As "the beast from the east" causes garden centres to close in Kent and the south east GTN has been looking back through the GTN Bestsellers data to when we last had a cold March in 2013.

In that year, as you see in the graph above, there was a noticeable dip in sales at the start of March as we expect to see this year with this weeks snow and the freeze predicted to run into next week too.  Then there was a good weeks trading in the middle of March around Garden Re-Leaf Day followed by more cold weather at the end of the month.

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

Garden Re-Leaf Day is Friday 16th March so make sure your teams get involved to help make up for lost sales this week and next.  To find out more about Garden Re-Leaf Day go to: https://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf

One of the great fun-draising ideas is the Garden Re-Leaf Plantathon which always generates loads of local press coverage and extra sales during March.  Last week saw the first drop in plant sales year on year in the GTN Bestsellers Plants Sales index.  Keep up to date with which are the best selling plants across the UK every week with a subscription to the full GTN Bestsellers service.  You can buy an annual subscription for only £145 using this link, it will seriously improve your sales during the year.