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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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