British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Melbicks, a Wyevale Garden Centre, in Birmingham today, talking policies and plantpots with customers and staff.

It's the second Ministerial visit in a fortnight to Wyevale Garden Centres, with George Osborne attending Syon Park earlier in the month.

With just 18 days to go until the election, the Prime Minister was keen to talk to some of the nation’s more than 30 million gardeners.

James Taylor, Centre Manager for Melbicks, a Wyevale Garden Centre, said: “It is always great to share tips with customers, and today was no exception with the Prime Minister stopping by.

"With the sun shining, he commented how the weather was perfect for barbeques and told us he’s a keen herb gardener but admitted he’s a bit behind this year because he has been so busy with other things.”

The Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association’s AGM and Day Conference took place on April 15 at Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre and was attended by over 80 members.

During the AGM proceedings the following appointments were announced:

• Colin Wetherley Mein, National Sales Manager for Vitax was voted in as GIMA President
• Nigel Thompson representing Stewarts has taken on the role of Honorary Treasurer
• Chris Ramsden of Suttons Consumer Products and Richard Pyrah from Kelkay remain in their current posts of Vice President and Honorary Secretary respectively

In addition to the existing council of

• Matt Jackson, Briers Ltd
• Rainer Schubert, The Scotts Miracle-Grow Co. Ltd
• Richard Bence, Treadstone Ltd
• Alan Shepherd, Burgon & Ball Ltd
• David Carey, Mr. Fothergill’s Seeds Ltd
• Kate Ebbens, Cadix Ltd
• Chris Holloway, Apta

Five new council member have been nominated to take on responsibilities of Council Membership representing the views of the members, and they are:

• John Gomersall, Forest Garden Ltd
• Simon McArdle, William Sinclairs Ltd
• Mark Butler, Town & Country Ltd
• Jason Perrins, L G Harris Ltd
• Emma Rogers, Westland Horticulture

This brings the GIMA council to its maximum allowed of 16, creating a strong body of voices to represent the industry for the next year.

In his opening address, Colin Wetherley Mein vowed to continue to build on the work done by Steve Millington, building closer relations with fellow trade associations, reaffirming that a unified trade is what is required whilst so much change takes place in the marketplace.  GIMA continues to go from strength to strength with member numbers on the increase, and is looking to the future with optimism.  GIMA will continue to offer enhanced membership benefits and a full calendar of events offering networking opportunities for buyers and sellers.

The Association also reported a healthy financial position and while a small operating loss was recorded, this was mainly due to the costs of an agreed plan of investment in member benefits.

The GIMA Day Conference that followed included presentations from host CEO and future GCA Chairman Julian Winfield, Haskins Buying Director Conna Powles and Alan Roper, CEO of Blue Diamond.  See the May issue of Garden Trade News for reports on the two different visions of how to run and develop successful garden centre groups that were presented.

Membership of GIMA is open to all manufacturers and suppliers of products to garden retail, with a UK or European base.

For further information about GIMA and the benefits membership brings visit www.gima.org.uk or contact the GIMA office on 01959 564947 or email info@gima.org.uk

Wow, what a week!  After all the concern and worry prompted by the lengthy colder spell of weather – including a really poor Good Friday and Easter Saturday – Easter Monday heralded a bumper week for garden centres providing GTN Bestsellers with EPoS data.

Gardening sales particularly boiled over with growing media up by 125% on the first week of Easter and nearly 50% up on the same week last year. Veg-2-Gro plant sales reached record levels and sales of garden products prompted high levels of re-ordering activity from centres on Tuesday morning.

At the GIMA AGM and Day Conference held this week at Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre suppliers were in good cheer. New GIMA President Colin Weatherley Mein from Vitax told GTN Bestsellers that they had received high re-stocking orders for their newest product 6X.  High sales levels of a product that keen gardeners use is great news when it comes to predicting high levels of growing activity.

2015 could be a bumper year – our all products index may be slightly down on last year currently, but a few more weeks of warm spring weather could inspire many UK gardeners to get out into their gardens and visit garden centres to decorate their plots.

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

• Garden Products – up 12%
• Veg-2-Gro Products – down 1%
• Growing Media – down 29%
• All items index – up 35%

Everything gardening is looking rosy after the Easter Bank Holiday. All but one of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers saw week on week sales increases with really high risess across weed controls, pots, tools, lawn care and hanging basket products.

Star performers include:

• Scotts Roundup Fast Action Ready To Use 1 litre is the highest chart climber, up 39 places.
• Gardman Hanging Basket Coco Liners, 30 cm, are the highest re-entry at No 14.
• Apta’s 13cm Verona Standard Pot has a sales increase of over 400%.

It has been confirmed that Hozelock, one of the most recognisable garden care and watering brands in the UK today, is set to make its return to Glee in 2015, following a break of several years.

The global specialists in garden watering solutions, Hozelock will be a must-see part of 2015 show. Come September the company will be using Glee to showcase its 2016 product introductions and versatile ranges across its garden watering, weed control and aquatics collections. 

i2i’s Matthew Mein, Glee event manager said: “The rumours are true – Hozelock is back at Glee 2015! We’re obviously incredibly pleased to be welcoming them back to the show, not only because they will be bringing an unrivalled selection of garden watering products with them, but their presence also demonstrates the strength of Glee’s revised offering today. 

“Hozelock’s return comes at a time of growth for Glee. The 2014 show was a huge success, and saw Glee step out of the shadow of its previous incarnation and emerge as a refreshed, revitalised and harder working show than ever before. It is great to see that the changes we’re making are appealing to those brands that may not have seen value in exhibiting at Glee in recent years. 

"Being able to welcome so many of them back is testament to the hard work and ongoing commitment to change that underpins all our development plans for the show. I’ve no doubt that the return of Hozelock will add an exciting new element to Glee’s overall offering, whilst also providing retailers with even more reasons to make visiting the show an essential part of their year.”

Commenting on its return to Glee, Hozelock’s Carol Wright, Marketing Manager said: “As the UK’s number one garden watering brand, we are delighted to be attending Glee once again.

"It is an ideal platform for our 2016 new product launches, so visitors can experience first-hand the real innovation that they have come to expect from Hozelock.

"With our British manufacturing heritage, unrivalled development expertise and true passion for gardening, we can promise exciting times ahead for retailers.”

Founded in 1959, Hozelock is a leading British manufacturer of gardening products and one of the UK’s favourite gardening brands. Its annual turnover is £100m and it has 500 employees. With over half a century of horticultural expertise, Hozelock understands the rewards of gardening and continues to manufacture over 75% of its products at its factory in Midpoint Park, Birmingham. 

For more information visit www.gleebirmingham.com. 

Wyevale Garden Centres has been shortlisted, along with its partners Biffa and Good Values, as a finalist for this year’s MRW National Recycling Award, in the category of ‘Best Partnership Project’.

WGC has partnered with Biffa and Good Values to implement a colleague engagement scheme to improve operational sustainability.

The partnership worked to identify a number of methods to drive recycling across 140 garden centres and reduce waste, including a “Recycle it Right” education campaign, creating e-learning modules and appointing a task force of WGC colleagues to act as ‘Environment Champions’ to drive the programme forward and share knowledge across WGC’s garden centres.

The effort has engaged and empowered WGC’s 5,600-strong workforce and resulted in excellent improvements to operational sustainability and waste management efficiency.

As result of this partnership WGC has achieved a recycling rate of almost 70%, a great improvement on the 39% before the start of this project, with further plans to exceed an 80% recycling rate within the next 12 months.

The partnership also drove efforts for clothes collection and helped raise funds for Marie Curie contributing to the total sum of over £230,000, which has been raised in just 10 months of the partnership. 

WGC’s work with Good Values has enabled the company to embed sustainability values throughout the business, a driving force behind these results and a cornerstone of WGC’s corporate responsibility policies.

Stephen Murphy, Chairman of WGC, said: “We believe that playing a leading role in addressing social and environmental challenges will give us a competitive advantage, and provides a clear benefit for employees, customers, suppliers and the other people our business touches.

"This partnership has delivered tangible achievements in pursuit of these goals and we are proud of the progress we have made. While we are still early in our sustainability journey, we are thrilled to be a finalist for the National Recycling Awards and proud of our colleagues’ efforts to embed long-term sustainable practices into the core of our way of working.”

Jacquie Irvine, Good Values Founder said:  “Even though we come from three different companies, Good Values, Wyevale Garden Centres and Biffa work together as one team, with one shared objective. Our success is down to the unique skill set each partner brings to the table and how we work together to make our vision a reality.”

WGC believes gardens are intrinsically linked to the environment and play a key part in supporting local communities and more sustainable lifestyles. Through its ‘Growing Together’ corporate responsibility plan, developed in partnership with Good Values, WGC works with its employees, suppliers and British gardeners to be a catalyst for positive change in the horticulture industry and to help address some of the environmental and social challenges that face Britain today. ‘Growing Together’ has four pillars: ‘Nurturing our colleagues’, ‘Protecting our planet’, ‘Sourcing with care’ and ‘Strengthening our communities’.

A special spring flower mosaic made of Dutch bulb flowers was unveiled at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew  this week,  commemorating 70 years since the liberation of the Netherlands

Named ‘Flags of Liberty’, the display is a Dutch thank-you to the Allied Forces. The mosaic of 10 sq.m., made up of 36,000 bulb flowers, was designed by Jan Guldemond, former head designer at the Keukenhof bulb gardens. The bulbs were supplied by JUB Holland.

The colourful display on the foot of the iconic Palm House depicts the British and Dutch flags flying in the wind, celebrating liberty. At the unveiling, the flowers had just started blooming and the display should be blossoming for the next few weeks.

The symbolic handover of the flower mosaic took place was made to Major (Rtd) Kenneth Mayhew (98),  who received from the Dutch Ambassador, Laetitia van den Assum, a beautiful bunch of Liberation Tulips. Major Mayhew is the oldest living carrier of the Military Willemsorde, the Dutch equivalent of the Victoria Cross, an honour he received for his role in the Liberation of the Netherlands in 1944-45. The other veterans who attended, including Major (Rtd) Maurice Hewitt, who fought in the Netherlands in WW II and a group of Chelsea Pensioners, also received a Liberation Tulip.  Apart from the veterans there was also military representation from the Netherlands, the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Canada. The German Military Attaché was present to emphasize the importance of peace, liberty and reconciliation.

A group of pupils of three local schools working on a project around freedom and reconciliation were present at the ceremony and had a chance to talk to the veterans about their experiences.

Deco-Pak has announced it is making the necessary investments to ensure that 2015 is its strongest year yet.

The company’s largest investment is within its onsite manufacturing and packaging machinery.  Recently installed the new machinery, a vertical form fill and fully automated palletising system - will enable Deco-Pak to increase its production capacity by 30%, helping to place over £250,000 of stock on the ground each week.

The company has also confirmed that its stock levels have been boosted to ensure optimal supply throughout the key spring and early summer period, including the inevitable May Bank Holiday demand. This process began in late 2014, with over £1million of stock confirmed to be on the ground by early spring.

Deco-Pak’s new machinery is just one part of its ongoing investment plan. Three new sales representatives have recently joined the team, and are already on the road travelling the length and breadth of the UK. With 130 new accounts set-up since Glee 2014 - including the introduction of a major UK retailer to the customer portfolio - the expanded sales team is working tirelessly to meet with both new and existing customers, ensuring the highest levels of customer service during peak trading, as well a bigger presence within key markets.

Rod Slater, Deco-Pak’s general manager said: “During a period of significant growth opportunity it is vital that we continue to invest in our business. Our new machinery will allow us to meet the ongoing stock demands, whilst our dedicated sales team will help us to reach more customers, providing essential face-to-face interaction. These steps are just the beginning of our wider development plans for the year ahead, all focussed on delivering the best possible service and product offering to our customers.”

Looking ahead, Deco-Pak will shortly be launching its newly redesigned merchandising stands for its core ranges. The Chelsea Garden range of first-class growing media will also benefit from a new look for the 2015 season, including revamped packaging and point-of-sale.

Craig Hall, marketing manager at Deco-Pak said: “The revamp of these three ranges marks an exciting new chapter for these core spring and summer products. Our paving circles and water features are two proven sellers, and in enhancing the packaging and point of sale for both of them will help to add further value to customers this summer. Our Chelsea Garden range is still a relatively new range – compiled of core horticultural products including pea gravel, potting grit, horticultural sharp and silver sand – however we want to develop the branding to complement the heritage and style of the inspiration behind the range, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.”

Finally, Rod Slater has a message for all retailers. He said: “Early season sales have been incredibly strong, especially amongst our horticultural ranges and Garden Bazaar collection of designer birdhouses. We expect to see this trend continue as the sun takes up permanent residence, we therefore urge retailers to contact their Deco-Pak sales representative as soon as possible to secure your stock ahead of peak demand.”

For more information visit www.deco-pak.co.uk.

Natural & Organic Products Europe – Europe’s biggest trade show for natural, organic, fair trade, free-from, vegan, vegetarian, and healthy living brands – opens at 9.30am on Sunday 19 April at the new venue of ExCeL London.

Renowned for attracting key buyers and decision makers from across the food, beauty, health and eco-label categories, over 10,000 attendees – including representatives from major supermarkets and multiples, specialist suppliers, international wholesalers and distributors, pharmacies, leading contract caterers, salons and spas, plus 1000s of independent retail outlets – are expected to visit over 19-20 April.

Well-known brands such as Boots, Superdrug, M&S, Waitrose, John Lewis, Ocado, Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, M&S, Holland and Barrett, Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic, Harrods, SpaceNK Apothecary, Victoria Health, BeautyMART, Love Lula, John Bell & Croyden, Abel & Cole, Costco, BaxterStorey, Sodexo, Wessanen, Mad&Vin, SOK, Life Europe AB, Biocoop, Helsemin, and Carrefour are among the who’s who of buyers already pre-registered.

Over 600 leading exhibitors

Thanks to its new ExCeL venue, the show will feature an unprecedented 600 exhibiting companies from around the world. As its biggest edition yet, Natural & Organic Products Europe 2015 is set to showcase thousands of new natural and organic products – including supplements, botanicals, superfoods, THR mark herbal medicines, personal care and beauty, eco-household, and food and drink.

New show features for 2015 include international pavilions from Poland, the Galicia region of Spain, and the Hellenic Pavilion (including the Cyclades Islands, Crete and the Greek mainland).  They join France, Italy, Sicily, and the USA (which boasts a new section dedicated to ‘Big Sky Country’ Montana).  There are also pavilions dedicated to Eco Luxe Beauty, Venus Beauty (new), Slow Food UK (new), Organic Chilled Food (Soil Association), Raw Food, and the members of The OTB (Organic Trade Board), The Vegan Society, HFMA, and Demeter Biodynamic.

The full exhibitor list is available online at https://onlineexhibitormanual.com/divlunch14/Exhi/exhibitorList.aspx.

New Products Showcase

The event’s popular New Products Showcase, which includes eight categories, currently includes over 320 entries – up 10% on last year’s total. Always a popular destination, visitors to the showcase on Sunday 19 April will also be able to vote for their favourite new products, which will be announced later that night at the prestigious Natural and Organic Awards (hosted by Natural Products magazine, in association with the Soil Association).

Free Keynotes & kitchen demos

There’s handy tips on how to whip up a host of dishes to suit every palate and conscience at this year’s Natural Food Kitchen, which offers two days of live demonstrations from award-wining chefs and expert nutritionists. This year’s recipe-packed line-up features a healthy mix of raw, paleo, vegetarian, special diet, seasonal and organic themed sessions.  Highlights include:

• Christine Bailey: Supercharged dishes to boost health and vitality
• The UK Juicing Championships 2015, sponsored by Juico (2.15pm, Sunday 19 April)
• Andrew Jones (Slow Food UK Ambassador): Slow Food Ark of Taste, Cromer Crab and Colchester Native Oysters
• Andrew Wilkie, supported by Orley Moyal: Food for thought – delicious recipes specifically designed to nourish the brain
• Andrew Kojima (MasterChef 2012 finalist): Noodle bowls – the healthy and invigorating fast food

Fronted by a choice of Natural Products magazine’s top columnists, expert contributors and editors, the Natural Products Talks retailer-focused theatre will feature a host of practical, informative and entertaining discussions.  Highlights include:

• Benjamin Brown (Viridian Nutrition): The digestive health solutions – help your customers to better digestive health
• Jim Manson, editor Natural Products News: Health check: Natural products retailing in 2014-15 – the findings
• Mike Bronner (Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps) & Philip Lymberry (Compassion in World Farming): How progressive brands and non-profits can work hand in hand to further social change 
• Exclusive: Organic market intelligence – insights revealed from the Soil Association 2015 Organic Market Report and the Organic Trade Board’s newly released Organic Consumer Report (followed by Q&A and networking)

Sponsored by Kinetic Natural Products Distributor, the Natural Beauty & Spa Theatre features some of the leading lights of the natural and organic beauty sector discussing new trends, ingredients, and innovations.  Highlights include:

• Launch of the Real Beauty Manifesto (10.15am, Monday 20 April)
• Emma Reinhold (Soil Association): Accentuate the positive – how to market organic beauty
• Natural Health Magazine Beauty Awards (10.30am, Monday 20 April)
• Louisa Maaldrink (buyer at M&S Beauty): Natural Beauty at Marks & Spencer
• Amarjit Sahota (Organic Monitor): Exclusive consumer insights into natural and organic beauty products

Full session details and timings are available online at www.naturalproducts.co.uk/education .

Natural & Organic Products Europe, taking place on Sunday and Monday, 19-20 April 2015 at ExCeL London, includes three show sections:  Natural Health & Living, Natural Beauty & Spa and The Natural Food Show.  Entry includes access to the Natural Products Live Theatre, Natural Beauty & Spa seminars and live Natural Food Kitchen demonstrations.

Advance visitor registration closes at 5pm on Saturday 18 April (after which a £20 door charge will apply).  To register for a free trade only pass, please visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk and enter priority code NP30 (direct link: http://www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/NPE.aspx?TrackingCode=NP30).

We reported in last week’s GTNXtra that the number of pairs of Town & Country gardening gloves sold on Garden Re-Leaf Day had reached 3,400.  The figure now stands at just over 6,000 pairs of gloves sold and, with 25 pence from each sale pledged to Greenfingers, that equates to a fabulous £1,500 raised for the charity so far.

Comments Barry Page, chief executive:  “Looking at the sales figures we have had so far, we are estimating that the total number of gloves sold on Garden Re-Leaf Day will be in the region of 10,000 pairs. 

"So for those garden centres who haven’t already done so, submit your Town & Country gloves sales for Friday 27th March to admin@townandco.com, and help boost the donation to the wonderful Greenfingers Charity.”

Enquiries:  Town & Country; 01530 830990; info@townandco.com; www.townandco.com

Bayer Garden’s Consumer Advisor, Anita Dent, is going to be live on Facebook throughout the season answering consumers’ questions.  Each ‘Facebook Clinic’ will focus on a different topic, kicking off in April with weeds.  

In May the clinics will centre around rose care and Baby Bio® Vitality, the new plant food from the brand that gardeners know and love.  June will focus on pest control and later in the season the topics will again be weeds and fertilisers.  

Anita has been answering questions from gardeners on the telephone and email for 10 years.  She has dealt with everything from how to tackle a Japanese Knotweed to when and how to feed your plants for the best results. 

“A little bit of advice goes a long way,” explained Anita.  “Growing plants is incredibly rewarding but when things go wrong it’s demoralising.  

“Perhaps the most common reason plants don’t thrive is their location.  The wrong soil or not enough light will restrict its growth.  Getting the feeding regime wrong can also have a damaging  effect and failing  identify which pest is infecting your plant in time can result in devastation.  Some good advice at the right moment can make all the difference.

“The concerns of gardeners about the safety, efficiency and sustainability of our products are very important to us.  I spend a lot of time advising customers on the safe and appropriate use of our products.  Our Facebook clinics will give our customers yet another forum for addressing any concerns they may have.”

The first clinic, on weeds, is taking place at 4.30pm on 23 April.  Visit the Facebook page [www.facebook.com/bayergarden] for more information.  

Burncoose Nurseries mail order department despatched a record number of customer plant orders in the year to the end of March.

There were almost 11,000 internet, telephone and mail orders including trade and export orders to Europe, representing a 22% increase on the previous year. More than three-quarters of these orders via the nursery’s website.

With a few seasonal exceptions, the vast majority of orders for ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants were despatched within five working days by overnight courier as individual parcels or on pallets.

The Burncoose website received very nearly one million individual visits in the year – also a record and up 20% on the previous year. The website contains around 4,700 pages and 98 plant categories.

March was the busiest month, with a record 1,610 orders dispatched.

Andrew Mills, Burncoose’s nursery manager, said the continuing growth in mail order business had been “a severe test” for their two packing sheds and its staff of eight. “They have however responded well to the spring rush this year and we are all looking forward to the quieter summer months,” he added. “It is amazing how well-known the Burncoose website and horticultural expertise is throughout the UK. Better probably than within [our native] Cornwall. Few visitors to the nursery realise quite how large our plant mail order business actually is nationally or that nearly 80% of what we grow on site is actually despatched by mail order for outside Cornwall.”

The 68-page Burncoose Nurseries 2015 mail order catalogue was despatched to more than 30,000 customers. The catalogue and website lists almost 4,000 different plants for sale and there are nearly 20,000 pictures of individual plants in flower, in the garden, and as you would buy them on the website.

Charles Williams, senior partner, said: “To grow a modern internet mail order business from Cornwall you need excellent and constantly improving pictures. Our in-house photographer, Karol Pawlak, has spent much of the last eight years achieving what you see on our website today. Websites also need to be well managed on a daily basis with designs and layouts changing on a regular basis. To achieve this you need continuity and excellence. Burncoose is very fortunate to have worked with Forgecom in developing its website for the last 18 years.”

The next challenge is to make website fully compatible with mobile phones, possibly by early summer.

Plant Buyer (ref:BP7258)

Location: South East England
Salary: Dependent on experience
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

I am looking for a talented procurement professional to join the buying team of a garden centre group based in the south of England. 

I am looking for an experienced individual with a comprehensive knowledge of the UK plant industry to take responsibility for the ranging, negotiation and promotions of close to £10m plant sales.

Quality will be key in this role as well as a keen understanding of seasonality. 

Creative flair through varied range building is required for this role.

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

Horticulture Quality Controller (ref:BP7244)

Location: Northamptonshire
Salary: £Competitive - Dependent on Experience 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a national group of garden centres with a depot based in Northamptonshire is looking to recruit an experienced quality controller with excellent horticultural knowledge. 

The Role :

• To visit nurseries/growers throughout the year to ensure plant specification sheets are being adhered to and planned crops/inputs are delivered are achieving the requisite quality.
• To collaborate with the buying team to ensure visits are planned in line with inputs and promotions.
• To alleviate and ensure that there are no rejections of crops upon arrival at the Hub or at the Garden centres due to quality issues.
• To complete batch checks and spot checks deliveries at the hub to ensure consistent quality.
• To create the right conditions to develop and upgrade the plant quality to surpass all other plant retailers.
• To build and maintain good working relationships with growers and suppliers.
• To build effective working relationships with the distribution and supply chain teams at both the hub and H.O

The Candidate :

• Preferred with a horticultural background or horticultural qualification
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and cultivate strong working relationships
• Time management skills
• Ability to work on own initiatives and self-motivator
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills
• Works well under pressure
• Gains insights into problems and uses initiative and creativeness to deliver solutions.

This is a fantastic role for an experienced horticuturalist who is looking for a new opportunity in a large business, applications encouraged as we are looking to interview in the next few weeks.

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

Technical Manager /Buyer (ref:DS7260)

Location: Suffolk
Salary: £40 to £45K per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a leading packet seed company who are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and experienced Technical Manager / Buyer to join their team

Description and purpose of role:

• To be responsible for the cost effective purchase of seed and packaging materials to meet agreed company objectives.
• To evaluate new seed lines and make recommendations to the business.
• To oversee all technical, seed buying and storage, seed QC and trials ground activities.

Key duties/responsibilities :

• Responsible for the purchase of seed in a timely and cost effective manner.
• To purchase seed paper packets and liaise with the main supplier to the maximum benefit for the company.
• Demonstrate technical /gardening skills and company product knowledge.
• Develop an annual purchase plan aiming to minimise stocks, and reduce obsolescence and wastage.
• Source new seed products and maintain good relationships with suppliers
• Budget management. To deliver all activity within the agreed budget.
• To ensure the quality of seed and packaging through adequate QC and trialing procedures.
• To maintain an annual growing trial to evaluate stocks and provide marketing support.
• To provide technical support to other departments within the company as appropriate but including sales, marketing and customer services.
• To develop and implement a company-wide plan to push seed product, working with all departments for its execution.

Specific requirements:

• To adhere to company policies and procedures
• To comply with health and safety requirements ensuring your safety and that of your colleagues
• To take on other related duties as required
• To act with professionalism and have a committed approach to your work
• To undertake such training as may be required to fulfil your role in line with company expectations.

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929 013910

Graduate Sales Person (ref:DS7257)

Location: England
Salary: £18 to £22k pa
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a European based plug plant supplier who are looking for a graduate sales person to join their team. The role will be homebased and will cover the north of England and Scotland

• Sales to the existing customer base and potential clients
• Expansion of market position of our company
• Expansion of the range of our products in the sales area
• Support of the customer base in the culture and technical business area as a reliable partner.

Your Profile:

• Affinity with Horticulture is a must
• Commercially strong, performance driven
• Good communication skills and the ability to develop lasting relationships
• Preset sales objectives
• Willing to travel
• Preferably living Mid- to North of England

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Dianne Saunders on 07929 013910

Richard Hemans, Group Finance Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centre Group, has successfully gained admission as a Chartered Director, the Institute of Director’s prestigious and practical qualification for company directors and board members, following a rigorous process that has taken over two years.

This qualification enables candidates to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of the role of a director and the role of the board across four key areas covering strategy, finance, leadership and stakeholder management. It is tested by two exams before the final stage where applicants are invited to demonstrate their significant experience as a director in five key areas, evidenced through interview by two peer reviewers, and supported by a portfolio that documents their directorial roles.

Richard says: “I am thrilled to have been admitted as a Chartered Director. I have enjoyed the experience immensely and look forward to applying what I have learnt in my executive role at Blue Diamond and perhaps one or two non-executive positions. This has been a very rewarding and challenging process that I would recommend wholeheartedly to both aspiring and incumbent company directors.”

Richard is a chartered accountant and currently works as the Group Finance Director and Company Secretary for Blue Diamond, the third-largest garden centre group in the UK with seventeen garden centres and restaurants, 1,500 employees and a turnover of £85m.

Blue Diamond is a genuine Guernsey success story, owned and managed in the island, tracing its roots back to 1904 when it was founded as a grower and exporter of produce made locally in Guernsey. Blue Diamond employs over 100 people in Guernsey at Group Head Office and Le Friquet Garden Centre, and actively supports their training and development.

For more information on Blue Diamond visit www.bluediamond.gg.

Veg-2-Gro sales, particularly tomatoes and cucumber plants, have moved out of garden centres with a seismic shift following on from the great Easter Monday.  

Never before has the GTN Veg-2-Gro Top 50 sales volumes reached such a high level.  

The centres providing data to GTN Bestsellers are having a great time selling Quantil young veg plants but we have had reports that other veg plants are also achieving record sales too.

Star performers include:

• Tomato Gardeners Delight goes back to No 1.
• Chilli Pepper Cheyenne is the highest new entry, adding heat to the fire.

Trans-Continental Group has announced that Sara Murray has been appointed to the position of Buying Director.

Managing Director, Mike Withers said: “Sara’s commitment to the company over fifteen years has been instrumental in its success and her huge contribution is recognised in this appointment.”

Sara’s previous position was Senior Buying Manager and, as such, was responsible for developing many of the company's best-selling products in both of its market leading brands, SnowTime and SunTime. 

Sara Murray commented “Progressing from a sales administration role at Trans-Continental Group has given me first-hand experience of how the company has developed over the years and I am thrilled to step into this new position. I look forward to contributing to the next phase of growth as the business expands into new product areas and markets".

Sara’s appointment coincides with an important milestone in Trans-Continental Group’s history. 2015 marks the group’s 21st year since it was founded in 1994.

Growing media sales had a great week after the sun finally shone enough to encourage gardeners to venture out into their gardens and into garden centres.  

With Top 50 growing media lines sales volumes more than doubling on the first Easter week the GTN Growing Media index is nearly back up to 5% more growing activity than last year.

Star performers this week include:

• Westland Bed and Border Chipped Bark (70 litres) has the week’s highest percentage sales increase.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Pot & Basket 50 litres is the highest climber, up 16 places.
• All but two lines in the Top 50 saw week-on-week sales increases.

How will the grafted veg plants fare when they sell through this week?

Much-loved gardening expert Charlie Dimmock will be visiting Newbridge Nurseries on Saturday, 25th April. 

Charlie will be at the centre from 10am to 4pm and will be hosting two gardening talks, including one on planting up containers and hanging baskets as well as offering advice to visitors.

The well-known British gardening personality specialises in water features and is best known for the popular BBC programme, Ground Force. Dimmock has gone on to present shows such as Cheer for Charlie, Charlie and the Duchess, Garden Invaders and The Chelsea Flower Show.

Most recently, Charlie took part in the second series of BBC production of The Great British Garden Revival, which aired in January of this year. Charlie joined 14 of Britain’s favourite gardening experts to inspire the nation to save Britain’s rich gardening heritage. In addition to television appearances, Charlie has also penned books such as Enjoy your Garden and Container Gardening as well as a regular column in the Mail on Sunday.

"We’re delighted to have Charlie join us for the day," says Garden Centre Manager, Steve Nicholls. "As a well-known and popular gardening expert, her extensive knowledge will be a real treat for our regular visitors."

Newbridge Nurseries became the 17th garden centre to become part of the Blue Diamond Group in January 2015.

Management trainee Ben Gregory, who works at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford will this month be cycling from Paris to Yeovil in aid of charity.

Ben will cycle more than 385 kilometres from April 30 until May 3 in aid of Cyclists Fighting Cancer, The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and The Yeovil Community Trust.

The 23-year-old explained: “This is going to be a massive challenge for me as I am still relatively new to cycling and I will have to cycle up to 80 miles a day.

“My brother Sam and I decided to do the challenge because the charities are particularly pertinent to us as like so many families, my family has been heavily affected by cancer.

“I was also keen to support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as, like many another diseases, there is currently no cure and only continued support to the charity will help them to research advanced treatments to improve the lives of those who unfortunately have this disease. The final charity is The Yeovil Community Trust, which supports my home town, local community and I feel it is good to give something back to the community I grew up in.

“Any donations will be greatly appreciated and will go a long way to help these fantastic organisations. My brother and I hope to raise at least £1,000.”

The event is organised by supporters of Yeovil Town Football Club and this is the third successive year they have hosted a sports charity event. The challenge will also be completed by 108 men and women from Yeovil and the surrounding area and all the money donated will be directly split between the three chosen charities.

The challenge will start in Paris on April 30 and the day will finish in Evreux via Merey and Ivry-la Bataille. On the second day the team will finish in Ouistreham near Caen ready for the participants to catch the ferry. They will then have an overnight crossing to Portsmouth.

Day three will start in Portsmouth and end in Bournemouth via Southampton and the New Forest and on the final day the group will ride from Bournemouth to finish in Yeovil.

Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We would like to wish Ben and Sam the best of luck for the ride. We have also sponsored Ben £100 as they are raising money for some great causes. We hope the horticultural industry will get behind them too and show its support.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust started in 1964 and is dedicated to promoting excellence in research and clinical care, as well as providing practical support and advice to people with cystic fibrosis and their families.

It believes that everyone with cystic fibrosis deserves the best quality of life and real hope for the future, with access to high quality, specialist care.

Cyclists Fighting Cancer enables children and young people living with cancer across the UK to regain their physical fitness, strength and confidence by giving them new bikes, adapted trikes, tandems, other equipment and support.

Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust is a registered charity that strives to make a positive difference for all through sport and learning.

Its aim is to do this by providing fun, safe and enjoyable activities for people of all ages, abilities and social backgrounds by using the power of sport as well as the profile of Yeovil Town Football Club to engage individuals and to have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people each year.

If you would like to sponsor Ben and Sam, please visit www.justgiving.com/GregoryBrothers. 

Garden centres across the country saw sales of clothing and catering soar while fluctuating weather saw plant sales rise and fall during March, according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade results.

Houseplants were up 5.50% while sales of outdoor plants fell -13.76%. Clothing sales were up 9.16% compared with the same month in 2014 and catering was up 5.87%.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “This time last year we experienced some fantastic weather, which led to some impressive sales figures at the garden centres. It was always going to be tough to beat this year as the great British weather is so unpredictable so we have seen sales of plants rise and fall throughout the month.

“When our traditional categories are being affected like this it’s great to see sales of our non-traditional categories pick up the pace. Despite the rain it looks like garden centre customers made sure they were kitted out in the latest gear and stopped off at cafés and restaurants during their visits for a spot of lunch, dinner or a cuppa and cake.”

During the month food hall and farm shop sales reached 2.88% up.

Ben Thompson, Director at Garsons Esher and Titchfield, said: “Catering continues to grow at our Titchfield centre, where our restaurant was refurbished just over a year ago. March sales were up, restaurant sales achieved a 16% growth year on year for 2014 to 15.

“The improved offer has driven site visitor numbers up, with general food and butchery sales performing very well also.”

The BoT results are the only official GCA trading figures to be released.

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

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

Tammy Woodhouse, Managing Director at Millbrook Garden Centres, said: “We have actively targeted to grow our clothing sales this year having seen some good growth last year. We benchmarked ourselves against other similar sized centres using the BoT and realised there were opportunities out there. Using the BoT we then contacted these centres, for example St Peter’s in Worcestershire.

“They shared with us the suppliers and sales they were getting from each area. Using this information and working with AIS we have introduced new clothing ranges and given this area more space which has resulted in increased sales. 

“This is the strength of the GCA and the BOT to learn and share information to grow our own centres and this is a great example of this in action.”

St Peter’s Garden Centre saw sales of clothing rise 32.26% during March.

Dennis Espley, Managing Director at Squires Garden Centre, said: “It was a disappointing month in all gardening categories, particularly sundries, trees and shrubs. There was encouraging interest in furniture and BBQs, particularly when there was a sunny day. Catering and gifts performed well, particularly on Mother’s Day weekend. Fortunately trading since Easter Monday has been excellent.” 

Julian Winfield, Chief Executive at Haskins Garden Centres, said: “Plant sales in March were ok. Looking at our largest centre, Haskins Ferndown, they were down 10%, but the weather last year was better. However, if you look at our average plant sales over the last five years, Ferndown were down 4% and substantially down on sales in 2011, which suggests the trend is down. 

“It is still early and I am encouraged with what has happened so far after a good gardening season last year, but we never know until mid-June.”

Through sharing information and its inspection programme, the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

Will Armitage, GCA Chairman, said: “Again the weather has put a slight dampener on what is proving to be a fantastic start to this year’s season. The general election may put a bit of a downer on customer confidence in the run up to polling day, but as we all know, if the weather is on our side, we’ll be busy.”

Home owners could save four days a year by ‘turfing out' their natural grass in favour of an articial lawn, according to research from the UK’s biggest supplier of artificial grass.

A survey commissioned by LazyLawn has revealed that individuals with a garden spend an average of 1.89 hours per week – adding up to a total of four days every year – maintaining their lawn, which the artificial turf specialist believes could be better spent enjoying time in the garden.

In fact, of the 2,044 British adults questioned in the survey, 44% admitted they would spend more leisure time in the garden with the time they would save if they didn’t have to maintain their lawn.

 “We’re on a mission to help people cut down the amount of time they spend on garden maintenance so they can spend time on the activities they do enjoy, such as spending more time in the garden,”  said Andy Driver, marketing director at LazyLawn,

“We’re surprised people are spending so much time maintaining their lawns when they could be enjoying all the benefits of a LazyLawn, which is mess- and mud-free, quick drying and low maintenance.

“With UK adults working the third longest hours in Europe, we want to help home owners reclaim some leisure time and we’re starting by helping them reclaim four days a year.”

British adults work an average of 42.7 hours a week compared to the EU average of 37.4 hours according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

LazyLawn’s garden survey, carried out by ComRes, found that 74% of people would save nearly two hours every week if they did not have to maintain their lawn, while 22% would recoup between two and five hours and 4% would free up between five and 10 hours.

Of those questioned, 1% admitted they dedicate at least 10 hours per week to looking after their lawn through mowing and weeding – that’s three weeks every year that could be spent relaxing in the garden.

When asked what they would do with the time saved, if they did not have to maintain their lawn, 44% said they would spend more leisure time in the garden.

Thirty-two per cent would spend time with friends and family, 29% would read, 27% would watch television, 25% would spend time on the internet, 24% would do housework, 18% would go shopping, 8% would play sport and 7% would take part in other activities.

Choosing to spend more leisure time in the garden was the most popular answer in all but one age group, with 58% of over 65s, 46% of 55 to 64-year-olds, 41% of 45 to 54-year-olds, 42% of 35 to 44-year-olds and 39% of 25 to 34-year-olds opting to spend more time outdoors.

Just 22% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they would spend more time in the garden, with the majority (34%) choosing to spend time with friends and family.

LazyLawn has a number of famous fans, including Amanda Holden and Alan Titchmarsh, and is the preferred artificial grass brand of Selfridges, JD Wetherspoon, Haven and Center Parcs.

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

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2012 as well as 2013 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.