Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

Garden Centre Retail ISSUE 40

•

PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

December 2018/January 2019

DO’S AND DON’TS OF

CATERING DESIGN THE MARMITE OF THE GARDEN CENTRE WORLD?

AN INTERVIEW WITH

ALLEYN PARK GARDEN CENTRES GET YOUR BLOG POSTS WRITE! SIX TOP TIPS

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BEST PLANTS FOR TERRARIUMS EYE-CATCHING EXAMPLES

HOW TO SELL MORE POTS BOOST YOUR PROFITS

12/12/2018 14:37

EASYCare Range Now Available for Gardeners T h e U K ’ s l e a d i n g r a n g e o f o u t d o o r su ca

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12/12/2018 14:14

W el com e

WELCOME TO...

Garden Centre Retail W

elcome to Garden entre etail s final issue of . t s been a reat year for us. e ve increased our output by a considerable amount ith the three e tra supplements e added to our schedule this year. e ve continued to provide quality business betterin content ithin the ma a ine and e ve ro n our ebsite traffic by over all in one year is sho in si ns of bein ust as successful for us. e ve a ain increased our print output e re producin issues ne t year instead of the standard si . e ve been continuin the ro th of ebsite traffic hich e predict ill carry on into ne t year and e ve ot a fe surprises up our sleeve hich ill all be revealed in due course. ve visited a fair number of arden centres in the past t o ee s. absolutely love this time of year the hristmas displays ve personally seen and the ones ve seen online are so creative inspirin and en a in . t s hard not to feel festive hen you enter a ma e believe rotto of colours li hts and sounds. ve seen hundreds of children interactin ith the displays. his is bound to create future custom. t s reat that youn sters can enter a arden centre and leave it ith a sense of ama ement. hope hristmas is as profitable for you as it is ma ical to those children.

See you ne t year.

oe and the G

CONTACT Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA EDITORIAL Managing Editor – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 577 Subeditor – Kia Wilson kia.wilson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 597 ADVERTISING Sales Manager – Tina Savelle tina.savelle@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 582 Horticulture Careers – Liam Colclough Tel: 01903 777 584 liam.colclough@eljays44.com PRODUCTION Design – Kara Thomas, Kirsty Turek Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd

Joe Wilkinson ana in Editor Garden Centre Retail oe. il inson el ays .com

We’re producing 10 issues next year instead of the standard six

MANAGEMENT Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson Director – Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson MARKETING AND CIRCUL ATION Client relations – Amber Bernabe amber.bernabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 581 Subscription enquiries – Chris Anderson chris.anderson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 588

Garden Centre Retail is published bimonthly by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2018 subscription price is £95. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, non-commissioned photographs or manuscripts.

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Simply go to the App Store, search for ‘Garden Centre Retail’ and download the app!

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Whilst every effort has been made to maintain the integrity of our advertisers, we accept no responsibility for any problem, complaints, or subsequent litigation arising from readers’ responses to advertisements in the magazine.

We also wish to emphasise that views expressed by editorial contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction of any part of this magazine is strictly forbidden.

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

3

12/12/2018 14:57

BRAND NEW FOR 2019

All our retail plants are now in...

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BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN SEEDSMEN SUTTONS CONSUMER PRODUCTS LIMITED, DEVON

As seed purveyors since 1806 we have all the gardeners favourite seeds. As you can see we also supply an innovative and quality range of plants. And we do equipment too!

02/10/2018 14:00

01803 696400 retail@suttons.co.uk www.suttonsretail.co.uk

10/12/2018 11:37

C on ten ts

Garden Centre Retail ISSUE 40

•

PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

December 2018/January 2019

DO’S AND DON’TS OF

CATERING DESIGN THE MARMITE OF THE GARDEN CENTRE WORLD?

CO NTE NT S NEWS

BUSINESS

06 NEWS

A roundup of the latest news from the sector

09 ASSOCIATION NEWS

Updates from the HTA and GCA

GET YOUR BLOG POSTS WRITE! SIX TOP TIPS

BEST PLANTS FOR TERRARIUMS EYE-CATCHING EXAMPLES

Cover.indd 1

HOW TO SELL MORE POTS BOOST YOUR PROFITS

12/12/2018 14:37

DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019

PRODUCTS

13 THE INTERVIEW

33 PLANT FOCUS

18 PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING

36 GIMA

20 WRITING BLOGS

38 WILD BIRD FEED

22 CATERING FOCUS

40 OUTDOOR POTS

27 CONCESSIONS

42 INDOOR POTS

Karen Kidd, Alleyn Park Garden Centre Taking care of your staff’s mental health

Attractive choices for terrariums New ranges for your homewares offering How to capitalise on this growing sector

Tips for composing catchy posts

Sales tips to boost your profits

Designing your food service area Love them or hate them? Garden centres debate their value

06

AN INTERVIEW WITH

ALLEYN PARK GARDEN CENTRES

The pick of the latest products

44 LATEST PRODUCTS

Seedballs and kits for your customers

45 SPRING FAIR

13

Who to visit at February’s event

47 HARROGATE CHRISTMAS & GIFT FAIR

43

Go and see what’s on offer

49 TRADING WITH Azpects

50 ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT

The Grow Care pot from Vegtrug

www.gardencentreretail.com

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Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 16:08

N ew s

NEWS CENTRE Wyevale Garden Centres agrees sal o ar c r s

Multiple Chelsea gold-medal winner opens new garden centre

yevale Garden Centres has announced the sale of five centres four of them Salisbury est arley air a and andford have been sold to In-Excess imited. ereford ellin ton centre has been sold to En lish Salva e imited. oth buyers are deli hted by the opportunity to e pand their e istin businesses and ill continue to operate these sites as arden centres. o er clau hlan chief e ecutive of G says e ould li e to than our

n a ard innin desi ner has returned to his roots and ta en over an abandoned arden centre here he had his first Saturday ob. helsea old medal inner eter o le has re opened the arden centre hich closed three years a o. e says he ants eaf reative at untley to ro into somethin a little bit different. he bi plant mar et is not covered this side of the country he says. e ant to do somethin completely different and create a ne style of retailin rooted in desi n. eople ill be able to come

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collea ues at these centres ho have been central to our turnaround in the past fe years and ish them ell for the ne t sta e of their ro th and development under ne o nership. www.wyevalegarden centres.co.uk

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alon see the plants and have the opportunity to tal to our people. hey re all trained in horticulture and desi n. eaf reative ill be the retail arm of his ell no n nursery business at o le ill near oss on ye and uardean. his part of the business is too far off the beaten trac to open to the public. eter o le s teams have been transformin the arden centre since the summer. e no has plants and a coffee shop called the ernery offee a ehouse. www.leafcreative.co.uk

Tates of Sussex announces takeover of Horsham garden centre

O

ld Barn Nurseries and Garden Centre has new owners. Tates of Sussex confirmed it had ta en over the site from yevale Garden Centres. he susse based company runs several other arden centres across the county.

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These include South Downs urseries in assoc s and ayberry Garden entre in ortslade. aradise ar in e haven is their a ship store. n a statement on the company s ebsite the firm said it as deli hted to be

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

ta in over the centre. t is set to ma e improvements to the store.

A spo esman says e re deli hted to announce that Old Barn Garden Centre is no part of the ates of Susse Garden entre Group. e loo for ard to elcomin all

ne and e istin ates of Susse customers at our new centre.

A ne loo store is around the corner. e hope you ill notice improvements to the shoppin e perience over the comin months. www.tatesofsussex.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 15:24

N ew s

Tong Garden Centre catering supervisor reaches al o isi ars

A

supervisor from Tong Garden Centre, who was awarded a place on a new training programme for garden centre caterers, has reached the final sta e.

Following the success of the GCA’s Rising Stars initiative, a new programme, aimed at garden centre catering staff, launched. Catering staff at garden centres from all over the country applied.

Susie Jarrett from Tong Garden Centre won one of the 10 coveted places on the programme. It comprised masterclasses to help staff to

improve their knowledge and experience. It also gave them exposure and insight into the wider market place.

Having completed masterclasses, Susie learnt that she is one of five finalists ho will present at the GCA annual conference.

Susie says: “I have learnt so much from the Catering Rising Stars programme. I’m so grateful for all the support I have had along the way.

“I’m delighted to have reached the final. Althou h it ill be nerve rac in to present to so many people, I

o cu s s s ro s ro as i ar s oo all a ark s ar

N

otcutts profits have halved after unfavourable exchange rates and increased costs in 2017. Based at Woodbridge, Notcutts recorded a sales rise by 4.8% to £74.7m, after adopting a strategy to increase footfall.

But it also saw a 51.5% drop in operatin profits to m hile its ross profit mar in reduced 1% to 46.9%.

Nick Burrows says the company was pleased to see footfall grow during the year.

Conversion rates across its 18 garden centres improved.

Customer and staff satisfaction is on the rise.

“Like others in the sector we experienced pressure on margins and increased costs,” he admitted. “In such an economy we opted not

www.gardencentreretail.com

News.indd 7

to pass cost increases onto customers. Our approach was on driving increased footfall and gaining market share as a solid foundation.”

Development work continues as part of a five year plan.

Chairman Nicky Dulieu says works at Cranleigh, St. Albans, Peterborough, Victoria (Pontefract) and Solihull were completed. It has improved the environment for customers.

Notcutts has also opened two major redevelopment projects. These are new format restaurants in Rivendell (Widnes) and Woodford Park (Stockport).

Planning permissions are secured for developments in Woodbridge, Garden Pride (Ditchling), Solihull, Wheatcroft (Nottingham) and Booker. www. o cu s.co.uk

am looking forward to sharing Tong’s catering successes.”

Susie’s line manager, Catharine Westmoreland, is very proud. She says: “Susie is a valued member of our team and her commitment and passion are unquestionable.

“She has worked hard to make the most of this amazing opportunity and has done us all proud to reach the final.

The award for ‘GCA Catering Rising Star 2018’ will be voted on by conference delegates. It will be announced at the gala dinner on 22nd January. www. o ar c r .co.uk

GCA announces Christmas competition winners

B

arton Grange and Castle Gardens are national winners of this year’s GCA Christmas competition.

The garden centres have the best festive displays in the country and will receive their awards at its annual conference in January 2019.

Iain Wylie says: “This year’s displays were impressive. They were the best we’ve ever seen, so it was a tough choice when it came to choose the winners.

“The entrants were judged on the innovation and excitement created by their Christmas products display. The product range, accessibility and ‘wow factor’ were also taken into consideration.

“We’d like to say a huge congratulations to Barton Grange Garden Centre and Castle Gardens.”

Andy Campbell judged entrants in the DGC category and Alyson Haywood judged the GC category.

Louise Burks of The Gardens Group says: “This is another huge achievement for The Gardens Group. Our Christmas displays show a real team effort across all three sites.

“We’re delighted to win this national award for the ninth time. his consistency re ects the commitment and creativity of our team. They make the transformation happen from scratch each year.” www. ca.or .uk

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 15:24

magrini high chairs The Magrini Breeze commercial high chair stacks up to 8 high for easy storage and comes in a choice of colours that will not fade or peel.

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10/12/2018 11:38

H TA N ew s

HTA NEWS

Catch up on what’s happening this month with news from the Horticultural Trades Association

HTA Healthy Plants, Healthy Business

T

he HTA, in association with APHA, are hosting an essential one-day conference, Healthy Plants, Healthy Business, for anyone involved in the production, trading and retailing of plants.

Healthy Plants, Healthy Business will take place on Tuesday 29 January 2019 at Horticulture House in Oxfordshire and is aimed at growers and their customers (retailers, landscapers and garden designers, architects and public procurement) and key stakeholders.

The event will provide a great opportunity to ensure that your business is equipped with the latest information on plant health matters. The agenda includes information on cross-sector initiatives aimed at protecting UK biosecurity and the launch of ‘Plant Healthy’, a new selfassessment tool for any business to calculate how biosecure its production and sourcing systems are.

To book your place visit www.hta.org.uk/planthealth

Speakers include:

• Lord Gardiner, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity • Professor Nicola Spence, Defra’s chief plant health officer • Derek Grove, APHA plant & bee health EU exit manager • Alistair Yeomans, HTA horticulture manager.

Key topics to be covered include:

• Current plant health situation • Plant Health Biosecurity Alliance • Plant Health Management Standard • Plant Healthy self-assessment • Plant importing post-Brexit

Gardeners like wildlife… and wildlife lovers like gardening

I

t will come as no surprise to hear that gardeners and wildlife lovers go hand in hand. The latest HTA Market Information special feature on wildlife looks at the crossover in demographics and interests between keen gardeners and those who love wildlife. It also looks at how the industry can tap into this and highlights some garden businesses who are already working with their local Wildlife Trust.

People who regularly do gardening as a hobby or get a good deal of pleasure from their gardens, are more likely to like learning about nature and wildlife than the general population.

• 24% of keen gardeners usually watch environmental/wildlife programmes on TV • 47% of keen gardeners bought wild bird food in the last year (versus 24% of the general population)

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HTA News.indd 9

• Gardeners are twice as likely to be a member of a wildlife or animal trust • 46% of garden lovers agree they would never buy toiletries or cosmetics that were tested on animals • The hedgehog National Garden Gift Card design continues to sell more than all the other designs put together!

People with an interest in wildlife are more likely than average to get a good deal of pleasure from their gardens or regularly do gardening as a hobby. The average British adult spends £87 per year on their garden, but the average garden spend amongst Wildlife Trust members is more than twice as high.

Some HTA members are currently working with their local Wildlife Trust (17%) or are interested in doing so (55%), and their collaboration provides mutual benefit.

ey benefits include: • Showing your customers that you are supporting a cause that is important to them • PR and brand awareness – helping to reach larger new audiences • Education for business and staff alike which can be passed onto customers The report includes case studies with: Black Birches Garden Centre and Shropshire Wildlife Trust Squires Garden Centres and Surrey Wildlife Trust Bosworth’s Garden Centre and the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire.

Download the full report from the HTA website. ◗

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 15:50

N ew s G C A

GCA NEWS

A roundup of the latest industry news and views from the Garden Centre Association this month

GCA members reminded to enter Worrall Cup

M

embers of the GCA are being reminded to compete for the chance to win the Worrall Cup. The cup will be awarded to the garden centre with the best marketing campaign or initiative during the GCA’s annual conference at Luton Hoo from January 20-23.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “There is still time for our member garden centres to enter the Worrall Cup competition if they believe they have the best marketing campaign or initiative.

“We really enjoy going through all of the creative initiatives that our members come up with.

“The entries will be judged by an independent panel with marketing e pertise. As this a ard is not in uenced by the annual inspection, all entries have an equal chance of winning in January when the judging panel meets to assess the merits of each submission and decide the winner.”

Members are asked to submit an entry by completing a short form, which can be downloaded from www.gca.org.uk or requested by email to the G A office no later than Monday, January 14, 2019.

The submission of supporting material, such as photographs, print examples and web links is encouraged. An additional sheet of written detail is acceptable along with the entry form, if required. Entries can be sent electronically via info@gca.org.uk or by post to the G A office.

Iain added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for members to win a presti ious a ard here both air and commercial success are rewarded.

“If there are any questions relating to the submission of entries, please contact us at the G A office in the first instance via info@gca.org.uk and we’ll be able to help.

“The winner will be announced during our annual dinner and Awards Ceremony at our annual conference on the evening of Tuesday, January 22. The conference will take place at Luton Hoo from January 20-23.

10

“As always, our conference will provide attendees with pertinent information on key aspects of the garden centre industry to assist members in achieving their business goals.

“The information shared will focus on a wide range of topics, including merchandising, marketing and management. There will also be plenty of opportunities for delegates to network and socialise.”

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

GCA News.indd 10

the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

The deadline for Worrall Cup entries is 5pm on Monday, January 14, 2019.

For other information, please call 01244 952170, visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/ GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter. com/GC_Association.

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 14:49

DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019

BUSINESS 13

THE INTERVIEW Karen Kidd of Alleyn Park Garden Centre

18

PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING Looking after employees’ mental health

20

WRITING BLOGS Tips for composing catchy posts

22

CATERING FOCUS Do’s and don’ts of designing your catering area

27

CONCESSIONS Are they the Marmite of the garden centre world?

Business Cover.indd 15

12/12/2018 14:32

Walk Through Your Own Garden Centre’s Proposed Catering Facility Design in stunning VR! Meet our team of Garden Centre experts at the GCA Conference 20th-23rd January for fully immersive demonstrations using VR Goggles!

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Email: peter.walker@airedale-group.co.uk Website: www.airedale-group.co.uk Phone: 01274 626 666 Twitter: @AiredaleGroup

12/12/2018 10:19

AN INTERVIEW WITH

KAREN KIDD ALLEYN PARK GARDEN CENTRE

GCR visits West Dulwich and speaks to Karen Kidd about what the garden centre business has taught her and plans for its continued success in the future Set in an old builders’ yard in West Dulwich, Alleyn Park Garden Centre is a quaint, peaceful space amid a bustling cosmopolitan high street. A 10-minute walk to the nearest train station, which itself is a 10-minute train journey from London Victoria station, Alleyn Park is ideally located to take advantage of the af uence that surrounds the area.

West Dulwich, which straddles the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, is

www.gardencentreretail.com

Interview Alleyn Park Garden Centre.indd 13

full of big houses with sprawling gardens, a luxury not afforded in many other places directly surrounding the capital.

Karen Kidd, a plant lover with a keen eye for detail, manages the centre and tells her story of getting into the industry.

“I was working in central London as a PA for a large American organisation.

Unexpectedly, I found myself pregnant ten years after thou ht d finished having children. That triggered me to

completely reassess everything. Did I want to go straight back to the trek into central London after having a baby? Or should I be brave and do somethin more fulfillin I chose the latter.”

“I had my baby, left my job and did a gardening course at Lambeth College. I’d always loved gardening and plants and thought there may be a chance of making a career in this sector. I followed the course with another in garden design. 

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

13

12/12/2018 16:21

B usi n ess I n terv i ew After finishin that course or ed as a arden desi ner. as also or in ee ends at a arden centre at this point in order to increase my plant no led e. used to loo around that centre and thin that if as in char e d do this and that differently. loved the creative side of arden desi n but m very much a people person and an a ful lot of arden desi n is quite lonely ith ust a dra in board for company. thou ht perhaps runnin a arden centre ould allo me to be creative and also ive me the interaction ith people anted.

Getting started aren finished her desi n course in . t asn t until that she considered openin a arden centre than s to a conversation she had ith a classmate. aren says y classmate su ested loo for a plot in est ul ich if as serious about openin a arden centre. here as nothin in the area hich is surrounded by bi houses ith bi ardens and af uent people. as or in at a arden centre in East ul ich at the ee ends and on my lunch brea ould ump in the car come over to est ul ich and ust drive around tryin to find a site suitable for a arden centre. happened upon this site and as able to spea to the ul ich Estate ho o n a lot of land around here and thus the adventure be an aren openly admits that after findin the site neither she nor her three collea ues had any idea hat they ere doin . here ere four of us or in on openin the centre to ether but none of us had any business e perience. ob and had both or ed in arden centres so e ne the mar et from the point of vie of an employee. hat stood us in ood stead. e ne ho important the day to day runnin and subsequent success of a centre is do n to the team members ho are out there tal in to customers. e anted our mantra to be yes e can . f anyone as ed us to et somethin or do somethin e anted the default ans er to be positive aren e plains. he first fe years ere a real learnin curve especially as far as the behind the scenes or as concerned. ash o and money stress ere the bi est issue for a hile but stron relationships ith suppliers helped them et throu h it. t ffi Staffin is not the easiest of responsibilities but if you et it ri ht customers ill continue to come throu h

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Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

Interview Alleyn Park Garden Centre.indd 14

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 14:53

I n terv i ew B usi n ess

the doors. However, a horticultural background wasn’t a deal breaker for Karen when it came to employing staff.

“Attitude and enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn is more important” she says. “I like employing people with bri ht minds so can be confident they will learn. That was something I learnt very early on.

Prior to opening, when we were painting the gates, a young woman walked down.

She was working in one of the shops that back onto us. She asked what we were doing so we got chatting about the opening of the centre. She offered her help instantly, she loved the idea, wanted to help in an unpaid position. She became an employee swiftly and even though she knew nothing about plants, her enthusiasm and willingness to learn was key. Within a couple of weeks she could answer customers’ basic questions.

She simply soaked up the knowledge. I’m so glad that happened early on because it made me realise that horticultural experience wasn’t vital.

“Giving team members responsibilities is essential to the success of the team.

Each team member has an area of responsibility, which they are encouraged to develop. This creates a sense of ownership for each and every employee.

It has been a very successful way to foster both business growth and personal job satisfaction.”

Growth Business grew at a steady rate for Alleyn Park. Once the team realised they had to set targets for growth and got to grips

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Interview Alleyn Park Garden Centre.indd 15

with running a money-making business, things took off.

“We’ve grown very steadily. As a small outfit e can respond and adapt very quic ly. or the first fe years as oin out to Italy and buying in bulk on the big items. We very quickly realised that in terms of cash o it asn t a ise ay to do it. Adapting our buying process was a bi chan e in ho e mana ed cash o and assured growth.”

They went it alone too. Karen explains: “to be honest, we didn’t really know where to look for help. We didn’t feel as though e ere desperately ounderin . t as just learning the ropes and experience seemed to be the best way to learn.

“We had a brilliant accountant. He’s been a real mentor. He also passed somebody over to us for help as a business consultant. That was incredibly helpful early on.

“Location remains our biggest problem: we are down a driveway off the high street and we still have people that happen upon us that say they had no ideas we were here. Most of the time, we rely on a great big banner at the end of the drive, but whenever there’s high winds we have to roll it in!”

Buying British As the future of importing plants is up in the air, it’s unlikely that anyone knows what a plant offering will look like in the future.

Alleyn Park, however, decided early on that whenever possible they would buy from reputable British growers.

“We’ve always bought from small independent growers in Britain,” Karen

says. “We’ve got a really good foundation with regards to Brexit. I do buy in from Europe as well, and know that may have to change. Controversially, if it does change I won’t be devastated because it’s a good idea to keep British plants in Britain.

“We shouldn’t try too hard to bring in things from overseas. Wonderful as they are we all know they can bring in problems. The fact that we’ve had that ethos from very early on has helped.”

Relationships with all their suppliers has always been top of the bill for the company too. Alleyn Park has long

Once Karen and the team realised they had to set targets for growth, they decided on a 10% growth target year on year standing relationships with the suppliers they’ve chosen.

“One of the most important things for us is forming relationships. It’s all about the suppliers knowing where we’re coming from, and vice versa. We have mutual empathy and feel deeply loyal to our plant suppliers.”

Being independent The team at Alleyn Park made the decision not to have membership for both the HTA and the GCA. The company believes that their customer demographic values true independence. 

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 14:54

B usi n ess I n terv i ew “We’ve not said we’re not joining this, or not joining that, but we’ve looked at all these things and feel we do best the way we are. Until something happens to change our opinion, it will remain this way.

We are incredibly lucky that where we are the biggest demographic values small independent shops enough, and that they keep supporting them,” Karen explains.

Customer demographics Being centred in Dulwich, Alleyn Park has a great catchment area for a more af uent customer.

“We have three typical types of customer. he first one hich e ve seen a massive growth in, is the millennial generation. They are into their houseplants, and that department has seen a 400 per cent growth for us.

“The second group is the biggest demographic. This is the 40–55-year olds, mostly house dwellers who have decent sized or large gardens.

“Finally, we have the older group, the 60+ residents of Dulwich many of whom have lived here for 40 years or more.

They tend to have very large established gardens, so they come to us to top up their borders.

“In terms of expenditure, the biggest demographic is that middle section,” Karen says.

Alleyn Park is also popular with the professional landscapers and garden designers around the area.

“We have a surprising number of professionals who come and buy from

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us” explains Karen. “It’s surprising because we can only give them a small discount for trade custom. The lovely thing is that they know if they can’t get it anywhere else, they can get it here, particularly with unusual shrubs and herbaceous perennials.”

Turnover It may be no surprise that plants are responsible for the greatest percentage of turnover. Specifically e do ell with herbaceous plants and herbs,” says Karen. “We do a remarkably wide range of herbs in the season. Vegetable

We’ve always bought from small independent growers in Britain sales have gone down since the boom in grow-your-own ended. Unusual shrubs do well for us. The thing is, we don’t have a cafe, we don’t sell pet food and the like. There are great chunks of products that bigger centres sell, but we don’t. It’s not even an option for us, we just don’t have the space for it.

“The stalwarts like compost, and pots, are great sellers, but way above everything else is our plant section.”

The future ith Alleyn ar confident of dealin with the effects Brexit may have on

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Interview Alleyn Park Garden Centre.indd 16

importing, the future must look bright.

Over the years, though, the company has hired staff members from overseas.

“The day after the Brexit result came out, it was obvious that people were shocked to the core that this could possibly happen. It’s happened though.

“With the information we currently have, none of us can predict what the future might hold, but all we can do is react quickly. We’re small, independent and have a large part-time team. We can very quickly adapt.

“I hope I’m not looking at it through rose-tinted glasses, but we need to continue to support our UK growers, which we’ve done for 15 years anyway.

“We must look for options for products that we currently bring in from overseas, which we do constantly already. We need to find alternatives.

“It’s not as if we’re going to be singled out, every company is going to be dealing with the same. If we can’t supply our customers with something, nowhere will be able to. n terms of staffin really hope sense prevails. We absolutely rely on people from other EU countries,” says Karen.

“If there is a downturn in productivity post Brexit, which almost inevitably there will be, there needs to be some scrambling by the government to get things redressed.

“We will be doing everything in our power to protect and support any staff member who needs it. However, I hope it never comes to that.” ◗

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10/12/2018 11:44

B usi n ess M en ta l H ea l th

short periods of contact with nature.3 It follows that garden centre employees have a head start over office or ers hen it comes to psychosocial well-being, “as increased contact with nature potentially provides an accessible, cost-effective intervention for improving mood.”3 Still, as Dr Weinberg highlights, “Above all, the key lies with treating your employees well – relationships with our line managers are often vital for our well-being at work.”

PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING AT WORK

Nurturing psychosocial well-being is becoming an increasingly high priority in the workplace

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Garden centre employees have a head start over fice rkers hen it c es t s ch s cia e eing

Dr. Ashley Weinberg, Chartered Psychologist and co-author of Psychology at work: Improving well-being and productivity in the workplace, says: “It is important for employees to have control over what they do and for their workloads to be reasonable and realistic. The use of new technology to ‘optimise’ output in other spheres always raises challenges, but garden centres clearly thrive on face-toface customer service and so reinforcing the efforts of employees to give their best is vital.”

Owners and managers of garden centres should, according to Dr Weinberg, “get to know your workforce… being visible and consulting with employees about what works, as there is usually nobody better to tell you this than the person doing the job.” Being an active and visible manager improves employee engagement, which nurtures the sense of meaning we can gain from our work. This in turn has a positive impact on productivity.2

A sense of identity and meaning Any job, including garden centre retail, plays a key role in developing our sense of identity.2 This sense of identity can be lost amidst a stressful workplace with unrealistic workloads.

The psychosocial advantage of garden centre work Garden centre work has the advantage of being productive of psychosocial wellbein . ndeed the benefits of or in with nature are well documented, with mood enhancement occurring with even

sychosocial well-being is a term frequently used by today’s organisations to describe employees’ mental health at work. Conversely, psychosocial ill-health concerns those experiencing work-related stress and anxiety. It is estimated that one out of three European employees suffer from depression and anxiety because of stress they encounter in their workplace.1 nless these issues are rectified they can dramatically impact on both the wellbeing of employees and the organisation’s productivity and profit mar in.

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Tips for enhancing psychosocial wellbeing Several key factors related to both the individual and the environment can enhance pyschosocial well-being: • Granting employees increased control over their jobs.This can be achieved by enhancin e ibility around or hours and encouraging employee participation.4 Employees can be encouraged to propose solutions to problems and even suggest strategies they feel can help the business grow.

• Teaching employees stress management techniques. Even more fruitful is providing sessions that increase the knowledge base of employees so that they are prepared for customer questions.

• Providing managers with training in communication skills will strengthen employee-supervisor relationships, and foster a healthy work environment.

Ultimately, psychosocial well-being needs to be taken as seriously as physical wellbeing if you want your employees and company to thrive. ◗ References 1. Carolan, S., P.R. Harris, and D.P. Cavanagh, Improving Employee Well-Being and Effectiveness: Systematic Review and MetaAnalysis of Web-Based Psychological Interventions Delivered in the Workplace. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2017. 19 (7): pp. 1-18.

2. Weinberg, A. and N. Doyle, Psychology at work: Improving wellbeing and productivity in the workplace. October 2017, The British Psychological Society: Leicester United Kingdom. pp. 1-103.

3. McAllister, E., N. Bhullar, and S. N., Into the Woods or a Stroll in the Park: How Virtual Contact with Nature Impacts Positive and Negative Affect.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2017. 14 (786): pp. 1-11.

4. Harvey, S., Joyce, S., Tan, L., Johnson, A., Nguyen, H., Modini, M. and Groth, M. (2014).

Developing a mentally healthy workplace: A review of the literature. [online] National Mental Health Commission. Available at: https://www. headsup.org.au/docs/default-source/resources/ developin a mentally healthy or place final november-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=8 [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018].

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 15:33

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B usi n ess B l og W ri ti n g

M A K E YO U R

BLOG POSTS READABLE

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eading from a screen can be tricky, so make sure your blog posts are as easy to read as possible. This will help you get more returning visitors and a higher conversion rate.

Just follow these tips on how to improve the readability of your articles.

Focus on your audience Make sure your text is pitched at the right level for your audience. If you write about LEGO and your content is aimed at kids, then it should be simple to read. But, if your addressing the science profession, then the text can be much more sophisticated and still be appropriate.

Write clear paragraphs Make sure you write clear paragraphs. For a blog post, you should always start a paragraph with the most important point, then explain or elaborate on it. This helps a reader grasp the concept of your article as soon as they have read the first sentence of each paragraph. Make sure

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your paragraphs aren’t too long either.

Write short sentences Try to write short sentences.

Shorter sentences are quicker and easier to read and understand than longer ones.

Also, you’re likely to make fewer grammatical errors as your sentences are short and concise.

Sentences containing more than 20 words are too long.

Use transition words You can make your writing much more readable by

Alternate longer paragraphs and sentences with shorter ones and try using synonyms rather than repeat the same word too often

Also, make sure paragraphs don’t have more than one long sentence each.

Limit difficult words Limit the use of words that are difficult to read. emember

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that reading from a screen is harder for everyone. Words with four or more syllables are considered difficult to read so avoid them where possible.

Of course, sometimes your blog post might be about a complex topic that is difficult to e plain or requires more advanced vocabulary.

using proper transition words (or signal words – the same thing). Transition words are words like ‘most important’, ‘because’, ‘therefore’, or ‘besides that’. They give direction to your readers.

These words give a signal that something is coming up: if you’re summarising, you’ll use first second third etc. f you want to compare, you’ll write ‘same’, ‘less’, ‘rather’, ‘while’ or ‘either’. If you want to conclude, you’ll use ‘hence’, ‘consequently’ or ‘therefore’.

Using transition words is a bit like putting cement between your sentences.

The relationship between two sentences becomes apparent through transition words. Readers will understand your content much better if you use these kinds of words properly.

Mix it up!

For a piece to be attractive to a reader, it should be varied. Alternate longer paragraphs and sentences with shorter ones and try using synonyms rather than repeat the same word too often. Words such as ‘and’ or ‘too’ are used a lot. Mixing it up with words like ‘also’ or ‘moreover’ could make your blog more attractive and more readable too. ◗

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12/12/2018 15:42

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12/12/2018 14:17

B usi n ess C a teri n g F ocus

GARDEN CENTRE CATERING DESIGN DO’S & DON’TS WITH AIREDALE CATERING EQUIPMENT GCR talks with Airedale Group’s Pete Walker about the chief do’s and don’ts of designing your garden centre’s commercial catering and retail areas

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C a teri n g F ocus B usi n ess Early stage engagement with all the stakeholders is an important foundation for any design to be successful.

By doing so, our own team of expert designers and account managers can understand the centre’s particular aspirations and the challenges we will have to overcome in order for these to be realised. For any existing centre looking to overhaul their catering facilities, we will spend as much time as required to observe lunchtime/ peak time service and offer best practice advice. It is very important to develop a sound relationship with any client as it is their vision we need to interpret and ultimately deliver.

It is important to remain both ambitious and realistic.

We take delight in illustrating to our clients what their own

budgets can achieve, utilising our group’s strength in procuring commercial catering equipment, which regularly exceeds £22m per annum.

Further, there has been great strides over recent years in developing commercial catering equipment that both produces more food but requires less space. Less is more is an important mantra and our team of experts will guide our clients through all the available options, including arranging for cooking demonstrations and site visits wherever appropriate.

Prioritising the budget is essential. New builds in particular will require bespoke canopies and ventilation systems to ensure compliance with various legislation.

Fortunately for our clients we can draw upon our own

in-house experts as we have Airedale Ventilation Systems and Airedale Cold Stores divisions to offer advice and the most appropriate solution for our clients’ budgets.

We encourage our clients to think outside the box and will offer solutions in order for them to do so. Garden centres are seen as destination venues and so it is important to try and differentiate the offering compared to their competition.

We also encourage our clients to remember the age-old adage that it’s bums on seats that generates the income so sufficient space should be given for the front-of-house area.

A particular challenge we prioritise in overcoming through extensive consultation and design is minimising queues at peak times. Whilst it is not possible to eradicate this completely, a

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well-designed servery counter can make all the difference.

Fortunately for clients of today, there are numerous solutions for any budget and our team will guide them through these options to ensure their front-of-house operation runs as smoothly as

We will be illustrating the effectiveness of VR by providing ‘tours’ via VR headsets of garden centre designs possible. No client wishes to receive negative comments on social media and the likes of TripAdvisor; this will go some way in minimising this possibility.

One thing we are particularly excited about at Airedale is the use of VR in 

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12/12/2018 14:36

B usi n ess C a teri n g F ocus design. At January’s annual Garden Centre Association Conference in Luton Hoo, we will be illustrating the effectiveness of VR by providing ‘tours’ via VR headsets of garden centre designs. VR is not a gimmick but a really useful tool as it allows all stakeholders a realistic tour of their proposed designs, affording real-time commentary/feedback and thus making the design process more efficient and less time-consuming.

We would encourage any GCR reader who is a GCA member intending to be at their conference to pay us a visit for more information and demonstrations. nce e have finalised the design we focus on specification. hilst e fully appreciate ‘Capital Expenditure’ (Capex) is important, we stress to our clients the operational costs in the long run.

A badly specified arden centre kitchen can cost the clients more operationally and ne ate any financial savin s made initially. On average, a commercial catering kitchen

within a busy garden centre should last for up to eight years, think about the cost of utility bills and not just the ticket price.

We will take as much time as required to consult with our clients to ensure that the commercial catering equipment installed is both cost-effective at Capex and

operationally. For example, if the site’s power supply allows for it, there is a trend to go for induction, which is superbly cost-effective to operate but will cost the client more to begin with.

We urge our clients to remain realistic in terms of timescale, especially in terms of project delivery.

Quite often in all the sectors we operate in, clients come to us with unrealistic timeframes and whilst we will go out of our way to try and work within them, allowing eight weeks for a complete overhaul of a centre’s catering facilities is not going to be achievable!

Airedale work particularly closely with UK manufacturers of equipment, ensuring that coupled with our own fabricated items, our projects have a distinct made in Britain feel to them. However, even UK manufacturers’ lead times can stretch to 6–7 weeks in peak times. ◗ ABOUT

Airedale Catering Equipment is the principle commercial catering projects division of the Airedale Group, who are the largest specialist company in the UK. Founded in 1986 and now employing over 270 staff, Airedale Group’s reputation within the Garden Centre sector has blossomed in recent years with a number of both National Group and Independent clients on its books.

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www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 15:51

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10/12/2018 11:41

C on cessi on s G C R S p eci a l

CONCESSIONS

– THE MARMITE OF THE GARDEN CENTRE WORLD? GCR talks to garden centres about their take on the concession debate

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M

uch like the famous British staple, garden centre businesses either love or hate the idea of having concessions within their centres.

Some feel as though dedicating space to another business means that area is eneratin less profit than it ould be if it as filled in house. thers ho ever ta e advantage of the symbiotic relationship, 

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12/12/2018 15:52

G C R S p eci a l C on cessi on s and benefit from the dra these concessions have and the re ular income. ic de erc hove is responsible for the relationships bet een on acres Garden entre and their concessions.

These products and services on offer complement our own ranges, make use of spaces that would otherwise go unused and bring a much richer shopping experience to our customers on acres across all its sites has a mi of manned and unmanned concessions. ts manned offerin includes brands sellin conservatories trampolines lo cabins and itchens hilst they have

unmanned sho er roofin and shed areas too. avin concessions means on acres has a re ular source of income e plains de erc hove. hese products and services on offer complement our o n ran es ma e use of spaces that ould other ise o unused and brin a much richer shoppin e perience to our customers. he concessions allo us to concentrate on our core business ithout havin to involve ourselves in providin products or services that e re not e perts in. here s so much more to discover hen customers visit our sites. ou hly on acres attributes . of its turnover from the fees they char e to its concessions. t s constantly on the loo out for a concession that can add somethin different to its centres. e re al ays illin to tal ith and consider different types of business. e re currently in discussions ith a hairdresser a vet a library a computer ame supplier

a mobility scooter brand and a car trailer company. lue iamond Garden entre roup has made the decision to do it all in house not ivin up precious square metres to concessions. Alan oper the mana in director of the hannel sland based company says e can ma e more net profit from the same space as a concession. t can be up to t o or three times the profit dependin on the product. believe in unique e periences in retail. oncessions do not deliver this. heir footprint is usually national and quite mass mar et in tone. ot havin concessions allo s us more e ibility ith hat e do in store. hat e offer in store is a point of difference ith our ran e and retailin . t is horses for courses thou h. he discussion shouldn t be about ri hts and ron s it should be about ei hin up the pros and cons. a in on non arden retail cate ories instead of concessions is challen in . e have more stress ith that oper does say thou h they are loo in for local specialists in their e ceptionally lar e stores. n the sqft East rid ford store built in arch of this year a local butchers has a space. oper feels that as a specialist trade they can offer somethin that lue iamond itself ouldn t be able to. he recently acquired adbury Garden entre a m centre has available space for concessions too.

I believe in unique experiences in retail.

Concessions do not deliver this hen purchased the centre did have concessions. oper has retained the ones that fit the lue iamond profile and ill be loo in at alternatives for those that don t. he bi re ard and the satisfaction the team and et is hen e see customers enthusiastically en a in in our retail e perience. e feel proud of hat e ve achieved. n summary or in ithout concessions is a much harder road but it is a road that is more e citin and ultimately more profitable. t s unli ely that there ill ever be a ri ht or ron ans er hen it comes to havin a manned shop ithin a shop but

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C on cessi on s G C R S p eci a l

ith the diversification of arden centres we are likely to see more specialist brands wanting to take space in a garden centre. ften concessions ithin arden centres are for those products that require a more specialist no led e or for those bi er purchases such as hot tubs and arden buildin s. Sometimes they re an Edinbur h oollen ill or a otton raders brands everyone is familiar ith that brin e tra customers throu h the doors. hese customers then bro se and buy from the shelves of the centre as ell as the concession. ne brand that does have spaces in arden centres is ladies fashion brand lass. lass has both manned and unmanned space in over arden centres since ta in its first space years a o. avid ohen e plains e share the same core female customer as a arden centre. As lass offers a fashionable and more affordable alternative to the re ular

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ladies’ wear brands you see in many garden centres. e are findin that many centres are loo in to us to complement and enhance their current offers for them to become destinations for fashion.

“We consistently return garden centres a minimum of per sqare foot usin the

Klass has both manned and unmanned space in over 65 garden centres since taking their first spaces 10 years ago unmanned model. his is a fantastic lo ris return considerin there is no cost outlay ith commission only paid on sales. New lines are delivered on a ee ly basis ith unsold stoc returned to us at the end of every season.

here are plans to e pand the number of centres the company is currently displayed in. e opened up arden centre concessions this year says ohen. his includes four ith the Klondyke group.

“Our latest manned department opened in Shipley illvie Garden entre ith plans to open part time staffed concessions in three more illvie centres early ne t year.

“We continue to attract regular enquiries from arden centres hich primarily come from recommendations from other centres.

“We are very proud to be an established part of the arden centre industry and or closely ith roups and independents to e plore ne opportunities henever they present themselves. he concession discussion is certain to continue but the solution is not necessarily a one si e fits all approach. ◗

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 15:01

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12/12/2018 09:17

DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019

PRODUCTS 33

PLANT FOCUS Eight eye-catching examples for terrariums

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GIMA New ranges of homewares on offer

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WILD BIRD FEED Capitalise on sales of this growing sector

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OUTDOOR POTS Sales tips to boost your profits

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LATEST PRODUCTS The pick of indoor pots

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SPRING FAIR Who to visit at February’s event

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HARROGATE CHRISTMAS & GIFT FAIR Go and see what’s on offer

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TRADING WITH Azpects; Ben Wright talks about the range

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ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT The Grow Care pot from Vegtrug

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10/12/2018 11:41

Terra ri um Pl a n t F ocus

Terrarium PLANTS

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Eye-catching and affordable, terrarium plants are an excellent opportunity for attracting new customers and boosting houseplant sales

here are two types of terrarium – an open version, and a closed. Each of these creates a unique ecosystem, and some plants are better if some of the air is allowed to escape, taking some moisture with it.

Terrariums are relatively inexpensive, and with the right merchandising such as placing the right soil next to a selection of bowls and vessels in the houseplant department, you have an ideal opportunity to attract the next generation of garden centre customers.

Terrariums are not a new thing, but in our Instagramobsessed world, they are certainly becoming a must-have accessory for every millennial. Garden Centre Retail takes a look at the top plants that thrive in terrariums.

Hatiora salicornioides (Drunkard’s bones) Hatiora salicornioides is originally a forest cactus, growing as epiphytes at elevations between 0m and 1850m in Brazil.

The plant is made of many-branched stems that are up to 60cm long. A stem consists of smaller segments with a length of up to 3cm. The segment has a shape that resembles a bottle. The contorted stems may account for the common names “dancing bones cactus” and “drunkard’s dream”, or the bottle shape of the segments may account for the latter.

Hatiora thrives best in indirect light with exposure to morning and evening sun. It prefers a well-drained soil. It can be propagated easily through cuttings that can root immediately in soil.

Haworthia Haworthia is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa.

Like aloes, they are members of the subfamily Asphodeloideae and they generally resemble miniature aloes, except for their o ers hich are distinctive in appearance.

Haworthia can survive on minimal attention. It requires a small amount of water and the soil should be completely dry before watering the plant. During the summer, haworthia only need watering every three weeks.

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

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12/12/2018 15:56

Pl a n t F ocus Terra ri um

Pilea depressa Native to the Caribbean, the pilea depressa is bright green with small thick leaves. Although it enjoys higher humidity, it also needs good air circulation, so if you decide to use it, do not cover the terrarium.

Pilea depressa prefers being in a bright spot or in partial shade. Direct sunlight is not good for this plant. Water it in this pot twice a week, keeping the soil slightly moist.

Adiantum raddianum (maidenhair fern) The maidenhair fern is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the Vittarioideae subfamily of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning “unwetted”, referring to the fronds’ ability to shed water without becoming wet.

They are distinctive in appearance, with dark, often black stipes and rachises, and bright green, often delicately cut leaf tissue.

Caring for maidenhair ferns is not very demanding.

While it needs to be kept moist, you need to be careful not to over water the plant. This can lead to root and stem rot. On the other hand, don’t let the maidenhair dry out either. But, in the event it does accidentally dry out, there’s no need to throw it away. Give it a good soaking and the maidenhair fern will eventually produce new leaves.

Soleirolia soleirolii (baby tears) Soleirolia soleirolii is a plant in the nettle family.

It is a delicate-looking creeping herb with juicy bright green or yellow leaves and multitudes of tiny hite o ers. t ro s close to the round in mats and is sometimes used in ornamental gardens alongside ferns and other moisture-loving types of plant.

It can be grown indoors as a houseplant and used in habitats for amphibians. It prefers shade and moderate moisture. It can even grow submerged in swampy environments. In colder regions, the plant dies back during winter, but it returns with lush growth as the temperature increases. It is capable of vegetative reproduction, so to eradicate it once it has become established in an area, the entire plant must be removed, or else it can sprout new growth.

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12/12/2018 15:57

Terra ri um Pl a n t F ocus

r

a

us i i a us s ar s

la

ryptanthus bivittatus is a small terrestrial species of plant in the romeliaceae family. eachin a hei ht of only ins and preferrin moderate or diffuse li ht it is commonly used in terrariums.

Give it a nice bri ht indo in your home. f ro n indoors the plant ill beneďŹ t from occasional mistin to eep the humidity level correct. he plant type is an epiphyte similar to air plants but ryptanthus bivittatus needs to ro in soil.

Philodendron scandens (heart-leaf philodendron) hilodendron is a species of o erin plant in the family Araceae native to entral America and the aribbean. t is an ever reen climber ro in to m ft ith heart shaped lossy leaves to cm ins lon and occasionally spathes of hite o ers in mature plants. ith a minimum temperature requirement of in temperate re ions it must be ro n under lass or as a houseplant. t has ained the oyal orticultural Society s A ard of Garden erit.

Good draina e is crucial. Spray or ipe the leaves often ith a damp cloth and freely ater the plant durin the ro in season. n summer mist the leaves t ice a day ater sparin ly durin inter.

Echeveria Orion Echeveria is a lar e enus of o erin plants in the stonecrop family rassulaceae native to semi desert areas of entral America e ico and north estern South America. lants may be ever reen or deciduous. lo ers on short stal s arise from compact rosettes of succulent eshy often bri htly coloured leaves. Species are polycarpic meanin that they may o er and set seed many times over the course of their lifetimes. ften numerous offsets are produced and are commonly no n as hen and chic s.

Echiveria li e bri ht li ht ith some full sun e posure. eep the pottin mi li htly moist but ater sparin ly in inter. ater the pottin mi and not the rosette because it can easily rot. rin led leaves indicate the succulent needs more ater.

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Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 15:57

G I M A H om ew a res

DEMAND FOR PLANTS BOOSTS HOMEWARES

The sustained demand for houseplants has given homewares suppliers something to shout about, with more GIMA members than ever reporting cross category sales success in the sector Spear and Jackson will continue to invest in tools for indoor plants. Marketing manager Karen Abbott says: “The addition of our 3-piece scissors set, and herb scissors are a natural extension to our highly successful and established Razorsharp range of outdoor cutting tools.” Lechuza will launch new intelligent self-watering indoor planters aimed at the beginners and professionals market in 2019. Key account manager Ian Riggs says: “2019 will see an exciting new rebranding for us, alongside some beautiful additions to the current collections, keeping homeware ranges current and timeless.”

Burgon and Ball’s head of sales, Ruth Posey, has a few tips to attracting sales from shoppers. “Think beautiful glazes and interesting textures, include some interesting hanging pots in your selection, and in terms of colour, aim to offer a mix of understated neutrals and richer, deeper shades. Another trend which never goes out of fashion is country house style.”

Oase’s new ‘biOrb AIR’ is a futuristic indoor plant growing solution at the forefront of the next trend for indoor gardening. Incorporating LED lights that mimic daylight hours with an automatic mister for humidity regulation. Marketing manager Patrick Inwards says: “It’s for

ON TREND WITH LECHUZA LECHUZA’s wide range of self-watering planters mean that the great selection of colours finishes and si es create a orld of décor possibilities for any home.

E A s A says ill see some beautiful additions to the current collections, adding even more possibilities and ways to keep your homeware current and timeless.”

Ideal for complete beginners, professionals and those who have little time to spare for plant care, the handy sub-irrigation system of all LECHUZA planters means that plants and herbs supply themselves with the exact amount of water and nutrients they need, giving you more time to create the perfect interior with all of the LECHUZA styles on offer.

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Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

people who’d like to create a tropical jungle in their home – like a desktop Eden Project. A revival of the popularity of bottle gardens from the 1970’s, but with modern tech included so you don’t need to place it in a window or worry about condensation.”

Planter trolley specialist Wagner has launched three new decorative door stops; actus in and Sun o er . ade from felt and jute the stoppers absorb hard impacts and protect door and window frames, which it holds open thanks to a heavy sand inlay. ◗ Contact GIMA on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk for more details

Having recently undergone a rebranding project, LECHUZA’s new look focuses on sleek, timeless designs without compromising on quality.

The CUBE Color Glossy and Green Wall Home Kit collections are space-saving solutions for addin air to even the smallest of spaces. Planters are available in chic and versatile colours in a high-gloss finish. he cubes fit perfectly onto shelves and desks, while the Green Wall Home Kit comes with a magnetic strip, meaning that planters can be attached to any wall. The new CUBE Color range promises a fresh look, ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.

LECHUZA will also be expanding its YULA range in the new year. The existing modest colours of white/green and white/ grey will be joined by a white/pearl rose in a semi loss finish. he brand ne colour will also bring brand new planters, the Y A lo er and Y A acarm .

The ORCHIDEA collection is also amongst LECHUZA’s 2019 plans. This intelligent watering system is available in hite slate and red all in a matt finish. ◗ For more visit www.lechuza.co.uk or contact ian_riggs@lechuza.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 16:02

NEC 20-23 JAN 2019 3-7 February 2019

Glee at Spring Fair is a great opportunity for retailers to see new and best-selling ranges ahead of the spring/summer buying season, and refresh their offerings earlier.

Providing a platform to see the latest trends and concepts, the concession will showcase some fantastic brands from Glee’s core show sectors.

Source new products, discover fresh trends, and meet 100s of suppliers at the UK’s biggest furniture show. Make yourself at home at the industry event of the year.

Register now at januaryfurnitureshow.com

Discover more about Glee at Spring Fair at:

www.springfair.com

Glee_Birmingham Glee.Birmingham1

Glee_Birmingham GleeBirmingham1

SS002974 GLEE@SF HALF PAGE PRESS AD 91X240 AW.indd 1

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04/12/2018 09:21

10/12/2018 11:42

Products B i rd F eed

HOW TO SELL WILD BIRD FEED

Garden Centre Retail speaks to Su Bridge Pet Supplies about how to capitalise on this growing category

Su-Bridge Pet Supplies is a familyowned business based near Thetford in Norfolk. They have supplied specialist pet trade and garden centres in East Anglia and Suffolk since 1971 with all leading specialist pet food brands, accessories and their popular own range of Extra Select wild bird food.

Wild bird food is a key category for garden centres and has seen an increase in customer engagement over the last six years through television programmes such as Garden Watch, Autumn and Spring Watch and events, such as the

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RSPB Garden Watch.

People are becoming increasingly aware of bird feeding seasons, with the importance of different types of food varieties and blends to attract different types of bird to their gardens. n addition ed in feeding has extended traditional selling periods to a nearly ‘all year round’ opportunity. A 3m bay instore range should feature nuts, blends, straight suets and fats in a variety of pack sizes and shapes to satisfy all customer buying requirements.

To help educate customers, you can make use point of sales items, such as posters, shelf barkers and FSDU stands to highlight seasonal goods and explain ‘when and why to feed peanut granules’.

This creates engagement, drives footfall and boosts impulse purchases.

Changing and updating instore displays on a regular basis provides a fresh and inviting look for customers. Eye-catching

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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displays help guide them through the purchasing process, by attracting their interest, educating them about products and providing support in the purchasing decision.

Due to customer demand Su-Bridge Pet Supplies has recently launched an additional range – Extra Select Nature – to complement its wild bird category. This includes hedgehog food, crumble mixes, swan and duck food and a squirrel food (new in 2019).

The business recommends to stock and feature the Extra Select Nature range instore as a subcategory to the wild bird product group.

Wild bird food still has a huge growth potential in the garden centre sector, as the category is worth more than £200 million with a clean 80/20 split on food to feeders*.

Garden centres deliver 19% peanuts, 22% blends (seed mixes etc), 11% straight seeds and only 37% of fat ball throughout the UK, with the current wild bird ranges supplied in small convenient size packing or large bulk with little option in between.

Because of this, in 2015, Extra Select launched a complete range of 5-litre buckets across all blends, straight seeds and nuts with huge success. This range of wild food in buckets is impactful and easy to display on store shelves. For the consumer it is simple to refill feeders and store as the buckets are both damp and vermin proof.

Su-Bridge Pet Supplies has a national sales team who can support garden centres with their Wild Bird range needs. The supplier can assist with recommending products, merchandising and offer point of sales support. Deliveries are serviced nationally via a third party courier with a minimum £500 order.

For further information please get in touch with national sales manager Lynne Hopwood on 07500905739 *PFMA sales report 2015 ◗

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 15:42

...from design to install For over 45 years Clovis have been working with their clients to make the most of their outside space, how can we help you?

A well placed canopy, or covered walkway, can transform your outside sales space from a seasonal to an all year round destination for your customers.

Call us today for a free no obligation quote on 01622 873907 www.clovis-canopies.co.uk info@clovis-canopies.co.uk

Give your customers a sustainable edge Eco edge decorative edging solutions for garden paths, lawns, flowerbeds and ponds.

Eco edge is: • Made from 100% recycled plastic • Fully recyclable • Resistant to oils, acids and salt water • Maintenance free • Rot resistant

• Weatherproof • Splinter free • Produced without toxic preservatives • Flexible • Easy to install

rolled

straight

fix

Designed for curved borders.

Perfect for straight borders.

Guaranteed high stability.

Depth: 7mm Height: 140mm Length: 10m and 25m

Depth: 10mm Height: 140mm Length: 2m

Length: 380mm

For more information on our exciting distributorship opportunities please contact us on become@rpc-bpi.com or give us a call on +44(0) 333 202 6800.

Spring Fair: Stand 20K10-L11 or contact us for our new catalogue:

Working towards a world where nothing goes to waste

www.classiccanes.co.uk

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Products O utdoor Pots

HOW TO SELL OUTDOOR POTS Scott Thomas and Humphrey Thomas of Ivyline GB share their tips on getting more from your pot sales

The outdoor pot market is a huge money spinner; the selection of planters available is similarly huge. So it is vital to be selective and suit your core customer.

This will vary enormously from, say, inner London, needing movable balcony planters to, say, Yorkshire stone houses, where salt glaze planters may rule.

Between these extremes, be selective – is your area primarily small houses needing 30–40cm planters with a “two for £X”, or grand moneyed properties where rather than price, something large and very individual matters, such as lead effect planters or urns.

To some customers the price is vital, and the large outdoor pot companies have many offers and selections, the most economical being earthenware in basic shapes and colours. A distinct point of differentiation comes with well-known licenced brands. Some customers will buy these because of the endorsement they carry, and will be happy to pay the extra price to et these perceived benefits.

Another way to increase sales of outdoor planters is to build bold displays of trend-driven products that catch customers’ imagination and stand out as different to the main run of earthenware

40

planters. These could well include the increasingly popular plain galvanised or rust-effect galvanised planters supplied by companies such as Ivyline. These come in many different sizes from small hanging planters to large planters for feature plants. Exceptionally popular is the

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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decorative milk churn, evoking memories of bygone days.

Creating a lot of interest for 2019 also, are good quality polyrattan planters with strong plastic liners. These are extremely effective for creating the cottage garden look. Choose a range that is made of quality material of at least 5mm thickness and that has colours to suit the houses in your area. Ivyline, for example, has a compact range for 2019 in natural and in grey rattan.

Old fashioned looking terracotta is also very on trend for kitchen gardens and herbs. This can be displayed with plants, potting benches and hand tools to gain added sales.

It is important to display planters with point of sale boards or banners showing customers how the planters can look in their homes, giving ideas of the plants that will work well for them. You need to visually inspire and educate the customer and promote linked sales. So have a supply of linked plants nearby, and how about a special price for pot and plant combined? Then also guide

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 15:26

O utdoor Pots Products

Agatha planter Fargro

RHS Starburst Apta

GEMMA Tekcnoplast

Ripon pot orks ir flow r o s

ffers year round e ibility • Perfect for promotions such as Mother’s Day • Plant to match the occasion • 40cm in diameter

• Endorsed by the RHS • 10-year frost-proof guarantee • UV stable • Designed alongside the RHS • Feature new starburst pattern derived from historical garden plans

• Designed and made in Italy • Moulds created by the best suppliers in the world • The rotomoulding technology ensures a higher quality • Offer elegance and versatility

• Made from robust Yorkshire natural red clay • Fired to temperatures over 1050°C • Freeze/thaw tested to -15°C • Guaranteed frost proof

RRP: £4.99 www.fargro.co.uk

RRP: From £9.99 www.apta.co.uk

RRP: From £27 www.monacis.it

RRP: £30.00 save 50% Now £15.00 www. orks ir flow r o s.co.uk

the customers to the growing media with clear recommendations as to what type of medium suits what application.

Wow your customers with creative themed displays. Create small patio or house front displays to get their imaginations going!

Covered areas are a great bonus for displaying outdoor planters, meaning the displays eep clean and do not fill ith water, encouraging sales even in poor or cold weather.

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outdoor pots.indd 41

You could also add an impulse buy pallet of planters for an offer price near the tills.

Another feature to look out for is a clear indication on the planters that they carry a guarantee, and how long that guarantee is. his helps build consumer confidence.

Last, but not least, you need to have a good web shop with a click and collect facility, ensuring you cash in on the ever growing move to online sales. www.ivylinegb.co.uk ◗

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 16:04

L a test Products I n door Pots

INDOOR POTS Nature Clay NL Capi

b. for Original Elho

• Insulating layer • UV-resistant • Fracture resistant • Lightweight • Recyclable

o need for e tra pottin soil ade from plastic so it can stand a ood deal of wear and tear Available in various si es and colours mi and match aterproof • The sleek design and combination of glossy rim and matt body create a playful effect

RRP rom www.capi-europe.com

RRP rom . bi www.elho.com

Green Tones Classic Pot The Pot Company Eco friendly bamboo fibre • Non-toxic • Recyclable • Durable • Dishwasher safe iode rade in landfill over years leavin no si n of synthetic aste or landfill footprint RRP £1.70 www.thepotco.com

Ashortwalk

s

r a

rou

er si es available

Planet Series Bergs Potter • From award-winning Danish designer Christian Buur Bangsgaard • Pots with modular structure, features layered rings of different si es • Clean Nordic design with a soft touch • Handmade in Italy RRP From £18 www.bergspotter.com

flow r o

A broad ran e to complement each other ade from recycled plastics • Durable and lightweight Available in three colours RRP . www.ashortwalk.com

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Latest Products Indoor pots.indd 42

www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 16:04

England

all you wish

for

business

Christmasworld makes your wishes come true. Discover the new trade fair concept with an even more diverse offer of seasonal and festive decorations, florist supplies and garden decorations!

We look forward to seeing you here. christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com will delight you as a marketplace for fresh flowers and ornamental plants.

DESIGNED IN DENMARK – h a n d m a d e w i t h l ove i n Tu s c a ny s i n c e 1 9 4 2 .

W W W. B E R G S P O T T E R . C O M

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info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

67898-014_CW_Gruene_Branche_Garden_Centre_Retail_91x240_SSP • FOGRA 39 • CMYK • mr: 21.09.2018

DU: 01.10.2018

Seasonal Decoration at its best 25. – 29. 1. 2019

10/12/2018 14:04

L a test Products S eeds

SEEDS Beebombs Beebombs Ltd

Fairy gardens G Plants Ltd

• Beebombs are native UK ild o er seedballs desi ned to help support pollinators of natural bee and butter y habitat has been lost in the UK since World War Two • Start to restore the lost ild o er habitat • Hand made in Dorset, Beebombs are a mix of 18 ritish ild o er seeds • Beebombs just need to be scattered onto cleared ground to create a ild o er meado

• A variety of seed packets with seeds specially selected to be easy for little fin ers to handle A colourful ran e of easy to ro o ers and vegetables • 4 colourful seed mixtures in easy to use seed shakers • Entertaining craft and seed growing kits that are ideal rainy-day activities • A selection of fairies and accessories to create your own magical fairy garden

RRP £7.99 www.beebombs.com

RRP £1.99–£9.99 www.gplants.com Sembra BIG Summer Salad ‘sow & grow your own’ kit Traditional Garden Games Ltd

Seedball tubes Project Maya

• Over 20 Sembra ‘sow and grow’ kits to suit the seasons • Kits for both adults and children • On trend product in line with HTA’s ‘Garden is good for you’ campaign and Glee 2019 ‘Happy Gardening’ theme • Alternative gift ideas for all ages • Easily merchandised, FSDU and product and lifestyle images available

• Previous winner of Garden Retail Award for Best New Growing Product (2017) • Collectable range of native pollinator friendly ild o er seeds in balls of clay peat-free compost and chilli powder – designed to naturally protect the seeds from predators until the plants are established. ncludes ee i utter y Mix, Urban Meadow, Poppy and Shade Mix • New 100% recycled card packaging, can be displayed on a shelf or on clip-strips, clear product description and instructions • Ideal for your customers to use in their own gardens or to give as a gift • Simply scatter on top of soil or compost (no digging required) and with sun and rain the seeds will germinate inside the balls

RRP £26.99 www.traditionalgardengames.com

Lettuce OutREDgeeous Suttons Seeds • A deep red lettuce, grown in the NASA Veg-01 experiment on the International Space Station • Ornamental variety • Grows well on a windowsill Easy to ro in lo or artificial li ht • Seed quantity: 200

RRP £4.99 www.seedball.co.uk

RRP £2.99 www.suttons.co.uk

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www.gardencentreretail.com

12/12/2018 15:11

S p ri n g F a i r G o & S ee

GO & SEE AT SPRING FAIR NEC BIRMINGHAM: 3–7 FEBRUARY Classic Canes

Village Candle

Walking stick specialists Classic Canes are exhibiting at their 30th consecutive Spring Fair. A wealth of new products will be on the family firm s stand includin this lamorous red poppy cane. Managing director Charlotte Gillan explains, “Folding and adjustable canes are always popular and convenient. We have commissioned a ne series celebratin ritish ild o ers including poppies, corn o ers and daisies. They make ideal presents and allow stick users to demonstrate their sense of style and individuality.” www.classiccanes.co.uk

Village Candle has been proudly making candles and home fragrance for more than 25 years. The company focuses on bringing the highest quality products to market while providing superior and personal service levels to retail partners. This is Village Candle’s second year at the show with its own brand booth. At the show, Village will feature the full range, new Spring fragrances and two exciting new lines: Soy-blend and a Fun Fantasy Fragrance collection. Giveaways include canvas branded bags, a new Petite ‘try me’ size candle and a Fragrance Bar experience, partnering with NYC-based fragrance house Drom. www.villagecandle.co.uk

IG Design Group

Kaemingk

IG Design Group is returning to the Spring Fair with its biggest and best stand ever in a new location. IG Design Group will be showcasing its Christmas ranges for 2020: Giftmaker and Tom Smith along with their everyday collections.

The wide range of products is ideal for garden centres, featuring innovative designs, quality and value for money.

Kaemingk will be showcasing four themes at Spring Fair this year, including all the seasonal gifts and Christmas decorations. They will also be introducing a new outdoor ran e of artificial trees, garlands and Christmas lighting.

This year, Kaemingk will have special offers on a number of items at the show and are looking forward to talking to you about them.

www.igdesigngroup.uk

www.kaemingk.com

Hall 20, Stand K10-L11

Hall 12, Stand F10-G11

Hall 5, Stand E40-D41

Stand C04-D05 and C31-D31

Apples to Pears Ltd

Hall 6, Stand L22-M23

Apples to Pears has been exhibiting at the Spring Fair for many years and is excited to reveal that it will be launching three new Gift in a Tin lines at the 2019 show. The Gift in a Tin range is the core of their business. Also new to Spring Fair, is the homeware range, BollyNice, a collection of wooden products made by artisans in India from natural materials and organic cotton fabrics screen printed by hand.

Customer service is at the forefront of the business, so Apples to Pears is looking forward to seeing familiar faces and catching up with customers, as well as meeting new, potential customers. www.applestopears.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

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TEMPORARY AND SEMI-PERMANENT STRUCTURES – A QUICK WAY TO MAXIMISE YOUR BUSINESS POTENTIAL. DESIGNED TO FIT AROUND YOUR EXISTING PREMISES

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IF EXPERIENCE, CAPABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY ARE VITAL TO YOU, YOU’D BE MUCH BETTER OFF LOOKING WORLDWIDE...

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12/12/2018 09:18

H a rroga te F a i r G o & S ee

GO & SEE AT HARROGATE CHRISTMAS & GIFT FAIR HARROGATE CONVENTION CENTRE: 13–16 JANUARY Allsorted

Floralsilk

Allsorted has been at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair for the past two years, and they’re back in 2019 showing gift books, original publications, stationery rotto boo s stoc in fillers and much more.

For over 10 years, Floralsilk has been exhibiting at Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair. This year will see the launch of Floralsilk’s Christmas Collection 2019. An extensive range of complementary festive tree trim ornaments fine wreaths and garlands, wintry foliage and authentic Christmas trees, all featured in eye-catching displays with a theme to suit every style.

Stand Q53

www.allsorteduk.com

Hall B, Stand B2/B9

www.floralsilk.co.uk

PMS International

RSW International Limited

PMS International will be at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair in January. Along with their core Snow White Christmas ran e of trees decorations soft toys and li htin you ll find the hugely popular Elves Behavin’ Badly – one of the fastest growing Christmas countdown phenomena, and consumer demand this year has exceeded expectations. www.pmsinternational.com

Known as one of the market leaders in Christmas crackers and paper products, RSW will be launching their innovative and exciting new collections for the year ahead at the Harrogate Christmas Gift Fair 2019. Suppliers of the bestselling Pass the Parcel Sprout, RSW will also be exhibiting extended new ranges of Christmas wrap, tags, and dining.

Xystos

Heyland and Whittle

The Cello home fragrance collection of candles, reed diffusers and accessories will lead the charge for one-stop shop Xystos with a raft of new products at Harrogate. The spring/summer launch sees the addition of three new scents, Ginger Fizz, Cucumber Spritz and Poppy Blush as well as wax medallions, scent cups, standard and hourglass reed diffusers and essential oils. www.xystostrade.co.uk

Back for a second year, candle and diffuser supplier Heyland and Whittle will be displaying luxury scented candles, exquisite gifts and room diffusers finest handmade soaps elegant home fragrances and luxurious bath and body collections. There may also be a hamper giveaway on their stand!

Stand B6

Stand D17

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Go & See harrogate.indd 47

Hall B Stand B14

www.rswint.co.uk

Stand Q9

www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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12/12/2018 15:16

New and second hand aluminium benching: Fixed, Semi rolling, mobile and sales benches.

VALEKA BV • Heliniumweg 14 • 3133 AX Vlaardingen, The Netherlands Tel: +31-10 599 74 02 • info@valeka.nl • www.valeka.nl

Download the FREE Garden Centre Retail app today

Advert template.indd 16

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Go to the App Store

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Choose and download your issue

10/12/2018 15:18

A z p ects Tra di n g W i th

Give us a brief outline of Azpects?

We provide over thirty products for establishing, cleaning and protecting hard landscaping. They range from our top-selling EASY Algae Remover to our EASY Joint paving compound and unique EASY Artificial Grass Cleaner & Deodoriser.

We began ten years ago in Suffolk with just one thing in mind, making hard landscaping EASY. We wanted to deliver a range of trade products which made life easier for professional landscapers, gardeners and builders.

We’ve grown at a rapid rate almost entirely through reputation. Our customers are very loyal and choose our products again and again because of the results they deliver.

TRADING WITH

AZPECTS Garden Centre Retail speaks with Ben Wright about the company’s strategy, products and how they assist garden centres

What makes your brand different?

As well as ease and effectiveness, we pride ourselves on our range. Our cleaning and protection products can be used effectively across many surfaces and we have a wide range of specific products that are perfect for common challenges.

Our products are acid-free, biodegradable and any excess simply washes away with water.

Driven by demand, we’ve taken ten of our most popular and most recent products and packaged them in three handy sizes for garden centres and their customers. The same powerful and safe products that trade people rely on are now easily available for everyone.

Today’s garden-proud Brits are increasingly investing in quality surfaces like natural stone and porcelain, which they want to keep looking great. With Azpects EASYCare, retailers can provide a complete range of care solutions from a single supplier.

What are the lead times for a garden centres ordering your products?

As we’re used to delivering

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Trading With Azpects.indd 49

a steady supply to builders’ merchants and other trade stockists, we can typically provide products within just five days and the minimum order is only £150. Our entire range is available now to stock in February and March ready for the new season.

What support are you offering garden centres?

We’ve created a mobile-free standing display unit which really catches customers’ eyes and helps sell the products and their benefits.

Many Garden Centres don’t currently give focus to outdoor care products but every customer will likely have at least one garden problem solved with our EASY solutions.

For a small investment, stockists can simply unwrap and pallet truck a fully stocked display unit into position.

We can also support new stockists with product launches and demonstration events. If staff need help, we’re always happy to advise.

We’re embarking on a national promotional campaign which is further driving demand to our stockists across the UK.

Why should garden centres buy products from Azpects?

Our great range of products solve so many common challenges and deliver the excellent results customers value most. Unique products like our innovative Grass & Foliage Greener, which gives brown lawns and leaves an instant burst of colour, really draw customers in and encourage them to explore the entire EASYCare range.

We have a very loyal following amongst professionals and customers of our new consumer range.

It’s ideal for garden centres who want happy and loyal customers.

CONTACT To stock the EASYCare range, contact Ben on 01473 760777 or email b.wright@azpects. co.uk. For more information, visits azpects.co.uk.

Garden Centre Retail December 2018/January 2019

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13/12/2018 11:16

Products VegTrug

VEGTRUG

GROW CARE POT

Blue V Flashing: needs water Flashing three times: too much water

Yellow V Flashing: needs fertiliser Flashing three times: too much fertiliser

Green V Lighting: full battery Flashing: charging Flashing twice: connecting to internet

Red V Flashing: low battery

Sensors Built in sensors monitor plant’s condition

USB Port Socket connects pot to power

The Grow Care pot from VegTrug detects soil moisture and fertility via built-in sensors in real time.

The system comes with a downloadable smartphone app. The app gives helpful advice on how to grow a whole range of plants. More than 6,000 are currently listed in the Grow Care app.

The app, connected to the inbuilt sensors within the pot, monitors the plant in real time. It tells whether there is enough sunlight, the best time to apply water and whether the plant needs fertiliser.

RRP: ÂŁ54.99 www.vegtrug.com

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www.gardencentreretail.com

03/01/2019 11:47

HARROGATE Christmas & Gift

13th to 16th January 2019

The UK’s favourite trade show!

Home & gardenware, toys, cards & stationery, artificial flowers, food, gifts for every occasion and absolutely everything Christmas!

Free admittance for all trade visitors register online today www.harrogatefair.com

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10/12/2018 11:39