HTA figures show 2021 was an incredibly strong year

The HTA detects a mood of cautious optimism, but says 1/20 jobs are vacant.  Higher inflation and increased wages costs will make 2022 a challenging year. Read more - members only

The Blue Diamond Scholarship

As one of the leading garden retailers in the UK, Blue Diamond is keen to help horticultural students.  Up to £2,500 funding is available. Read more - open to all

Blue Diamond at Bicester Avenue

BHETA to hold open webinar with Ebay

As eBay expands its focus on DIY and gardening, BHETA is to host an industry-wide webinar open to all suppliers with the online marketplace. Read more - members only

GCA reveals top 10 Christmas displays in the UK

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

Castle Gardens

Budget criticism from the HTA

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

Garden centre sales continue to slow

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

Autumn bedding at Dobbies

Home improvement remains key consumer driver says BHETA

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

Prepare for greater catering demand says the HTA

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

Amazon is priciest says Which?

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

Bheta calls for investigation into freight costs - UPDATED

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

GIMA supporting members through forthcoming changes in packaging legislation

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

Surge in Garden Centre sales eases in June

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

HTA - The beginning of a new normal?

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

Blue Diamond tells BHETA the key qualifications for product listing

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

Alan Roper

Choice holds ‘Meet the Furniture Buyer’ event

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

Key Speakers announced for Gardenex, Petquip and BHETA conference.

The Future for International Trade Conference will be held at the Stratford Manor Hotel in March.  Keynote speaker will be Shelley Boyle, Head of Business Development at ManoMano.  Read more - open to all

Success for HTA lobbying

Partial success for HTA lobbying…  in 2022 Government will allow ornamental and tree growers to join food growers importing seasonal workers.  But there's to be no overall increase in the number allowed in. Read more - members only

Online retail experienced its worst month of growth ever in November

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

Latest results show winners and losers during the pandemic

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

Call to back Hyde Hall growing trials

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 launches free physiotherapy service

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

Scholarship season open for horticulture students

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

GCA GROW releases new ‘Poisonous Plants’ module

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

Antony Snow

GCA regional meetings to reveal inspection winners

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

2019 Winners at Monkton Elm with judge Michael Cole (r)

Demand for horticultural training surges, says RHS

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

Garden Centres seek additional warehousing to protect supplies

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 launches Inside Horticulture

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

Garden centre May revenues +9% on 2019

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

LOFA warns that freight problems are escalating

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

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