In This Issue
Let’s Go Red, White and Blue today for #FloralFriday
GrowNation and Industry Partners Provide Click & Collect to Garden Centres
We need centres re-opened, says Sun legend Peter Seabrook
Record Number of Suppliers and Garden Centres Spread a little Floral Cheer on #FloralFriday
James Stamp to the rescue
Safe Trading Guidance for all garden centres published by HTA
GrowNation announce FREE ecommerce websites for Garden Centres with local delivery route optimisation
Tricia Cox co-founder of Glendoick Garden Centre dies
Reopening your retail store: Step one - signage & screening
spoga+gafa looking ahead positively to exhibition dates in September 2020
It's not too late to colour the UK
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Hand Sanitisers retailers’ opportunity
GTN Xtra - Send to all
The best of last week's
Garden centre re-opening gains high attention
Rosebourne appoint Carol Paris as Chief Executive
A third of UK growers will be out of business before the end of the year reveals new industry survey
Introducing Cleaner Retail – helping retailers to stop the spread of Covid-19 with a one-stop solution for safe trading
It’s #FloralFriday, our favourite day of the week!
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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Let’s Go Red, White and Blue today for #FloralFriday

To mark VE Day, Greenfingers Charity is calling on its garden industry friends to go red, white and blue today (8th May)...


To mark VE Day, Greenfingers Charity is calling on its garden industry friends to go red, white and blue today (8th May).  This weeks #FloralFriday theme will recognise all those who have lost their lives or have been seriously injured in combat. Whether 75 years or more recently,the nation must never forget the sacrifices made by so many.

 

By now, you should know what you need to do. Simply…

 

•             Post your favourite red, white of blue floral image or floral selfie on social media

•             Use the hashtags #FloralFriday #hortindustry and for this week only, #VEDay

  •         Tag @GreenfingersCharity

•             Make a donation by texting FLORALFRIDAY to 70085 to donate £5 or FLORALFRIDAYTEN to 70085 to donate £10

•             Nominate a friend(s) to do the same

 

For more information about #FloralFriday or other ways you can support Greenfingers Charity, you can get in touch with Linda by emailing Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or calling 07908 221240.  She would love to hear from you.

 

 

GrowNation and Industry Partners Provide Click & Collect to Garden Centres

GrowNation (grownation.co.uk), today announces partnerships with leading horticultural organisations to allow garden centres to begin selling online immediately through click & collect and local delivery services...


GrowNation (grownation.co.uk), today announces partnerships with leading horticultural organisations to allow garden centres to begin selling online immediately through click & collect and local delivery services.

Steve Meleka, managing director told GTN Xtra:  “We were thrilled to be asked by the HTA to offer our GrowNation web shops on their ‘essential suppliers’ directory. We’re looking forward to helping HTA members and others to quickly get online and take advantage of the unprecedented customer demand that we’re seeing all over the UK.”

Garden centres can now apply for their own free web shops - fully populated with detailed product information and images from suppliers including Farplants, Hozelock, Porters Fuchsias/Happy Plants, Bransford Webbs, New Leaf, Lovania, Quantil, Taylors Bulbs, SBM Life Science (Phostrogen/Baby Bio), Plantworks (Empathy/Rootgrow/After Plant), Fallen Fruits and Primus. Additional significant partnerships are at various stages and will be announced in due course.

He continued: “We’re really hoping for some good news from the government this weekend, finally allowing garden centres to get back to business and to restore some confidence and optimism throughout the supply chain.”

Growers and wholesalers have provided GrowNation with detailed product data, images and prices, allowing them to create fully featured web shops for garden centres - including each suppliers’ products - typically in less than an hour.

GrowNation charges no up-front fees, instead, the business model is completely commission based, with credit card and PayPal transaction fees absorbed by the company as part of the service. Retailers can get more information or claim their free website at: grownation.co.uk/sellplantsonline

Steve added: “The next few weeks are a crucial part of the year even in normal circumstances, but with social distancing measures in place, garden retailers may only reach up to 40% of their usual footfall.

 

"The interruption to cashflow caused by this will be significant, which is why we’re recommending click & collect as a solution to increase sales. Our platform allows customers to view and order products online before collecting them safely from the retailer’s car park. Vulnerable customers - and staff - will appreciate the additional safety this provides.”

 

All GrowNation websites are completely free to set up and include:

  • The ability to list as many (or as few) products as each retailer wants.
  • Secure online payments via PayPal or credit/debit card.
  • A unique web address with its own unique storefront and product range.
  • A simple to use retailer dashboard to help manage orders and customer details.
  • Simple, commission based payment with no lock-in period and no up-front cost.
  • No additional charges for online payment processing.

Wholesalers can request more information and provide their product data by visiting the GrowNation website at: grownation.co.uk/supply-garden-centres

 

GrowNation will take 10% commission on every website order to cover payment processing & maintenance fees. One fifth of this commission will be donated to the Perennial and Greenfingers charities for six months from 1st May 2020 to help fund their vital work.

 

The GrowNation (grownation.co.uk) platform is one of a series of marketplaces from ConnectNation Ltd, a company formed to help address some of the unique business challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

 

ConnectNation was founded by a group of colleagues with specialisms in marketing (including in the horticulture sector), CRM platform design & integration, business analysis, social media management and ecommerce website development.

 

The company is currently working with the award-winning ecommerce platform and digital marketing company, Visualsoft. Their VSCommerce platform underpins the GrowNation service, making it possible to rapidly deploy websites to allow garden centres to start selling online quickly. See: www.visualsoft.co.uk

We need centres re-opened, says Sun legend Peter Seabrook

Last week as questions were asked in parliament about the re-opening of garden centres The Sun newspaper published an article by Peter Seabrook alongside it's comment column on pages 12 and 13.  In the article Peter writes of his love of gardening and his personal loss following the death of his wife Margaret.

 

"No one knows better than me what blessed relief it is to be out in the garden.... So please fling the gates to the garden centres open, Boris, and save the horticultural industry.  As I till the soil and grieve for Margaret, I know exactly how therapeutic gardening can be."


Last week as questions were asked in parliament about the re-opening of garden centres The Sun newspaper published an article by Peter Seabrook alongside it's comment column on pages 12 and 13.  In the article Peter writes of his love of gardening and his personal loss following the death of his wife Margaret.

 

"No one knows better than me what blessed relief it is to be out in the garden.

 

On Good Friday I lost my wonderful wife Margaret to coronavirus after sixty years of marriage.

 

I quickly did what I always do when life gets tough and made myself useful in the garden.

 

Hearing the birds sing, enjoying the spring flowers, getting physically tired - and shedding a tear - helped me enormously.

 

I watered and tended some bulbs. It felt good to be nurturing something growing. Life has to go on.

 

Gardens are something we share and nurture together as families. My beloved wife Margaret loved the red campions that grow wild in our Essex garden.

 

Today (weds), as she is buried, the wild campions will be on her coffin.

 

My gardening has provided me much needed solace for me at a dark time. I know in these weeks of great sorrow that I am far from alone.

 

That’s why I am imploring our Prime Minister Boris Johnson to please, please, please make a special case and allow garden centres, retail nurseries and gardens to open this weekend.

 

I ask in the interests the physical and mental well-being of all of us, as we continue to endure lock down.

 

For Britain is a nation of avid gardeners and the next few weeks are crucial if our plans are not to go to waste.

 

This is National Gardening Week - kicked off by Kelly Brook posing with a union-jack style watering can in Monday's Sun - when are normally out buying seeds, compost, shrubs and trees.

 

The months April through to June are the equivalent of Christmas for the horticulture industry.

 

And the first May Bank holiday is critical, there are so many things to be done this weekend to set gardens up for the next nine months. Normally it would be boom time at garden centres.

 

Many people are short of money to buy food after losing their jobs or being furloughed so growing their own is good for their wallets and their health.

 

Tons of fresh food can come from back gardens and allotments, as long as basic garden supplies can be obtained.

 

Even flat dwellers, with no more than pots on balconies and window boxes, could grow aubergines, cucumbers and tomatoes.

 

Where, though, are they going to get grafted plants for these fruits when garden centres are closed?

 

Those lucky enough to have an area of soil - or raised beds that can be knocked up from a recycled pallet - can become self-sufficient in salads. But they need plants to get a flying start.

 

Mail order garden retailers are currently unable to meet demand and why add to the number of vans on roads making home deliveries, when plants could be bought locally?

 

The mental and physical well being of people kept at home is without question improved by getting them out into the fresh air growing plants.

 

But gardens, of course, need plants.

 

And under lockdown rules garden centres and nurseries are closed - and millions of plants are currently standing in commercial glasshouses destined for landfill unless the log jam in distribution is not quickly eased.

 

The estimated value of the plants is estimated to be £200m and laid out they would cover an area the size of Liverpool. Overall horticulture is worth most £25billion to the UK economy.

 

There can be no doubting that isolating at home has helped reduce the spread of corona virus.

 

But plants are being sold at supermarkets so why can’t they be sold at garden centres?

 

It just doesn't seem logical when supermarkets are an enclosed environment and garden centres and nurseries are often open air.

 

Now folk understand the need for social distancing at supermarkets so I'm sure they will abide by it at plant retailers.

 

I believe that UK’s 2,000 garden centres should be allowed to open their doors for the rest of the crucial spring season.

 

The industry is confident they can do this without putting customers and staff at risk.

 

Bosses says their centres’ cafes would remain closed and car parks would have an empty space left between each vehicle.

 

There would be controlled entry into the centres with a one-way walking system and tape marks on the floor to ensure there was one customer for every 1,000 sq ft of floor space.

 

The only exchange would be inserting a credit card into the cash registering machine on departure.

 

Staff would serve customers behind perspex screens and shopping trolleys disinfected regularly.

 

That all seems sensible and precautionary to me. The quicker the plant retailers are open, the more time gardeners will have to space out their shopping trips.

 

Gardeners are responsible and thinking people. They would make it work.

 

Unlike other industries, garden centres can’t hold their stock back for when lockdown ends. Plants keep growing and will have to be dumped when they outgrow their pots.

 

So please fling the gates to the garden centres open, Boris, and save the horticultural industry."

 

As I till the soil and grieve for Margaret, I know exactly how therapeutic gardening can be."

 

The article can also be read on The Sun website at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11503917/gardenings-wife-coronavirus-garden-centres-re-opened-peter-seabrook/

Record Number of Suppliers and Garden Centres Spread a little Floral Cheer on #FloralFriday

May Day saw a record number of leading garden centres and suppliers get involved in #FloralFriday, a Greenfingers Charity initiative to help keep the charity and the horticultural industry in the hearts and minds of garden lovers across the country...

 


Read more and see GTN Xtras photo gallery from the fifth #floralfriday

May Day saw a record number of leading garden centres and suppliers get involved in #FloralFriday, a Greenfingers Charity initiative to help keep the charity and the horticultural industry in the hearts and minds of garden lovers across the country.   

 

Joining the fun of #FloralFriday, the charity was delighted to see its Patrons David Domoney and Ann-Marie Powell along with Guy Topping, Adam Taylor, Matthew Bent, Bridgman Furniture, GIMA, LOFA, Glee and many others posting floral pictures or selfies on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and pledging their support.

 

Director of Fundraising and Communications, Linda Petrons said: “We really can’t thank our supporters enough for embracing #FloralFriday.  The campaign is working as we are starting to see more people take part and a few more enquiries coming our way.  Please please carry on supporting, posting your pictures and spreading the word – as soon as we can get back on-site and building Greenfingers gardens, your help now will help to make a difference in the future.” 

 

Greenfingers Charity would love to see more businesses and individuals take part in #FloralFriday. 

Here’s a reminder of what you need to do…

 

•             Post your favourite floral image or floral selfie on social media

•             Use the hashtags #FloralFriday #hortindustry #greenfingers

  •         Tag @GreenfingersCharity

•             Make a donation by texting FLORALFRIDAY to 70085 to donate £5 or FLORALFRIDAYTEN to     70085 to donate £10

•             Nominate a friend(s) to do the same

 

 

For more information about #FloralFriday or other ways you can support Greenfingers Charity, you can get in touch with Linda by emailing Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or calling 07908 221240.  She would love to hear from you.

 
James Stamp to the rescue
GTN Xtra promotion

If you are looking at adding extra facilities to keep your staff and customers safe when business are allowed to re-open, James Stamp Rental has the solution...


 

If you are looking at adding extra facilities to keep your staff and customers safe when business are allowed to re-open, James Stamp Rental has the solution.

 

James Stamp sells jackleg portable cabins manufactured in the UK, new 20’ one way shipping containers, toilets and hand wash stations, metal kitchen solutions and shower units all over the UK and provides rentals in Cambridgeshire, Rutland and South Lincolnshire.

 

James told GTN Xtra: "My most popular products currently are toilets and hand wash stations.  The toilets vary from chemical service loos to metal mains supply cabin units.  Hand wash stations are all cold water free standing units, with different configurations but mostly soap dispensers, towel dispensers and bin holders.

 

"I also supply one piece all metal kitchen solutions which inc sink, microwave, hob, fridge, cupboards etc in multiple sizes and colours."

 

"Since the start of the COVID-19 lock-down we have been supplying toilets for non core visitors to sites, wash stations for additional hygiene at pay points and food vending machines, plus small portcabins for gatehouses, canteens and information points."

 

James is no stranger to the horticultural market as he already supplies products to Taylors Bulbs, Elsom Seeds, Flamingo flowers and plants, Emmett, Jack Buck Growers, DGM Growers and many more.

 

James can be contacted on: 01775 713344 or by e-mail: jamesstamprental@mac.com


www.JamesStamp.com

 
Safe Trading Guidance for all garden centres published by HTA

The HTA have launched the HTA Safe Trading Guidance for all garden centres. This is to allow garden centres to prepare and implement when the Government gives the go-ahead for stores to reopen...


The HTA have launched the HTA Safe Trading Guidance for all garden centres. This is to allow garden centres to prepare and implement when the Government gives the go-ahead for stores to reopen. These guidelines and the store signage can be found here. There will be a separate process where garden centres will be asked to register on the Plants Near Me website and acknowledge that they are following the guidance. The HTA will be issuing further communication on this.

 

The guidelines start with the following Macro protocols:

 

Cafes /restaurants should remain closed – no on-site food consumption.
• For the avoidance of doubt, no takeaway food sold on site should be consumed on site.
• Food departments; food hall; farm shops should operate under same hygiene and safe distancing protocols as rest of store.

 

Products to be sold should be restricted to plants; seeds; bulbs; composts /growing media; pots/ planters; garden hardware (tools; propagation equipment; fertilisers; pest control; irrigation etc.) and those products directly associated with the support thereof; pet foods and accessories; food products/cookware.
• For the avoidance of doubt no giftware/homeware; clothing; garden furniture; large BBQs to be sold on site – We would encourage online sales only/home delivery.
• These restrictions are designed to prevent ‘browsing’ and unnecessary contact with staff and other customers.
• These restrictions would be lifted as and when other retail restrictions are relaxed, or as social distancing protocols are fully enforceable.

 

It is strongly advised not to promote special deals or other aggressive marketing policies that lead to a surge in customer numbers.

 

Store space should be restricted to these areas (as above) with customer access to other areas prohibited.
• This requires the physical separation of stores and possible remerchandising of areas to maximise aisle widths and social distancing.
• The use of shop fixtures to achieve this would be encouraged or taped off areas robust enough to discourage customer wanderings
• Aisles should be as wide as possible and free from stock that would impede free flow.
• Fire escapes should be clearly kept open even if behind taped off areas.

 

Our strong recommendation is that customer numbers be controlled to 1 per 1000 square feet.
• Operators should use their discretion as to what is the safe number of customers to allow in a garden centre taking into account overall space, aisle widths and number of checkouts.
• Square feet is defined as gross square footage of available retail sales area – outdoor and indoor.
• This calculation will need to be done in advance by all those proposing to operate
• Customers in store should be limited to this number on a one in one out basis.
• Our advice would be to have a staff member controlling this at the entrance door but to avoid unnecessary queuing our strong recommendation would be to control the number of cars coming into the car park.

 

Entrance and exit from the premises should be separate – a minimum separation of 2m between doors.
• If the infrastructure at your store doesn’t suit this, then we recommend that you create another entrance alongside or directly through your plant area, or Goods Inwards area.
• Maintaining a one-way flow is a desirable outcome where possible. If store layout allows, use signage (and/ or marshals) to achieve this.

 

The guidance then goes into more detail for each protocol starting with site control, where restricting numbers to the store is a key objective.

 

This can be best achieved by limiting the number of cars accessing your car park.

  • Controlling or restricting the number of car parking spaces available. Using pallets in alternate spaces, may assist this.
  • Installing the appropriate signage at car park entrances will help.
  • We would advise having a member of staff to control site accessibility and car parking.
  • Customers should be encouraged to shop with trollies only avoiding baskets. This helps social distancing and allows easier cleaning of handles.
    All trollies returned for reuse should have their handles wiped down.
  • All customers should be offered gloves and hand sanitiser on arrival should they not have their own.
  • Allow a maximum of only two individuals to shop together.

The full guidelines can be found at: https://hta.org.uk/uploads/assets/633bb2d9-1918-47b5-9e2cb314ae1f6753/c8ad1b20-42f7-4fbc-963fe928960a1709/HTA-Safe-Trading-Guidance.pdf

GrowNation announce FREE ecommerce websites for Garden Centres with local delivery route optimisation

To make retailers’ local delivery operations more efficient and scalable, GrowNation is delighted to be launching a no upfront fee, fully-featured ecommerce website powered by Visualsoft. The partnership will allow garden centres to trade online quickly and efficiently.

 

All retailers who claim their free site before midnight on Sunday 3rd May will receive a free licence to a delivery route optimisation service, for as long as they use the GrowNation platform. This will allow centres to have their daily delivery routes calculated to take the least possible time...


GrowNation (grownation.co.uk), the online garden retail marketplace, is offering all UK garden centres their own ecommerce website with no up-front cost and no fixed term commitment.

With the doors of garden centres firmly closed for the time being, the whole supply chain is having to hold its collective breath. Whilst we all hope to return to some sort of normality soon, no one can predict how this will look.

Like it or not, this has forced the industry to adapt. Some garden centres have arranged local delivery services via phone, email and Facebook… with mixed results.

This new business model means that many companies don’t have the required infrastructure or processes in place (such as the ability to inform customers which products are available or the ability to efficiently process online orders) meaning they struggle to cope efficiently with the new demands.

To make retailers’ local delivery operations more efficient and scalable, GrowNation is delighted to be launching a no upfront fee, fully-featured ecommerce website powered by Visualsoft. The partnership will allow garden centres to trade online quickly and efficiently.

The initiative will also help to support the Perennial (perennial.org.uk) and Greenfingers (https://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk) charities. GrowNation and Visualsoft will each donate 1% of every website's sale commission for the first six months. This donation will continue to fund these charities’ vital work.

To help get retailers online within a quick turnaround and in significant numbers, GrowNation are also collating detailed product information, images and retail prices from growers, wholesalers and manufacturers. This information will be available for populating retailers websites, allowing them to immediately start selling participating suppliers products.

All retailers who claim their free site before midnight on Sunday 3rd May will receive a free licence to a delivery route optimisation service, for as long as they use the GrowNation platform. This will allow centres to have their daily delivery routes calculated to take the least possible time.

Retailers can claim their free website at: www.grownation.co.uk/sellplantsonline

Steve Meleka, GrowNation Managing Director said: “GrowNation is on a mission to save UK horticulture. We obviously know that’s a bold claim, but that is what’s at stake and we think we can help.”

He added: “We’ve been working with growers, wholesalers, manufacturers, trade bodies and others to collate detailed product data which we can use to instantly pre- populate retailer websites. This will be a huge timesaver and allows us to build complete transactional websites in next to no time.”

As restrictions on garden centres and the public are eased in the coming weeks, the GrowNation platform will allow retailers to instantly pivot to a click & collect model. Something which only this week the Government has clarified is safe to do. The company has designed safe collection protocols and signage to help organise efficient click & collect operations.

He continued: “We believe that social distancing will apply to garden centres for quite some time to come, which will severely limit footfall and therefore sales. We think the best way to overcome these challenges is to introduce a click & collect model. This feature will be enabled as soon as we receive clarity from the government.”

Tim Johnson, Visualsoft’s Chief Sales Officer said: “We are delighted to be chosen as GrowNation's tech partner. It is a fantastic project which supports one of the country’s key retail sectors. We are extremely proud to be involved.”

The GrowNation marketplace’s business model is completely commission based, with credit card and PayPal transaction fees absorbed by the company as part of the service.

Retailers are free to add whichever products they like, either manually, from their EPOS system or from files already available from suppliers including Farplants, Happy Plants, Bransford Webbs, New Leaf, Lovania, Taylors Bulbs, Fallen Fruits, Biogreen, SBM Life Science and more.

Discussions are ongoing with some of the biggest horticultural suppliers in the country which will allow thousands of new products to be added to retailer web sites at once.

All GrowNation websites are free to set up and include:

  • The ability to list as many (or as few) products as each retailer wants.
  • Secure online payments via PayPal or credit/debit card.
  • A unique web address with its own unique storefront and product range.
  • A simple to use retailer dashboard to help manage orders and customer details.
  • Simple, commission based payment with no lock-in period and no up-front cost.
  • No additional charges for online payment processing.

Wholesalers can request more information and provide their product data by visiting the GrowNation website at: www.grownation.co.uk/supply-garden-centres

Retailers can claim their free website in minutes by completing the online application form at: www.grownation.co.uk/sellplantsonline

GrowNation will take 10% commission on every website order to cover payment processing & maintenance fees. 2% of this commission will be donated to Perennial and Greenfingers for the first six months of the contract.

About GrowNation

The GrowNation (grownation.co.uk) platform is one of a series of marketplaces from ConnectNation Ltd, a company formed to help address some of the unique business challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

ConnectNation was founded by a group of colleagues with specialisms in marketing (including in the horticulture sector), CRM platform design & integration, business analysis, social media management and ecommerce website development.

The company is currently working with the award-winning ecommerce platform and digital marketing company, Visualsoft. Their VSCommerce platform underpins the GrowNation service, making it possible to rapidly deploy websites to allow garden centres to start selling online quickly. See: www.visualsoft.co.uk

Tricia Cox co-founder of Glendoick Garden Centre dies

Tricia Cox (née Sherrard), founder/owner of Glendoick Garden Centre with her husband Peter Cox, died peacefully at Glendoick on 2nd May 2020...


Tricia Cox (née Sherrard), founder/owner of Glendoick Garden Centre with her husband Peter Cox, died peacefully at Glendoick on 2nd May 2020.

 

Born in Cork, Ireland in 1933 she was educated in Ireland and England, studying horticulture and running an apple orchard in Douglas, Cork. Her uncle, Professor Geo Sherrard, was a well-known figure in Irish horticulture and the family home at Maryborough House had a collection of rhododendrons, which brought Tricia to Glendoick in the early 1960s, in search of plants and advice. Here, she met her husband to be Peter Cox, who ran the Glendoick Nursery with his father Euan. Tricia married Peter and moved to Scotland 1963, and their sons Kenneth (1964) and Raymond (1966), completed the family. 

 

In the early 1970s, Peter and Tricia began to research the idea of opening one of Scotland’s first garden centres and in 1973 Glendoick Garden Centre opened with a tiny shop, which has expanded over the years.   Tricia ran the garden centre for the next 20 years, alongside a career advising and designing gardens all over eastern Scotland.

 

Tricia was a founder member of the Leisuregrow Garden Centre buying group and later became its chairperson. She accompanied husband Peter on several plant hunting expeditions to India (1965), China (1990), Chile (1996) and India (2004). Semi-retiring in the late 1980s, handing over to her son Kenneth, Tricia carried on designing gardens including the Pagoda Garden at Glendoick Garden Centre.

 

She is survived by her husband Peter, brothers Ken and Anthony, sons Kenneth and Raymond and 5 grandchildren.

 
Reopening your retail store: Step one - signage & screening

Advice from Cleaner Retail – a new one-stop-shop designed to assist in creating a sanitised environment for safer shopping and a clean retail experience for the consumer...


Many retailers may be beginning to consider how they will tackle reopening once the government enforced lockdown is eased. But knowing where to start, and ensuring compliance, is causing confusion and stress for many. Help is at hand however, with the launch of the new Cleaner Retail online store; a store designed to cut through the noise and provide retailers with everything they need to create a sanitised retail environment that will enable them to reopen and stay open, whilst also protecting staff and customers as we navigate a new ‘normal’.

 

The importance of signage

The government has set out clear guidelines regarding the use of signage, in that it must be used for the flow of customers and to reinforce social distancing parameters.

 

From social distancing floor markers, to hygiene reminders and directional flow information, signage is essential in promoting those key components that will enable retailers to be deemed compliant, and therefore able to reopen. It is also important that any signage is fit for purpose, needing to be both weatherproof and UV stable. At Cleaner Retail a range of signage is available for immediate delivery, many of which can bespoke printed with the retailer’s own logo for brand consistency throughout the store.

 

Cleaner Retail’s Managing Director, Scott Thomas said: “Signage is the first thing retailers think of when considering a return to work, and it is certainly crucial to getting stores open once again, which is why we have created a comprehensive portfolio of products under our ‘Direct’ banner. However, signage is just the first step of many. At Cleaner Retail we’ve done the necessary research to ensure we offer everything retailers need to be compliant, as well as protecting both staff and customers. We’re also working with our customers to add more lines and products that meet demand and fulfil individual needs.”

 

Simplifying screening

When we think of protective screens our first thought may be till fronts, but did you know that screening should also be considered for areas of high footfall such as queuing areas, multi-directional merchandising displays, entrances and exits?

 

In most cases there is no such thing as a one-size-fits all protective screen solution. Instead fixings need to accommodate a range of materials, whilst sizes range dependent on location.  With Cleaner Retail’s screen options there are solutions for all screening needs, including both exterior and interior applications. What’s more, each of Cleaner Retail’s UK manufactured screens are guaranteed for two-years. Each protective screen comes complete with a full fixing kit, meaning they can be quickly and easily installed.

 

Scott Thomas offers a word of warning to retailers however, encouraging them to start thinking about their protective screening needs sooner rather than later. He said: “As so many retailers will have bespoke protective screen requirements, we will need to manufacture to order to ensure the correct fit and maximum efficiency. As a result, screening orders will take longer to be fulfilled. This additional time needs to be considered now if retailers want to be ready in time for when an anticipated easing of lockdown may occur.”

 

Coming next: Step two – Sanitation

Now you have your signage and screens, what next? Look out for the forthcoming advice from Cleaner Retail about the next steps to take to ensure reopening compliance, from pop-up handwashing and sanitation stations to disinfectant sprays.

 

Why Cleaner Retail?

There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic will change the way we shop for the long-term. But rather than sit around and wait for UK retailing to begin once again, one company has taken steps to help kickstart things by providing retailers with everything they need to get ready to open, remain compliant in regards to hygiene and social distancing, and ultimately, stay open with a cleaner and more efficient retail environment to meet the demands of the post-lockdown world. Products available from Cleaner Retail include disinfectant sprays, signage, portable handwashing and sanitation stations, PPE and protective screening.

 

Scott Thomas, Managing Director of interior trend-led pot suppliers, Ivyline, and now founder of Cleaner Retail added: “We were never going to sit around and do nothing; we knew we had to take steps to get retailing back on its feet. Many of Ivyline’s retail customers were telling us that access to products required to reopen was difficult due to a fragmented supply chain. Within a week of hearing this we had utilised every connection we had to create a true one-stop-shop that helps any retailer, small or large, to get everything they need to confidently reopen in line with government guidelines. Cleaner Retail represents a complete change of direction for us (though Ivyline remains fully operational) but it’s a diversification that is so important at this time.”

 

Further information regarding the government’s advice for social distancing in the workplace can be found here.

 

Find out more

To find out more about Cleaner Retail, or to place your order please visit www.cleanerretail.com. Alternatively call 024 7633 9189, email info@cleanerretail.com or get in touch with your usual Ivyline contact or agent.

spoga+gafa looking ahead positively to exhibition dates in September 2020

Spoga+gafa2019 020919_GTN243.jpg

spoga + gafa's Director, Stephan Lohberg and the Vice President Trade Fair Management for Koelnmesse GmbH, Catja Caspary have issued a message about spoga+gafa for 2020 stating their intention to return to a new normality and that the event will be staged in Cologne from 6 to 8 September...


Spoga+gafa2019 010919_GTN001.jpg

spoga + gafa's Director, Stephan Lohberg, and the Vice President Trade Fair Management for Koelnmesse GmbH, Catja Caspary, have issued a message about spoga + gafa for 2020 stating their intention to return to a new normality and that the event will be staged in Cologne from 6 to 8 September.

The spoga + gafa message in full:

 

"We are pleased to continue today on the course we set after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, namely to keep you, our partners, informed in detail regarding our planning situation. Today, four months prior to the start of the trade fair, we are glad to give you a further insight into the general and special circumstances that will accompany spoga+gafa on its way up until the first day of the trade fair in 2020. We are continuing to work flat out on the preparations for the largest garden lifestyle trade fair in the world and in spite of the tense situation, we have so far been able to record an excellent number of applications compared to the previous year level. As such the garden industry is preparing for the times after the Corona crisis and for taking up business again.

 

"It is our declared aim to support the international industry as far as possible in returning to the new normality and in doing so to provide it with the safest and most reliable opportunities here at our fair grounds in Cologne. In line with today's status, we can thus state that spoga+gafa will be staged in Cologne from 6 to 8 September.

 

"Several exhibitors and visitors are understandably reacting with uncertainty to the cancellation of end customer-oriented or very highly-frequented events. For example, we received numerous enquiries after the 2020 Munich Beer Festival unfortunately had to be cancelled. As a trade fair with a B2B orientation and its expected density of visitors, spoga+gafa fundamentally distinguishes itself from sports events and folk festivals or often from other B2B and B2C trade fairs. spoga+gafa is awaiting around 40,000 fully-registered admissions in September, which will be spread over three days and the 230,000 square metres of the entire grounds of Koelnmesse. This is the clear difference to many of the cancelled events and enables us for instance to ensure the desired minimum distance. We will communicate this publicly and to the political circles.

 

"Together with the authorities and the partners that accompany the trade fair, we will lay down criteria and measures that accompany us on our path towards the trade fair in 2020. The cited measures govern the appropriate hygiene, the distance between the players and the exchange with each other as well as encompassing strict stipulations for the processes at the entrances, in the halls and at the stands. We are relying on the professional conduct of the exhibitors and visitors, will carry out a full registration of the participants and put the flexibility and size of our grounds as well as the technical possibilities of our digital guidance systems to use.

 

Planning security and transparency for exhibitors and visitors

"Keeping an eye on the current situation, Koelnmesse is thus preparing for a successful spoga+gafa, which is taking place in four months' time. Should this have to be cancelled due to the Corona virus, which currently doesn't appear to be the case, Koelnmesse will fully reimburse any payments made to Koelnmesse to the exhibitors and visitors. Should the trade fair be postponed, Koelnmesse will fully reimburse any payments made to Koelnmesse to the exhibitors, who are not able to participate on the new exhibition dates. The partners of the trade fair will be informed about possible tendencies at an early date directly at the start of the second half of the year.

 

"Dear partners of spoga+gafa, we can assure you that we will only hold the trade fair, if it has the chance of being successful for all parties involved. Hence if we are led to believe that although all exhibitors are participating, a relevant share of our visitors will not attend in September due to risks or bans, we will act in the interests of all partners and reassess the situation.

 

"Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our spoga+gafa team at any time."

 
It's not too late to colour the UK

There is still time to create retail colour, says Ball Colegrave...


There is still time to create retail colour, says Ball Colegrave:

 

"All indications are that this season is going to continue much longer than usual. And, with every chance that the government could allow Garden Centres to re-open very soon, we wanted to make sure we did everything possible to have a supply of plug plants to help you along the way."

 

For the coming 4 weeks (21 to 24) Ball Colegrave have committed to offer extra seed-raised varieties, ideal for a quick turn crop, to replenish the huge pent up consumer demand for garden colour. This includes;

  • Alyssum
    Dianthus
    Impatiens
    Lobelia
    Marigold
    Petunia

Of course, there is no better bedding plant than the humble Busy Lizzie for offering incredible value for money!

The award winning Beacon® Impatiens with its high resistance to Downy Mildew, is a great example. These fill gardens fast with their incredible colours and can be sold in almost any container type; packs, 9/10cm pots or try mulitple plugs in a 3-5 litre pot for a high retail impact plant.

 

Ball Colegrave ask that you order quickly whilst there is availability. When its gone, its gone!

 

How to Order:


Log into WebTrack™ to check our full availability and order online. If you haven't yet registered with WebTrack™, it's quick and easy to do and offers lots of great tools and information.

 

Otherwise, please contact your local Technical Sales Representative or Customers Services to place your order.


Ball Colegrave Ltd.

 
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Hand Sanitisers retailers’ opportunity

Launched in January 2019 the Global Journey pocket sized hand sanitisers quickly became a great selling line in the UK...


Launched in January 2019 the Global Journey pocket sized hand sanitisers quickly became a great selling line in the UK. Looking to provide consumers with a ‘useful’ and ‘practical’ product small enough to carry in a pocket or handbag, and with a clip for attaching to school bags and belts, the Global Journey hand sanitiser was born.

 

In the lead up to lock-down sales of Hand Sanitisers quadrupled. Already a great selling product in 2019 this product went from a fun, novelty gift to an ‘essential item’ and a must have for consumers since the onset of the virus.

 

Global Journey are pleased to report that they have product available from this month and enough to cater for the huge demand.

 

Global Journey Sales Director Ian Samuels comments – "Since February and the onset of Corona Virus we have been unable to keep up with the demand of our hand sanitisers. Every day on the news leading up to lock-down, there were media reports and features about the importance of using hand sanitisers to kill off any virus, and to ensure any being used contain at least 60% alcohol content. Ours are 62% and are also moisturising and scented”.

 

Samuels adds; “Customers were calling us just to let us know that they were selling hundreds of pieces a day, some were selling in excess of 300 hand sanitisers a day. We ended up having to ration stock in March in order to try and supply everyone.”

 

Global Journey hand sanitisers are in stock in May and will have more stock arriving June and July to ensure ongoing supplies.

 
GTN Xtra - Send to all

If you want to keep your staff up to date with what's happening in the industry during the lockdown how about adding a link to the GTN Xtra weekly e-mail newsletter into your staff communications...


If you want to keep your staff up to date with what's happening in the industry during the lockdown how about adding a link to the GTN Xtra weekly e-mail newsletter into your staff communications.

 

All you need to do is add this link: www.gardentradenews.co.uk and that will take them to the current issue.

 

Or you can add an RSS feed of our newsletter using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/rss/

 

Don't forget to send us your news and views during lockdown, GTN Xtra continues to be read at very high levels, for which thank you.  Send your news and views to: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

 

 

 
The best of last week's

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


 
Garden centre re-opening gains high attention

The topic of garden centre re-opening, so close to all of our hearts, reached new levels of attention today with two MP's asking questions as to when garden centres would be able to re-open during Prime Ministers Question Time today.

 

"The incredible amount of work that James Barnes, Boyd Douglas-Davies and the HTA Team are putting in on behalf of not just the membership of the HTA but all growers, retailers and landscapers.  When we look back, this work should not be over-looked by those of us in horticulture as there are some individuals who have gone above and beyond to have achieved the publicity and the support from the public and key decision makers.  They deserve our thanks..."


The topic of garden centre re-opening, so close to all of our hearts, reached new levels of attention today with two MP's asking questions as to when garden centres would be able to re-open during Prime Ministers Question Time today.

 

In answer, First Secretary Dominic Raab, standing in for Boris Johnson, said "The current advice, as I've indicated, from Sage was that relaxing any of those measures - including the ones he refers to - would risk damage to the public health, our economy, and frankly the progress we've made, the sacrifices so many have made, the lives that have been lost.

 

"Can I reassure him that they looked specifically at garden centres and we will continue, as I've indicated earlier, to keep the evidence on each individual measure under very close review."

 

The questions come as a result of lobbying and media activity led by the HTA.  Past President Adam Taylor told GTN Xtra: "It is a privilege to keep in touch with is the incredible amount of work that James Barnes, Boyd Douglas-Davies and the HTA Team are putting in on behalf of not just the membership of the HTA but all growers, retailers and landscapers.  When we look back, this work should not be over-looked by those of us in horticulture as there are some individuals who have gone above and beyond to have achieved the publicity and the support from the public and key decision makers.  They deserve our thanks."

 

Elsewhere in this issue of GTN Xtra you'll find more coverage of the HTA activity.  Well done to all the consumer media outlets who have picked up on this and helped our cause.  From our conversations with garden centres it is clear the demand from gardeners for plants and other gardening products is extremely high and garden centres are starting to plan for re-opening.  One way systems are being planned and implemented in centres across the country and there must be a good trade in perpsex screens for till areas.  In this issue of GTN Xtra there are stories from suppliers who are offering services to help with a safe return to trading and the Garden Radio team here at Potting Shed Press has even been recording social distancing messages ready to be played in garden centres as soon as re-opening is allowed.

 

Following on from last week we've had a few more suppliers contact us with feedback on how they are faring during the crisis:

 

More suppliers feedback

 

Craig Hall, Deco-Pak: "The government itself stated that 'manufacturing plays an important role in the economy' and as such we wanted to continue to support our retailers and their customers during this time. In order to do this, we have had to adapt our business in quite a considerable way, with the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff remaining our absolute priority. It is this that has been at the centre of the changes we have made, from furloughing staff, implementing social distancing measures throughout our site, increased cleaning schedules and the introduction of cleaning stations.

 

"We appreciate that these are unprecedented and scary times, so in addition to the changes already mentioned, we are also offering all our staff, whether working or furloughed, access to our product portfolio, enabling them to complete garden projects at home. It's a small gesture that we hope will show our appreciation for their efforts and ongoing commitment to Deco-Pak, as well as helping to boost their mental and physical wellbeing.

 

"Additionally, we're also donating products such as birdhouses, bird feeders, playpit sand and our Rockin' Pebbles and Pens to local schools that have remained open to support the children of key workers, as well as two local hospices - Overgate In Elland and Forget Me Not Children's Hospice in Huddersfield. We hope that these products will bring a little bit of enjoyment to those during these challenging times, and perhaps the Rockin' Pebbles might even be used to create positive messages of support for NHS and other key workers.

 

"In regard to our support for retailers, we are certainly not operating at our normal capacity, but we are able to continue to service our customers. Products, particularly DIY products, have seen a sharp increase in demand as the nation looks to improve their homes and gardens during this period of lockdown, and we are working hard to ensure that high levels of stock remain available. We now offer a drop ship service for our retail partners, supported by contactless collection. This is minimising the amount of 'hands' in contact with product, whilst also streamlining the process making for quicker and safer delivery.

 

"Like everyone we are of course looking forward to getting back to some semblance of normality, but for now we will continue to follow the advice of the government and the World Health Organisation as we navigate our way towards, hopefully, an end to lockdown. We will continue to make adjustments to our working processes as we move forwards, and will communicate openly with our staff, retail partners and local community as and when these changes are implemented."

 

Adam Taylor, Taylors Bulbs: "We have had jobs that cannot wait such as field-walking the flowers that must be done for the health of the crop, selling and processing last year's agricultural crops, drilling sugar beet, planting potatoes as well as supplying existing and new customers with whatever summer bulbs, seed potatoes, etc. they can take according to the channels they are operating in.  The bulbs have been a drop in the ocean compared to the peak weeks we were expecting from garden retailing but we've been active enough to keep our full-time workers employed.

 

"We are fortunate in that we have facilities where the team can spread themselves out at this time of year (I am sitting alone in my office that usually seats eight). And we are now planning for the bulb harvest and packing campaigns.

 

"We believe the autumn season will be a crucial part of the recovery and we also need to help ourselves as we were approaching the payment date for the January deliveries of summer bulbs, seed potatoes, etc., many of which will still be hanging in closed garden retailers. So we are preparing as much as possible for a successful autumn campaign to help our customers.  Although our sales team are grounded and unable to contact many of their buyers, we have been putting together suggested autumn orders in the hope that we can fine-tune those in the short window we will have after the inevitable re-opening.  We know our customers will be busy enough making up for lost time, and we will run out of it before deliveries need to start so we feel the more we can do to prepare, the better.

 

"The other aspect of my working day that it is a privilege to keep in touch with is the incredible amount of work that James Barnes, Boyd Douglas-Davies and the HTA Team are putting in on behalf of not just the membership of the HTA but all growers, retailers and landscapers.  When we look back, this work should not be over-looked by those of us in horticulture as there are some individuals who have gone above and beyond to have achieved the publicity and the support from the public and key decision makers.  They deserve our thanks.

 

"I hope you are all well and I look forward to boring ol' normal!"

 

Michael Wooldridge, Woodlodge: "The lockdown period couldn’t have hit us and the industry as a whole at a worse time. After the poor weather in January and February and the perfect conditions we are now enjoying, it was set to be one of the best seasons we would have had. It has really put the disappointment of a rainy weekend into perspective!

 

"We are lucky to be in an industry that is used to adapting to change. It's great to see so many of our customers responding to the challenge with innovation and creativity.

 

"From an operational view, we remain open with staff at the warehouse and a small team of office staff working remotely. We have taken the opportunity to do some tidying up and have full plans in place to rapidly bring the business back up to full operational capacity when required.

 

"We have seen some customers already placing orders in anticipation of garden centres reopening and we have plenty of stock which means we are ideally positioned to service any pent up demand when centres are able to open up. We are looking forward to it!"

 

Malcolm Andrews, Panacea: "Panacea have continued serving our trade only customers during lockdown, operating safety first with a reduced warehouse crew. Office staff are working from home or safe distancing at our Swindon office - my thanks go out to all our superb colleagues, and respect for employees around the country who are keeping engines ticking over in these unprecedented times of uncertainty and anxiety.

 

"We are all learning new skills, especially ensuring communications are maintained throughout our business at all levels. One aspect which has personally taken me by surprise is the sheer time consumption of dealing with disruption! Our Company is expanding rapidly and importing stocks from abroad and gearing up high stock levels for a successful spring season has become a real problem. We were able to postpone further shipping at the beginning of the lockdown but now our warehouse space is crammed, costs are at a premium for additional temporary space, and the containers for now, keep coming!

 

"We shall be taking advantage of the various Government assistance packages where we can, facilities which will greatly help us and other small businesses to survive this potentially very damaging crisis. However we look forwards to a safe resumption of trading and the tills ringing once again, I’m getting a little tired of jam sandwiches. The signs look more positive since the start of lockdown and we now tentatively look to the future; needless to say we are ready and waiting.

 

"I do feel we will be a stronger team as we gradually come out the other side with new ways of looking at our business, new skills learned, and better ways of interacting with our customers and colleagues."

 

 
Rosebourne appoint Carol Paris as Chief Executive

Carol Paris has been appointed as CEO to head up the Rosebourne executive team...


The Directors of Rosebourne are delighted to announce that Carol Paris has recently been appointed as CEO to head up the Rosebourne executive team.

 

For many years Carol was Operations and Buying Director for Garden & Leisure, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French garden centre chain, Truffaut. Garden & Leisure was sold to Wyevale in 2013 and Carol moved to become CEO of the Horticultural Trades Association. The role involved representing the interests of the horticultural industry to Government and other stakeholders. Carol also sat on several external boards to represent the horticultural industry, including the British Retail Consortium, The Trade Association Forum, AHDB Horticulture and the Horticultural Innovation Partnership. More recently Carol has worked as a Consultant to suppliers in the industry.

 

Charles Good, Rosebourne Chairman, has known Carol for well over ten years and is delighted to welcome her on board at these unprecedented times.

 

Neville Prest is standing down and is taking a Non Executive Director role. Valerie Kempster, Jon Kitching and Salim Sajid the other 3 executive directors will be continuing in their roles as at present.

 

The company is making full preparation for when the centres will open again while most staff are furloughed, in the meantime the company is operating a delivery service to its customers on a limited range of garden products, furniture and food boxes.

 

 
A third of UK growers will be out of business before the end of the year reveals new industry survey

TV gardeners and the national media have joined Alan Titchmarsh to help the industry by asking the millions of gardening lovers across the UK to show their support and buy British plants when garden centres re-open...

 

"Opening garden centres now, with the same safety measures employed as in supermarkets, will give people across the country access to plants, encourage them to garden, stay healthy and productive at home and help save an industry at the heart of British life.”


We need to ‘Buy British to save our plant industry’ says Alan Titchmarsh as an increase of imports will have a devastating environmental impact on UK gardening.

 

· Around one in three businesses say that even with access to UK Government aid packages they are likely to be insolvent this year

· More than one in ten UK growers (13%) claim that they will out of business by the end of June

· Unless action is taken in the next two weeks a large range of homegrown British plants may not be available for up to two years, which will increase imports and leave the UK open to the risk of infectious diseases and pests

· Alan Titchmarsh is joined by UK’s top gardeners to support industry and launches new campaign #KeepBritainBlooming

 

Insert video here.

 

A new industry report conducted by The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) reveals that the government’s current proposed aid package does not work for the horticultural industry and that a third of UK growers claim they will be insolvent by the end of June because of the impact of coronavirus.[1]

 

In response to the findings, the nation’s favourite celebrity gardeners, along with the HTA who conducted the survey amongst the UK’s ornamental grower businesses, are calling for the Government to act now and support growers before it is too late.

 

The HTA is asking for a compensation scheme to be set up and claims that the UK Government’s aid package simply does not work for the horticultural industry. Less than one in five growers have received help through the Government’s business support measures, while just 1% has received financial support from the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans scheme (CBILS).

 

Current UK Government support does not consider the total loss of annual income for growers, which is largely seasonal from March to June. Meanwhile, over three-fifths of growers (62%) said that they were not eligible for business support grants, while nearly four in five (79%) growers are not entitled to any kind of rates relief.

 

In the Netherlands, the Government has announced a scheme to help its industry while at the same time leaving garden centres open, meaning that Dutch growers will be perfectly positioned to supply the UK market if the British sector collapses.

 

Gardening icon, Alan Titchmarsh, has joined forces with an army of fellow TV gardeners including Adam Frost, Chris Beardshaw, James Wong, Bunny Guinness, Joe Swift, Pippa Greenwood, Jim Buttress, Matthew Biggs, Bob Flowerdew, David Domoney, Lee Connelly (The Skinny Jean Gardener) and Matthew Wilson, to help the industry by asking the millions of gardening lovers across the UK to show their support:

  • write to their local MP in support of opening their local garden centres immediately in a manged and responsible way sharing a message or image/video of how gardening keeps them healthy linked to #KeepBritainBlooming

Alan Titchmarsh MBE comments: “The shocking findings from today’s report show that around a third of our ornamental plant growers – many of them family concerns could go out of business by the end of June unless action is taken now. Put simply, if the Government is unable to offer a compensation scheme on the lines of that already put in place by the Dutch government, and independent garden centres remain closed, then our beloved British garden industry is on the brink of destruction. The longer the delay continues, the more costly the solution.

 

“Europe has stolen a march on the UK and already prepared its horticulture industry for the future. Without a similar financial lifeline, many of our growers will go under and even more, plants will need to be imported from Europe. Aside from the catastrophic economic implications, such imports leave our nation open to the risk of all the infectious diseases and pests that for the last decade British horticulture has worked so hard to avoid. We need to buy British not only to save our plant industry but also to help deliver on our climate change and plant health ambitions in the future.

 

“We are asking the public to support our campaign to #KeepBritainBlooming and to recognise the joy that plants bring to millions of gardeners across the country. Opening garden centres now, with the same safety measures employed as in supermarkets, will give people across the country access to plants, encourage them to garden, stay healthy and productive at home and help save an industry at the heart of British life.”

 

The scale of the challenge for UK growers is enormous. While some plants can be distributed through mail order and home deliveries, there are hundreds of millions of bedding plants in production - equal to the land area of Liverpool - and ordinarily 60% of UK plant sales go through independent garden centres at this peak trading period.

 

Questions have been raised as to why DIY stores have reopened with garden sections last week, while supermarkets have extended retail areas to sell more plants and gardening products. In many other countries, garden centres have been reopened.

 

If a decision is made to reopen garden centres, many premises are already set up to allow for social distancing as they have wide aisles and outside space. Plant areas and other essential garden supplies will be the focus for any reopening and cafes or restaurants will stay closed.

 

A recent YouGov poll showed that over 70% of those who attend garden centres would feel comfortable to do so once measures were eased – the highest scoring for any retail outlet.

A managed re-opening of garden centres would give people limited access and would focus on allowing the purchase of plants and other gardening supplies.

 

James Barnes, Chair of the HTA comments: “We’re now at the end of April and the only way of rescuing this sector is to pursue a simple compensation scheme like the system announced by the Dutch Government, which will save its horticultural industry. We should do the same.

 

“However, the cost of this scheme would be significantly reduced by allowing garden centres to sell plants and gardening equipment as soon as possible. Unless something is done in the next two weeks, we could lose between a third and a half of our seasonal growing sector, which will be a tragedy for hundreds of family businesses throughout the UK and result in a dependency on foreign imports, with all the potential biosecurity issues that brings.”

 

Horticulture not only provides a great deal of grow your own produce but also contributes to the positive physical and mental wellbeing of gardening. Gardening is one of the UK’s biggest hobbies with over 23 million gardeners throughout the country.

 

Peak season has only a matter of weeks left for the horticulture sector, which has formed an essential part of British life for over 350 years. Around 70% of plant sales are made between March and the end of May. Many of these growers are facing huge difficulties and a near-complete loss of income due to the coronavirus. Not only are they losing sales, but many are and will have to write off their stock making this a unique situation.

 
Introducing Cleaner Retail – helping retailers to stop the spread of Covid-19 with a one-stop solution for safe trading

A new proposition from Ivyline, designed to help retailers re-open, comply with social distancing policies and safely trade again...


With the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic expected to change the way we shop for the long-term, Ivyline – more popularly known for its range of trend-led indoor plant pots – has launched Cleaner Retail with one mission in mind: to help retailers get ready to open, remain compliant in regards to hygiene and social distancing, and ultimately, stay open with a cleaner and more efficient retail environment to meet the demands of the post-lockdown world.

 

From sanitisation and hand washing stations, social distance signage and clothing, to PPE kit and equipment and screening, Cleaner Retail is a ‘one stop shop’ for everything needed to get UK retailers back up and running by providing solutions to help prevent the spread of the Corona virus both front and back of house. The products available will focus on the paramount importance of staff and customer health and wellbeing.

 

The full Cleaner Retail offering can be found online at www.cleanerretail.com, with retailers being able to access four core product areas – Eliminate, Protect, Direct, and Care. Hero products will include Ramsol’s Sanitiser Disinfectant Spray (available in both 22 litre and 500ml), which contains active biocides, specifically designed for the cleansing and disinfecting of hard and soft surfaces including food areas. This movable sanitiser vaporises in just 20 seconds for maximum efficiency. Cleaner Retail’s sanitation units can also be easily installed throughout the store, offering customers and staff vital ongoing access sanitise hands and trolley handles. Watch out for further developments in this area.

 

 

Portable wash stations are also expected to prove popular as they provide the necessary means for staff to ensure high levels of hygiene are adhered to both on and off the shop floor to. Handwashing with soap and water is one of the cornerstones of government guidance to safety in the workplace. On the shop floor staff and customers are offered advanced levels of protection with Cleaner Retail’s screening options, all of which can be quickly and easily installed at the till, entrances, areas of high footfall or queues, throughout warehouses and even outdoors.

 

Talking about this new venture, Scott Thomas, MD of Ivyline and founder of Cleaner Retail said: “More than anything Cleaner Retail has been set up to help retailers with their safety and sanitation needs as we transition into a new normal. Seeing so many retailers close their doors at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown was a wholly disheartening experience, especially as we were on the precipice of what looked to be a highly profitable Easter sales period, especially for garden retailing.  We knew we couldn’t sit around and do nothing, so we hope that our efforts will go some way in making the reopening of many stores a reality in the near future.

 

“UK retail will undoubtedly have to prove that it has considered all aspects of sanitation and social distancing compliance in order to gain approval from the government to reopen. Consumers, who are understandably cautious of re-entering the public domain, will also look to shop owners for reassurance.  Many retailers have been quick to respond accordingly; however, our research has shown that there are gaps in their knowledge and as such there are areas within the retail environment that risk being missed. Cleaner Retail offers solutions to plug these gaps, making it easy for retailers to confidently purchase everything they need to create a cleaner backdrop from which to trade. We want to help UK retailing to get back on its feet as quickly as possible and believe Cleaner Retail is a logical and positive way of doing so.”

 

Retailers can place orders instantly via the Cleaner Retail website, whilst bespoke packages are available on request. Personalisation is also available on many product ranges subject to a minimum order value. An additional benefit of Cleaner Retail is its commitment to supporting the wider UK economy and manufacturing, having only selected products made or sourced from UK suppliers.

 

Scott added: “If any retailer requires products that are not currently listed on Cleaner Retail, we ask that they reach out to myself and the team. In order to get the site up and running we have forged some great relationships with UK manufacturers, and as such are able to quickly add new lines if demand dictates.”

 

For more information regarding the government’s advice for social distancing in the workplace, including the use of pop-up hand wash stations, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19#social-distancing-in-the-workplace---principles

 

What is on offer from Cleaner Retail?

  • Disinfectant Sprays
  • Social distancing signs, floor stickers, posters, banners and clothing
  • Portable hand washing stations
  • Portable hand sanitisation stations
  • PPE kits including antibacterial gel, masks, gloves and wipes + refills
  • Protective screening for tills, queues, warehousing, entrances, retail displays

To find out more about Cleaner Retail, or to place your order please visit www.cleanerretail.com. Alternatively call 024 7633 9189, email info@cleanerretail.com or get in touch with your usual Ivyline contact or agent.

 
It’s #FloralFriday, our favourite day of the week!

Greenfingers Charity urges its supporters old and new to celebrate National Gardening Week and spread some more floral cheer by joining in #FloralFriday today...


Greenfingers Charity urges its supporters old and new to celebrate National Gardening Week and spread some more floral cheer by joining in #FloralFriday today.  And by taking part you will be helping to ensure the Greenfingers Charity brand stays in the hearts and minds of its supporters and at the same time encourage more garden lovers to find out about the valuable work of the charity.

 

Here’s what you need to do…

  • Post your favourite floral image or a selfie wearing your favourite floral shirt, dress, hat, shoes, tie, pjs or similar
  • Use the hashtags #floralfriday #hortindustry #greenfingers
  • Tag Greenfingers Charity
  • If you can, donate by

Texting FLORALFRIDAY to 70085 to donate £5 or FLORALFRIDAYTEN to 70085 to donate £10

  • nominate a friend or friends to do the same

More so than ever, Greenfingers Charity needs your support so whatever you can do to help really will make a difference.

 

For more information about other ways you can support Greenfingers Charity, get in touch with Linda Petrons,  Director of Fundraising and Communications by emailing Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or calling 07908 221240.

 
 
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 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 Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here


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

 

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care Products chart for this week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro 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.

 

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.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.

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