July's Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade figures have been released and show that the organisation’s members continued to perform well – despite the weather being against them.

The GCA also recorded a positive year-to-date variance of +1.03% and member garden centres saw an uplift in nine of the 13 BoT categories.

Chief Executive of the GCA, Peter Burks, says: “Sales in July held up remarkably well considering the very dull and wet weather we had to endure. This was greatly helped by catering yet again, the biggest single category this month by some distance, at +30.35%, and supported by plant sales, both indoor, +12.55%, and outdoor, +11.1%.

“The huge drop off in furniture and BBQ sales, -40.9%, was not surprising, but was certainly most unhelpful given the stock everyone is trying to clear.”

Food hall/farm shop was up 14.39% and the seeds & bulbs category was also up 11.88%. Pets & aquatics leapt up by 4.15% and gifts by 8.24% when compared to July 2022.

Clothing fell by -1.01, hard landscaping to -10.77% and garden sundries down to -8.85%.

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