Hillier names suppliers and garden centre of the year
Robert Hillier tells his new management team, “You have changed the face of Hillier,” as sales leap by 25%. Read more - members only
Hillier names suppliers and garden centre of the year
Robert Hillier tells his new management team, “You have changed the face of Hillier,” as sales leap by 25%. Read more - members only
Wyevale plans to put houses on Beaconsfield garden centre
Wyevale has submitted a planning application to put 9 houses on land at Beaconsfield garden centre. Read more - members only
Soft Play Barn solves a remote problem for Hillview
When Hillview Group bought Witney Garden Centre they were faced with a challenge. Although surrounded by people, how would they find the centre down a country lane in the middle of the Cotswolds? Read more - members only
Dennis Espley is to retire next spring
Dennis Espley has picked next April as the time to step down as MD of Squire’s, 30 years after joining the business. The group has started the search for his replacement. Read more - members only
How Bonnington Plastics beat substitute sellers on Amazon
Bonnington Plastics offers to share with other manufacturers the tactics it used to beat the substitute sellers who were costing the company £50,000 a year. Read more - members only
Growth takes Kapiteyn to larger offices
Following Tim Woodland’s arrival at Kapiteyn, sales have grown rapidly. As a result the Dutch bulb supplier is moving its UK offices. Read more - members only
Wyevale buys Wych Cross garden centre
Wyevale has completed the purchase of Wych Cross Garden Centre at Forest Row in E Sussex, recognised nationally for its rose collection. Read more - members only
Black Friday worries lead to profit warning from Home Retail
Home Retail warns Black Friday promotions might hit Christmas trading as pundits suggest it could be the biggest ever with more than £1bn spent in a day. Read more - members only
Ex-Notcutts trio unite to make Skylark Nurseries fly
“Being a nurseryman can be a lonely occupation.” So says Paul Masters, owner of fledgling nursery Skylark, who has enlisted the help of two former Notcutts colleagues. Read more - members only
Wyevale unveils new look Heighley Gate GC
Wyevale has unveiled the first phase of a new look Heighley Gate Garden Centre in Northumberland following an 11-week redevelopment. Read more - members only
Blue Diamond accelerates expansion plans
With Wyevale expected to announce further acquisitions, Blue Diamond’s Alan Roper tells potential sellers why ‘Blue Diamond would be a good home for your business,’ as profits jump 34%. Read more - members only
Wyevale reveals new look Cadbury Garden Centre
Wyevale has unveiled its redeveloped Cadbury garden centre near Bristol, designed to be a community, retail and leisure hub for all ages. Read more - members only
How Bents responds to customers using social media instore
Bents have two people monitoring social media at the weekends. When a restaurant customer used Facebook to video a piece of plastic that they found in a quiche, the garden centre reacted quickly. Read more - members only
Two independent garden centres change hands
Garden centre agent, Alexander Mackie has sold two independent garden centres. The first in Lincolnshire has been bought by the British Garden Centre Group; the second in Essex goes to an industry newcomer. Read more - members only
Bronze Age problem for Westland
Westland Horticulture has run into trouble with conservationists over the continuing extraction of peat at an archaeological site at Mayne Bog in Coole, Co Westmeath after a Bronze Age oak road was discovered in 2005. Read more - members only
Website of the Year - Richard Jackson’s Garden
The Garden Media Guild Awards presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Adrian Bloom and Website of the Year to Richard Jackson’s Garden. Read more - members only
Online auction to be held of John Woods’ assets
John Woods Nurseries, a buyout from Notcutts Nurseries has been placed in administration. There’s £500,000 of plants and machinery to be cleared with an online auction starting tomorrow. Read more - members only
Notcutt family remains committed to growth strategy UPDATED
Notcutts announce improved profits for 2014/15 and Caroline Notcutt says the family remains committed as the company plans to invest £30m. Read more - members only
Paula Parker leaves as Scotts reorganises
UK marketing director, Paula Parker, has left as Scotts Miracle-Gro cuts out a layer of management in the UK. Read more - members only
Work starts on Rosebourne’s first food and plant centre
Work has started on Rosebourne’s first food and plant centre at Weyhill, building on the model developed at Beckworth Emporium. Read more - members only
Shoot Scoops £50,000 MassChallenge award
Months after raising £500,000 through a crowdfunding initiative, Shoot Gardening has won £50,000 from MassChallenge UK that rewards entrepreneurial start-ups. Read more - members only
Vivid Arts settles dispute with Tom Chambers
The legal battle between Vivid Arts and Tom Chambers regarding allegations of design right infringement, copyright infringement and passing off has been resolved. Read more - members only
St Mellons reopens as Cardiff, a Wyevale Garden centre
2 years ago In November, Blooms at St Mellons in Cardiff was destroyed by fire. It has been rebuilt and reopened under its former manager. Read more - members only
Mental health enterprise buys Grimsby Garden Centre
Grimsby garden centre, has been bought by a not for profit social enterprise, NAViGO, which runs all local mental health and associated services in North East Lincolnshire. Read more - members only
Wyevale buys Sidmouth Garden Centre
Wyevale has bought Sidmouth Garden Centre on the South coast of Devon, bringing their store total back to 150. Read more - members only
Blue Diamond has a new Chairman
Simon Burke, ex Chairman of Hobbycraft and former CX of Virgin Entertainment is the new chairman of Blue Diamond Group of garden centres. Read more - members only
Latest company results show healthy growth
Figures updated this month in Company Results show big sales increases for Boningale, Stewarts Plastics and Weber-Stephen Products (UK). Blue Diamond UK and Haskins also grew. Profits recovered at The Scotts Company UK. Read more - members only
Award for Wyevale’s Coffee Grounds
Coffee Grounds, the new coffeeshop concept at Wyevale Garden Centres has won the best Restaurant or Bar in another space, UK category, at the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards. Read more - members only
Floralands makes it nine for H&G
Floralands Garden Centre in Nottinghamshire has joined the Homes & Garden Group stable. The sale was a leasehold deal handled by Quinton Edwards. The purchase price was not revealed. Read more - members only
Which independent garden centres are expanding?
With the likelihood that further independents will announce they are selling to Wyevale, Gardenforum examines what new garden centres are being built and which sites are getting bigger. And is 'an independent' still a useful term? Read more - members only