Barton Grange have been announced as the winners of the Destination Garden Centre of the Year Award and The Old Railway Line as winners of The Garden Centre of the Year during the GCA's virtual presentation day, today, Tuesday 15th February.
This afternoon GCA Inspector Aylson Haywood announced Cowells and Barton Grange as winners of the Ruxley Rose awards for plant areas...
Barton Grange have been announced as the winners of the Destination Garden Centre of the Year Award and The Old Railway Line as winners of The Garden Centre of the Year during the GCA's virtual presentation day, today, Tuesday 15th February.
Here are the full award results announced by GCA Chair, Tammy Woodhouse, this morning:
GCA GROW Training Award Blackbrooks Garden Centre
The Dick Allen Most Improved Garden Centre Award 3. Haddenham 2. Dubar 1. Hillier Eastbourne
Barton Grange Trophy for Creativity and Innovation 3. Bents 2. Blue Diamond East Bridgford 1. Barton Grange
Customer Service Award 3. Bents 2. Barton Grange 1. The Old Railway Line
Environment and Community Award 3. Perrywood Tiptree 2. Haskins snowhill 1. Coolings
Best Garden Products Retailer - GIMA Award Garden Centres 3. Klondyke MOrton Hall 2. The Old Railway Line 1. Klondyke Gardewise
Destination Centres 3. Blue Diamond East Bridgford 2. Bents 1. Barton Grange
Outdoor Living Award Garden Centres 3. Fairways Ashbourne 2. Blue Diamond Coton Orchard 1. Klondyke Stokesley
Destination Centres 3. Tong 2. Bents 1. Fron Goch
10 Garden Centres of Excellence were announced: Barton Grange Bents Cowells Fron Goch Haskins Snowhill Perrywood Tiptree Planters Tamworth St Peters The Old Railway Line Webbs of Wychbold
The Worrall Cup - Best marketing initiative or campaign Finalists: Green Heart by Barton Grange, Celebrating 150 years by Garsons, Poppy's Farm by St Peters
Winner St Peters Poppy's Farm
Haskins Stewarts Cup - Associate of the Year 3. Smart Garden Products 2. Woodlodges 1. Allensmore Nurseries
Garden Centre of the Year Top 3 Cowells Plan Bretby The Old Railway Line
Winner is: The Old Railway Line
Destination Garden Centre of the Year Top 3 Barton Grange Bents Fron Goch
Winner is: Barton Grange
And the winners in the Annual Ruxley Rose competition are:
Value garden centre group, Cherry Lane, has acquired Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre in Nottinghamshire to take the group to 16 centres...
Value garden centre group, Cherry Lane, has acquired Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre in Nottinghamshire.
Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre is located on Bar Road, Saundby. The acquisition, the latest in Cherry Lane’s strategy of ongoing expansion, brings the group total to 16 garden centres across East Anglia, Yorkshire and the Midlands. Cherry Lane has acquired both the garden centre and its on-site Citrus Café.
Nick Rubins, Chief Executive of the QD Group which owns Cherry Lane, said: “The latest acquisition of Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre is another step in the ongoing growth and success of Cherry Lane. We already have garden centres in Tickhill and Beverley so this is an ideal new location for us. Retford & Gainsborough has been trading for more than 20 years and is well known and loved locally.
“We are very pleased to welcome the garden centre team, who bring with them outstanding gardening knowledge and expertise. As a family run business, we look forward to continuing the centre’s rich history of serving the community and to introducing our great value, excellent quality and ever-changing spectacular deals.”
The garden centre, which currently employs 18 members of staff, will be known as Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre by Cherry Lane. All staff will be retained. The garden centre will be managed initially by Lee Jackson, current manager at nearby Cherry Lane Beverley.
Cherry Lane is introducing a number of improvements and developments over the next few months. New product ranges will include Cherry Lane’s famous range of outdoor furniture, as well as solar lighting, water features and barbecues, not to mention indoor furnishings and homewares, with many ranges exclusive to Cherry Lane. A brand-new Scallywags pet shop is also coming to the centre.
The garden centre will remain open to customers throughout the improvement works.
The new owners also plan to continue the garden centre’s well-established homegrown hanging basket operation, which will work alongside Cherry Lane’s existing four nursery operations where they produce the popular Grown By Us range, which is sold across all Cherry Lane garden centres. A new menu is being developed for Citrus Café too, including customers’ existing favourites.
The Cherry Lane environmental strategy, Value Our Planet is the company’s commitment to responsible retailing, caring for the environment and the world in which we live. The initiative will see Retford & Gainsborough stocking more environmentally friendly ranges and eco products, as well as the introduction of a flowerpot and compost bag recycling scheme, where customers will be encouraged not to throw them away but to bring them to the centre for recycling or reuse.
Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre by Cherry Lane is located on Bar Road, Saundby, Retford DN22 9EU. For more information, visit www.cherry-lane.co.uk.
Local newspapers are reporting that Bosworths Garden Centre in Burton Latimer have submitted planing applications to move to a new site on the A6 at Irthlingborough...
Local newspapers are reporting that Bosworths Garden Centre in Burton Latimer have submitted planing applications to move to a new site on the A6 at Irthlingborough.
Sam Bosworth told GTN Xtra this morning that the application was actually submitted in December last year and they are now going through the process towards, hopefully, approval later this year. "Ever since I left college it has always been in our minds that the restrictive Burton Latimer site would become housing eventually and at last we have found a site, still within our catchment triangle of Kettering, Wellingborough and Rushden."
Sam explained it will be a while before the garden centre, which will be twice the size of Burton Latimer, takes shape as despite all the good news around garden centres at the moment getting the finance in place is very complicated for garden centres.
"We've been looking seriously for 5 to 6 years and saw this plot in Irthlingborough in September 2019. I thought getting planning on a new site would be easire than the planning to change the existing site for residential but it has turned out to be the other way around.
The new site is just 4 miles away from Burton Latimer at Litchfield Farm, A6, Irthlingborough Bypass
Notcutts has launched a year of celebrations to mark 125 years of glorious gardening with a special event hosted at their new-look Notcutts Woodbridge Garden Centre in Suffolk..
Caroline Notcutt (centre) cuts the ribbon to the new entrance at Notcutts Woodbridge Garden Centre with (far right) Cllr Sue Bale, Mayor of Woodbridge, alongside the Notcutts board, Notcutt family members, and (far left) Notcutts Woodbridge manager Darren Brooks.
Caroline Notcutt (centre) cuts the ribbon to the new entrance at Notcutts Woodbridge Garden Centre with (far right) Cllr Sue Bale, Mayor of Woodbridge, alongside the Notcutts board, Notcutt family members, and (far left) Notcutts Woodbridge manager Darren Brooks.
Notcutts has launched a year of celebrations to mark 125 years of glorious gardening with a special event hosted at their new-look Notcutts Woodbridge Garden Centre in Suffolk.
Guests, family and Notcutts colleagues joined Vice Chairman Caroline Notcutt and Councillor Sue Bale, Mayor of Woodbridge, for an official ribbon cutting and guided tour around the garden centre, which has recently undergone extensive refurbishment.
Notcutts is a family-owned garden centre group first established by Roger Crompton Notcutt in 1897, and it has since become a leading name in horticulture with 18 garden centres nationwide. While plants and gardening has remained at its core, Notcutts has enhanced the overall experience for customers by investing in spacious new restaurants, and show gardens to inspire gardeners with planting ideas.
Notcutts Woodbridge, which was their first garden centre to open in 1958 on the same Ipswich Road site in Suffolk, has recently undergone a phased modernisation and improvement programme including a new 250-seater restaurant with alfresco dining terrace, and a restored woodland nature walk which will remain a permanent wildlife conservation area for customers to enjoy for free. In recent months, works have also completed on a new entrance area at the front of the garden centre, and two large outdoor canopies where customers can browse and plants can thrive in all weathers.
The new plant canopies at Notcutts Woodbridge.
Speaking at the celebratory event, Caroline Notcutt, Vice-Chairman and Great-Granddaughter of Notcutts’ founder Roger Crompton Notcutt, said: “It was wonderful to welcome customers, colleagues and friends of Notcutts to join the official opening of our new-look Woodbridge garden centre and to launch our special year of anniversary celebrations. It is inspiring to realise how much Notcutts has grown and diversified over the past 125 years, while our passion for gardening and expertise has remained at the heart of all we do. In this celebratory year, I’m excited to look to the future of Notcutts and how we can continue to inspire the next generation of gardeners.”
Notcutts has planned a year of celebratory activity with the theme of ‘looking forward’ to the future of gardening and the environment. Notcutts will be launching a new and exclusive rose named by the public in May, and later in the year they will be planting 2,500 trees across their 18 garden centre locations nationwide.
To find out more about Notcutts or to keep up to date with celebratory plans visit notcutts.co.uk.
The team at British Garden Centres (BGC) have announced the arrival of the groups 59th garden centre. Timmermans Garden Centre of Nottingham, and team, joined the BGC family today, Monday 14th February 2022...
The team at British Garden Centres (BGC) have announced the arrival of the groups 59th garden centre. Timmermans Garden Centre of Nottingham, and team, joined the BGC family today, Monday 14th February 2022.
As with all the centres in the group this centre will also carry a local name so will be renamed Epperstone Garden Centre.
Phillippa Stubbs, Director of BGC South said “We have known the site for many years and admired the way the Timmermans family have developed its strong reputation for quality plants, a wonderful restaurant and a great family shopping experience. We are looking forward to working with the team to develop the business further and build on its heritage.”
Timmermans Garden Centre has developed over the last 30 years in to one of the leading garden centres in Nottinghamshire. In recent years Sophie & Greg Timmermans-Delves have invested in the centre and restaurant. Following an extensive refurbishment programme in 2011 the team went on to be named 2016 Garden Centre of the Year at the Garden Retail and Garden Industry Awards.
Speaking of the sale, Sophie, daughter of the founder, said, “Having grown up in the business we thought long and hard about who should become the next custodians of it. We are delighted that our team is joining the British Garden Centres family. As our family embarks on a new adventure we are confident that the centre will flourish and continue to serve the good people of Nottinghamshire well”
Epperstone Garden Centre is on the north-east side of Nottingham. Well situated between Nottingham & Newark to serve the area. The 8½ acre site has long been known as an horticultural hotspot having been home to Timmermans Roses for many years – a business dating back to the 1880s.
The total volume sales of garden centres supplying weekly data to GTN Bestsellers for the first week of February 2022 was more than double that of 2021 and 31% up on the same week in 2019...
The total volume sales of garden centres supplying weekly data to GTN Bestsellers for the first week of February 2022 was more than double that of 2021 and 31% up on the same week in 2019.
There were also big wins for garden centre teams in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, which were announced at Spring Fair on Monday 7th February 2022.
As one of the judges said: “This process of meeting the teams who make Christmas happen in garden centres always leaves me feeling confident in the resilience of our trade, and 2021 was no exception.
“Despite all the challenges, garden centre teams applied themselves with imagination and good commercial sense to deliver Christmas ranges and displays which helped build their business. Not just at Christmas but also through the rest of the year as ‘delighted customers’ will often return in other seasons.
“And that creates another opportunity for us all: How do we continue to delight and inspire profitable sales throughout the year using the skills which we developed in the Christmas season?”
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2021: week 5.
Garden Products Top 50 – up 89%
Growing Media Top 50 – up 404%
Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 175%
Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – up 60%
GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2021: week 5
All Plants with Barcode index – up 124%
All Items with Barcode index – up 138%
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Award winners revealed Gold awards for Altons, Ayletts, Barton Grange, Bents, Brigg, Burford House, Gates, Kaemingk, Pengelly, Perrywood, Planters, Pughs, Sapcote, Silverbirch, Squires, The Old Railway Line & Webbs
Burford House (BGC), Brigg (BGC), Squire Badshot Lea, Silverbirch, The Old Railway Line and Bents have picked up Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Team golds in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, presented at Spring Fair on Monday. Kaemingk walked away with The Greatest Christmas Supplier gold...
Burford House (BGC), Brigg (BGC), Squire Badshot Lea, Silverbirch, The Old Railway Line and Bents have picked up Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Team golds in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, presented at Spring Fair on Monday. Kaemingk walked away with The Greatest Christmas Supplier gold.
Here are all the winners:
The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team - kindly sponsored by Woodlodge
The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by Woodlodge
Smaller Group Centres
Gold:Burford House - BGC
Silver: Albrighton – BGC
Bronze: Blue Diamond Newbridge, Little Dobbies Richmond, Thatcham – BGC
The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by Woodlodge
Larger Group Centres
Gold:Squires Badshot Lea, Brigg – BGC
Silver: Blue Diamond Cadbury, Blue Diamond Derby
Bronze: Braintree – BGC
All Group Centre Finalists: Albrighton – BGC, Blue Diamond Cadbury, Blue Diamond Derby, Blue Diamond Newbridge, Braintree – BGC, Brigg Garden Centre – BGC, Burford House – BGC, Little Dobbies Richmond, Squires Badshot Lea, Thatcham – BGC
The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by DCUK
Gold:Silverbirch
Silver: Newquay Garden Centre
Bronze: Pengelly Garden Centre
Finalists: Hillmount Cheshire, Newquay Garden Centre, Pengelly Garden Centre, Pughs Wenvoe, Silverbirch
The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by DCUK
Gold:The Old Railway Line
Silver: Fron Goch
Bronze: Woodlands Garden Centre
Finalists: Bosworths, Fron Goch, Perrywood Sudbury, Tates South Downs, The Old Railway Line, Woodlands Garden Centre
The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team - kindly sponsored by Festive
Watch out for The Greatest Christmas Awards photo tours of the centres in future issues of GTN Xtra, starting this coming weekend and in the next issue of GTN magazine.
The Hozelock Pure range, which includes the BioMix, Bokashi Composter and a range of sprayers, is expanding this year with the launch of the new EasyMix 2-in-1 Composter...
Today’s gardeners are reaching less for chemicals and more for organic and natural solutions to create their green garden, leading to an increased demand for natural gardening equipment.
With the trend for green gardening and ‘grow your own’ produce set to continue, consumers are now seeking products to assist with their journey in creating a better connection to nature and a desire to become more self-sufficient.
The Hozelock Pure range, which includes the BioMix, Bokashi Composter and a range of sprayers, is expanding this year with the launch of the new EasyMix 2-in-1 Composter. The latest addition to the range, allows gardeners to easily recycle their kitchen and garden waste, helping to prevent food waste being sent to landfill, whilst improving the quality of their soil with nutrient rich compost, which helps consumers to garden naturally.
The EasyMix 2-in-1 tumbling composter, benefits from a 100L capacity drum and is quicker than most conventional composters, producing compost in as little as six to eight weeks. The enclosed lockable lid helps to prevent any pests and unpleasant smells and the design enables users to roll the drum around the garden to distribute compost with ease.
The reservoir under the tank also collects the compost liquid and the inclusion of the innovative ‘Click & Spray’ hose applicator allows gardeners to use this high-nutrient, natural liquid to feed plants. Simply connect to your hose to enrich your garden with a solution that is kind to your purse and the environment!
The EasyMix 2-in-1 Composter, which is available from late February and has an RRP of £169.99, is manufactured using 85% recycled plastic and is 100% recyclable.
Leon Boots Ultralight Ankle Boots are flourishing in garden centres throughout the UK.Award winners at BBC Gardeners World Live Show, the ankle boots are also winners with garden centre customers!
Leon Boots Ultralight Ankle Boots are flourishing in garden centres throughout the UK.Award winners at BBC Gardeners World Live Show, the ankle boots are also winners with garden centre customers!
Lightweight, warm and comfy with removable and washable sock liner, and available in a great range of colours. Already selling extremely well in Blue Diamond!
We have great stock levels so please get in touch and join the ankle boot revolution!
Peter Seabrook’s funeral will be held in Chelmsford on 24 February 2022...
Peter Seabrook’s funeral will be held in Chelmsford on 24 February 2022.
Those wishing to attend are asked to contact Peter’s son and daughter, Roger and Alison, via aseabrookmoore@gmail.com but numbers limited due to Covid-19.
In lieu of flowers, donations, if wished, be made to the David Colegrave Foundation, supporting the development of students studying horticulture in the UK and Ireland, or to Alzheimer’s Society c/o T Pennack & Sons, 1-3 Maldon Rd, Chelmsford, CM2 7DW.
Equally, Peter would have been delighted for people to plant a tree (and perhaps upload a virtual plaque to www.queensgreencanopy.org) as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy jubilee celebrations.
The Garden Centre Association has announced its new Chairman for 2022/23 and Chairman Elect. Tammy Woodhouse was officially named as the GCA’s Chairman for 2022-23 with Will Blake becoming Chairman Elect, during its virtual AGM meeting, which took place on Thursday...
The Garden Centre Association has announced its new Chairman for 2022/23 and Chairman Elect.
Tammy Woodhouse was officially named as the GCA’s Chairman for 2022 – 23 with Will Blake becoming Chairman Elect, during its virtual AGM meeting, which took place on February 10.
Tammy, who is Managing Director of Millbrook Garden Centres, which has centres in Gravesend and Staplehurst in Kent, said: “I am thrilled to have taken on the role of GCA Chairman for 2022 – 23. I look forward to working closely with the GCA Executive and full Board of elected directors. I hope together we can continue to expand our membership and strengthen those all-important relationships between centres.
“I would like to thank Mike Burks, who steps down as GCA Chairman, for his tireless work during the past two years, which have been the most challenging any of us have ever known. I am looking forward to improving the sustainability of our industry, taking forward the recently developed five-year strategic plan for the GCA and hopefully meeting members in person at the postponed conference later in the year.”
Tammy studied geology and joined The Millbrook Garden Company briefly in 1998 following the sudden death of her father Dick Allen. Subsequently, she worked as a Retail Manager for Debenhams and studied garden design before returning permanently to Millbrook in 2002. She took over as Managing Director from her mum Sue in 2009 after a five-year succession plan.
She has been on the GCA executive board since 2006, helping to launch Garden Retail Online Workshops (GCA GROW) in 2013 and chairing the organising committee for the International Garden Centre Congress to the UK in 2019.
Will Blake, Director St Peter’s Garden Centre in Worcester, said: “It’s a huge honour to have been made Chairman Elect of the GCA. For many years I have seen the dedicated work the association’s Chairmen’ undertake and I am really looking forward to my time in office. In the meantime, I will be doing anything I can to help and support Tammy in her new role.”
Will joined his family business in 2013 after a successful career in the logistics industry. During his time in logistics, he worked for several blue chip PLCs, including GlaxoSmithKline, Nestlé, Carlsberg Tetley, B&Q and Superdry.
He joined the GCA in 2015 as Area Chairman for the Midlands. In 2021, he became a Directly Elected Member of the Board and put himself forward to be Chairman for 2024 – 2025. He is passionate about encouraging sustainability in the garden centre sector.
Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “We are thrilled that our members have ratified the appointment of our next Chairman. I am really looking forward to working with Tammy when she takes on the role.
“Usually, our first job together as a team each year is organising our annual conference, which we do in advance of the Chairman being officially inaugurated. However, we sadly had to postpone our January 2022 one, but we are working together on virtual events, with a plan to host something in person later in the year now.
“I’d also like to congratulate Will on his role too and look forward to working with him also.”
Helping millions of consumers to be part of efforts to end peat use in horticulture is at the centre of two new schemes being launched this month. This is part of a series of actions planned by the horticulture industry’s Growing Media Taskforce to help remove peat by 2025-2028 in retail and 2028-2030 in plant and tree production.
Helping millions of consumers to be part of efforts to end peat use in horticulture is at the centre of two new schemes being launched this month. This is part of a series of actions planned by the horticulture industry’s Growing Media Taskforce to help remove peat by 2025-2028 in retail and 2028-2030 in plant and tree production.
E-learning and on-pack labelling will go live at garden centres this month. The e-learning will help garden retailers provide the best advice on peat-free products, while the on-pack Responsible Sourcing Scheme will enable consumers to quickly and easily check the sustainability rating of growing media products. With gardeners of all ages and ability increasingly keen to make environmental lifestyle choices and 48% of GB adults (around 25 million) purchasing some compost last year, the schemes aim to educate an audience which is engaged and keen to learn more.
The e-learning has been designed and written by the Horticultural Trades Association and the Garden Centre Association, supported by the Growing Media Association, Royal Horticulture Society and National Farmers’ Union. It contains five modules covering: the importance of Peatlands; the Responsible Sourcing Scheme; choosing the right product for the right purpose; converting peat users and peat alternatives.
Supported by Defra, the training will be made available to almost 2,000 garden retail businesses across the country and unlocking the potential for more than five million customers to improve their understanding of choosing and using peat-free products. It consists of five modules, looking at the importance of Peatlands; the Responsible Sourcing Scheme; right product, right purpose; converting peat users and peat alternatives.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Reducing peat use across the amateur horticultural sector will be integral to the long-term health of our precious peatlands.
“By promoting the benefits of peat-free products, this new e-learning will help gardeners across the UK to make informed, sustainable choices and play their part in protecting our environment, in line with our 25 Year Environment Plan and commitments to achieve net zero by 2050.”
Mike Burks, Chairman of the Garden Centre Association, said: “Garden centre staff have the perfect opportunity to help customers make responsible decisions when shopping for growing media or soil improvers. They can help those who struggle to identify the correct product for the task they are trying to achieve or who lack the confidence or skill to embrace new ways of gardening using peat-free products. This training will help staff to have these kinds of conversations and to educate gardeners about the positive impact they can have.”
Retailers and growing media manufacturers are also preparing to promote a new scheme, the Responsible Sourcing Scheme, to help consumers establish how responsible a growing media product is. It will provide a scoring system that rates criteria such as water use, energy use and pollution, to give an overall rating for each product - much like the energy ratings for domestic appliances - A for the most sustainable and E for the least. A QR code printed on the bag will enable consumers to quickly check the ingredients and find out the product’s rating before choosing to purchase.
The scheme is the result of years of work to bring manufacturers, government and environment charities together to establish something simple out of a large amount and complex variety of industry information. It aims to make it easier and therefore more popular for customers to check the ingredients of the product, as Steve Harper, Chair of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme, explains: “Helping consumers to make informed decisions about the purchases they make is essential and an important part of industry efforts to take decisive action to see an end to peat use in horticulture. The Responsible Sourcing Scheme, which though in its infancy now, still has 90 per cent of manufacturers signed up, and will continue to improve as we add more products and complete more evaluations, providing consumers with all the information they need to make responsible purchases.”
Together, these two inventive schemes are part of a cross-industry collaboration to deliver a peat-removal plan. The 8-point scheme was presented to Government last year to phase out peat by sourcing quality alternatives. This needs Government support to unlock the regulations which are holding back the industry’s efforts to source alternative materials to peat.
Plants saw a massive leap in sales as the sun shone at the start of February. Sales in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data grew by 16% week on week and were more than double of the same week in 2019...
Plants saw a massive leap in sales as the sun shone at the start of February. Sales in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data grew by 16% week on week and were more than double of the same week in 2019.
Highlights of the week were:
Planted Narcissus were a big winner last week with sales growing by 51%.
Lupinus moved 14 places up the chart to No 27.
Sales of young plants started in earnest with Petunia’s re-entering at No 47.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
The Garden Centre Association says garden centres were rallying and recovering from the pandemic in 2021 according to its overall Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures for the year released this month...
The Garden Centre Association says garden centres were rallying and recovering from the pandemic in 2021 according to its overall Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures for the year released this month.
Excluding catering, retail growth stands at 30.47% up during 2021 compared to 2020 and up 29.77% compared to 2019.
Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “The growth in retail sales during 2021 demonstrates the increased popularity in gardening during the past two years and shows that the industry is flourishing after a very troublesome time for us all. These figures are very positive and show how important gardening has become to the nation. It also demonstrates the ongoing trends for good mental health and wellbeing, growing our own food and the planet-friendly aspects of plants.
“However, we expect now that the world is opening up more, that there will be more competition for time and money with consumers potentially switching spending to holidays and other activities aside from gardening, as well as dealing with increased utility bills and inflation. Our members’ job is now to nurture those who became green-fingered during the pandemic and continue to educate them and promote all of the different benefits that come with gardening.”
Due to the pandemic, sales in 2020 were down -4.34% compared to 2019 overall, however, with catering excluded, as this was one of the worst affected departments, they were up 6.21%.
In 2021, overall sales were up 31.41% compared to 2020 and up 18.84% compared to 2019.
Houseplant sales in 2021 were up 29.40% when looking at 2020 figures and up 50.19% on 2019.
Outdoor plant sales in 2021 were up 38.90% on the previous year and 29.26% up on 2019.
Sales in seeds and bulbs were up 17.22% in 2021 compared to 2020 and 23.54% up on 2019.
Iain adds: “Furniture and barbecue sales in 2021 were up 60.95% on the previous year and up 71.24% on 2019. This is due to people’s newfound appreciation for their outdoor spaces over the past couple of years.
“This is also reflected in hard landscaping sales, which were up 24.67% in 2021 compared to the previous year and up 59.05% on 2019.”
Sales in garden sundries for 2021 were up 24.58% on 2020 and up 34.94% on 2019. Pets and aquatics departments also enjoyed positive sales in 2021, as they were up 22.34% when likened to the year before and up 16.95% on 2019.
Gift sales saw an increase of 30.51% in 2021 compared to 2020 and were also up 18.26% on 2019 figures.
Iain continued: “While catering sales were obviously affected by the pandemic, food hall and farm shops within garden centres were often classed as essential shops and were allowed to remain open, which is why we still saw positive sales in 2020. In 2021, sales were up 24.85% on 2020 and up 40.01% on 2019.
“Many clothing concessions were closed in 2020, which therefore affected sales greatly, and there was also a trend for people not to invest in new clothing, as they were not going out as much. In 2021, sales were up 38.38% on 2020, but were still down -1.13% on the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.”
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement.
The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.
Azpects are pleased to announce the launch of EASYJoint Select, specially Selected for you this valentine’s day. Available from the 14th of February 2022...
Azpects is pleased to announce the launch of EASYJoint Select, specially Selected for you this valentine’s day. Available from the 14th of February 2022.
Developed from our best-selling EASYJoint Original, EASYJoint Select is an all-year-round jointing compound developed especially for ceramic and porcelain paving. EASYJoint launched in 2010 and is a market leader, loved by landscape professionals and the DIY sector alike.
The EASYJoint Select range offers a quick and EASY way to fill joints in porcelain paving. Azpects designed four new colours to complement emerging hard landscaping trends for a more aesthetically pleasing finish, featuring Tungsten, Carbon, Bronze and Jet Black.
EASYJoint Select retains the sweep-in application method that made EASYJoint Original so popular, making it EASY to use and faster than traditional methods. Wet the paving, brush in the compound, then strike the joints for a perfect, professional finish every time.
Associate Director Jeff Carter comments, “Azpects are excited to see our EASYJoint range continue to grow, with eight products now in the family. We pride ourselves on keeping up with the latest trends in the marketplace and do not doubt that this bespoke range of colours for modern taste will satisfy our users’ needs.”
At Azpects Ltd, we specialise in developing and manufacturing products for the creation and maintenance of outdoor hard landscaping.
Our mission is simple - to deliver products which make common hardscaping and care challenges EASY and less frequent.
Our comprehensive range includes products to help create patios, paths and driveways, and products to help clean and protect surfaces - including paving, decking and ornaments.
Established 2009
Azpects began in 2009 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. Our two founding directors discovered an innovative product which they knew could benefit landscapers across Britain. They launched EASYJoint in January 2010 and it has fast become the UK’s leading product for joining patios, paths, and paving.
The Azpects range has grown to include over 40 products aimed at both professional landscapers and consumers. Our products are available through builders’ merchants, trade outlets, garden centres and leading DIY retailers alike.
We’ve developed unrivalled experience within our sector by listening to customers and answering their needs. Our team employs extensive skills developed within the chemicals industry to formulate solutions which solve our customers’ challenges quickly and effectively.
Taking place next week (February 17th, Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire), GIMA’s first Day Conference of 2022, focused on the forthcoming changes to the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR), has just a few places remaining...
Taking place next week (February 17th, Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire), GIMA’s first Day Conference of 2022, focused on the forthcoming changes to the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR), has just a few places remaining.
Interested parties who want to learn more about the EPR regulation changes that are set to come into effect in 2023, are being urged to secure one of the remaining places for this special one-day event.
The forthcoming EPR changes will see any businesses that turns over more than £1million, or handles more than 25 tonnes of packaging annually, become responsible for the full cost of managing all packaging they place into the market. Anyone that meets these criteria will not want to miss out on attending as a selection of industry experts will come together to share further details regarding the potential changes that may follow once the government has concluded its consultation.
Speakers on the day will include Josh Remi, Commercial Manager at Ecoveritas; Tim Hayne, Head of Marketing at Wessex Packaging; and Valpak’s Commercial Accounts Manager, Lee Wearing. A panel debate will also take place, featuring experts and suppliers who have all already encountered challenges and/or developed products and strategies that will impact their fees under EPR.
Open to both members and non-members, GIMA is urging interested parties to secure their places now, as space is limited. Tickets cost £60 per person for GIMA members (plus £30 for each additional delegate from the same organisation), and £120 per person for non-members (plus £60 for each additional delegate from the same organisation). A buffet lunch and refreshments will be available throughout the day and is included in the ticket price.
For further information regarding the forthcoming GIMA Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations Day Conference, contact the GIMA team on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk
Spring Fair, the UK’s largest and longest running trade show for home, gift and fashion, has generated millions of pounds worth of business kick-starting and refuelling the retail industry...
Spring Fair, the UK’s largest and longest running trade show for home, gift and fashion, has generated millions of pounds worth of business kick-starting and refuelling the retail industry.
A return in buyer confidence and the buzz, enthusiasm and energy throughout the show has been backed up by reports of huge volumes of orders and the average order values going up.
Buyers including John Lewis, Next, Morleys, Wayfair, Oliver Bonas, Fortnum & Mason, Fenwick, National Trust, V&A, Merlin Entertainment, Tesco, Sainsbury, Argos, B&Q, Paperchase, Scribbler, Funky Pigeon, Waterstones, Hobbycraft, Matalan, as well as garden centres such as Squires, Notcutts, Dobbies, Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, and Barton Grange attended. Charlotte Overend, Buyer from La Redoute said; “We have been to the Spring Fair a few times now and it's better than before, so happy with meeting all our suppliers and new ones too, placed a few orders and its definitely the show to be at. Will be back for Autumn Fair.”
Julie Driscoll, Divisional Managing Director, Spring Fair & Moda, says; “It’s been a truly extraordinary four days at Spring Fair, we’re so pleased to be able to report on such overwhelming success stories and hear the brilliant feedback from our visitors and exhibitors.
“Backed up by our 72-year heritage and experience, Spring Fair continues to look forward, to listen to and understand the marketplace, to evolve and innovate, to strive to deliver the ultimate buying experience and the best return on investment for our exhibitors. Despite the two-year break, the team haven’t stood still. We have invested in our people and in new products such as Curated Meetings to ensure we not only have our finger on the pulse of what our customers and the retail industry needs, but also to continually think ahead to the future to create the new ways of doing business. We look forward to putting on another retail spectacle at Autumn Fair and look forward to welcoming you all back.”
Curated Meetings continued to offer the wow factor with its super-charged and game-changing way of doing business. Hundreds of focused face-to-face meetings took place leading to new partnerships and connections. Maritia Osipova, Buyer, Wallaces Homevalue & Garden Centre, Ireland said; “Curated Meetings are great, short, one to one meetings, and you have the full attention to your potential customer or new supplier. It’s a quick and really easy way to communicate. It’s a brilliant opportunity and everybody should try it. I’ve met with nine companies all in one day. It’s great, really energizing. I’ll definitely be placing orders with some of them when I get home. I would 100% join Curated Meetings again.”
Peter Allinson, Director, Whirligig Toys said; “Curated Meetings is great for meeting new suppliers and contacts in a little more depth than you have going around the stands. When I did the trial at Autumn Fair I met three new suppliers I’ve now been working with full time. I saw a product I wasn’t expecting to like, heard the story behind it, learned how it had been made, saw how they can relate to me and made an order. The value [of Curated Meetings] is the longer conversation, you’re not in a sales mode, you can just hear the story. I will do Curated Meetings every time I am invited to.”
Kirsten McNee, Director, Fawn & Thistle said; “I did the trial last year and got some good stockists, so I thought [taking part again] would be another good way for me to meet people. I recommend it if you want to start up meaningful relationships with buyers and stockists.”
Sarah Patterson, Director, By Molly & Izzie added; “We’ve got a stand at the show and Curated Meetings has been a nice add on to that. It’s been nice to have the time to sit down and only concentrate on the buyer you are talking too. With Curated Meetings you can build the relationship without them feeling like they are an afterthought. I’ve taken a few orders during the meetings and there are a few leads to follow up on. Every meeting that I’ve had has been positive.”
Exhibitors from across the show also reported their success stories. Clive Ruben, Out of the Blue said: “It's been an absolutely brilliant show, probably the best show we've actually done in terms of customer response and orders taken. It's been really good, very very pleased with it.”
David Lyk, Ling Design: “Thanks to everybody who's come to visit us as Spring Fair this year, to all the customers, our friends, our colleagues. We've had an amazing show, we've written more orders, taken more leads and met loads and loads of fantastic people. See you again next year, we'll be back at the front of Hall 3!”
Graham Tunstall, The Knight Shop; “We've had an amazing show here at Spring Fair 2022, so much so this is the first year we've actually already rebooked for next year and we're already excited about what's going to happen this coming year, and the year after.”
Dan at Widdop & Co; “I'd just like to say what a great show it’s been, great to be back in front of people after a couple of years without the shows, it's been really exciting to have lots of great buyers come onto the stand and we're hoping to see more results after the show.”
Bex Hassett, Bexy Boo; “This has definitely been the best show that I've ever done. We've been going for 7 years and I've done lots of Spring Fair's and this has been the best one by far.”
Paul from Ty UK; “Spring Fair has been really really good, from the start on Sunday through to the end it has been non-stop. We are so pleased to be here.”
Liz Ireland, BigJigs Toys: “It is very good to here and to back on the show floor talking to buyers, the visitor attendance has been extremely high for the first day. The quality of buyer has been fantastic.”
Visitors to the show also expressed how pleased they were to be back to in person trading again. Rachael Evens, Owner, New England Country, said; “It has been great to be back to see new products and new suppliers but also to meet with existing suppliers. Thank you for creating a safe environment to allow us to start getting back to normal.”
Marie-Louise Lucas, Sourcing Manager, Gibbons Company said; “It’s really exciting to be able to see products again and see the vendors face-to-face after 2 years. We love seeing the new trends, new designs this year at Spring Fair. I like the App too, with everything in one place including my badge, the meetings, it’s really good.”
Bel Samra, Flamingo Events said: “I absolutely LOVE attending. I look forward to it all year round. It’s such a highlight. I've been coming for some years now. I also go to Autumn Fair; it's an absolute must and I go every year. Very excited to be here; Spring Fair is a springboard to start everything.”
Lauren Ramsay at Ruby & Ed said; “It's our first time at Spring Fair and we've been pleasantly surprised. The stands are great, there's so much variety and loads of inspiration to take away. The layout is great, we've been able to find our way around easily and everyone we've spoken to have been lovely.”
Gift of the Year Awards Judging
As part of its ongoing partnership with the Giftware Association, Spring Fair hosted the live judging of the prestigious Gift of the Year Awards 2022 on the final day of the show. Beautiful displays of all the shortlisted products took centre stage in Hall 4 and with categories including Beauty & Wellbeing, Branded Gift, Cards & Wrap, Contemporary Gift, Design & Craft, Ethical & Sustainable Gift, Fashion Accessories, Home & Garden, My Gift of All Time, Kitchen & Dining, Novelty, Stationery, Under £15, and the overall Judges’ Choice winner, who receives a free exhibition stand at Autumn Fair 2022.
Judges including Helena Stopher from Products of Change, Lex Clarke from FY!, Maxine Lister form Natural History Museum, Samantha Gibbs from independent gift shop Nest, Peter Allinson from independent toy retailer Whirligig Toys Limited, Mairita Osipova from Wallaces Homevalue & Garden Centre, Alice Brook from National Gallery Company, Joanna Pollard from ebay for change, Alison Paterson from The Gift Cartel, Nitesh Sant from TJC, Jon May from mooch gifts and home, Rita Rooney from Museum of London, Michael Apter from Paper Tiger, Steph Briggs from La Di Da Interiors, Rachel King, Editor of Greetings Today, and Sue Marks from Progressive Gifts and Home commented on the high quality of shortlisted entries and highlighted the number of businesses incorporating ethics and sustainability into their products.
A selection of shortlisted brands include Wanderflower, Yes Studio, Marmalade of London, Beefayre, Puckator, Gift Republic, Crafty You Crafty Me, The Beeswax Wrap Co, Willsow, Puzzle Post, St. Eval, Clockwork Soldier and The Bottle Baking Co. Spotlight was shown onto new, exciting and innovative products including Beevive Ltd’s Bamboo Bee Revival Kit, a dual use keyring for sowing seeds, planting trees and saving bees; FYG’s Memories Candle Collection; Willsow’s world’s first ever plantable children’s book and Sass & Belle’s Cottage Garden.
Sarah Ward, CEO, Gift Association said; “Although our virtual judging for the 2022 Gift of The Year Awards has worked over the past 2 years, there is nothing like seeing and touching the products in person. Being able to hold our judging at the Curated Meetings area within Spring Fair has created the most wonderful environment and a perfect set up for our shortlisted members. We would not have had so many great judges had it not be held here, they have been able to get more value from their day, by judging the Gift of The Year Awards and being able to visit the show. Running within Spring Fair and being able see all exhibitors at the show also means they see the full spectrum of trends and come to the judging with the latest product trends.”
Immediate Live, organisers of the 30-year strong BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, has announced details of the new BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End House and Gardens..
Immediate Live, organisers of the 30-year strong BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, has announced details of the new BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End House and Gardens and are delighted to be working closely with English Heritage.
The first ever Autumn Fair will be set in the stunning grounds of Audley End, in Essex, from 2 to 4 September 2022. The Fair will attract 15,000 visitors with the very best of autumn garden and plant inspiration. This year’s launch event will feature experts including Adam Frost and Joe Swift on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage along with the magazine editors, Plant Expert Tours within Audley End’s gardens, Beautiful Borders, APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) Small Gardens and more to be confirmed.
As with all BBC Gardeners’ World events, the Fair will harness the synergy between gardening and food by incorporating a BBC Good Food Market presenting specialist and seasonal produce to taste and buy. Visitors will enjoy all this plus toe-tapping live entertainment from the bandstand hosted by BBC TV presenter Chris Bavin and mouth-watering delights from a hand-picked selection of independent street food vendors.
Amplifying the value of this great day out, tickets to the Autumn event include access to the Audley End House, grounds and gardens.
The introduction of this new Autumn event comes at a significant time. Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director Gardening Division at Immediate Live, said “After a very successful launch of our Spring Fair in Hampshire we are delighted to launch an Autumn Fair in the East of England. Set in another stronghold of BBC Gardeners’ World subscribers, the event will extend the opportunities for gardening enthusiasts to experience the BBC Gardeners’ World brand coming to life, plus a wealth of expertise and content for gardeners as they head into the autumn season.” Rachel continues “to launch the event in the BBCs 100th anniversary year feels very meaningful and, now with three events spanning offering gardening direction and inspiration in Spring, Summer and Autumn, we look forward to meeting more hands-on gardeners around the country this year than ever before.”
The Autumn Fair completes a trio of BBC Gardeners’ World events in 2022.
The season starts with the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair which returns to Beaulieu in the New Forest from 29 April to 1 May. Now in its second year, the growing show highlights Spring garden inspiration from great plants to buy, garden inspiration, and topical tips from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and guests including Adam Frost, Joe Swift and Matt Biggs. Spring Fair headline partner Hillier will present a large garden feature, 121 advice and a retail area including their latest plant introductions.
The flagship BBC Gardeners’ World Live returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 16 – 19 June for its 30th year as one of the nation’s most loved gardening shows. Amongst a wide range of garden and plant inspiration, new for 2022, Frances Tophill takes the reins as designer of the headline Show Garden, the Floral Marquee dives into the celebrations of 100 years of the BBC with a myriad of displays inspired by popular BBC programmes and visitors will be able to join new immersive Plant Expert tours. The BBC Good Food Show Summer returns alongside the gardening show, with wall-to-wall inspiration for cooking homegrown produce, summer entertaining and appearances from experts including Dame Mary Berry.
Find out more about the BBC Gardeners’ World events in 2022 at bbcgardenersworldfair.com and bbcgardenersworldlive.com. To discuss exhibiting or sponsoring at one or more of the events, contact Emily Cloke on emily.cloke@immediate.co.uk
Casual Dining has announced two exciting new partnerships with leading pub and bar associations BBPA (The British Beer & Pub Association) and BII (British Institute of Innkeeping)...
Casual Dining has announced two exciting new partnerships with leading pub and bar associations BBPA (The British Beer & Pub Association) and BII (British Institute of Innkeeping).
“We are delighted to be working with the BBPA and BII on what is set to be the busiest Casual Dining show yet. These two new partnerships will ensure even more buyers from pubs & bars will be attending the show to do business with the 200+ exhibitors showcasing their innovations and new product launches for the sector,” says Eva Ellis, Event Manager, Casual Dining.
The BBPA and BII, along with existing highly valued partners including UKHospitality, will be inviting all their members to the show which is taking place on 14-15 September at ExCeL London.
“We are hugely excited about our partnership with Casual Dining and are thrilled to be supporting the show this year. After a challenging period for the hospitality sector, it is a great opportunity for the industry to showcase excellence and innovation, which will support pub operators in growing their businesses,” says Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive, British Beer and Pub Association.
"The BII are delighted to support Casual Dining in 2022. In the ever-changing hospitality sector, the innovation, great ideas and new products and services the show offers will help pub operators to diversify and grow their businesses," says Steven Alton, Chief Executive Officer, BII.
The BBPA and BII will bring their collective years of experience and expertise to Casual Dining. Visitors can expect to hear from senior representatives and members of both BBPA and BII in various keynote sessions in the hugely popular free seminar programme. Last year saw the introduction of a third Keynote Theatre – the Pub & Bar Keynotes (sponsored by Yumpingo), which gives more opportunity than ever before to shine a light on the successes and opportunities for key operators.
The theatres are always a hive of activity over the two days, providing the industry with invaluable insights and business advice for pubs and bars across the nation. World-class speakers have included Rob Pitcher, CEO, Revolution Bars Group, Anthony Pender, Co-founder, The Yummy Pub Co, Simon Potts, Managing Director, The Alchemist, Peter Borg-Neal, Executive Chairman, Oakman Group, Mark Mcfadyen, Group Operations Director, Brewhouse & Kitchen, and many more.
The industry’s favourite show
Visitors to Casual Dining annually include senior buyers and decision makers from Admiral Taverns, BrewDog, Fuller's, Punch Taverns, Metropolitan Pub Company, Revolution Bars Group, Shepherd Neame, Stonegate Pub Company, and more.
As Anthony Pender, co-founder of Yummy Pub Co. says, “A visit to Casual Dining is the best way for pubs to find new products, new ideas and get ahead of the game. Casual Dining is the best trade show for pubs – and it’s the best trade show full stop!”
Over 200 leading exhibitors will showcase everything pubs and bars need to streamline their business. For innovative technology companies, check out new systems by Zonal, Tevalis, Flipdish, and Kobas. Across foodservice, look to Unilever Away From Home, Essential Cuisine, Lutosa, St Pierre Groupe, JJ Foodservice – and more. Big name drink brands like Molson Coors Beverage Company, Siren Craft Brew, Fentimans, Britvic, Lucky Saint, and LavAzza have also joined the 2022 line-up.
Other exhibitors include C-Burn (playlists), Valentine (equipment), Craftis (children’s activity packs), Lumea (candles), Sous Chef (tableware/cookware/ingredients), IPW1 (menu printing) - and many many more.
“Casual Dining is the best show out there for pubs and restaurants that want to find innovative new products and inspiration,” says Ross Pike, chef director at Oakman Inns.
Casual Dining takes place on 14-15 September 2022 at ExCeL London and is co-located with lunch! and Commercial Kitchen.
GROEN-Direkt’s Spring Showroom took place on 1-2 February. The fair attracted more than 1,200 visitors, the sample batches looked very attractive and sales went well.
GROEN-Direkt’s Spring Showroom took place on 1 and 2 February. The fair attracted more than 1,200 visitors, the sample batches looked very attractive and sales went well.
All this meant a successful kickoff of the new garden plant purchasing season at the largest green market in Europe. New at this 2022 edition was the extra wide range on offer.
Besides being able to choose from the tremendous variety of just over 5,500 unique batches, garden plant traders and buyers could also safely view Mediterranean products, concept benches, new market introductions and solitary plants. A great green start of 2022 for GROEN-Direkt!
Relaxed, lively atmosphere
GROEN-Direkt was delighted to be able to meet fair visitors once again and is very satisfied with how its Spring Showroom went – two lively fair days in a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. In spite of the prevailing COVID-19 restrictions, the Spring Showroom attracted a large number of visitors, as usual from many different countries. The fair was accessible by appointment only to ensure that visitors would be able to meet one another safely, with sufficient room for personal contact. Buyers who were unable to visit the fair found their way to GROEN-Direkt digitally - the webshop proved to be very popular during this Spring Showroom too.
New: extra wide range This year, GROEN-Direkt presented a wider range of products at its Spring Showroom and its webshop. The absence of the usual Growers’ Plaza with manned stands due to the COVID-19 restrictions meant that there was plenty of room for the more than 5,500 unique sample batches, the Mediterranean products and concept benches, and the comeback of solitary plants.
The novelties of 2022
As usual, GROEN-Direkt presented the latest new market introductions at its Novelties Plaza. The thirteen submitted plants appealed to the fair’s visitors, who were invited to vote for their favourite novelty. The Azalea ‘Starstyle’ introduced by Van Son & Koot was ultimately chosen as the best novelty of 2022.
Continuing anniversary celebrations: amazing discounts and special offer trolleys GROEN-Direkt’s celebrations of its 25th anniversary that started at last year’s Autumn Fair are continuing this year. In the context of these celebrations, GROEN-Direkt presented another ‘GREEN Education Fund’ special offer trolley at its Spring Showroom, this time a Colour Your Garden trolley. GROEN-Direkt’s GREEN Education Fund will be investing the trolley’s proceeds in education and knowhow relating to the cultivation of trees and ornamental plants. This is this company’s way of actively promoting the green sector from its Dutch hometown of Boskoop.
More information
For more information on GROEN-Direkt, its sample fairs or webshop, go to www.groen-direkt.nl
Last week saw the birth of the new Green Retail Events fair organisation. The signing of the shareholders’ agreement between the Stichting Vakbeurs voor de Boomkwekerij (SVB; Nursery Trade Fair Foundation) and GROEN-Direkt Boskoop B.V. marked the official start of the cooperation...
Last week saw the birth of the new Green Retail Events fair organisation. The signing of the shareholders’ agreement between the Stichting Vakbeurs voor de Boomkwekerij (SVB; Nursery Trade Fair Foundation) and GROEN-Direkt Boskoop B.V. marked the official start of the cooperation.
The agreement was signed by Jan de Vries and Michiel Gerritsen on behalf of SVB, and Taaf Rosbergen and Hans Cok on behalf of GROEN-Direkt. These four men also constitute the board of directors of the new private company.
The first event to be organised by Green Retail Events will be the new Plantarium|GROEN-Direkt fair, the number-one fair for European garden plant buyers, which will take place on 24 and 25 August 2022. Right now the organisation is being further consolidated. The board is for example busy creating a team that will be responsible for the fair’s actual organisation. The aim is for this team to be operational by March and then start registering exhibitors for participation in the fair.
Website
For more information on the Plantarium|GROEN-Direkt fair please go to www.plantariumgroendirekt.nl. This new website is regularly updated. In the months to come, the organisation will be publishing more information here on the fair’s setup and registration options.
Happy New Year to you all. We hope you all had a good and safe festive period and are now looking forward to an exciting 2022.
Since New Year the GTN gnomes have been beavering away to compile the Top 100 stories read in GTN Xtra last year as our review of 2021.
During 2021 we published in excess of 2,500 stories in GTN Xtra which was opened 390,397 times by 34,334 unique readers who viewed 856,595 pages. Added to that are the pages of GTN magazines published through the year which have been read on line almost 33,000 times (you can catch up with any you may have missed using the links on the bottom right hand side of this GTN Xtra edition) as well as the many thousands of readers of the printed copies.
We've thoroughly enjoyed bringing you all the news, views and ideas during 2021 and we hope you found them useful and informative. Here's to an even greater 2022!
Garden product sales for the first week of February 2022 were higher than any other week 5 in the GTN database, but they saw a slight drop off from the previous week...
Garden product sales for the first week of February 2022 were higher than any other week 5 in the GTN database, but they saw a slight drop off from the previous week.
The impact of high levels of pot sales over past years is now seen with Woodlodge Terracotta Pot Feet moving up 28 places to be the No 1 Garden Products Bestseller of the week.
Highlights of the week were:
Garland Windowsill Greenhouse moves furthest up the chart to No 13.
Strata’s Flexi Trug 40L Light Grey is the highest placed new entry at No 21.
Westland Fish Blood & Bone 10kg is the highest chart re-entry, back in at No 24.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
Growing media sales records continue to be broken. Sales last week were four times the same level last year and almost double those of the same week in 2019...
Growing media sales records continue to be broken. Sales last week were four times the same level last year and almost double those of the same week in 2019.
Highlights of the week were:
Evergreen Garden Care Levington Multi Purpose Compost 40 litres moves up one place to No 1.
Country Care Horse Compost 50 litres moves furthest up the chart to No 31.
Strulch Organic Straw Mulch 100 litres is the highest re-entry at No 33.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
Wild bird care sales held up well despite the milder weather last week, only dropping 2.5% week on week. Top 50 volume sales were 10% higher than for the same week in 2020...
Wild bird care sales held up well despite the milder weather last week, only dropping 2.5% week on week. Top 50 volume sales were 10% higher than for the same week in 2020.
Highlights of the week were:
Henry Bell Essentials Seed Mix 2kg comes straight back into the GTN Chart at No 1.
CJ Wildbird Foods National Trust Birch Log Nest Box 32mm Hole was the highest new entry at No 25.
Johnston & Jeff Calciworm 1kg was another new entry at No 38.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the award of a licence to Harrogate Tipple, a small, traditional British distillery, to create a selection of RHS-branded spirits including premium gin, whisky and rum...
The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the award of a licence to Harrogate Tipple, a small, traditional British distillery, to create a selection of RHS-branded spirits including premium gin, whisky and rum.
The core products will be ready for RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2022. The bottle and labels are still at the design stage but will use imagery that, like the spirits, captures and combines Harrogate Tipple’s artisan ideals with the inspirational aims of the UK’s favourite gardening charity.
The range will then be available at retail from the beginning of June, selling at a number of physical and online outlets that include spirit retailers, garden centres and independent wine stores. It will also be sold via the Harrogate Tipple and RHS websites and at RHS Gardens.
For this range the RHS is also planning to launch some special limited edition flavours of the various spirits, making use of botanical ingredients from each of the RHS gardens and taking inspiration from RHS Flower Shows. For this it will call on the expertise of Harrogate Tipple’s multi-award-winning Master Distiller, Tom Nichol, who will bring over 45 years of experience in the industry to overseeing the entire range of drinks.
In fact, RHS botanicals were a theme of the ‘creation day’ of the RHS/Harrogate Tipple partnership – an event that took place at the home of Harrogate Tipple, Ripley Castle Estate in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on 8 December 2021.
Gin Lab Day, as the creation date was called, gave guests a chance to tour the Harrogate Tipple distillery and sample award-winning spirits while creating and distilling their own bespoke recipes in one of the company’s beautiful miniature copper stills. The choice of botanicals included offerings from all five RHS gardens, from which RHS representatives brought ingredients including fruits from conifer trees, rosehips, flowers, berries and scented foliage.
Harrogate Tipple is a family-run, small batch distillery based in the beautiful Ripley Castle Estate in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. It has been an artisan producer of premium alcoholic beverages since 2016. Most of its botanicals are grown in the 750-year-old gardens within the Ripley Castle walls, keeping everything as local as possible. All the spirits are diluted with 100% Harrogate Spring Water after distillation – and nothing else.
Steven Green, Founder & Chief Tipple Taster of Harrogate Tipple, says: “We were thrilled to be asked to develop a series of spirits that reflected the excellence and love of British gardens that is the hallmark of the RHS. It has been a delight to work with the UK’s favourite gardening charity and a strong supporter of British craft-company-produced food and drink.”
Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, says: “Our intention was partnering with a distillery that combined a true artisan approach with the creativity and excellence that would make RHS gin, whisky and rum stand out. Not an easy task, but in Harrogate Tipple we have found the ideal partner for a range of spirits that are both memorable and delicious.”
Harrogate Tipple and the RHS were brought together by licensing agent Asgard Media, an award-winning licensing consultancy thathelps businesses to develop a licensing strategy. Robyn Cowling, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Asgard Media, says: “We are delighted to have connected our client Harrogate Tipple with the wonderful RHS. The two brands really complement one another, and we can’t wait to see the final products on shelf – and out in the wild.”
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report published this week claims that leaving the EU has impacted UK trade volumes and warns that the situation could worsen over the next year...
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report published this week claims that leaving the EU has impacted UK trade volumes and warns that the situation could worsen over the next year.
In response, James Clark, Director of Policy & Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) said: “This report confirms the concerns our industry has been voicing for the past year, that UK horticultural businesses have been impacted by more costs and higher burdens in cross-border trade since Brexit. Members told us last year that extra plant health inspections, regulations and checks have added an extra £25m-£50m in costs to an industry that is predominately based on small and medium-sized businesses.
"We are expecting further burdens and costs from the proposed 1 July import control changes and with key IT systems not yet in place, there is little cheer from plant and tree importers for these latest post-Brexit trade regulations. This is hitting business confidence and efficiencies.
"We hope that Jacob Rees-Mogg, in his newly appointed role as Minister for Brexit Opportunities, is prepared to listen and work with our industry to create a more entrepreneurial approach to trade. Cut the regulations, trust British horticultural businesses to trade freely and responsibly through a ‘trusted trader’ scheme – that’s our message to the Government. That is what will help deliver a meaningful Brexit for UK horticulture businesses and their 30m consumers.”
Due to the continued growth of the brand and a boom in sales for its highly-rated BBQ grills, Char-Broil has appointed Daniel Grundy as its new Sales Representative for UK & Ireland...
Due to the continued growth of the brand and a boom in sales for its highly-rated BBQ grills, Char-Broil has appointed Daniel Grundy as its new Sales Representative for UK & Ireland.
Effective immediately, Daniel’s new role will be to forge new – as well as maintain and grow existing - relationships with Char-broil’s key retailers within the UK and Ireland.
Daniel has strong knowledge and experience in sales after 10 years in retail within the motor industry, during which time he delivered strong sales growth figures year on year.
“We’re delighted to welcome Daniel to the Char-Broil team,” says Luke Hopkins, National Sales Manager for Char-broil UK: “Daniel comes with extensive sales experience and a strong set of customer service and consumer support skills.”
“Daniel’s main responsibility will be to support our accounts in all aspects of the sales journey, and help them in delivering a high level of customer satisfaction to the consumer. He will be in regular contact with our accounts to ensure they have the support they require.
“We have a fantastic line-up of products for 2022 with new models across our innovative, best-selling TRU-Infrared and hybrid Gas2Coal ranges, and we look forward to working with Daniel to continue driving the success of the Char-Broil brand in the UK”
Daniel, who has a diploma in Electronic Engineering and a proven track record in exceeding sales targets even during the pandemic, adds: “I’m looking forward to contributing to the further growth of Char-Broil in the UK and to building relationships with both existing and new customers. It’s an exciting time for the brand and I’m thrilled to be joining its dynamic UK team.”
Daniel will be working out of the UK HQ in Witney, Oxfordshire.
Following two years of restrictions and uncertainty, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) announces its first in-person event in two years - the 2022 AIPH Spring Meeting, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai, UAE...
Following two years of restrictions and uncertainty, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) announces its first in-person event in two years - the 2022 AIPH Spring Meeting, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai, UAE.
The event will take place from 6th-10th March and offers a unique opportunity to visit the magnificent Expo 2020 Dubai, which closes later in March. Delegates will be taken on a VIP tour of some of the stunning pavilions at the Expo, including the Singapore, Germany, Thailand, Netherlands, and Italy Country Pavilions, and the Dubai Expo Mobility Pavilion.
During the meeting, organisers of AIPH approved events will present their progress reports at the AIPH Expo Conference, held at the Crowne Plaza hotel. Delegates will receive updates from three A1 category international expos: Expo 2022 Floriade (the Netherlands), Expo 2023 Doha Qatar and World Horticultural Exhibition 2027 (Japan).
There will be progress reports concerning AIPH approved B and C category events and AIPH will unveil its new programme for partnerships that will stimulate sustainability and investment in future Expos.
The Spring Meeting will also include the AIPH International Green City Conference, which has a theme of ‘Greening Cities for Sustainable Development: Green Cities deliver local action for global agendas.’ High profile speakers will present the activities and programmes that cities and countries are making to achieve the UN SDGs and other global initiatives. This conference will take place in the Media Centre, in the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai.
Incorporated into the meeting schedule are several unforgettable dining experiences. On 7th March, delegates will be taken to the Dubai Heritage Vision, a unique desert venue surrounded by indigenous flora and fauna, to experience traditional dining and live Arabian entertainment.
On 8th March, delegates will be treated to dinner at the 1851 Restaurant in the UK pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Catering at the restaurant is provided by Mosimann’s, a Royal Warrant Holder to HRH The Prince of Wales, and the meal will feature signature dishes from the Mosimann’s Private Dining Club in London.
The final day of the meeting will consist of a professional visit to the Dubai Miracle Garden. Covering more than 72,000 square metres, the Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest natural flower garden. It contains over 150 million flowers in stunning arrangements. Following the visit, delegates will have the opportunity to explore Expo 2020 Dubai at their own leisure, before concluding the trip with a special farewell dinner.
Commenting on the event, AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe said “It seems we have had to wait a long time to meet again face-to-face so we are going to do it in style! I am excited about the programme prepared which will provide such special opportunities for AIPH members and delegates as we discuss the challenges facing our industry and look to the future.”
Thousands of retail buyers, and owners of independent stores from across the UK flocked to Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham as it opened its doors for the first time in two years...
Thousands of retail buyers, and owners of independent stores from across the UK flocked to Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham as it opened its doors for the first time in two years.
As the largest and longest running wholesale marketplace encompassing the very best in home, gift and fashion, the busy aisles and stands across all eight Halls showing that retailers are ready for a return to business as usual and in-person trading, with a palpable thirst for newness and desire to re-stock their stores with the latest products and innovations.
Open until Wednesday 9th February, the show is expected to generate tens of millions of pounds worth of business, refuelling the retail industry and injecting newness. Julie Driscoll, Divisional Managing Director, Spring Fair & Moda says; “The show has been bustling all day today, exhibitors are excited to be back and retailers have flocked to the show to return to face to face business and networking. We are still on a high after winning AEO’s Trade Show of the Century Award, and feel genuinely proud to continue to successfully put on the UK’s largest and longest running tradeshow. We can’t wait for the next 3 days, for the start of Curated Meetings tomorrow, and to see retail flourishing once again.”
Exhibitor, Liz Ireland, Managing Director and Founder, Bigjigs Toys said; “It is very good to be here and to be back on the show floor talking to buyers, the visitor attendance has been extremely high for the first day and the quality of buyer has been excellent.”
Exhibitor, Allana Holmes from Hunter Price, said: “This is an exciting time for the business, with new launches on our toy, craft and stationery ranges as well as new homeware collections with Billie Faiers and Style Sisters. We have had a lot of interaction on the stand today with positive reactions and interest in the new products. The buyers we have seen are also looking for ranges with strong visual branding.”
Retailer, Anne Marie Murray from Willow Home & Interiors says: “Spring Fair has been great, fresh looking and its very contemporary. It’s well laid out and easy to get to and find products. It has been a great day so far and we’ve picked up a few names of new companies we didn’t know before.”
Moda settled beautifully into its new home as the Fashion destination at Spring Fair, offering retailers the most diverse fashion buying destination in the UK with a comprehensive and inspiring line-up of industry leading womenswear, jewellery, accessories, footwear, and sustainable brands. Jewellery & Watch had its own distinct edit within Moda giving fashion and jewellery buyers the chance to see the widest collection of new season pieces across a wide variety of price points and explore crossover buying opportunities – all in the one location.
The bold and triumphant return of the Moda catwalk was a welcomed by visitors who were treated to a vibrant edit of looks including the playful and colourful Childhood Dreams, the urban traveller Off The Grid edit, and glam 70s style metallic Liquid Metal trends, as well as sponsored looks from Jayley, Saloos, and One Hundred Stars.
Antony Wright from Barrhead Leather said; “This is our first time showing at Moda at Spring Fair and it’s all going according to plan. In the first morning I’ve signed five new customers, so I’m delighted with the results so far.”
The much-anticipated launch of the game-changing and innovative Curated Meetings programme kicks off tomorrow (Monday 7th) with hundreds of pre-arranged meetings set to take place between buyers and brands. Exhibitors across gift, home and lifestyle categories are taking part including Tallon, Bluestem, ByMolly & Izzie, Hill Interiors, Soake and Silver Jewellery Cavern. Approximately 50% of brands taking part are not exhibiting this year, such as Filofax, Letts of London, Ballard & Hill, Deux Main, Fawn & Thistle, FLO London, McAlister Textiles and We Love Seasons. Buyers are pre-qualified for budget size, purchase responsibility and are actively sourcing, and come from national retailers Asda and Midcounties Coop, multi-store independent boutiques such as Nest and Gibbons, destination retailer Kelvingrove Museum and Ragdale Hall Spa, plus +10% travelling internationally to join the programme, including Houstons and Wallaces Homevalue & Garden Centre.
On the eve of its launch, Product Manager Monica Todd says; “Holding the potential to double your return on investment, taking part in Curated Meetings is a game-changing move. It speeds up the process of doing new business, it connects brands with buyers with meaningful budgets, and efficiently secures relevant connections and new partnerships. So much of the behind-the-scenes work has been done over the last 6 months and I can’t wait to see and hear the buzz of it all coming to life tomorrow. The programme delivers a clear and intelligent roadmap to ROI and is the most genuinely exciting new development in facilitating efficient and productive business that compliments the brand presence of a stand and offers new suppliers for options for taking part in the show.”
On the Inspiring Retail Stage, visitors were encouraged to hear from Karl McKeever, Founder of FutureView, about the opportunities that have arisen as a result of Covid, with many businesses unlearning and relearning behaviours, developing different ways of thinking and doing things, and becoming increasingly creative and collaborative in the process. Interior designer and finalist of TV show Interior Design Masters, Paul Moneypenny discussed his love of design, how to be brave with colour.
As the show came to a close, visitors gathered on the Stage for the Good Retail Awards 2022. Holly Worthington, Editor, Modern Retail from Modern Retail said: “There is a real sense of optimism and the start of a return to normal in the retail industry. As we look back at the positives of the last year the Good Retail Awards are designed to shine a light on the retail industry, those who embraced innovation and great creativity to achieve success.”
This year, as part of its re-launched Power of One campaign, the Good Retail Awards introduced the Power of One Award with the purpose of recognising a business that has made one small change to their business that has made a significant impact. Plastic-free beauty business Whitfords won for the creation of a sustainable, multi-purpose alternative to commonly found packaging.
Spring Fair takes place on 6th – 9th February 2022 at NEC Birmingham. For further Spring Fair information please visit www.springfair.com
Hamac Trading are delighted to announce they are officially launching Hansa Creation Plush Retail Products at the Spring Fair 2022...
Hamac Trading are delighted to announce they are officially launching Hansa Creation Plush Retail Products at the Spring Fair 2022.
Is it real or is it Hansa?
Hansa Creation create the World’s Most Realistic Plush Animal Reproductions. Producing over 7,000 products with over 500 lines carefully selected for our UK stockists.
Hansa offer the Best Quality and Detail on the Market. Hand Crafted and carefully designed to educate and inspire creative play for collectors of all ages. Every animal is anatomically scaled ranging from a small Vole to a 5m tall Giraffe. Every animal is Hand Crafted, Sculpted & Stitched.
Helping to reduce the impact plastics have on the planet, every Hansa Creation is filled with fibre made from recycled PE bottles therefore conserving our natural resources. The materials used are carefully designed and tested to comply with safety standards around the world.
Hansa take great pride in in every product they produce, each animal is provided with an educational fun fact on the individual hangtag. This allows children to learn from their new cuddly toy.
Exclusive display stands, point of sale, Hansa signage and other visual aids are available to enhance your retail or display area.
Hansa Displays
Hansa Displays help to create a magical experience for customers. We have an extensive range of life like large plush animals available with personalised singing/talking and animation.
Hansa Display products can be used as a statement piece to enhance your Retail display or used as a stand-alone attraction.
A full range of Retail, Display & Animatronic Products are in stock and available for immediate delivery please contact our sales office on 028 2583 1201.
The Greenfingers charity, organiser of Garden Re-Leaf Day, is calling on every garden centre and industry supplier in the UK to take part in the annual FUNdraising event on Friday 18th March 2022, to help raise vital funds for the charity whilst also kickstarting the garden retailing season.
The Greenfingers charity, organiser of Garden Re-Leaf Day, is calling on every garden centre and industry supplier in the UK to take part in the annual FUNdraising event on Friday 18th March 2022, to help raise vital funds for the charity whilst also kickstarting the garden retailing season.
Since its inception in 2012, Garden Re-Leaf Day has been a key event within the garden retail calendar, and to-date has helped to raise over £730,000, all of which has gone towards helping the charity design and create over 60 magical gardens in children’s hospices throughout the country.
With less than two months to go before the national industry-wide event, participants are being urged to register their interest now to support this thriving charity day.
Whilst recent Garden Re-Leaf Days have been impacted by the pandemic, it is hoped that the easing of restrictions will encourage hundreds of garden retailers, suppliers and industry supporters from across the country to run a range of fundraising activities on both Garden Re-Leaf Day and throughout the weekend.
In 2021 - Garden Re-Leaf Day’s 10th anniversary - FUNdraising activities raised over £77,000 for the Greenfingers charity. Supporters from all corners of the garden retail sector came together (many virtually!) to undertake a wide range of tasks and challenges, including mammoth walking, cycling, running and even skipping challenges, to virtual quizzes, head shaving, product donations, free design consultancy and even mowing contests, showcasing that when it comes to Garden Re-Leaf Day all and any ideas are welcome!
How to get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2022
Registration for the 2022 event is now live, and Greenfingers is also on the look-out for sponsors of the event. To find out more please contact Linda Petrons by emailing linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk
FUNdraising ideas for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2022
Here’s just a few ways you can get involved and help Greenfingers to continue creating magical gardens in children’s hospices across the nation:
Plantathons are perfect for generating some buzz instore whilst simultaneously generating more stock and donating to Greenfingers. Previous events have included 12- and 24-hour Plantathons.
Hold a virtual quiz, with a minimum donation for all entrants.
Raffles and tombolas are a great way of getting lots of people involved. Gather prizes from around your store, or ask friends and colleagues to donate prizes, before selling raffle tickets ahead of the grand unveiling of the lucky winner!
Cake sales and coffee mornings – are simple yet effective FUNdraisers.
An online auction is a great way to raise funds and involve your friends and colleagues
Team up with friends and colleagues to complete a virtual walk or cycle challenge. Set yourselves a target – 100 miles for example – and work together to achieve it. Walk around your local area, on a treadmill, whatever it takes! Keep in touch via Zoom to keep the group enthusiasm going!
For more FUNdraising ideas or to obtain a copy of the 2022 fundraising pack drop Linda a line - she’d love to hear from you.
A fundraising bid aiming to secure the future of 'Floral Fantasia' at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, has been launched today by an industry group who hope to continue and evolve the popular bedding display, developed in recent years by the late Peter Seabrook...
A fundraising bid aiming to secure the future of 'Floral Fantasia' at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, has been launched today by an industry group who hope to continue and evolve the popular bedding display, developed in recent years by the late Peter Seabrook.
Peter, who passed away on 14 January 2022, poured much time and energy into helping grow 'Floral Fantasia' over the past three years, into what is a spectacular showcase of seasonal UK bedding at the Chelmsford garden, and features colourful and diverse planting including Rudbeckia, Calendula and Sweet Pea, a favourite of Peter's.
His vision for Floral Fantasia, as a display area to inspire gardeners, a trial location to assess new varieties, and a facility for training and education in the use of seasonal ornamental plants, is part of Peter's legacy to British horticulture.
The RHS has confirmed its commitment to the project at Hyde Hall for the next three years when funding has been secured. Its plan for 2022 include a spring viola trial and an extensive trial of poppies as part of the 'Year of the Poppy' celebration, along with the usual planting of sweet peas and new variety demonstrations.
Fundraising has now been initiated to continue Peter's legacy and a working group, formed during a meeting at Hyde Hall last week includes the following individuals:
Michael Smith (W. D. Smith & Son) (Chair)
Paul Hansord (Deputy Chair)
Ian Le Gros (RHS)( (Deputy Chair)
Robert Brett (RHS)
Tim Kerley (Kerley&Co)
Stuart Lowen (Ball Colegrave)
Molly Christman (RHS Floral Fantasia Apprentice)
Ian Bull (RHS)
Christine Woodhouse (RHS)
This group will approach businesses and individuals for donations to support the long-term development of the 2000 m2 Floral Fantasia as a 'Centre of Excellence' for seasonal plants and the use of colour in the landscape.
Wildlife World again flexes its sustainable credentials with the Plastic Free Gardening range of Natural Rubber Seed Cell Trays. Bringing ethically sourced, Fairly Traded, sustainable, long-lasting garden products to the market...
Wildlife World, based in Chavenage, Nr Tetbury, Gloucestershire, provides another product that leads the way in Fairly Traded and a more sustainable marketplace.
Plastic Free Gardening’s range of seed cell trays and a Rootcoach, made from natural FSC rubber are now exclusively available at Wildlife World. The Fairly Traded naturally sourced Plastic Free Gardening range comes in three varieties of the seed tray and one Rootcoach for every green-fingered gardener to enjoy year after year in their gardens.
Mark Pitman, Managing Director at Wildlife World, describes, "We've always had a strong sense of environmental responsibility here at Wildlife World, and it's great to be able to offer another range of Fair Trade natural products to our line up. Many of our customers are looking to protect and preserve the natural environment and the plants that live there, so we believe this new 100% Plastic Free Gardening range will be well received. Hopefully, other companies will follow suit, and we can start a trend towards a much more sustainable and biodiverse future."
Unlike the plastics industry, which is controlled by a few massive multinationals, natural rubber is an entirely sustainable product grown by small farmers or on plantations. Plastic Free Gardening sources only from suppliers whose plantations are certified not to replace natural forests. Due to the current meagre price of natural rubber, many rubber plantings are under threat from conversion to palm oil or beef production. So when you buy our seed trays, you ensure the survival of a valuable, natural resource.
Rubber trees are 'tapped' by small farmers or plantation workers, in theory providing an essential source of revenue. However, the price for natural rubber does not even cover the cost of productions. But because we are members of the Fair Rubber Association, we pay our primary suppliers a Fair Trade premium of EUR 0.50 kg/DRC (Dry Rubber Content) - at present, almost 40% above world market prices. This helps improve the working and living conditions of the primary producers and ensures environmentally friendly, sustainable production. Our primary source for natural rubber is also FSC certified.
Martin Kunz, the creator of the Plastic Free Gardening products, explains: "I was a keen gardener and environmentalist, " in west London. I spent all of my working life sourcing ethical, sustainable products worldwide, and this is my (semi) retirement project. Other people buy a Mercedes; I want to do this."
To find out more details or if you'd like to purchase our Plastic Free Gardening Range, don't hesitate to get in touch with your Wildlife World trade account manager, phone us on 01666 505333, or apply for an online trade account and order on our trade website www.wildlifeworldtrade.co.uk, or email our sales office at info@wildlifeworld.co.uk.
About Wildlife World
Wildlife World is Europe's leading designer and manufacturer of wildlife products, based in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Their products cover a wide range, including; wildlife and bird feeders, nest boxes, beneficial insect houses and hotels, pollinator habitats, hedgehog houses, bat, frog and toad homes, birdbaths and sophisticated wildlife camera systems.
Conservation has been at the heart of their business since its inception in 1998, using recycled materials where possible and FSC certified timber. The UK based workshop where Wildlife World design and develop their unique products uses renewable energy to operate. More at www.wildlifeworld.co.uk
After a challenging but incredibly successful Christmas season in 2021, Heaven Sends continue to present a fantastic variety of seasonal home decorations & giftware...
After a challenging but incredibly successful Christmas season in 2021, Heaven Sends continue to present a fantastic variety of seasonal home decorations & giftware.
Although Heaven Sends have made the difficult decision not to exhibit at the trade shows in 2022, they have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you their fabulous newly revamped showrooms. After taking on board their customers feedback, they have decided to maximize their showroom facility, which has proved so popular. Their Christmas collection is more than 4 times what they can exhibit at Trade Shows, and is just one of the many reasons customers now prefer to visit their showrooms. They offer a big welcome to customers old and new, and invite them to book into their showroom to view their exciting NEW ranges for 2022.
We’re really excited to be able to tell you that Heaven Sends’ new Christmas 2022 collection is available NOW to preview & pre-order – including a collection of huge stunning wreath displays which are a new addition for 2022. All of this is beautifully showcased alongside their bestselling Halloween and everyday home & gift ranges at their spectacular Showroom, based near Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, just 20 minutes from the NEC. Their doors are always open and they are more than happy to welcome you in to leisurely browse & be inspired by their vast product ranges, discuss options and place your orders.
Spanning over two floors, the Heaven Sends Showroom is even more expansive than their usual landmark stand at Harrogate Christmas & Gift and NEC Spring Fair and it houses their entire collection. Located away from the busy shows, whilst still being a convenient 20 minutes away from the NEC, their showroom provides a safe & relaxed atmosphere with a delicious lunch & refreshments.
We know that Heaven Sends will always offer you a warm welcome so why not pop in for a visit and enjoy the fantastic variety of seasonal products, home decorations and giftware that we know your customers will love.
You need to hurry though, Showroom visits are limited each week & we’ve been told that they’re filling up fast, so book in today to secure your place. It’s time to start thinking about Christmas 2022 as many of their lines are already selling out fast due to extremely high demand and they would urge you to get in touch with ‘The Angels’ as soon as possible to reserve your preferred showroom appointment & most importantly secure your product selection for 2022.
Can’t make it to their showroom? Secure your Christmas stock online now at www.heavensends.com or their on the road Angels would be more than happy to visit you at your premises.
Appointments are available 7 days a week: with extended showroom opening hours 5th – 11th February (During NEC Spring Fair).
Email sales@heavensends.com or call: 0121 351 7457 Address: One Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, B76 1AL.
Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts...
Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.
The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.
As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.
Access is by subscription only. For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales. To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.
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.
Here are the full award results announced by GCA Chair, Tammy Woodhouse, this morning:
Nick Rubins, Chief Executive of the QD Group which owns Cherry Lane, said: “The latest acquisition of Retford & Gainsborough Garden Centre is another step in the ongoing growth and success of Cherry Lane. We already have garden centres in Tickhill and Beverley so this is an ideal new location for us. Retford & Gainsborough has been trading for more than 20 years and is well known and loved locally.
Helping millions of consumers to be part of efforts to end peat use in horticulture is at the centre of two new schemes being launched this month. This is part of a series of actions planned by the horticulture industry’s Growing Media Taskforce to help remove peat by 2025-2028 in retail and 2028-2030 in plant and tree production. 
The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the award of a licence to Harrogate Tipple, a small, traditional British distillery, to create a selection of RHS-branded spirits including premium gin, whisky and rum.
Due to the continued growth of the brand and a boom in sales for its highly-rated BBQ grills, Char-Broil has appointed Daniel Grundy as its new Sales Representative for UK & Ireland. 
Hansa Creation create the World’s Most Realistic Plush Animal Reproductions. Producing over 7,000 products with over 500 lines carefully selected for our UK stockists.
How to get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2022
