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

Navigating business change in 2021 - are you inspection ready? Despite the roadmap out of lockdown now being well underway, it is still essential for business owners to ensure their workplaces are COVID-secure. Read more - open to all

Sales jumped over the first lockdown at T&M, Hozelock and Crocus.  Others in this report which is open to all include Stewarts, Dobbies, Rosebourne, Tong and The Greener Gardening Company. Read more - open to all

The British Association of Landscape Industries’ own charity, the BALI Chalk Fund, has launched Chalk Fund Champions to help combat the industry skills gap. 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

Malcolm Scott Consultants have issued a reminder to retail, leisure and hospitality operators to update themselves on the various rates relief policies in place across the UK as they attempt to recoup some of the losses resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more - open to all

The Valuation Office Agency has contacted garden centres across the country to request rental and account information to support the 2023 Revaluation of business rates in England and Wales.   Read more - open to all

GIMA is pleased to confirm that it has recommissioned its Consumer & Design Trends research for the third year running, once again optimising the leading insight from trend agency, Scarlet Opus. Read more - open to all

The HTA Market Update report shows that garden centre sales were up +97% in March compared with March 2020 when there were 9 days fewer trading due to Covid-19 and +56% up on March 2019.   Read more - members only