade to do everything it can to be prepared for the new year in advance.

 

“As we reach the close of the year it feels important to reflect on just what an incredible challenge the last nine months have been,” said James.

 

“The industry has arguably had both the best and worst of times in one short time period.  A disastrous start to the spring season, followed by the relief of seeing garden centres classified as essential retail and the huge growth in new gardeners, has been followed by uncertainty and concern as we face post-Christmas lockdown. Throughout it all, it’s been heartening to see people pulling together to support one another.

 

"The resilience and agility of the industry to cope with crisis and change has been immense. Notwithstanding the light at the end of the tunnel that the roll out of vaccinations has provided, the post-Covid, post-Brexit world will have brought some fundamental change to the way we all live, work and do business. Although such change may ultimately reveal itself over many months and years, 2021 is likely to require an even greater level of agility, resilience and innovation.

 

"Sustainability, the environment and climate change will regain their prominence on the agenda going forward and the HTA will be at the forefront of promoting the industry as a key deliverer of the ambitions here and as an engine for economic growth.

 

"I think we can take confidence that the future of our industry is bright and that we can have the plans, the resourcefulness and determination to capitalise on this.” 

 

The HTA has been instrumental in engaging with government on the particulars of EU Exit and its impact on ornamental horticulture. These efforts have resulted in some wins, namely a four-hour deadline for inspections and rationalisation of the requirements for phytosanitary certificates. Concerns over fees were also heard and subsequently these are waived until April.

 

James Barnes pledged to continue efforts to secure other changes to new regulations by putting forward a six-point plan proposing modifications to the location of inspections, plant hierarchy and IT systems and engaging Government now and into 2021 with the aim of having a more efficient and cost-effective regime.

 

“Alongside the unprecedented effort and hard work that’s gone into navigating the fast-moving situation with Coronavirus, our members had to begin preparing for a new way of working from 1 January,” he said.

 

Urging businesses not to let this dissuade them from taking action, Mr Barnes reassured members, saying: “The HTA will resume our efforts to persuade government of the need for some changes and/or concessions to the areas of most concern, but we have to recognise that we have to do all we can to prepare in the meantime.”

 

If you haven’t already done so, there are five key tasks to complete before the end of December and retailers and growers alike are encouraged to act now to make sure they are as prepared as possible:

  1. Make sure you have the correct EORI number
  2. Check your arrangements from 1 January for making or deferring customs declarations.
  3. Make sure you are registered on PEACH and as a Place of Destination (POD) for importing plants – watch the PEACH tutorial and read the PEACH user guide
  4. If you export plants make sure you know the arrangements and prohibitions, including the recent announcements for Northern Ireland such as the Movement Assistance Scheme
  5. Check arrangements & terms with all your suppliers, both EU and UK based, and read all the information on the plant health portal and gov.uk
 
GCA Chairman's New Year message: "I am looking at 2021 with optimism"

Mike Burks, The Gardens Group and GCA Chairman sends this New Years message to GTN Xtra readers:  "Writing anything at the moment is fraught with danger as within a few hours it can be out of date and even inappropriate...


Mike Burks, The Gardens Group and GCA Chairman sends this New Years message to GTN Xtra readers:  "Writing anything at the moment is fraught with danger as within a few hours it can be out of date and even inappropriate!

 

"Many times, over the last few months have Iain Wylie, GCA CEO, and the GCA team prepared a newsletter or post only to be scuppered by an unannounced change in policy from governments around the UK.

 

"As I write our members in Northern Ireland are closed and are grappling with the complications of Brexit, members in Wales have been closed since before Christmas and are having to cope with not being classed as essential by their government despite much lobbying, and members in Scotland are also closed but with the advantage of being classed as essential. Luckiest of all, but it doesn’t quite feel like that, are the members in England most of whom now are in Tier 3 or 4 restrictions which has led to very quiet trading. Those of us in England really feel for the members elsewhere in the UK and we have responsibility to keep trading and to keep standards up which hopefully will help persuade the other administrations how important garden centres are and how we play an important role in keeping people at home and mentally and physically safe.

 

"However, we must put the restricted trading and current closures is in perspective and it still holds true that had we known what situation we would be in now when lockdown first happened in March, we would have grabbed it with both hands.

 

"If we are to be closed and/or trading in limited circumstances, then we would have chosen January and it does mean that we can get the centres in really good shape for when restrictions start to lift and when the weather should be better for us too.

 

"It seems likely to me that if the vaccines do their job that we will still be in covid limited conditions at least until the summer but also probably with it lurking until this time next year with masks, controlling numbers instore and many of the new ways of trading still in place even if they are a “just in case” precaution.  Such restrictions mean that holidays abroad will be limited, and the 3 million plus new gardeners will still be gardening in 2021 and we have the opportunity to show them that gardening is the best hobby to have and so good for one in many ways.

 

"This all assumes that we will have enough stock to sell. Suppliers and manufacturers have been working incredibly hard with getting orders processed and pre -seasons out to centres but with Brexit uncertainties, issues with shipping containers being in the wrong place and the costs involved with this, hold ups in the docks along with new phytosanitary regulations nothing feels very certain at the moment.

 

"Some of this is likely to feel like we were worrying over nothing as we get used to the new importing rules and regulations, and hopefully the balance of containers around the world will sort itself out in time for the Spring.

 

"Other issues will then come to the fore and for certain we will need to address the environmental challenges facing the world which have not gone away. Peat will be the first we have to deal with and the industry needs to be on the front foot with this. I believe that gardening is environmentally a force for good. The more people that are gardening, the more that notice weird weather events and that means they will be aware of climate change. They will then want to do something about it and we need to be in the right shape to help with this. The work that the HTA are doing with their Sustainability Roadmap is very positive and the GCA are supporting this and working closely alongside the HTA in putting it into action.

 

"Conference in January 2021 was to be a continuation of the strong environmental message of the 2020 conference in Bristol. We still hope to have a conference in 2021 but its more likely to be an early summer event now.

 

"So I am looking at 2021 with optimism – it will be challenging but we have shown as an industry how well we work together – not just garden centres but with the whole industry including growers and manufacturers and suppliers liaising and sharing ideas, we have fought our way through. The GCA, HTA, GIMA liaison has been incredibly powerful and I would like to thank those organisations for their support and co-operation, particularly the HTA in their incredibly professional lobbying of government.

 

"But that’s not the only reason for optimism; customers trust us to do the right thing and to be a safe place and that hasn’t just been from how we have put together the gold standard in covid secure retail protocols in 2020, its been formed over many, many years of working with our communities. A demonstration of this is the way that Thetford Garden Centre was looked after by the community that it has been supporting for years – a testament to how the industry carries itself.

 

"So, we need to work hard over the next few weeks, which could be the toughest of all in the covid crisis, but we also must feel confident that we will find a way through and will come out stronger the other side."

 

 

 

New Year predictions from the "Bunker Booth"

As we went into Lockdown back in March 2020, Derek Bunker at Alton Garden Centre in Essex made a number of predictions for garden centre trading for the rest of the year which proved right, including the foresight that we would have a record Christmas as a result of the pandemic crisis.

 

With that in mind, on New Year’s Eve, GTN Xtra asked Derek what his predictions for 2021 are...


As we went into Lockdown back in March 2020, Derek Bunker at Alton Garden Centre in Essex made a number of predictions for garden centre trading for the rest of the year which proved right, including the foresight that we would have a record Christmas as a result of the pandemic crisis.

 

With that in mind, on New Year’s Eve, GTN Xtra asked Derek what his predictions for 2021 are:

 

“Realistically, looking forward to 2021, I think you've got to go back to 2019. If you want to look at figures, you want to look at turnover, you want to look at what you sold, go back to 2019 and add 15 per cent, but no more than that. If you sold 50 spades in 2019, then, you know, you might sell 55 or 60 this year. The fact that you sold 80 or 100 last year is irrelevant. 2020 was exceptional. We will never see that again. Those of us that carried on, we've seen some good turnover. But, being sensible about next year, we're not going to see that again. So don't get too excited about that.

 

“The second thing, I think generally gardening is going to be bouyant. And that's on the basis that there's a lot of indecision about holidays. Normally people are booking their summer holidays now and there's a lot of people hanging back, saying, are we going to go? I think they're going to spend more time in the garden again. And I think they'll be buying more plants and barbecues and the like.

 

“The third thing, because we were fortunate enough to be open, classed as essential, a lot of new customers came in for something to do and they realised that garden centres we're not just plants and compost, but they're actually offering much more. We've all got gift departments. We've got lots of other nice things for gardening. And I think we have retained quite a few of those customers. They now accept that a garden centre is quite a nice place to go to, it's not just about plants and compost. They have got lots of other nice things as well. I think that's going to help us along really good.

 

“As far as the season is concerned, it's all going to be about weather again.  Easter is becoming less relevant every year now because what with being shut Easter Sunday, as soon as it starts to warm up, people start gardening.

 

“I think one of the biggest issues in the coming year, 2021, can be stock availability. There's still shortages of stuff, this issue with containers coming into the country and all the delays on things, that's going to take some time to sort out and things like garden furniture and barbecues, all the stuff that comes from the Far East, who knows?

 

“I don't understand the concern amongst my fellow garden centre operators about the fact that there's this six to seven per cent surcharge on containers, which is going to put the price of garden furniture up. The reason I say that is someone coming in this year looks at a set of furniture at £799, they are unlikely to know it was £750 last year, So there's all this unnecessary worry.  At the end of the day if we're selling for £799 rather than £750 we're actually making fractionally more.

 

“And the only other thing I’d like to comment on is the Internet. I don't think it’s going to be half as good as everybody thinks it's going to be. People like to come in to garden centres. They like to go and see stuff, they like to feel it, they like to look at it. So I don't think necessarily there's going to be a massive increase. My concern is the manufacturers and suppliers who I believe should only supply bona-fide retailers.

 

Suppliers should look at their business sensibly and only supply bona-fide retailers who will put products online at the proper price. That way everybody's happy.

 

Finally, we asked Derek about his plans for the Alton Garden centre coffee shop which has been closed since March 2020: “I will not be re-opening it until social distancing finished. If it takes till July, it will take still July. At the end of the day, if I open it, I'm causing more problems than if I had it closed.

 

“If I'm wrong, I'll change it. But my plan at the moment is certainly not to open it until I can do it properly. I don't like half doing things.

 
HTA President says we must make sure we understand the modern gardeners needs

On New Years Eve, HTA President, Boyd Douglas-Davies told GTN Xtra: "As one diary closes and the next opens I feel that we leave 2020 in a much more positive position than might have been hoped in the spring...


On New Years Eve HTA President, Boyd Douglas-Davies told GTN Xtra: "As one diary closes and the next opens I feel that we leave 2020 in a much more positive position than might have been hoped in the spring.

 

"Garden Centres being classified as ‘essential’ gives not only the retailers but also the growers and suppliers much more confidence in 2021. Spending time in the garden has become the number one pastime in the UK and I believe we will see that reflected in sales throughout the coming year.

 

"The adoption of digital communications by so many will be beneficial to us as an industry – events like the 10th Garden Re-Leaf Day in March will be able to go ahead across the country and yet we will all be connected. Inspiring consumers via social media will play a larger part in our business than ever before.

 

"As an industry we should be proud of the recognition we have received but not abuse the privilege. We showed the world that we can work together and we mustn’t lose sight of that, by collaborating we can all benefit.

 

"I think importing from anywhere in the world will be challenging in the next few months, but not impossible. Garden based activity will remain at an all-time high, we must make sure that we understand the modern gardeners needs. 2021, whist challenging, will be a good year for our industry.

The GTN Xtra Top 100 Most Read Stories of 2020

During 2020 we've sent out 391,634 GTN Xtra e-mails that have been read by 29,777 unique readers.  The e-mail newsletter and each issues website has been opened 472,682 times during the year and 847,981 pages viewed...


During 2020 we've sent out 391,634 GTN Xtra e-mails that have been read by 29,777 unique readers.  The e-mail newsletter and each issues website has been opened 472,682 times during the year and 847,981 pages viewed.

 

From all that activity, here are the Top 100 Most Read Stories of the year.  The Top 5 are re-published in this year-end newsletter and the rest can be accessed via the links below or by searching the GTN Xtra Archive here.

 

Thank you for all your reading during the year, and your news items, for which we are extremely grateful.

 

Happy New Year for all of the team at GTN.  After such a traumatic year, let’s hope 2021 is a prosperous year for UK garden centres!

 

Ranking

Story

1

Garden Centres close their doors "We want to be part of stopping the spread of Coronavirus" - GTN Xtra - Issue 12 2020

2

Trading update from this weekend - UPDATED - GTN Xtra - Issue 11 2020

3

Garden centres in England and Scotland can stay open - now is the time to review Covid-19 safety  - GTN Xtra - Issue 43 2020

4

Exeter garden centre stays open but cannot sell plants - Cherry Lane close all centres - GTN Xtra - Issue 13 2020

5

Dobbies remain open and social media gets heated - GTN Xtra - Issue 12 2020

6

After the quietest Easter ever, how are you and your team? - GTN Xtra - Issue 15 2020

7

Green light for garden centres to re-open on Wednesday in England - UPDATED - Comment from James Barnes at HTA and Alan Titchmarsh MBE - GTN Xtra - Issue 19 2020

8

Man dies at Westland factory in Dungannon - GTN Xtra - Issue 23 2020

9

How are suppliers faring during lockdown - Westland, Smart, Evergreen Garden Care and others are getting ready for re-opening of garden centres - GTN Xtra - Issue 16 2020

10

Rising to the Challenge - GTN Xtra - Issue 11 2020

11

Garden centre re-opening gains high attention - GTN Xtra - Issue 17 2020

12

Garden Centres back on the right track - UPDATED - New comment from Barton Grange, Newbank, Langlands and Green Pastures - GTN Xtra - Issue 20 2020

13

St Peters staff in tears after council serves Prohibition Notice - GTN Xtra - Issue 19 2020

14

Wales - Monday, England - Wednesday or June 1st?, Scotland and Northern Ireland? - GTN Xtra - Issue 19 2020

15

LOFA reports severe disruption at UKs three main container ports  - GTN Xtra - Issue 44 2020

16

Mixed plans for garden centre catering re-openings - UPDATED - GTN Xtra - Issue 25 2020

17

Online garden centre retailer apologises to dissatisfied customers - GTN Xtra - Issue 30 2020

18

Safe Trading Guidance for all garden centres published by HTA - GTN Xtra - Issue 17 2020

19

Suttons Seeds acquired by T&M - GTN Xtra - Issue 44 2020

20

First UK visitors to Kaemingk showroom after lockdown - GTN Xtra - Issue 28 2020

21

Monty Don makes headlines slamming garden centres - GTN Xtra - Issue 42 2020

22

Haskins are buying Forest Lodge Garden Centre - GTN Xtra - Issue 4 2020

23

Lockdown 2 leaves garden centre car parks empty after record sales for October - GTN Xtra - Issue 44 2020

24

Pictures from GCA Conference themed-party night - GTN Xtra - Issue 4 2020

25

Getting ready for business - feedback from Coolings, Planters, The Gardens Group, Blue Diamond, Green Pastures, Fron Goch and more - GTN Xtra - Issue 19 2020

26

100% Business Rates Reliefs for Garden Centres Confirmed - GTN Xtra - Issue 11 2020

27

Horticultural Sector Worth £1.4 Billion Could Be Wiped Out By Coronavirus Shut Down In Just Weeks - GTN Xtra - Issue 13 2020

28

"I just don't get how gardening is deemed non-essential then certain supermarkets put big banners with get ready for spring," more post Easter feedback - GTN Xtra - Issue 15 2020

29

Johnsons of Boston Food Hall open today despite major fire in garden centre yesterday - GTN Xtra - Issue 14 2020

30

Kaemingk to open UK showroom - GTN Xtra - Issue 43 2020

31

British Garden Centres make it 58 with acquisition of Thatcham - GTN Xtra - Issue 35 2020

32

Not your average garden centre - Dobbies launch Christmas Ad Campaign - GTN Xtra - Issue 44 2020

33

Klondyke Group acquire Garden Wise Plant and Garden Centre, Dumfries - GTN Xtra - Issue 4 2020

34

"Open For Business: Lessons Learned from Lockdown and The First Week of Trading" webinar today at 5:00pm - GTN Xtra - Issue 20 2020

35

Pop up Veg shops - Garden Centres help ease pressure on buying fresh food - GTN Xtra - Issue 12 2020

36

Marlows , Bury St Edmunds, to close due to Coronavirus trading conditions - GTN Xtra - Issue 23 2020

37

Calling all businesses in garden retailing to sign HTA/RHS/NFU petition - GTN Xtra - Issue 13 2020

38

It’s a sell out! - GTN Xtra - Issue 22 2020

39

Garden centres receive top awards at GCA conference - GTN Xtra - Issue 4 2020

40

Dobbies close their centres this morning - GTN Xtra - Issue 12 2020

41

Blue Diamond report £14.4m profit from 42% increased sales of £181.6m - GTN Xtra - Issue 24 2020

42

FREE E-commerce Web Site for Garden Centres - GTN Xtra - Issue 14 2020

43

Dobbies’ Swansea reopened - GTN Xtra - Issue 19 2020

44

Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Peacocks up for sale - GTN Xtra - Issue 37 2020

45

“Stay Alert” - make sure your customers and staff have a safe and enjoyable garden centre experience - GTN Xtra - Issue 19 2020

46

Year on year sales deficit halved in four weeks - GTN Xtra - Issue 23 2020

47

Blue Diamond Awards Shine Brightly - GTN Xtra - Issue 11 2020

48

"Every single thing we do is driven at the moment by trying to manage the risk to customers and staff" - GTN Xtra - Issue 47 2020

49

Celebrity joins fight to prevent garden centre closure - GTN Xtra - Issue 8 2020

50

Spring Fair to be replaced by "Spring Fair @Home" on the Spring Fair website - GTN Xtra - Issue 44 2020

51

It’s like Christmas, only bigger! - GTN Xtra - Issue 22 2020

52

British Garden Centres open their 58th centre at Thatcham - GTN Xtra - Issue 43 2020

53

A Perfect Storm Hits the Garden Market - GTN Xtra - Issue 46 2020

54

Tackling the big garden industry issue: growing media and peat...what happens next? - GTN Xtra - Issue 9 2020

55

For sale - A long Established Garden Centre Business - GTN Xtra - Issue 13 2020

56

The lockdown gardeners – who are they and how do we keep them? - GTN Xtra - Issue 40 2020

57

Barton Grange and Fron Goch win top GCA Awards - GTN Xtra - Issue 4 2020

58

Glee and Pawexpo 2020 at the NEC will not take place this year - GTN Xtra - Issue 25 2020

59

Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour - GTN Xtra - Issue 45 2020

60

Winnersh Garden Centre partly re-opens after floods - GTN Xtra - Issue 8 2020

61

Pughs cancel their award winning Christmas Grotto for 2020 - GTN Xtra - Issue 28 2020

62

We need centres re-opened, says Sun legend Peter Seabrook - GTN Xtra - Issue 18 2020

63

Dobbies sign up on new site that will be the biggest Dobbies in the South West - GTN Xtra - Issue 22 2020

64

Tributes for Ernest Wertheim, the original Garden Centre Guru - GTN Xtra - Issue 31 2020

65

Hayes Garden World announce sad passing of Elizabeth Hayes - GTN Xtra - Issue 3 2020

66

Analogue survival for garden centres in a digital world - GTN Xtra - Issue 16 2020

67

Fire at Millbrook Gravesend destroys compost and furniture - GTN Xtra - Issue 22 2020

68

Neil and Nicci Gow to close Fresh @ Burcot Garden Centre - GTN Xtra - Issue 26 2020

69

Dobbies Christmas trading up by 44% - GTN Xtra - Issue 2 2020

70

Container issues continue to escalate at UK ports - watch ITV News Video featuring Steven Potter at Glencrest  - GTN Xtra - Issue 48 2020

71

Alver Valley Garden Centre gets green light - GTN Xtra - Issue 48 2020

72

Garden Centre sales reach record levels 2 weeks after re-opening - GTN Xtra - Issue 21 2020

73

Royal visit sends garden centre media coverage into the stratosphere - GTN Xtra - Issue 24 2020

74

AMES has ambitious targets in 2020  - GTN Xtra - Issue 4 2020

75

New Investors and re-structure at Fountasia - GTN Xtra - Issue 27 2020

76

Orderly queues form as garden centres in England re-open - GTN Xtra - Issue 19 2020

77

How lucky we are! - GTN Xtra - Issue 35 2020

78

"New Gardeners", how are garden centres reacting to them, or not... - GTN Xtra - Issue 41 2020

79

John Lewis looks to expand into horticulture - GTN Xtra - Issue 31 2020

80

Great start to the New Year, reports GTN Bestsellers - GTN Xtra - Issue 3 2020

81

Caulders buys Loch Lomond Homes & Gardens - GTN Xtra - Issue 3 2020

82

Customers saddened by garden centre closure - GTN Xtra - Issue 33 2020

83

Sustainability - Doing nothing is dangerous - GTN Xtra - Issue 6 2020

84

Anything and everything being purchased for the garden - GTN Xtra - Issue 24 2020

85

Garden Centre Opportunities..from around the world - GTN Xtra - Issue 14 2020

86

New benchmark for summer sales - GTN Xtra - Issue 30 2020

87

Perrywood plan for major re-development at Sudbury - GTN Xtra - Issue 36 2020

88

Is selling online the future for garden centres? - GTN Xtra - Issue 48 2020

89

Garden centre sales increase despite all other retail re-opening - GTN Xtra - Issue 24 2020

90

Rosebourne appoint Carol Paris as Chief Executive - GTN Xtra - Issue 17 2020

91

Best year on record for garden centre volume sales - GTN Xtra - Issue 2 2020

92

Bird food company fined £50k over accident that led to finger amputations - GTN Xtra - Issue 2 2020

93

When it rains... sales fall.  Garden centre business as normal... - GTN Xtra - Issue 40 2020

94

Face covers are bestsellers in advance of becoming compulsory - GTN Xtra - Issue 27 2020

95

Horticulture hits the national and local headlines - GTN Xtra - Issue 14 2020

96

Lockdown 2 hits sales, but volumes still ahead of last year - GTN Xtra - Issue 44 2020

97

Garden centre and nursery faces uncertain future - GTN Xtra - Issue 35 2020

98

Open For Business: Lessons Learned from Lockdown and The First Week of Trading. Watch the webinar replay now - GTN Xtra - Issue 21 2020

99

Garden Re-Leaf Day 2020 is a FUNdraising success - GTN Xtra - Issue 11 2020

100

Plans to build 200 homes on garden centre site rejected - GTN Xtra - Issue 7 2020

No 1 Most Read Story 2020 - Garden Centres close their doors "We want to be part of stopping the spread of Coronavirus"
From GTN Xtra - Issue 12 2020

It's been a sanguine day in the GTN Xtra office as notification after notification has come in from garden centres who have taken the huge decision to close their doors either at the start of today or as business closes tonight/tomorrow...


It's been a sanguine day in the GTN Xtra office as notification after notification has come in from garden centres who have taken the huge decision to close their doors either at the start of today or as business closes tonight/tomorrow.

 

At Perrywood, Simon Bourne said "It was a decision based purely on social conscious.  We want to be part of stopping the spread of the Coronavirus rather than possibly contributing to the passing on.

 

"At the weekend too many customers were using the centre as a place to be rather than just a place to shop and staff were getting increasingly nervous," he added.

 

The list of centres to announce closures either today or at the end of tomorrow includes:  

 

Aylett Nurseries

Barton Grange

Baytree

Ben Reid

British Garden Centres

Burston

Caulders

Cranswick

Downtown

Klondyke

Knights Nags Hall & Betchworth

Millbrook

Palmers

Perrywood

Planters

Poplars

Rosebank

Silverbirch

Squires

Stewarts

Sunnyside

Sunshine

The Old Orchard

Torwood

Trowell

Waterside

Webbs

 

As I write this update, many more centres are staying open and promoting gardening for kids and arranging deliveries, but they are also planning for the future and a possible lockdown instruction from the government.

 

Please do use the comments link below to add your thoughts and ideas.  Or e-mail me: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk.

 

Stay safe and go well.

 
No 2 Most Read Story 2020 - Trading update from this weekend - UPDATED
From GTN Xtra - Issue 11 2020

As garden centres trade through the first weekend after the move to the Delay Phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, GTN Xtra has been asking garden centre managers and owners how trading has been this weekend and about their thoughts for the coming weeks...


As garden centres trade through the first weekend after the move to the Delay phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, GTN Xtra has been asking garden centre managers and owners how trading has been this weekend and about their thoughts for the coming weeks.

 

Martin Stewart told GTN Xtra that the two supermarkets close to their Christchurch centre had been busy all weekend with shelves cleared out as customers stocked up.  "It's just like pre-Christmas food shopping here but we still had a fantastic day yesterday.  With the rain today if the situation was normal we would be saying the weather is deterring people.

 

"At Abbey where there are no supermarkets nearby we were 30% up last week.

 

"I have one wish that is places like us are able to keep trading, we can cope with a spring that is 10% down but we don't want the panic of all shops being closed down. We can run our business leanly if need be and hopefully garden centres will continue to be seen as safe places to be."

 

Nigel Long at Longacres has tlod GTN Xtra on Wednesday morning: "We have seen some large increases in various departments ,but especially in household ,food and gardening.  Customers look like that they are stock piling just in case that they have been told to self-isolate.

"We've also had a large increase on local deliveries across all departments.  Catering yesterday dropped off the cliff and we will try and promote take away coffees and teas from now on.

"Let hope things get better soon.

 

At Bents Garden And Home, Matthew Bent says: ""Food sales are doing really well, especially meat and essentials.   Plants, compost, seeds, edibles are really flying, customers are getting ready to spend time in their garden at home.

 

"We have put extra ranges of products in and more stock on the shop floor. In the restaurants there has been a big downturn and we've been widening between tables, reminding customers in the queues to leave space and the numbers have reduced massively."

 

Gerald Ingram at Planters sent us this update on Monday morning: "Trade has been very strong for the past week although the restaurants actually traded down slightly. We get the impression people are stocking up on essentials like compost, seeds and veg plants. This week last year saw a big upswing
because of the weather being dramatically better so we may not match the figures, but that’s a weather issue not COVID 19."

 

Sam Bosworth in the Midlands reports: "Trade is still down on 2019, but up on 2018. Trade year to date to the end of week 10 in 2020 is 22% up on 2018, but 5% down on 2019. 

 

"The weather is still currently a bigger influence than COVID-19, it is raining as I look outside now at a quiet car park, but the virus is really big long term issue to us and the trade. We have spent this morning looking at scenarios and trying to make plans. These include for total closure to retail businesses, closure of restaurants, or just a significant reduction in trade.

 

"Trade is still OK, coffee shops ticking along, but a noticeable difference in demographics. Our Elton store has a significantly older demographic and has already seen catering trade drop off significantly in the week, whereas Burton Latimer has held up better with a younger demograhic."

 

James Ducker at Langlands said: "Trade has been pretty normal over the weekend. The Farm Shop has been really busy and people are spending as usual in the Garden Centre and Coffee Shops."

 

At GCA Garden Centre of the Year, Fron Goch, Justin Williams says: "The situation seems very fluid with public opinion changing quickly. We are seeing the supermarkets being very very busy with people stocking up at the moment.

 

"Last week we did manage to match last year. But yesterday the restaurant was approx 25% down on transaction numbers against last weekend and it looks like today could be between 40-50% down transaction numbers wise in the restaurant against last year."

 

It was a different picture at Poplars in Toddington where Alastair Jackson commented: "Our restaurant was busy this weekend and footfall in general was excellent but lots of those people were just browsing or whiling away time. I think its all this talk of a possible lockdown.  People want to get out while they think they still can!"

 

Across the big groups, Blue Diamond's Alan Roper said: "I was concerned because it felt quiet in the centres especially on budget day. However I've had some numbers in for Monday to Friday for some of the sites and they are up."

 

British Garden Centres said they had a slow start yesterday morning but the day picked up well by lunchtime and at Dobbies, CEO Graeme Jenkins has reported: "Trade has been very good, with strong like-for-likes across plants, gardening, food hall and pet categories in particular."

 

In Scotland, Colin Barrie of Caulders told GTN Xtra: "We are concerned as the current situation develops.  The last 3 days have seen a noticeable decline in our coffee shops, yesterday was around 30% down on expected revenue. That said, the weather has also been against us in Scotland.

 

"I think over the coming days we will see older people staying at home as the fear factor and self isolation set in. The garden centre side of the business never gets going in Scotland until the second half of March so it’s difficult to judge where the effect on this is at present.

 

"Without being too pessimistic, I think this will be our most difficult season ahead in our 21 years in business..... hopefully the government will support independent businesses and allow them to survive it!"

 

Meanwhile at Groves in Bridport, Charlie Grove (pictured above) has found stocks of Christmas loo rolls which they have put out on sale to help alleviate that shortage and give customers some light relief too.  "Look what we found in the stockroom to bring out to the shop! Loads of (Christmas) loo roll!" he says on their Facebook page.

 

"Perfect for cheering up your bathroom in an emergency!

 

"Don’t forget you can always phone through orders for local delivery if you find you can't get out so you can stay fully stocked with all of your gardening and pet needs.

 

"Take care everyone."

No 3 Most Read Story 2020 - Garden centres in England and Scotland can stay open - now is the time to review Covid-19 safety
From GTN Xtra - Issue 43 2020

Following news that garden centres in England and Scotland can remain open, HTA President Boyd Douglas-Davies, has called upon garden centres to work to the highest standards of Covid-19 safe policies and to review everything now before the month long lockdown in England begins or areas in Scotland move into Tier 4...


Following news that garden centres in England and Scotland can remain open, HTA President Boyd Douglas-Davies has called upon garden centres to work to the highest standards of Covid-19 safe policies and to review everything now before the month long lockdown in England begins or areas in Scotland move into Tier 4.

 

Boyd told GTN Xtra this morning: "I'm delighted that Westminster has recognised the beneficial part garden centres played in the initial lockdown. The provision of gardening and other products has allowed many millions of people to spend a more fruitful time at home than they would have done without us. This has played a significant part in our continued recognition as an essential sector.

 

"Throughout this difficult year the horticulture industry has behaved with great integrity and provided a safe environment for staff and customers alike. It is now, more than ever, really important that we continue to work to the highest standards and ensure that our covid safe policies are adhered to. Garden Centres should review everything now and prepare to be very busy over the next month.

 

The team at the HTA have been brilliant and I thank them all for working so hard on all our behalf. "

Last night James Clark, Director of Policy and Communications at the HTA said: “The announcement to keep garden centres open in England during lockdown is a huge relief and very welcome for members – not only garden centres, but for those in the supply chain. We have been making the case to the Government in England in the last few months and of course today on why garden centres should be classified as ‘essential’ retail in lockdown. Credit to those in Government for this massively significant decision.

 

"Garden centres offer an airy and open retail environment, providing one of the safest retail environments. It’s important for garden centres to continue to reassert the exemplar social distancing and safe trading measures they have put in place.

 

"Garden centres staying open will benefit everyone across the country bringing much needed mental and physical benefits as people have to stay at home. It brings some joy at Christmas in these very difficult times for our country. Our sector is an economic driver for the UK - this decision allows us to help the country out of any economic downturn.

 

"This announcement, alongside the decision in Scotland on Friday, will support our efforts in Wales to make sure garden centres are listed as ‘essential’ for any future lockdown decisions there."

 

Garden centres to be classed as ‘essential’ in Scottish Tier 4

The Scottish Government has confirmed that Scottish garden centres have been listed as ‘essential retail’ in the Health Protection (Coronavirus)(Restrictions and Requirements)(Local Levels)(Scotland) Regulations 20202 in the event of Tier 4 restrictions being introduced and therefore able to continue trading, with strict social distancing measures in place.

 

James Clark said: “This decision is hugely significant for the Scottish horticulture industry. It is the culmination of work by the HTA to highlight the importance of horticulture, bringing much needed confidence to the Scottish industry and gardeners across Scotland. It protects the industry and supports wellbeing during any future lockdowns. 

 

"We support the Government’s efforts to control and eliminate COVID. We have always said that the large airy and open infrastructure of garden centres, alongside implementing first class and tailored safe trading measures, provide one of the safest retail environments. Our members will continue to enact these robust and exemplar social distancing actions."

No 4 Most Read Story 2020 - Exeter garden centre stays open but cannot sell plants - Cherry Lane close all centres
From GTN Xtra - Issue 13 2020

After trading through the first week of the emergency lockdown Cherry Lane Garden Centres have now closed.  Plants Galore in Exeter, after being served with a prohibition notice, have been allowed to carry on selling hardware and pet products but not plants...


After trading through the first week of the emergency lockdown Cherry Lane Garden Centres have now closed.  Plants Galore in Exeter, after being served with a prohibition notice, have been allowed to carry on selling hardware and pet products but not plants.

 

The East Devon News reported last week:  "Plants Galore, in Topsham Road, near Countess Wear, Exeter, became one of the first business in the UK to be served notice of an offence under new Health Protection regulations that came into law this week to protect the public from coronavirus – including shutting non-essential shops and retail outlets.

 

"The notice said the branch had continued to open to the public as a garden centre and must stop immediately.

 

"The notice was served after Exeter City Council received complaints from members of the public.

 

"The council said the store can continue to operate ‘via electronic means’ and function as a store for other permitted items."

 

Read the full report at https://eastdevonnews.co.uk/2020/03/28/exeter-plants-galore-garden-centre-is-one-of-first-businesses-in-uk-served-with-prohibition-notice-for-staying-open-during-coronavirus-lockdown/

 

Plants Galore owner Tony Joyner told GTN Xtra "I've had to cordon off all my plants.  Why then are Aldi, just 500m up the road still allowed to sell plants?"

 

The 14 strong Cherry Lane Garden Centres, part of the QD Stores Group, closed all of their centres at the end of the day on Monday.  GTN Xtra understands that police were asking customers in some centre car parks why they were out shopping for non essential items.

 

At The Barn Garden Centre in Peterborough on Sunday they were only allowing 15 people into the centre at any one time and customers were shopping for gardening supplies, pet supplies and food items.  All other product lines normally stocked by the garden centre were also available for sale.

No 5 Most Read Story 2020 - Dobbies remain open and social media gets heated
From GTN Xtra - Issue 12 2020

After last nights statement from the Prime Minister Dobbies garden centres have decided to stay open, citing that 70% of their turnover represents essential goods...


After last nights statement from the Prime Minister Dobbies garden centres have decided to stay open, citing that 70% of their turnover represents essential goods according to government guidance.

 

So far GTN Xtra has not found any other garden centres that have opened for business today, apart from those only offering local delivery services from phoned in orders.

 

Following Dobbies posts on Facebook and Twitter this morning there have been thousands of comments from customers and other members of the industry.  You can read some of the comments by going to the Dobbies Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=dobbies%20garden%20centre&epa=SEARCH_BOX

 

Normally we would have popped out to Dobbies Peterborough to take some photos of how the Dobbies team are managing the social distancing etc, but as we are on lockdown too we decided that would count as non essential travel.

 

We've asked Dobbies for a comment but as we publish this update we've not heard back yet.  Watch this space.

Who will be the winners in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards? There's still time to enter before the New Years Eve closing date

There's still time, just, to get your entries and nominations in for The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Teams of 2020.  Entries close at midnight on New Years Eve...


There's still time, just, to get your entries and nominations in for The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Teams of 2020.  Entries close at midnight on New Years Eve.

 

With over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won, plus the glory, fame and local publicity for being at GTN's Greatest Awards winner it really is worth spending a few minutes to get your entry in to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk.

 

Full details of all the categories can be found using this link, and here in GTN's December issue is a sneak preview at some of the entries received early in December as the issue went to press.  Good luck!

 

 

GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer reviews 2020 with Peter Seabrook

On Christmas Eve, Peter Seabrook invited GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer to review 2020 with a focus on garden centres as part of his Sun Gardening,This Week in The Garden, Podcast...


 

On Christmas Eve, Peter Seabrook invited GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer to review 2020 with a focus on garden centres as part of his Sun Gardening,This Week in The Garden, Podcast. Listen to the podcast here or click below:

 

 
The New Environmentalist - Nature will become ‘second nature’ to future generations

The ‘Sustainability Trend’ really isn’t a trend and those that do should stop referring to it as such. The global pandemic has fast-forwarded this movement by five years... 

 

GTN's Sustainability Directory 2021 is available to read on-line now and will arrive with the December issue of GTN this week.


The ‘Sustainability Trend’ really isn’t a trend and those that do should stop referring to it as such.

 

Following the events of 2020 it’s crucial that some time is spent by everyone focusing on the new-significance of sustainability, the environment and climate change. It’s also crunch-time for all businesses to get real about their part in finding and implementing a solution.

 

The global pandemic has fast-forwarded this movement by five years...  Read the full article in the 2021 edition of GTN's Sustainability Directory that is being delivered this week with the December issue of GTN.  If you ca't wait for your copy to arrive you can read it on-line here:

 

Over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards

They’re back, all be it in a virtual form.  GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are back for 2020 to celebrate all that’s great about garden centres at Christmas through the pages of GTN and the GTN Xtra e-mail newsletter and now we can announce there's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won:

  • The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team – Sponsored by Woodlodge - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team – Sponsored by GTN Bestsellers -subscriptions worth £580 for the winner
  • The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team – Sponsored by Garden Radio – 1 years’ service with bespoke messages, worth over £500 for the winner
  • The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – Sponsored by SOLEX - 2 x Hotel Rooms at SOLEX 2021 for the winner
  • The Greatest Christmas Pets Team – Sponsored by Smart Garden Products, Zöon -£500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Christmas Community/Charity Initiative – Sponsored by Kaemingk – A display from their UK showroom for the winner
  • The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea – Sponsored by Glee – 2 x Hotel Rooms at Glee 2021 for the winner
  • The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video – Sponsored by Premier Decorations - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team – Sponsored by Elho - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Display Team – Sponsored by Global Journey - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by DCUK - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team - Sponsored by Ascalon - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Kaemingk- A display from their UK showroom for the winner
  • The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team Sponsored by Festive - £500 stock for the winner

They’re back, all be it in a virtual form.  GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are back for 2020 to celebrate all that’s great about garden centres at Christmas through the pages of GTN and the GTN Xtra e-mail newsletter and now we can announce there's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won:

  • The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team – Sponsored by Woodlodge - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team – Sponsored by GTN Bestsellers -subscriptions worth £580 for the winner
  • The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team – Sponsored by Garden Radio – 1 years’ service with bespoke messages, worth over £500 for the winner
  • The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – Sponsored by SOLEX - 2 x Hotel Rooms at SOLEX 2021 for the winner
  • The Greatest Christmas Pets Team – Sponsored by Smart Garden Products, Zöon -£500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Christmas Community/Charity Initiative – Sponsored by Kaemingk – A display from their UK showroom for the winner
  • The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea – Sponsored by Glee – 2 x Hotel Rooms at Glee 2021 for the winner
  • The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video – Sponsored by Premier Decorations - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team – Sponsored by Elho - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Display Team – Sponsored by Global Journey - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by DCUK - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team - Sponsored by Ascalon - £500 stock for the winner
  • The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Kaemingk- A display from their UK showroom for the winner
  • The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team Sponsored by Festive - £500 stock for the winner

It's simple to take part, all you have to do is start taking photos of your displays and ideas now, remember to include a photo of the team, send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk, and we'll get back to you with more details.  We're also raising money for Greenfingers Charity to help create more gardens at Children's Hospices during 2021.

 

Here's more detail about the categories for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2020

  • Very important – As GTN’s Greatest Awards are all about the great teams of people working in garden centres we do need a photo of the team involved in every entry!

    The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team – Who has been “The Greatest” at maximising houseplant sales in the run up to Christmas 2020? What new houseplant merchandising ideas have you implemented this year?

    The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team – Which Outdoor Plant Sales team has been The Greatest at making the most of plant sales this Autumn and Winter?  Who has been the most creative in making real Christmas Tree purchases a great event despite the social distancing?

    The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team – As festive food sales in garden centres continue to grow, which garden centre team has been The Greatest at creating sumptuous Festive Food displays and maximising sales?

    The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – Who has made the most of the great opportunity to sell BBQ’s, firepits, canopies, outside heaters and garden furniture during this pandemic Christmas season?

    The Greatest Christmas Pets Team – We all love to spoil our pets at Christmas, so which garden centre Pets team have been The Greatest at merchandising pet products and services for Christmas 2020?

    The Greatest Christmas Community or Charity Initiative – Christmas is a time for giving, so this Award is for the garden centre team who have executed The Greatest Christy fundraising activity or local initiative that gives back to the community.

    The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea – This year more than ever, Social Media has played such an important part in every garden centres marketing activity.  But who has created and executed The Greatest Christmas Social Media campaign?

    The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video – The Christmas Video headlines may go to John Lewis but which garden centre has been super great in creating their very own Christmas video as part of their marketing activity?

    The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team – With an estimated 3 million new gardeners this year there has never been a better time to merchandise gardening products as Christmas gifts.  Which garden centre Garden Care team has put their ‘Christmas jumpers’ on and really sold gardening to customers through the festive period?

    The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Team – Being able to trade through Lockdown 2 meant every garden centre had to be at the top of its game for creating and maintaining a Covid safe retailing environment.  This special award will go to the team that went that extra mile to make customers and staff feel really safe.

    The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team – Who are The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Team overall from a garden centre that is part of a group of 10 or more centres?  The judges will be looking at your photo tour or video to see how you’ve made the most of Christmas as part of your garden centre group.

    The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team – In many ways small garden centres can have the real creative edge at Christmas so this award is for the team who made Christmas extra special for their customers in a small garden centre.  Send your photo tour now, plus a photo of the team of course!

    The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team – Probably the most competitive category in The Greatest Christmas Awards, which mid-sized garden centre team has made the most of Christmas and maximised sales despite all the social distancing requirements?

    The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team – Which of the large garden centres teams are The Greatest at Christmas in 2020.  Send us your photo tour and make sure you include all your Christmas areas and the teams as the judges will be looking at overall Christmas merchandising, not just your Christmas displays.

    The Greatest Christmas Supplier – This is an award that every garden centre who makes an entry in one of the categories above will have a chance to vote for.  It’s simply for the Christmas supplier they feel has been The Greatest for their business in this unique year.

We all love to see other centres displays and ideas, especially at Christmas, and as Lockdown 2 and now Tier 4 travel restrictions make that difficult what better way to provide a solution for everyone than inviting garden centres to submit their own photos and videos as part of GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards.

 

The closing date for entries is Thursday December 31st, after which our panel of esteemed Greatest Christmas Awards judges, including Santa himself, Roger Crooks, along with his Christmas Elves: Steve Myatt, Andy Campbell, Trevor Pfeiffer, et al will sift through all of the entries and make further enquiries as necessary before the results are announced in GTN Xtra 24th January 2021 and as part of GTN’s January issue which includes our first ever Christmas Products Directory.

 

STOP PRESS:  The winners of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2021 will now be announced live during Glee's Festive Focus Day on Thursday 21st January.  See gleebirmingam.com for more details

 

So, what are you waiting for, get snapping, remember to take a photo of the team, and send an e-mail today to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk to get your entry registered.

 

See a sneak preview of some early entries in GTN's December issue, out this week, and on-line here:

 

 

 
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Stax emerges strong from a trying year

Stax Trade Centres’ dedication to helping keep the supply chain open in 2020 has paid dividends, as the company’s annual financial reports revealed a strong and profitable performance despite the year’s challenges...

 

 


Stax Trade Centres’ dedication to helping keep the supply chain open in 2020 has paid dividends, as the company’s annual financial reports revealed a strong and profitable performance despite the year’s challenges. Stax is a leading supplier to the UK gardening and hardware sector.

 

The report shows that in the year ending 29th August 2020, turnover reached £135.4 million (up from £116.0 million the previous year) whilst an operating profit of £4.6 million (up from £0.2 million the previous year) was achieved. The EBITDA also grew to £5.7 million (up from £1.2 million in 2019).

 

“We are delighted that the figures reflect the tremendous amount of work we have put in and the strong and stable position in which the business now finds itself,” comments Joint Managing Director David Hibbert, pictured above.

 

“Despite the difficult trading conditions that have prevailed for much of this year we have grown our overall sales, significantly enhanced our cash position and improved our working capital management performance. That has left us in a strong position to face future challenges, which is good news for us, and for the independent retailers and trade professionals across the UK who rely on us for wholesale support.”

 

When the UK was plunged into lockdown back in March, Stax focussed heavily on developing their website and even launched their annual Big Brands Trade Show, in an unprecedented online format, in response to pandemic restrictions.

 

Increased consumer spending across a series of key product categories reflected the full-year trading impact of various business developments such as the acquisition of ironmongery supplier MP Smith & Co, and a new Solus distribution agreement with gardening products supplier, SBM Life Science. They also confirm that Stax has overcome the effects of a cyber-attack which affected the company early in 2019.

 

“During the pandemic, many of the UK’s hardware stores were deemed as essential suppliers and allowed to remain open,” adds David. “We were, and still are, absolutely committed to keeping supply chains open so that our customers can continue trading, and we’ve been able to achieve that whilst following all the government guidelines to protect our staff and our customers.”

 

David’s also quick to point out that his team has one eye firmly on the future: “The situation regarding the UK’s departure from Europe is obviously still causing uncertainty, but we have been carefully evaluating the impact which this process might have on specific customer and supply chain issues. We feel that these will be manageable, and we have careful plans in place to mitigate any effects on ourselves and our customers.

 

“One thing we can rely on is that new challenges will continue to be thrown at us in the future. However, the figures clearly show that whatever we are faced with, the business is resilient, adaptable and able to come back fitter and stronger than before.”

 

 

Stax is the UK's largest non-food wholesaler and provides genuine trade-only wholesale support for a wide range of independent retailers and tradespeople across the country. It supplies many different market segments, including gardening, hardware, building, decorating, electrical, plumbing, homeware, bathrooms and kitchens.

 

For more information on Stax, visit www.staxtradecentres.co.uk

Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA launch new initiative following Brexit trade deal

Following the announcement of the UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which has been reached by the UK and the European Union, Gardenex, PetQuip and the Commercial Horticultural Association have launched an initiative to help UK companies navigate their way around the new rules in 2021...


Following the announcement of the UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which has been reached by the UK and the European Union, Gardenex, PetQuip and the Commercial Horticultural Association have launched an initiative to help UK companies navigate their way around the new rules in 2021.

 

The three associations will be publishing a series of invaluable trade deal bulletins, designed to give member companies information about how to deal with life outside the EU. 

 

Since the Brexit deal was announced on Christmas Eve, the team at the Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers Ltd have been poring over the 1,250 plus pages of the official document to ensure members receive clear guidance on the route ahead.

 

The first UK/EU trade deal bulletin, containing details of the new arrangements and actions for exporters, has now been sent out to members ahead of the new trading arrangements which come into force on Friday, January 1.

 

The series of bulletins are part of a suite of invaluable information being provided to member companies. The combination of bulletins, industry updates, webinars and the online helpline is providing companies with valuable insights and practical support to help them protect and expand their international sales in a profitable manner following the UK’s exit from the EU.

 

Amanda Sizer Barrett, Director General of the Federation, confirmed: “The last couple of years have seen huge challenges for UK businesses with the uncertainties of Brexit and the current coronavirus pandemic but Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA are here to help.

 

“As members of our associations, companies can benefit from our help and support on all aspects of future exporting and we look forward to continuing to work with businesses to help them increase international sales.

 

“We are looking forward to supporting UK suppliers in the next months to navigate the outcome of the Brexit deal and to seize the undoubted international business opportunities that lie ahead.”

 

Please contact Gardenex, PetQuip or the CHA if you would like to benefit from membership of the associations or require any further advice and assistance on: 

Email: info@gardenex.com; info@petquip.com; info@cha-hort.com

Websites: www.gardenex.com; www.petquip.com; www.cha-hort.com

 
The best of last week's

If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...


Decision to close Scottish garden centres ‘disappointing’

The decision to remove Scottish garden centres from the list of essential retailers, resulting in them being closed from Boxing Day, has been widely criticised...


The decision to remove Scottish garden centres from the list of essential retailers, resulting in them being closed from Boxing Day, has been widely criticised.

 

James Clark, Director of Policy and Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association, said: “The news that Scotland has decided to tighten the definition of what is included as ‘non-essential retail’ to include garden centres is hugely disappointing. Although the new strain of the virus is concerning and clearly something that demands action, we firmly believe garden centres are essential for enabling better mental and physical wellbeing for people who are trying to manage the impact of restrictions on daily life.  

 

“There is little to no evidence that garden centres are a covid transmission risk - in fact they provide large and airy environments, which have been enhanced by the introduction of first-class, tailored social distancing measures - and should be able to stay open. Allowing ‘click and collect’ services provides only the barest of business needs – we know from the last lockdown that only 15-20% of sales were achieved in this way. 

 

 “For Scottish retailers and growers - whose route to market depends on garden centres - going into the key Spring season on the back of a long lockdown period will be hugely damaging to their businesses. Growers are putting planting plans into operation now. We need the Scottish Government to recognise this and take the appropriate action to help safeguard the future of our industry. We will be seeking meetings with Ministers urgently, with a view to getting garden centres open as soon as possible in the new year.”  

 

The Scottish Retail Consortium said shops have taken “every mitigation possible to keep customers and staff as safe as possible.”

 
Local community saves Thetford Garden Centre from flooding

It was all hands to the pump. literally, at Thetford Garden Centre on the eve of Christmas Eve...


It was all hands to the pump. literally, at Thetford Garden Centre on the eve of Christmas Eve.  

 

Torrential downpours caused flooding in the car park and into the garden centre.  In the Eastern Daily Press they reported that owner Lucy Nixon took to facebook for help after all the emergency services were busy elsewhere.  "I was at home and the general manager sent me a video at about 7pm last night and it just got rapidly worse. The team were continuously sweeping the water away trying to keep it from going into the store.  

 

“We were phoning anyone and everyone, insurance companies, fire bridge, anyone who might have a pump, but everyone was out dealing with incidents elsewhere. 

 

“I put the post on the forum and after that people kept turning up to help, which was amazing. 

 

On Christmas Eve the centre was able to say thank you to all who had helped as they were able to open as normal for the last shopping day before Christmas:

 

"THANK YOU to the amazing people of Thetford and near-by and the huge efforts of our team - you arrived in droves and we’ve gone from A to B in no time - the pumps will be running overnight and we WILL BE OPEN tomorrow! - Last day for Lime Kiln Kitchen for awhile before it closes under tier 4 regulations so we weren’t going to miss that! We are so touched by everyone’s generosity tonight - especially on Christmas eve eve."

 
Record entries to popular Illumination Street contest

Illumination Street, sponsored by British Garden Centres Group, has broken all records this festive period with unprecedented media coverage in the Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, Daily Express, Grow Your Own magazine, ITV News and BBC Radio...


 

Illumination Street, sponsored by British Garden Centres Group, has broken all records this festive period with unprecedented media coverage in the Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, Daily Express, Grow Your Own magazine, ITV News and BBC Radio.

 

Coverage of the competition, highlighting the passion, flair and effort invested into front gardens around Britain in the build-up to Christmas, was also broadcast by 58 individual BBC and commercial radio stations, reaching an audience of 2.1 million listeners. 

 

Entries to Illumination Street, which had over £5,000 worth of British Garden Centres gift vouchers to be won, skyrocketed this year. 

 

As the British public took to their streets once again to deck their neighbourhoods with twinkling fairy lights and stunning spectacles, it was great to see so many festively festooned homes. 

 

This Christmas especially, the country needed some joy, so this has been the perfect opportunity to see families and communities come together to create visual delights full of snowmen, reindeers, polar bears, and nutcrackers.

 

From traditional wreaths to musically synchronised experiences, there was a huge variety in the competition this year, which made it hard for the judges to decide on the worthy winners. 

 

The winners were:

 

Large Outdoor Display 

Dan and Mark Warr-Extance of Yeovil, Somerset, were the judge’s top pick. Transforming their bungalow into the Disney Castle, they created a truly stunning display, whilst raising money for charity.

Second place was awarded to Sue and Graham Hawkes. Their annual display is the talk of Almondsbury in Bristol and this year was no different, as they added a touching tribute to the NHS to celebrate their hard work.

Natalie Price, Rotherham was awarded third place for her colourful display.

 

Small Outdoor Display 

In first place was Jonathan Burge, Weston-Super-Mare. He transformed his home into an old toy shop and its brilliance and originality blew the judges away.

Second place was awarded to Kavitha Kirby in Leeds. Her and her partner are both doctors and created a beautiful mythical inspired display to raise money for NHS charities. 

In third place was Mike Baldwin, of Portsmouth, with his synchronised light display.

 

Best Community Display 

The community winner was Hailey’s Christmas Walking Trail. The village of Hailey united and decided to create a cohesive community display. With current restrictions they knew it would have to be an outdoor show, so 46 houses took part in this walking trail, with each displaying a unique festive word.

In second place was Olde Hanwell Advent Window Project, London, for their amazing window advent calendar. With over 200 houses involved, each night a new house lit up their window, adding another window to the display, up until Christmas Eve. 

In joint third place was Bromberrow Way Christmas Lights and Helpston Village Advent. The judges couldn’t decide between the two, so decided to reward them.

 

Best Front Door Display 

In first place with her fully handmade, upcycled display was Mandy Calderon from Thatcham. Her candy land archway was a unique entry, that showed real originality and resourcefulness as it was made from upcycled carboard boxes!

In second place was Julie Murray in Woodbridge and her simply stunning doorway. The judges loved this entry because it showed warmth and really reminded them of Christmas time. 

In third place wass Emma Ross of Inverness with a frosty white display.

 

In the public vote for the Best Front Door Display, first place went to William Jenkinson in Craigavon with his gorgeous Red and White frost display. In second place was Bron Waters, Crowborough, for his traditional front door, and third was Donna Mitchell-Talbot in Wednesbury fopr her handmade Santa wreath and festive garland archway. 

 

Best Children’s Display 

In joint first place was Chewton Common Playgroup, Walkford, and William Law CE Primary School in Dundee.

The children at Chewton made their own snowmen and decided to bring their entire festive display outside because restrictions meant their parents couldn’t visit indoors.

William Law pupils were learning about medicine and the NHS so decided to combine their curriculum with Christmas and made snowmen out of tablet cups. This original and fitting display (right) caught the judges’ eyes.

In second place was Chaucer Junior School whose year 6 bubble made some amazing displays out of recycled materials, including reindeers out of coffee lids. 

In third place was Alice Coad, of Spalding. Inspired by her dad’s outdoor lighting display, Alice wanted to do her own so decorated her chest of drawers with a tree, tinsel and lots of amazing light-up goodies. 

Alice also came third in the public vote, which was won by St Francis Primary School, Dundee, for their Elf your Self wall (pictured below) Second place went to Chewton Common Playgroup.

 

For more information visit www.illuminationstreet.com

 

See the gallery of second and third placed winners below...

 
Christmas decorations made from natural materials
GTN Xtra Promotion

Hogewoning is a specialised company in Christmas decoration, all made from eco-friendly natural materials, this year with a new extensive range of dried flowers...


 

Hogewoning is a specialised company in Christmas decoration, all made from eco-friendly natural materials, this year with a new extensive range of dried flowers. 

 


The company was due to exhibit at the Harrogate Christmas and Gifts in January, but because of the current Covid-19 restrictions there won’t be a show.

 

“Of course, we have a very nice showroom in Holland where you can see all products in real, but we understand that traveling is difficult at the moment,” said a Hogewoning spokesperson.

 

“Because of this we have a catalogue and Webshop where you can see our new range of products for Chfristmas 2021. This year we have done our best to make our Webshop almost as real as you are present in our showroom yourself.”

 

 

“The company will also have a mobile showroom travelling around the UK from January until March where customers can see the products in real.”

 

To book an appointment contact Daan Hogewoning on +31 (0)653431099 or email daan@hogewoning.com. For more information visit www.hogewoning.com

 

Link to brochure: https://indd.adobe.com/view/91da907a-cdae-48aa-b1fe-e44877221ea0

Link to collection video: https://youtu.be/X5NfBrYpdck

 
Get set for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021!
Mark Friday March 19th 2021 in your diaries now!

2021 marks a very special occasion for the annual Garden Re-Leaf Day event as this special FUNdraising day (March 19th, 2021) celebrates its 10th anniversary! Looking rather different to previous years as we navigate a new normal, there’s still a whole host of different ways to get involved in this ever-popular charity day that not only kick starts the gardening season but also raises much needed funds for the Greenfingers Charity...


 

2021 marks a very special occasion for the annual Garden Re-Leaf Day event as this special FUNdraising day (March 19th, 2021) celebrates its 10th anniversary! Looking rather different to previous years as we navigate a new normal, there’s still a whole host of different ways to get involved in this ever-popular charity day that not only kick starts the gardening season but also raises much needed funds for the Greenfingers Charity.

 

Since its inception in 2012, Garden Re-Leaf Day has been a key event within the garden retail calendar. Each year hundreds of people from across the industry, including suppliers and retailers, come together to undertake an incredible series of fundraising events. During the last 9 years the event has raised in excess of £660,000, all of which has gone towards helping the charity design and create gardens in children’s hospices throughout the country.

 

In 2021, Garden Re-Leaf Day, like many events, will take on a virtual element to enable more people to get involved from the comfort of their own homes and offices, and to ensure the necessary social distancing can be maintained. To make things a little easier for individuals and teams working within strict Covid-secure measures, the window of FUNdraising will be extended to the whole of March too. This extra flexibility provides more opportunity for not just the garden retail sector to get involved, but for supporters of the event to enlist the support of friends, family and their local communities, to make the 10th anniversary event the biggest and best yet.

 

As well as great activities in garden centres across the country, the much-loved Sponsored Walk and Cycle Challenge will be shaped differently, with participants invited to walk from their homes, offices or local garden centre. The normal 10 and 20-miles walk and 100- mile cycle goals will remain, though new ideas are welcomed! Why not go floral or dress up in green to generate some buzz in your local area or commit to walking or cycling further throughout the whole of March to raise even more for Greenfingers?! The possibilities are endless.

 

Speaking ahead of Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021, Greenfingers Director of Fundraising and Communications, Linda Petrons, said: “Despite all the current challenges, and with a growing waiting list of hospices that need our help we would love the 10th anniversary of Garden Re-Leaf Day to be the best yet. Over the last decade Garden Re-Leaf has become such an important part of not just our fundraising activities, but also for the garden retail sector as, for many, the event marks the beginning of the key gardening season.

 

“Each year we are blown away by the many ways people support and fundraise for us, and whilst we appreciate we have to do things a little differently, we hope that the 2021 event will be full of unique and exciting activities that will bring us together despite the distance between us all.”

 

How to get involved

Registration for the 2021 event goes live on January 1st, and Greenfingers is also on the lookout for sponsors of the event. From t-shirts to fundraising packs, medals to certificates, there are a wealth of sponsorship opportunities up for grabs. To find out more please contact Linda Petrons by emailing linda@greefingerscharity.org.uk

 

FUNdraising ideas for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021

You will find a host of ideas in the Garden Re-Leaf Fundraising pack but here’s a few ways you can get involved and help Greenfingers to continue creating magical gardens in children’s hospices across the nation:

  1. Plantathons are perfect for generating some buzz instore whilst simultaneously generating more stock and donating to Greenfingers. Previous events have included 12- and 24-hour Plantathons.
  2. Hold a virtual quiz, with a minimum donation for all entrants.
  3. Raffles and tombolas are a great way of getting lots of people involved. Gather prizes from around your store, or ask friends and colleagues to donate prizes, before selling raffle tickets ahead of the grand unveiling of the lucky winner!
  4. Cake sales and coffee mornings – are simple yet effective FUNdraisers.
  5. An online auction is a great way to raise funds and involve your f
  6. Team up with friends and colleagues to complete a virtual walk or cycle challenge. Set yourselves a target – 100 miles for example – and work together to achieve it. Walk around your local area, on a treadmill, whatever it takes! Keep in touch via Zoom to keep the group enthusiasm going!

For more FUNdraising ideas or to obtain a copy of the 2021 fundraising pack drop Linda a line, she’d love to hear from you.

 
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Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour

In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.


In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.

 

To add your garden centre Christmas photo tour to GTN Xtra simply get snapping and enter The Greatest Christmas Awards.  See the categories here.  Send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk for more details

 

 
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Sneak preview of Squires Badshot Lea Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Squires Bashot Lea's Christmas Awards entry photo tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of the photo tour submitted by Squires at Badshot Lea as part of their entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 so get snapping and enter your garden centre team today!

 

Full details are here.

 

 
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
Sneak preview of Perrywoods Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Perrywoods Christmas Awards Entry Photo Tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of Perrywoods photo tour entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards for 2020, including the vital ingredient for all entries, team photos. See the gallery of photos below.  Apologies for the wrong photos being included in yesterdays edition.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards so get snapping and enter today.  Full details can be found here.

 

 
British Garden Centres open their 58th centre at Thatcham

Charles Stubbs, Lewis Fox and Nemanja Tintor, along with the rest of the BGC team, were proud as punch yesterday as their 58th centre at Thatcham in Berkshire opened...


See GTN Xtra's exclusive photo tour of the new centre

Charles Stubbs, Lewis Fox and Nemanja Tintor, along with the rest of the BGC team, were proud as punch yesterday as their 58th centre at Thatcham in Berkshire opened.

 

The centre had been handed back to the landlords during the Wyevale Garden Centres sale of the century in and closed in September 2019 as the owners looked for a new leaseholder.  British Garden Centres took on the site in September 2020 and since then have refreshed the centre, enclosing a walkway at the Restaurant end to allow for extra covers, extending the covered sales area out into the planteria and hard surfacing the overflow car parking area which was previously a field.

 

See GTN Xtra's exclusive photo tour of the new centre below:

 

 
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp

Haskins Garden Centre in Snowhill, Crawley, has opened its doors to customers following a 12-month refurbishment costing £15m...


Read more and see GTN Xtras photo tour of the new centre

Haskins Garden Centre in Snowhill, Crawley, has opened its doors to customers following a 12-month refurbishment costing £15m.

 

The new centre boasts a retail space of 11,813 sq.m., including an outdoor plant area and 440-seat restaurant complete with a newly installed pizza oven. Additional space has also been created to accommodate 170 restaurant guests on an outdoor patio.

 

Up to 70 new jobs have been created to accommodate the centre's expansion. Car parking has increased to 346 spaces.  See GTN Xtra's photo tour of the new centre below.

 

Chief executive Julian Winfield said the Snowhill team worked tirelessly to ensure the centre was able to remain open for the majority of the project, with minimal disruption.

 

“We can't wait to receive our customers' feedback on our new and improved facilities,” he added. “Over the years, we have built a loyal customer following and we are proud to be able to give back to them in this way with our new expanded centre.”

 

Haskins acquired the Snowhill site in 2003, inheriting a number of ageing buildings.

 

Haskins also has centres in Ferndown in Dorset, West End in Southampton and Roundstone in West Sussex. The family business recently acquired Forest Lodge Garden Centre, Bird World and Garden Style in Farnham.

 

Pictured (left to right): Julian Winfield, Jamie Haskins, Ally Haskins (married to Jamie) and Warren Haskins, the group's chairman. 

 

The opening event was attended by the current GCA Chairman Mike Burks and three past Chairs; Warren Haskins, Sue Allen and Julian Winfield.

 

 

 
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts...


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 newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 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 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird & Wildlife Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Products Bestsellers chart for last 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.

 

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

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 £100m.

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@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.