Garden centres defy high street gloom

GCA figures for July show garden centres increased sales by +11%, while the BRC reports that high street footfall dropped by -2.7% and footfall in shopping centres fell by +3.1%. Read more - members only

Despite a weaker June, garden centre sales are +6% for the year

2019 has the makings of a strong year for garden centres. Latest figures from the GCA indicate that garden centres are still +6% ahead of last year despite losing ground in June. Read more - members only

Hardy plants are the biggest category during the first 6 months of the year

May sales hold up well

May sales, while down -7%, were stronger than garden centres could have hoped for. At the end of the month they are still +9% year-to-date ahead of last year. Read more - members only

Planted pots at Haskins Ferndown

Contemporary sculptures mark opening of new Wisley garden centre

A 5m high Giants Chair dominates a sculpture display at RHS Wisley Gardens that coincides with next week’s opening of its new garden centre, restaurant and Welcome building. Read more - members only

Locking Piece by Henry Moore

GCA plant sales up 34% this year

The GCA Barometer of Trade shows garden centre sales were +19% up for the year at the end of April with outdoor plants and furniture being the stand-out performers. Read more - members only

Cold bank holiday fails to dim garden centres’ optimism

Cold weather may have held back plant sales over the weekend, but restaurants prospered. Garden centres are optimistic. “This is what makes running a garden centre so unpredictable and so much fun.” Read more - members only

A record Easter

It seems that the hot weather and the late timing combined to produce the best ever Easter trading for garden centres.  Further updates added from Wyevale, Hillier, and Klondyke. Read more - members only

Plant breeders to police illegal propagation

Pot and bedding plant breeding members of Fleuroselect have launched a campaign against the illegal reproduction of protected plant varieties with random visits, a tip-off line for whistle blowers and fines. Read more - members only

Petunia x hybrida Success! HD Rose Star. Bred by Benary

Reminder – The National Minimum Wage goes up in April

The National Minimum Wage goes up by 4.8% in April. Horticultural workers employed after 1st Oct 2013 are included. Read more - members only

Plants lead positive start to 2019

The GCA Barometer shows an 8% rise in sales for January 2019, with plants and catering building on last year’s figures. Read more - members only

Garden centres' profits fall in most recent filings

Recent figures published on Gardenforum Results pages show a fall in profits for most garden centres, while many suppliers have increased theirs.  Read more - members only

50+ Suppliers meet Choice buyers at the Spring Fair

Over 50 suppliers promoted their wares at a meet-the-buyer event held by Choice Marketing at the Spring Fair. Read more - members only

December sales success for garden centres

GCA figures show 7% growth for December with the top performing categories being restaurants, farm shops and outdoor plants. Sales for 2018 as a whole were slightly ahead, but footfall fell. Read more - members only

Garsons Esher, Farm Shop

Top awards for garden centres at GCA conference

Staff at garden centres across the country are celebrating after receiving awards at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference in Luton yesterday (Monday, January 21, 2019). Read more - members only

Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Creativity and Innovation – Bents Garden & Home

The lessons of 2018 and a late Christmas

After a turbulent year for garden centres and a Christmas that came good in the end Gardenforum hears the lessons they learned and the risks they face in 2019. Read more - members only

Part of Barton Grange's Christmas display

The HTA has a message for Boris

The HTA’s Director of Policy and Communications tells the new PM that the ornamental sector, which supports 568,000 jobs, is essential for the Government’s environment plans. Read more - members only

The 2019 GIMA Award winners are…

The big winners at last night’s Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Awards were the rapidly growing Smart Garden and industry newcomer, Primeur, with its recycled rubber, self watering planters. Read more - members only

ierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters

The next May bank holiday will be on a Friday

The first May bank holiday in 2020 will be put back 4 days to Friday 8th May to celebrate VE Day in Europe. Read more - members only

Retailers and suppliers meet to discuss responsible knife retailing

Top retailer and supplier brands attended BHETA’s workshop, to discuss its responsible knife retailing campaign.  The first actions in the responsible retailing campaign will be announced within weeks. Read more - members only

New Wisley plant centre to have biggest range of unusual plants

The new Welcome building that opens next month at the RHS Wisley garden will sell more unusual and rare plants from one place than anywhere else in the UK. Read more - members only

March sales bounce back to 2017 levels

As expected after last year’s Beast from the East, The GCA Barometer of Trade shows massive increases in garden centre sales in March, but sales barely matched March 2017. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond's Bicester plant sales area

There is a new breed of retailer ready to move in

The recent demise of so many retailers shows the disruption to existing channels by online retailing. But Steve Collinge told the GIMA conference that the disruption to come will be bigger and nastier and include the rise of new breed of retailer. Read more - members only

Steve Collinge

Bright start to 2019 for garden centres

Garden centre sales were up 20% in February.  By the end of March they will have a significant lead over 2018, which was hampered by ‘The Beast…’. The question is whether 2019 will be a vintage year? Read more - members only

Plant dsplays at Blue Diamond in Evesham

HTA frustrated as agriculture minister resigns

George Eustice, Minister for Agriculture since 2015, has resigned over Brexit.  HTA chairman James Barnes said, “Clearly such events are frustrating but you always have to respect these decisions in the political arena.” Read more - members only

George Eustice on the HTA stand at Chelsea in 2016 with Carol Paris and Peter Seabrook

Franchi hits the Brexit Headlines

Following a single tweet about a Brexit Vegetable Growing Survival Kit, Franchi Seeds has had journalists queueing up for interviews. TV appearances have included a spot on the One Show. Read more - members only

Paolo Arrigo

Choice appoints a non-exec chairman

Choice, the buying and marketing group of 42 independent garden centres, has recruited a former MD of Blacks Leisure Group as non-executive chairman. Read more - members only

Michelle de Lavis Trafford and Terry Maywood

8 out of 10 garden cushions fail to meet fire safety regulations

Testing by LOFA found that 8 out of 10 garden cushions sold on the high street and online fail to comply with Government regulations.  The LOFAssured swing tag which guarantees compliance will be shown at the Garden Press Event. Read more - members only

GCA reveals its ‘Garden Centres of Excellence’ winners

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) revealed the winners of its most prestigious awards at its annual conference including its 10 Garden Centres of Excellence and the Garden Centres of the Year. Read more - members only

Destination Garden Centre of the Year - Bents Garden and Home

How do you prepare for a No Deal Brexit?  You can’t afford not to.

We may not know what type of Brexit we will have till late March.  The implications of a no-deal crash out on 29th will be damaging at a time when plant and garden product imports are high. How do you prepare for a No Deal Brexit?  Read more - members only

Gardenforum reviews a turbulent year for garden retail

Here’s your chance to catch up with some of the events in the retail garden sector that you may have missed. It was a turbulent year with the collapse of Gardman; around 60 garden centres changing hands or closing, Wyevale, Bunnings, Snow and drought. This is open to all. Read more - open to all

Gardman's fire started a turbulent year

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive