Online retail sales recorded their lowest ever growth – falling by a staggering -19.8% Year-on-Year, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index. Read more - members only

Results recently published on Gardenforum show winners and losers.  Companies where performance improved include Decco, Capital Gardens, Doff Portland and Longacres Garden Centre. Read more - members only

UK growers and retailers are being asked to join Peter Seabrook and become involved in the UK Floral Fantasia growing trials at RHS Hyde Hall. Read more - open to all

Perennial, the charity for people working in, or retired from, the horticulture industry, is today launching a free physiotherapy service available to people working in horticulture. Read more - open to all

The AIPH International online Conference: The path to sustainability in ornamental horticulture boasts a line-up of expert panellists from around the world. Read more - open to all

The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) scholarship season is open for student horticulturists. This year sees the launch of a new £1,000 scholarship, providing another fantastic opportunity for students who work, or were born in, the North West of England to study horticulture.  Read more - open to all

The Garden Centre Association GCA has introduced a new module on identifying hazardous plants through its Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) learning platform. Read more - open to all

The GCA has resumed annual garden centre inspections cancelled last year due to Covid-19, and has announced regional meetings to hear feedback and reveal the category winners. Read more - members only

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has reported a 58% increase in applicants for its work-based training programmes in 2021 – the highest in decades – as many reconsider their post-pandemic career options. Read more - open to all

An increasing number of garden centres are seeking warehouse space to take stock control into their own hands following recent supply chain availability issues, says Malcolm Scott. Read more - members only

The HTA has published the first edition of Inside Horticulture, a new quarterly magazine for business leaders throughout the horticulture sector. Read more - members only

The latest GCA Barometer of Sales shows garden centre revenues were up +9% over May 2019 and +17% up if restaurant catering is excluded. Read more - members only

With container costs approaching $20,000, LOFA warns that freight problems are escalating and asks if this is due to the greed of shipping lines and if they are colluding to increase prices. Read more - members only

Thrive is launching a new training course offering online and flexible learning for those looking to establish services that harness the healing power of gardening. Read more - open to all

MD, Richard Hopkins, has announced the successful completion of a management buy-out (MBO) of Fargro Ltd backed by  private equity partner Ashridge Capital. Read more - members only

Past winners Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston and Castle Gardens at Sherborne, Dorset top the GCA list of the best garden centre Christmas displays. Read more - open to all

The HTA says the Chancellor’s emphasis on ‘upskilling’ the workforce does not go far enough.  Urgent government action is needed to address the lack of colleges and seasonal labour rules. Read more - members only

September is the first month that garden centre sales have fallen since last winter according to the GCA.  This is predominantly due to a fall in lower sales of plants and gardening goods. Read more - members only

All statistics suggest that the UK consumer focus on DIY, grow your own, garden leisure, etc remains strong beyond lockdown.  Read more - open to all

Recent indicators suggest businesses should prepare for more patrons in their on-site catering facilities in the months to come.  Also business should start thinking about Christmas. Read more - members only

A recent survey by Which? has revealed Amazon to be the priciest DIY retailer, while B&Q was the cheapest.  However, service matters too. Read more - members only

Record profits for shipping companies as Bheta calls for an investigation to determine if they are profiteering from the Covid pandemic.  Increased container costs look set to stay till 2022.  Read more - members only

A recent survey of GIMA has members revealed the challenges faced by companies preparing for new packaging legislation over the next two years. Read more - open to all

The GCA Barometer of Trade shows garden centre revenues up +66% for the first half of 2021, despite growth easing in June. Read more - members only

The latest HTA market information suggests the beginning of a new normal, with garden centre sales for June down just 3% from June 2020, when sales rocketed due to the national lockdown. Read more - members only

A team from Blue Diamond including MD Alan Roper outlined the key qualifications for potential product listing in its garden centres at BHETA’s retailer networking forum. Read more - members only

Choice Marketing is hosting its own ‘Meet the Furniture Buyer’ event next week in Northamptonshire, where a number of its Associate Suppliers will be exhibiting.  Read more - open to all

The HTA’s Market Update shows garden centre sales were up 30% in May but decreased in the second half of the month as Covid restrictions eased. Read more - members only

Figures just published by the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade, show just how good April sales were, with the challenges of frosts, restaurant closures and stock shortages. Read more - members only

There is caution among independent garden centres over the reopening of inside catering, which is likely to be permitted from 17^th May, while there's social distancing. Read more - members only