Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017

Garden Centre Retail Issue 29 • January/February 2017

PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

THE INTERVIEW

ROSEBOURNE’S NEVILLE PREST

WHY IT’S TIME TO TAILOR YOUR OFFER

CLIMATE CHANGE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR UK PLANT LIFE? SPLASHING OUT

KEEP MOVING

RISKY BUSINESS

p19

p21

p24

Know when to invest

Front Cover_various rosebourne.indd 1

Modular kitchens come of age

Ticking health & safety boxes

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welcome

WELCOME TO...

Garden Centre Retail W

elcome to the first issue of Garden Centre Retail 2017.

Christmas has come and gone, the weather hasn’t been great and money is tight, so I think you can be forgiven if you can’t wait to see the back of January. As it happens, I’m writing this on Monday 16 January, known as Blue Monday – the most depressing day of the year. We hope our issue will lighten your mood, it’s full of informative and inspirational content, each article created with the aim to improve your business.

One topic that we do much to cover is catering. No doubt about it, it’s one of the most important areas of the modern garden centre and those without a food offering are in danger of being left behind. PKL Group, the Gloucestershire-based creator of modular kitchens, offers some advice to those centres without a catering option. The temporary modular kitchens PKL Group offer are a fantastic opportunity for those undecided as to whether to implement a permanent kitchen, as they can look into temporary, flexible options. It may be worth thinking about trying a kitchen out before deciding to go permanent, and there is no time like the present.

Also in this issue, Tim Mason of development support agency Sea Pop Ltd takes time to explain to readers when he feels is a good time to invest in your business. Tim explains that customer loyalty is at an absolute premium these days – if they find a better or more comfortable environment in which to shop and spend money, they will. Tim believes it is paramount to keep circulating profits back into your centre to remain current in an ultracompetitive market.

Enjoy your read. Have a great month.

Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Publisher Garden Centre Retail

No doubt about it, catering is one of the most important areas of the modern garden centre

Joe and the GCR team

Garden Centre Retail www.gardencentreretail.com

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EDITORIAL Publisher – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 577 Editorial Assistant – Ash O’Mahony ash.omahony@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 585 Production Editor – Susie Duff susie.duff@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 Subeditor – Charlie Cook charlotte.cook@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 578 ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 588 Sales Manager – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 584 Sales Executive – Tina Savelle tina.savelle@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 582 Horticulture Careers – Liam Colclough Tel: 01903 777 574 liam.colclough@eljays44.com PRODUCTION Design – Fay Pritchard, Kara Thomas, Mandy Armstrong Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd MANAGEMENT Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson Director – Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Client relations – Amber Bernabe amber.bernabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 581 Subscription enquiries – Emily Maltby emily.maltby@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 575

@GardenRetailUK Garden Centre Retail

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Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017

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contents

CONTENTS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017

NEWS

FEATURES

06 AGENDA

Should the HTA and GCA merge?

08 NEWS

13 THE INTERVIEW

Neville Prest, managing director, Rosebourne

17 GRIEVANCES

A roundup of the latest news from the sector

Gemma Murphy offers advice on how to deal with grievances

10 NEWS EXTRA

Ongoing changes to sites and staff at Klondyke

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19 WHEN TO INVEST

How to choose the right time to invest in your centre and what to consider

21 MODULAR KITCHENS

Alternatives to traditional built-in kitchens and how they can benefit you

24 HEALTH & SAFETY

Avoid heavy fines by keeping up to date with health and safety regulations

27 PAVING

PRODUCTS 35 PRODUCT NEWS

This month’s news from the suppliers

37 LABELLING

GIMA members are helping to improve labelling on Christmas products

39 LATEST PRODUCTS

Lighting, paving, pet food and general pet products

42 GO & SEE: SPRING FAIR

Which exhibitors to visit this year

47 GO & SEE: PATS

Our pick of companies at PATS Sandown 20017

49 ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT

Campingaz Master 4 Series Classic SBS

GCR finds out how two garden centre figures choose how to stock paving

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28 CLIMATE CHANGE

Could a changing climate in the UK affect how plants are sold in the future?

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30 IMPULSE SALES

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The importance of visual merchandising and the impulse barriers to look out for

32 SELLING LIVESTOCK

We look into the debate about whether pet departments should sell livestock

www.gardencentreretail.com

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16/01/2017 14:41

news Agenda

HTA & GCA MERGE? SHOULD THE

Iain Wylie Chief executive, Garden Centre Association

Tammy Falloon Company director, St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centres

Mike Burks Managing director, The Gardens Group

Jill Nicholson Company secretary, Gordale Garden and Home Centre

I genuinely believe it is not in the best interests of the two associations, and more importantly the members, to merge. It should be remembered that all GCA members are already members of the HTA. The HTA and GCA are different, but complement each other extremely well. They work together and collaborate on a number of initiatives already, most recently you will have seen that GCA GROW is now available to non-GCA, HTA members, for example.

The GCA is a ‘specialist’ association for garden centres and thrives through networking between like-minded people with similar businesses, facing similar issues, whereas the HTA has a broader membership from across the horticulture sector. The HTA provides industry-wide services such as gift vouchers, plant health monitoring and lobbying and the GCA provides input into activities where appropriate.

The GCA has an independent annual inspection for all its members which is a useful business tool for garden centre retailers, as well as being a condition of membership. The best situation is one where both exist as separate entities, but continue to collaborate and maintain a close, friendly, working relationship.

Yes, I think the GCA should merge with the HTA. We (St Bridget Nurseries) used to belong to both organisations but we left the GCA several years ago as I questioned the benefits we were getting for the fee. It struck me that there is a lot of overlap between the two organisations and arguably we were double paying. When it came down to it we felt that the HTA was better aligned with our needs and so we stuck with them. My perception is that the two organisations do still overlap and if they joined forces I am certain that there would be benefits, not least when representing the industry legally and politically.

The roles and responsibilities of each organisation are blurred. The HTA has acknowledged that a lot of its members are independent garden centres and are trying to cater for their needs as reflected by their training and conference programmes. The one thing I miss about being a member of the GCA is the annual inspection, a great benchmarking tool and tool for improving your customer offerings. If the HTA’s retail business improvement scheme piggy backed onto the GCA’s summer workshops, I think it would be an instant success.”

In short, no. The two organisations have different aims and focus, but work closely together. All members of the GCA have to be members of the HTA. GCA members have an annual inspection and membership is only possible if the inspection is passed.

The GCA concentrates on garden centres, and through its networking, conference, area meetings, competitions and inspections has driven innovation and accelerated the quality of garden centres. The two organisations work closely, for example GROW, the online elearning package, has been designed, built and paid for by GCA members and can now be accessed by HTA members by subscription.

The HTA has a much broader membership including DIY multiples, whereas GCA members are from independents and groups. The HTA also has a broader remit including help with lobbying, its gift token scheme and other industry-wide issues. The relationship works well.

Whilst we can see benefits on cost savings with a merger, the GCA does really represent a specific part of the horticultural industry and as such should have its own body to represent it.

Garden centres and nurseries are very different and if the garden centre inspections, conferences and competitions, which are a crucial part of GCA membership, are still going to be run it seems pointless that the two should join.

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The HTA has an important role as the umbrella organisation representing the entire horticultural industry, working on policy, political issues and other whole industry projects www.gardencentreretail.com

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Agenda news

Juliet Taylor Joint managing director, Avant Garden Centre

Philip Gass Director, Creative Gardens Ltd

Peter Burks Manager, Fermoy’s Garden Centre

Speaking from the view of a small garden centre and member of the HTA, I would welcome the move to merge the GCA and HTA. We first started up almost 20 years ago, and in the first five years were informed we were too small to join the GCA. We joined the HTA as the next best alternative, and to provide customers with access to the National Garden Gift Voucher scheme.

But of course, the clue is in the name. We are more retailers than horticulturalists.

Although our offering is still largely plant based, as with most garden centres, we have evolved our business model to include a busy cafe (the heart of the garden centre) and an extremely popular gift area.

I do like to appreciate other aspects of the supply chain, which is one of the benefits of being an HTA member, but find many aspects of our trade association’s discussions do not directly involve us and our business. Having said that, the HTA’s Garden Market Analysis Reports are most interesting – particularly those analysing market trends, future activities and marketing. We find these are very relevant to us, as is any interview with Alan Roper – I could listen to his opinions every day of the week!

Whilst there may be a considerable overlap between the HTA and the GCA, the Horticultural Trades Association tends to span a more diverse range of businesses ranging from vegetable growers to garden centres and everything in between. The Garden Centre Association is more specifically concerned with the operations of the garden centre and with that brings together a lot of people with very similar businesses – this, I believe to be one of the most valuable aspects of the association.

The HTA does a huge amount of valuable work for the industry as a whole, and offers members a super knowledge base to avail of as part of the membership fee.

To combine the two, in my opinion wouldn’t really add any particular advantage. I think the most important thing is that the two work closely together to avoid overlapping on what they do, and to make sure that they, between them, offer their members the range of support that they need, when there becomes too much of an overlap businesses may look at one as an unnecessary cost.

The HTA has an important role as the umbrella organisation representing the entire horticultural industry, working on policy, political issues and other whole industry projects.

They have the staff, focus, time and experience to do this very professionally and I feel this is their role.

The GCA is very much about the retail part of horticulture, leading developments and discussions at the coalface with businesses that are constantly looking to evolve and improve.

Dealing with the minutiae and constant changes on the shop floor needs to be done by a team in close touch with this, who understand the ebb and flow of retail business.

They must be able to help its members respond positively to these with a confident platform for sharing best practice and good ideas, helping others to resolve problems and also judging them on how they are doing to produce better businesses. This confidence to help each other then produces a cameraderie which leads to the ability to tackle larger issues and collaborate on common requirements such as the elearning platform GROW. I do not think that the organisations should merge at present but they must continue to work closely together.

www.gardencentreretail.com

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The one thing I miss about being a member of the GCA is the annual inspection, a great benchmarking tool and tool for improving your customer offerings

Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017

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16/01/2017 14:59

news

NEWS CENTRE New Cesab ranges deliver garden centre power boost

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esab has launched the new Cesab P113 powered pallet truck, Cesab S110 and S110S stacker ranges with higher productivity, improved ergonomics and better safety at the heart of their design.

Designed for moving loads over 200kg, the Cesab range can help to reduce manual handling injuries in garden centres, where musculoskeletal injuries are a common cause of non-fatal injuries and illnesses. Manually lifting and carrying heavier loads is one of the main causes of these types of injuries.

Productivity is further enhanced through extended battery life and features designed to reduce energy consumption. These include automatic shut off and deep sleep modes which ensure zero energy usage when the truck is not in use. www.cesab-forklifts.co.uk

Phil Burgoyne joins Garland Products/Worth Gardening

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arland Products/Worth Gardening is delighted to welcome Phil Burgoyne to the management team as its new south east and key accounts manager. He will be working alongside sales director Mark Dedman to build on the rapid expansion experienced by the company. Phil brings with him a wealth of knowledge having been in the trade for 35 years, holding a number of top management positions within garden centres.

Mark Dedman said: “Phil has a broad product knowledge and understands the needs of today’s garden centres. We are sure that he will help us to continue our drive forward.” www.garlandproducts.com

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GCA Conference: Is ‘the extraordinary often surprisingly normal’?

arden centre owners, managers and teams attending the 51st Garden Centre Association (GCA) annual conference this month (January 2017) will be challenged to become more creative to cultivate a competitive edge.

Throwing down the gauntlet is Professor Gareth Jones, an expert in business culture and creativity, who will be presenting to delegates on Tuesday, January 24.

Chief executive of the GCA Iain Wylie commented: “We pick our conference speakers with a view to giving our delegates some thought provoking ideas to go away

with. The business climate can be challenging and it’s important that we provide inspiring and stimulating speakers that help our members reach their business goals, and sometimes this is all about going for the unexpected.

“Throughout the conference, 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, and we still have places available to anyone interested in coming along.” www.gca.org.uk

British Retail Consortium reports shop prices showing first signs of upward trend

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elen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said: “December saw an easing of shop price deflation. Prices were down 1.4% compared to last year, but the majority of the categories we monitor, particularly non-food, saw month-on-month increases in prices, with clothing and footwear seeing month-onmonth inflation for the first time in nearly two years.

“We’ve said for some time that we expect to see underlying inflationary pressures, notably from the post-referendum fall in the value of the pound, feed through into shop prices.

It’s too early to confirm that this is what we’re seeing in December’s figures: timings of seasonal discounts can cause monthly fluctuations at

this time of year and retailers have continued to find ways to mitigate the impact on consumers.

“However, we expect the general trend in inflation to be upwards over 2017. The magnitude of the exchange rate movement and commodity price rises combined with the increasing costs of doing business means that retailers will have little choice other than to pass on some of these rising costs into prices, but effect will be lessened by the intensity of competition.” brc.org.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

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news

New £700,000 ‘colleague facility’ unveiled at Bents

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ents Garden & Home in Glazebury, Cheshire, has celebrated the start of 2017 with the opening of its new £700,000 colleague facility; making its back of house operations as high quality as its customer facing store.

Bents, which remains a family-owned and run business, now employs over 300 colleagues whose previous facilities and offices were housed in a number of portable cabins. The new

facilities are located above the centre’s £10m phase 2 development and include a combination of new office space and colleague amenities.

Matthew Bent, managing director at Bents Garden & Home said: “Over the past few years we have invested a lot of time and money, creating the ultimate garden, home and leisure destination for our customers with new departments and dining areas, but now that these have become more established we have been able to focus on our colleagues and work with them to create this fantastic new space.” www.bents.co.uk

Notcutts celebrates 120 years of glorious gardening

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otcutts, the family-owned garden centre business, will be marking its 120th anniversary this year, after opening as a nursery in 1897.

Originally founded

by Roger Crompton Notcutt in Woodbridge, Suffolk as a small nursery and town centre shop, the company has gone from strength to strength, and currently employs 1,300 staff at 18 garden centres across the UK with an annual turnover of £70m.

Vice chairman Caroline Notcutt said: “120 years is such a wonderful milestone and it’s

fantastic to see how Notcutts has grown and developed since my great-grandfather established it in 1897. More than anything a passion for gardening has always been at the heart of the company and I’m so proud that our values of passion, inspiration and expertise still shine through today. We have big and exciting plans going forward so here’s to another fantastic 120 years!”

Notcutts is currently implementing a five-year investment plan to update and reposition its garden centres within their respective markets. www.notcutts.co.uk

Plans to demolish garden centre and rebuild as ‘Victorian Palm House’

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lans to demolish and rebuild Fermoy’s Garden Centre in the style of Victorian Palm Houses have been proposed.

The Blue Diamond Group has submitted plans to Teignbridge Council to redevelop the garden centre in Ipplepen, South Devon.

The planning application says the existing garden centre has grown to its current shape and size over the past 40 years and the transformation of the site would see the current store be 25% bigger and would have improved layout for customers and a new car and coach parking area.

Outline permission has previously been granted for the demolition and the rebuild, but now, information about the details for the layout, the scale, landscaping and appearance of the new site have been revealed.

The garden centre will be relocated within the existing

John Cook appointed as new head chef at Stewarts Garden Centre restaurant

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tewarts Garden Centre Restaurant and Coffee shop at Broomhill, near Wimborne has appointed John

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Cook as their new head chef.

With over 40 years’ experience, John, a Liverpudlian, will help to prepare the kitchen team

of four to meet the changes announced regarding the new extension to the centre that has been granted planning permission. He will draw on his vast experience gained from hotel groups including Holiday Inns and the Thistle Hotel on Poole Quay and contract catering including British Aerospace.

Howard Arnold, catering manager at Stewarts, said that John Cook will ensure that the quality of food produced by the team will be of a

site and the current centre will remain open while the building of the new centre is constructed. www.bluediamond.gg consistently high standard: “John has joined us at Stewarts at an important stage in our development. We aim to create a more intimate, friendly and interesting destination for anyone keen on horticulture and to offer some convenience for supplies to local people.” www.stewarts.co.uk

Submit your news stories to Garden Centre Retail If you would like to submit any stories regarding garden centres or the horticultural industry, please email them to joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017 9

16/01/2017 15:02

news Extra

ALL CHANGE AT

KLONDYKE The New Year brings with it some big changes for Klondyke Garden Centre group, with plans for redevelopment as well as a new chief executive, executive chairman and group president

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fter over 26 years in the industry and a decade as chief executive at Klondyke, Bob Hewitt’s role changes hands to current group operations director David Yardley in January 2017, with Bob moving to executive chairman of the company. Previous chairman Dorothy Gault will be group president.

Despite a difficult year for plant and garden sales – which the company has attributed

to poor weather conditions – Klondyke’s catering turnover in 2016 soared. Its focus on quality in restaurant facilities can be seen in the new Garforth centre, which includes a 220-seat restaurant with an in-house pastry chef, local produce and an enhanced counter design. Opening in September 2016 after the previous Savilles centre site was demolished two years prior, Garforth leads the way for future Klondyke centres

Left to right: Klondyke executive directors David Yardley, Sharon Allan and David Abbott with Bob Hewitt

with its new fixtures and fittings, floor coverings and plant area concept – all of which, David Yardley states, will be replicated in future centre redevelopments.

Catering has been a key point in Klondyke’s refurbishment strategy for several years, with numerous centres having their restaurant areas extended and remodelled with better presentation of food and larger seating areas.

Restaurant and kitchen facilities have been created, updated or expanded in keeping with its new design concept, which will be continued in each of its upcoming projects 10

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Catering has been a key point in Klondyke’s refurbishment strategy for several years Over the past five years Klondyke has invested in refurbishing or expanding nine of its centres, including Northallerton, Kelso and Wilmslow, which was rebuilt and reopened in October 2012 following a fire that largely destroyed it. Within each centre, Klondyke’s investments have ensured restaurant and kitchen facilities have been created, updated or expanded in keeping with its new design concept, which will be continued in each of its upcoming projects.

Next for the group will be a refitting of the Daleside centre in North Wales, with the plant area being modelled on the new design at Garforth.

Following this will be a sizeable redevelopment in June 2017 of the Mortonhall centre in Edinburgh, which will see its shop double in size, with a brand new restaurant and new plant area layout, which aims to be completed by Spring 2018. After Mortonhall, Klondyke has plans for major extensions in both the head office centre in Falkirk and the Weavervale centre in Northwich. ◗

www.gardencentreretail.com

17/01/2017 09:22

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16/01/2017 11:12

The interview features

You have to be able to give a high level of customer service to keep people coming back

FOUR CORE AREAS FOR ROSEBOURNE 1 Horticulture 2 Locally sourced produce 3 Table service restaurant 4 Gifts

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NEVILLE PREST MANAGING DIRECTOR, ROSEBOURNE

According to managing director Neville Prest, Rosebourne garden centre in Weyhill is ‘unlike any other in the country’.

And he has four good reasons why...

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eville Prest claims that Rosebourne is the first garden centre of its kind. Its unique layout focuses on four key areas – locally sourced produce, a table service restaurant, horticulture and gifts – and its official opening in October last year in Weyhill, on the Hampshire and Wiltshire border, boasted free tastings, cars showcased from Thruxton Motorsport Centre and gardening tips from celebrity gardener David Domoney.

With 15 years in the industry, Neville leads a team including Charles Good, Jon Kitching and Salim Sajid, who between them have è opened over 22 garden

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17/01/2017 08:56

features The interview

We feel that people don’t want the ‘Tesco Extra’ approach, where anything and everything is available centres. A product of the teams’ collective experience, Rosebourne looks set for success, and Neville states this is just the beginning, with the team already on the lookout for the next site.

What made you want to take on Roseborne?

I've been in the business for about 15 years – in fact most of the team here have worked in the garden centre industry for a long time. Three of our members previously worked at Blooms; Charles was the chairman, Jon was chief executive and Salim was operations director. They left when Blooms was sold to Wyevale in 2007. I previously worked with Garden and Leisure Group; we had seven big destination centres and were sold to Wyevale in 2013, which is when I left.

When Jon left Blooms he set up Beckworth Emporium in Northamptonshire with a partner David, which has done very well. It’s a completely different model to the usual garden centre, and we've based Rosebourne on this: it revolves around local produce, a table service restaurant, horticulture and gift/Christmas offerings.

Whereas other garden centres may have a pets and aquatics or crafts section, Rosebourne will stay focused on those four key areas, which we call our fresh approach. That’s what makes Rosebourne unlike any other garden centre in the country – you may find each of our four elements in other centres, but there isn't one that incorporates all four into one offering.

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What’s your background?

I was managing director of Garden and Leisure Group, and worked there for 15 years.

Originally I was an accountant, but I moved on to become finance director and later managing director of Garden and Leisure Group. I left three years ago, put together a team and started working on Rosebourne.

Why did you pick this location for Rosebourne?

We were looking all over the south of England for a centre to create Rosebourne – in fact we’re still looking for sites in the south to build our next centres. We were – and are – looking for at least five acres, ideally with planning permission for a garden centre. This site was closed when we found it and was exactly what we were looking for, so we made an offer and set about redeveloping.

The design is taken from everything Beckworth has learned and developed over the last seven years, which has been led by Jon, a shareholder and director at Rosebourne alongside his work at Beckworth.

How long did it take for Rosebourne to be built and opened?

I've been working on Rosebourne for three years.

This being our team’s first centre, it will always take longer than those following it.

Planning permissions take at least six months, and building and structural redevelopment takes a further nine to 12 months. In terms of setting up suppliers and building design

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The restaurant is table service

Recruitment open days helped find staff

Local produce is a core focus

The 4.5acre site employs 50 full-time staff

Customers range from pensioners to families

www.gardencentreretail.com

17/01/2017 08:57

The interview features

From our Beckworth experience the team knows the importance of making the centre a destination we've done all the work now at Rosebourne; on future sites we would be looking to replicate this model as much as possible which will save a lot of time.

What kind of customer base are you hoping for?

We’re aiming for a wide demographic. Our customer base should be fairly varied from pensioners to young people with families, and the restaurant in particular should be a big draw for a lot of people. From our Beckworth experience the team knows the importance of making the centre a destination – somewhere for people to meet, have something to eat and a chat, maybe do a bit of shopping. Seventy-five per cent of our customers are ladies looking to have some lunch and do some food or gift shopping, and we’ve made sure we cater for this.

The team understands the importance of making the centre a destination

Gifts are another key area

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Horticulture is at the heart of the centre’s offering

What makes a garden centre successful?

I think you've got to have the right concept, and be able to deliver that in terms of the environment, the produce and most importantly the staff.

You have to be able to give a high level of customer service to keep people coming back.

I also think you should make sure that you've tailored your offer to give people what they want. All of the people involved in this project have a lot of experience – we’ve created destination garden centres that offer huge ranges of departments, concessions and products.

But we feel that people don't want the ‘Tesco Extra’

approach, where anything and everything is available, and we’ve learned that people want their garden centres to be part of the local community. A big part of that is stocking local produce.

That’s our philosophy, and why we expect to succeed with Rosebourne.

Have you found staffing difficult?

We’ve kept our staff to those with backgrounds relevant to their particular departments; for example, all our horticulture staff and butchers have experience within their industry. We’ve been very lucky and pleasantly surprised at the interest we’ve had in our staff vacancies; we held two recruitment open days and had over 250 people attend. From that we’ve built a fantastic team. We’re very pleased with the way it's gone.

What have you learnt through the experience of opening Rosebourne?

It’s not as easy as it may seem! Everyone in our team has so much experience – I’ve opened seven garden centres and Jon’s opened about 15, and it’s still taken three years and a huge amount of work to get everything organised.

A garden centre takes a great deal of commitment, time and effort. ◗ CONTACT Rosebourne, Amesbury Road, Weyhill, Andover SP11 8ED 01264 771 714 www.rosebourne.co.uk

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17/01/2017 08:58

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Vintage

FOUR SEASONS

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16/01/2017 16/12/2016 11:13 16:15

WHEN TO INVEST

Investments features

GCR magazine speaks to Tim Mason, director and co-owner of business development support agency Sea Pop Ltd, about why and when you should invest in your garden centre to remain current in a competitive market

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First impressions count

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nvestment in a garden centre makes your business more robust,” explains Tim. “In any sort of retail you’re in for a great deal of competition – for garden centres you’re not only competing with other centres but with other retailers, cinemas and any other leisure activities your customers may choose instead of visiting your centre. You’re also in competition with the online world, so the more attractive and enjoyable you make your retail environment, the more likely your customers are to visit. In order to remain an attractive, up to date retail environment, garden centres will need to prioritise investing periodically in refurbishments and expansions as their business evolves.”

Keeping your centre looking fresh and attractive doesn’t necessarily mean investments have to be made very often, Tim adds: “Some retailers are very good at doing the occasional refurbishment, to a high standard and which lasts a long time.” However, Tim warns, if a garden centre has too long a gap between redevelopments or refurbishments, they risk losing customers: “If your garden

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centre looks shabby, you risk slipping to your customers’ second or third choice.

Shoppers are polygamous, and will go elsewhere if they find a better or more comfortable retail environment.”

Tim’s advice to garden centre owners looking for indicators that their centre could use a refurb or expansion is to start looking at how much space is used up in each department, and compare this to the department’s turnover.

“An imbalance in the way that the centre’s categories are performing is a key indicator that an improvement can be made,” states Tim. “It’s not uncommon to see a garden centre that has what appears to be too much space for a department. If centres take a look at their figures and think outside the box, the majority could free up space for a different department or concession. Adding a new department is an easy way to grow a garden centre’s turnover, and a lot of centres could reduce the space of their existing categories without damaging turnover. It’s all about considering the best use of space and having good organisation.”

Expansion from this...

...to this

Shoppers are polygamous, and will go elsewhere if they find a better or more comfortable retail environment With any investment, a detailed plan and budget is critical, says Tim: “Creating a medium term plan that you and your team believe in is crucial; it will help your team remain focused and maximise the likelihood of success. Investing in a project will mean paying for the development before seeing the benefits from it, so having a detailed plan is key.

Investments are low risk if a business has made sure that they’ve planned, budgeted and thought the development through completely.”

Finally, garden centre owners should be confident in their choice to invest and that it takes place at the right time for their business before they begin a project, concludes Tim: “Knowing when to invest is an important skill to have – no business should be spending money just for the sake of it.” ◗

Keep catering areas fresh

CONTACT

Tim Mason is director and co-owner of Sea Pop Ltd. www.seapop.co.uk

Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017

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17/01/2017 09:39

features Human resources

FOCUSING ON

GRIEVANCES Gemma Murphy continues her series on HR. This month: what to do when a grievance is raised

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rievances are an inevitable part of employing staff, and whilst they can be seen as a pain by some managers, they do allow a business to nip concerns, problems or complaints in the bud before they grow into something much bigger and more time consuming.

Need for speed Employees should be encouraged to raise grievances as early as possible, but informally in the first instance.

Whether it be an allegation of bullying by a manager, a difficult relationship with a colleague, working conditions, or some other complaint, employers and line managers should look into issues as quickly as possible before the need for a formal procedure arises. It’s important for both employer and employee to approach a grievance with an open mind and avoid a hostile or unreasonable attitude.

Dealing with a formal grievance will involve a fair and objective investigation, often prior to any meeting. However, if any part of the grievance is unclear and requires clarification, it’s good practice to hold an initial meeting in order to clarify the issues.

Grievances can sometimes be lengthy, as aggrieved employees can use their grievance letter to simply air all frustrations and it can often be difficult to see the wood for the trees. In this instance, it’s beneficial for the employer to try and clarify the precise issues with the employee and focus

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their concerns, which will make the investigation process go more smoothly.

Bang to rights Employees have the right to be accompanied at any formal grievance meeting by a colleague or union representative. There is no specific right to be accompanied for anyone being interviewed as a witness as part of a grievance, but employers may consider allowing this.

The outcome of a grievance can often be disciplinary proceedings, for example, if allegations of bullying have been upheld. Employers must remember not to jump to the conclusion of disciplining alleged perpetrators until the grievance has been objectively investigated and an outcome reached.

Delay tactics Employees also have the right to appeal a grievance decision, ideally to someone more senior, but in any event someone independent.

It’s common for employees to raise grievances part-way through a disciplinary process in an attempt to stop or delay a disciplinary decision being made. There is no hard and fast rule for concurrent disciplinary and grievance processes anymore, and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures (ACAS Code) allows for a disciplinary process to be temporarily suspended when a grievance is raised, as well as dealing with both issues

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It’s important for both employer and employee to approach a grievance with an open mind and avoid a hostile or unreasonable attitude concurrently if they are related.

It will, therefore, be down to the employer to consider the most appropriate way of dealing with such matters, depending on the particular facts.

Likewise, an unfounded grievance could become a disciplinary matter if the employee has been dishonest or raised it maliciously.

Since the introduction of protected conversations in 2013, grievances have become more common as a tactic to prompt settlement discussions or gain additional leverage in existing discussions. Even if settlement discussions are taking place in the background, employers should still consider continuing with a grievance investigation or procedure, just in case a settlement cannot be negotiated as it will be very difficult to explain the delay in dealing with the grievance to a tribunal.

Regarding resources In smaller businesses or cases where a grievance involves senior staff, it can be difficult to find someone appropriate to deal with investigations and meetings, especially if an appeal is also submitted. As with disciplinary procedures, it is open to a business to branch out and use resources within associated companies and/or bring in external consultants to deal with grievances. Certainly, this can support an employer in showing that a grievance has been dealt with fairly and appropriately. ◗ CONTACT

View HR is an HR and employment law consultancy, providing businesses with specialist guidance and independent support.

07496 308 540 info@viewhr.co.uk www.viewhr.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

17/01/2017 09:44

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.

The strong, sturdy design allows your smallest customers to feel safe and the chair pushes up to the table to create a relaxed family mealtime.

The Breeze high chair is manufactured in the U.K.

by Magrini.

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16/01/2017 11:28

Canopies, walkways and inspiring buildings designed around you With over 50 years experience, Fordingbridge are passionate about helping garden centres transform their retail offerings to increase commercial potential and enhance the customer journey.

03300 373 933 www.fordingbridge.co.uk info@fordingbridge.co.uk

We provide the in-house expertise and understanding to provide you with inspiring, durable and proven solutions.

Call us today to discover how we can work together.

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16/01/2017 11:30

Modular kitchens features

KITCHENS MODULAR

GCR speaks to Lee Vines, managing director of PKL Group, to discuss alternative options to traditional built-in kitchens and how modular kitchens can benefit garden centres

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o the modern garden centre, a café or restaurant has become an important commodity.

Whilst in the past a garden centre’s revenue would be derived primarily from its plant and gardening sales, the ongoing and significant expansion of this industry means a garden centre can now encompass any number of different departments and concessions.

Though a number of centres choose to stay with traditional offerings and focus on plants, most if not all provide or are looking to provide a café or restaurant.

With these establishments drawing in significant revenue, it’s important for owners to make the right choices in their kitchen facilities.

So, what are modular kitchens? Lee explains: “Modular kitchens are units that are built off-site, so there are no disruptions to the business. They’re easier and quicker to put in place than built-in kitchens, arrive fully finished and are completely relocatable.”

On the move The ability to relocate a modular kitchen can be hugely advantageous for garden centres, continues Lee: “This means if you want to move your kitchen from one area to another – for an event, for example, or a remodelling of the centre – this could be done quickly and easily. Realistically most units can be moved

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within a day, depending on size and distance.”

On the main source of demand for temporary modular kitchens in garden centres, Lee states: “Typically our temporary units are used during a kitchen refurbishment in a centre, an event or an emergency where for whatever a reason the previous kitchen is unusable.”

Flexible fi t On the benefits of a modular kitchen over traditional fitted kitchens in garden centres, Lee asserts that flexibility is paramount: “If you're looking to try a summer kitchen, for example, in a certain part of your garden centre and you find it doesn’t work for whatever reason, you can always move the kitchen to another part of the centre, or even to another site if you're a group.”

Time is money Another significant plus for modular kitchens is confidence in a completion date, states Lee: “As the kitchen is built off-site production isn't slowed down by things like weather conditions. The option of either purchasing or hiring is a big pro of modular kitchens for garden centres.”

Trial and error Temporary modular kitchens allow owners to trial a kitchen and analyse its success and shortcomings before making a decision on whether to make it a permanent fi xture. Centres

Temporary kitchen units are used during kitchen refurbishments

Garden centres that either don’t have a catering operation or don’t have sufficiently robust catering are now starting to turn to permanent modular kitchens looking to venture into – or expand their existing – catering services often use modular kitchens for this purpose to limit risk, says Lee: “We’ve had customers buy a temporary modular kitchen to see whether it works for them, and often those customers will find their revenue from a hired modular kitchen is much larger than expected and want to expand in size.”

These advantages mean temporary modular kitchens have become a popular choice for garden centres over è

PKL can provide modular food servery kiosks or modular ‘grab and go’ food kiosks

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17/01/2017 09:20

features Modular kitchens

The garden centre can be doing groundwork to prepare while the modular kitchen is being built elsewhere It’s possible to produce hundreds of meals per day from a single unit

the past 30 years. Permanent modular kitchens, however, are an emerging market, says Lee: “We're getting more and more enquiries and requests for permanent modular kitchens. What we're finding is that garden centres that either don't have a catering operation or don’t have sufficiently robust catering are now starting to turn to permanent modular kitchens.

The emergence of kitchen pods and food cubes, which is a relatively young market of about six or seven years, is growing significantly in garden centre demand.”

Weighing up options Options for modular kitchens are as diverse and wide ranging as the garden centres that purchase them, says Lee: “The initial options are a permanent installation or a temporary one. Once that’s decided you can have any number of different types and styles. You could have a production kitchen, a satellite ’grab and go’ retail area, you can incorporate toilets, preparation facilities, restaurant areas – you can have pretty much anything what you want.” Garden centres requiring a less customised kitchen can select a standard modular layout, with the option to go bespoke for those with more creative or specific requirements.

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Permanent modular kitchen buildings can be produced to match existing buildings on site

Going bespoke An example of just how customisable modular kitchens can be is found in the largest temporary modular facility built by PKL – comprised of thousands of pieces of catering equipment inside a large marquee and utilising modular components, the kitchens were built for the athletes’ village at the Olympic Games.

Lee explains: “It was the size of about three football pitches, so you really can have anything and everything with a modular kitchen. With each project a free design service is used to look at precisely what is needed, so a bespoke kitchen is built that fits perfectly to the specification and requirements of the centre.”

Cost effective In some instances a modular kitchen can actually save a garden centre’s revenue, says Lee: “The cost of the kitchen itself generally supports

Considerations When making the decision on whether a modular kitchen

Real alternative The continued popularity of temporary modular kitchens, and the emerging demand for permanent options, within the garden centre industry is as evident as it is understandable. With permanent modular facilities being more cost effective in construction time than their fitted counterparts, and temporary modular kitchens allowing garden centres to trial a catering service without investing in a permanent fi xture, it’s no surprise that modular kitchens are a viable and attractive option for garden centres. ◗ CONTACT

Temporary kitchen units are available in a variety of sizes

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revenue generating activities.

If you're refurbishing, for example, and don't want to lose revenue closing your catering facilities, a modular kitchen will prevent that loss of revenue. Similarly if your business is holding an event where catering will maximise profits, a temporary modular kitchen is the perfect solution.”

Compared to fitted kitchens, Lee states permanent modular kitchens can work out to be slightly cheaper, and more cost effective due to them being built off-site: “You can guarantee your completion date for building and installing the kitchen and can even shorten it, as the garden centre can be doing its groundwork to prepare while simultaneously the modular kitchen is being built elsewhere.”

is right for a garden centre, Lee advises: “Garden centres need to think about what the aim of the kitchen is – if it’s for revenue generation the garden centre needs to look at the way they procure it, as well as consider how they're going to maintain the unit post-installation. They need to be mindful of what planning considerations are in their local area, which is different in every planning authority. The mechanical and electrical services required to run the kitchen also require careful consideration.”

Permanent modular kitchens are craned onto site complete

Lee Vines is managing director of PKL Group.

01242 663 000 www.pkl.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

17/01/2017 09:20

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PROJECTEN

12/12/2016 16:16 16/01/2017 11:31

features Health & safety

&

ARE YOU UP TO DATE WITH

HEALTH

Recent changes in health and safety penalties mean garden centres risk heavy fines if they’re found not to be complying with regulations. Garden Centre Retail spoke to Southalls consultant Kate Careford

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year on since changes to sentencing guidelines were implemented, there has been a dramatic increase in penalty costs for businesses found not to be complying with health and safety regulations. By their very nature garden centres boast a plethora of potential health and safety issues which need to be constantly managed, meaning it’s never been more important for centre owners to ask themselves: am I sure I’m up to date and complying with health and safety regulations?

All change With the introduction of The Health and Safety at Work Act in 1974, a new system of more goal-based regulations rather than prescriptive was brought in. Several of these regulations are particularly applicable to garden centres, says Kate.

“One of the areas that affects garden centres is the Control of Substances Hazardous for Health (COSHH) regulations, which covers any chemicals

handled in the workplace, including pesticides, cleaning chemicals, biocides and fertilisers. Manual handling is another issue, where employees may be expected to move bags of compost, or to arrange or move heavy displays and equipment.”

When it comes to changes in health and safety penalties, Kate states the garden centre industry is generally unaware of the implications of not complying with the law: “When conducting audits I’ve noticed that many are unaware of the new sentencing guidelines.

Many are also not aware of the requirements to manage asbestos within their building.

Some of the garden centres I’ve been in contact with haven’t been sure of how to implement the requirements necessary to keep up with changes.”

Maximum penalty A failure to keep up to date and comply with health and safety legislation can now result in significant costs to a garden

Turnover under £2m: fines up to £450k

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SAFETY?

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centres, advises Kate. “Since February 2016 health and safety offences that are brought before the courts have much harsher penalties applied. If a garden centre has a turnover of under £2m the fines can now go up to £450,000; if the garden centre has a turnover of between £2m and £10m the fines can reach and even exceed £1.6m, and garden centres with a turnover of £10m to £50m can now be fined up to £10m.”

These changes in penalty costs are designed to potentially put companies out of business, warns Kate: “Previously the courts would take into account the company’s profit levels. But now the courts require an assessment of the turnover as a setting point for the fine.

‘The sentencing guidelines can effect all types of garden centre owners from sole traders to directors and shareholders.”

Playing the game There is however an upside

for businesses that are found to be largely complying with regulations. “If your garden centre can demonstrate that you’ve been proactive in managing health and safety, this is now taken into account, and is a mitigating factor which could reduce the overall fine,” says Kate. “So if an incident occurred but could not have been foreseen and the company had been proactive in managing safety on the site at the time of the incident, then this could prevent a fine, or significantly reduce it.”

Kate says the new sentencing guidelines are still a huge change. “We’ve noticed within all industries that fines for health and safety breaches are becoming higher. It reiterates how important it is to make sure health and safety is addressed.”

Higher risk Fines are based upon the risk of harm, and do not require proof that the offence caused actual harm. Kate explains: “If

Turnover £2m to £10m: fines up to £1.6m

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17/01/2017 09:26

Health & safety features

It only takes one bad article for customers to decide to visit another garden centre instead of yours, and people aren’t quick to forget a health and safety scandal

ABOUT SOUTHALLS someone is struck by a forklift truck that’s driving in the car park of a garden centre and are not seriously injured, they could have been killed, so the fine will be based on that risk, rather than the actual harm that occurred.”

Legionella After working with numerous garden centres, Kate has found recurring issues: “Control of legionella is a big issue for garden centres because of the different types of water systems in place. Legionella tends to be associated with water, and can be found in sprinkler systems, hose pipes, irrigation systems, compost bags and even in hot tubs, which a number of garden centres have as concessions within their centres. If legionella was controlled, ie water features being cleaned and treated regularly, outbreaks would be unlikely.”

Concessions On the subject of concessions,

Kate warns that garden centres need to ensure that all parts of the business are complying with health and safety legislation: “Garden centres need to confirm that their concessions are operating safely, because even if the concession isn’t part of the garden centre business, the centre can still suffer negative publicity if their customers are affected.”

Though health and safety compliance can be a complicated task for garden centres, it’s essential for the welfare of both staff and customers, with an offence having an array of negative impacts for the business.

“A health and safety breach will not only now result in a higher penalty cost, but accidents will often be picked up by the press which can be very damaging to your business,” Kate advises.

“It only takes one bad article for customers to decide to visit another garden centre instead of yours, and people aren’t quick to forget a health and safety scandal.” ◗

Turnover £10m to £50m: fines up to £4m

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Garden centres struggling with health and safety have the option of working with Southalls, whose consultants carry out audits that highlight health and safety issues within the centre. From this audit their cloud-based management system, Safety Cloud, is provided to help keep on top of health and safety across all areas of the business. “We look at how the business is operating and what needs to be done to help ensure the garden centre is operating safely,“ says consultant Kate Careford. “We are ex-environmental health officers, so we know what safety inspectors look for.”

If a garden centre working with Southalls does have an incident where they risk being fined for breaches in health and safety, they will be able to demonstrate through Safety Cloud that they have good practices and procedures in place to minimise risks of accidents wherever possible. Kate states: “The proof from Safety Cloud is indisputable to a court, resulting in far less severe penalties.”

CONTACT

Southalls, Cranmore Place, Cranmore Drive, Solihull B90 4RZ 0345 257 4015 hello@southalls.com www.southalls.com

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17/01/2017 09:26

HOW GARDEN CENTRES CAN GENERATE MORE TURNOVER ‘FROM OUTDOORS TO INDOORS’ WITH THE NEW OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE: OPEN SKY®

Garden centres have the potential to be a lot more than just another shop. Your shop is ever more becoming a place that people visit to meet one another, shop and be entertained.

Such a formula offers plenty of turnover opportunities, with the UK being the leader in this respect, with garden centres that owe 30% of their turnover to catering while special events generate extra income.

This way a garden centre acquires other public functions besides its retail function, raising the question how the available space can be exploited as efficiently as possible.

Thermoflor can now answer this question with its unique Open Sky® solution, offering the possibility of alternating indoor and outdoor activities.

We create light, welcoming areas of which both the roofs and the walls (Skywalls) automatically open to allow daylight and fresh air to flow naturally into the building. Customers enjoy the advantages of being outdoors in summer and the advantages of shelter in winter, encouraging them to spend more time at the garden centre, and also spend more money.

POSSIBILITIES

Such areas can be used in a multifunctional way – as a playing area for children, a farm shop, an outdoor patio for your catering facility or an orangery, or for the presentation of pet and flower shows, etc. And if the weather should deteriorate you can turn the entire outdoor area into an indoor area within 5 minutes.

ADVANTAGES

How your garden centre could also benefit from the five advantages of an Open Sky® solution: 1. Maximum use and usability of the available space: new possibilities of welcoming more customers and generating more turnover.

The available space can be multifunctionally used for all kinds of purposes.

2. Ideal climate conditions: opening the roof creates natural ventilation. When the roof is closed the indoor climate is controlled in the same way as usual in your existing building. You will still be able to ventilate your garden centre if it’s raining and the roof can be insulated in different ways.

3. Lengthens the season: the possibility of closing the roof and walls enables you to prolong the summer season into autumn and winter. The things you do outdoors in summer can be done indoors in winter.

4. Makes your building and its look more professional: the Open Sky®’s high-quality structure and finish give your building a professional look: there are no visible rack-and-pinion gears or loose vent sashes and the motor drive is integrated in the structure.

You can choose from various differently shaped trusses that can be colour-coated. So all in all a showpiece to impress your customers.

5. Return on investment: the different possibilities of increasing your turnover will enable you to earn back your investment quickly.

The structure will moreover last for a long time and requires little maintenance.

We will gladly get together with you to discuss how your garden centre could benefit from Open Sky®. Meet us at the IPM fair in Essen or visit our stand at the Dutch Garden Retail Experience.

CALL US ON +31 (0)174 29 06 06 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO BEN BOON OR FERRY BREUGEM TO PLAN YOUR MEETING: B.BOON@THERMOFLOR.COM F.BREUGEM@THERMOFLOR.COM Thermoflor_1.indd 1

16/01/2017 14:49

Paving features

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH

PAVING TO STOCK?

Expansion in paving ranges means choosing stock has never been more complicated. GCR asks Home and Garden Group’s Andy Schofield and owner of Trevenson Moor Garden Centre Chris Stevenson what years of experience have taught them about selecting paving for their centres

Our paving selection accounts for about 30% of our profit, so it’s an important part of our business to get right

Chris Stevenson

© CED

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or both Andy and Chris, key factors that go into choosing paving stock are their own experience and awareness of their customer base. Chris explains: “We’ve been running the paving side of our business for quite a few years so I choose our paving selection from experience, and on our customer profile.

Our paving selection accounts for about 30% of our profit, so it’s an important part of our business to get right.”

Andy concurs: “We base our stock selection on a mixture of customer feedback, experience and the research carried out by our suppliers.”

With this in mind, Chris has split Trevenson Moor’s paving offering into three sections: “We have a budget range, a mid-range and a top end range. The budget level is for people who come in and just want to buy some paving slabs, and we always keep a fair amount in stock so we can serve most people’s requirements on the spot. At the next level up, the midrange, you’ll get people who are thinking slightly more

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seriously about doing a patio or filling in an area, where a little more thought has gone into the job. We keep a lot of display boards so we can show customers what we can source, and discuss what they’re looking for with them. The top grade is for customers for whom money is no object – people who have seen some paving in a magazine or a neighbour has got some. They want real stone, natural granite or something similarly expensive, which we can source.”

Though garden centres should ensure their paving selection sufficiently caters for their customer base, Andy warns that with so much choice in the market there can be temptation to overstock, or offer too wide a range. “It’s difficult, because of course the more range and the larger variety of stock you have the more you’ll sell, but there are complications such as space and how much you have tied up in stock. Paving for us isn’t our main priority, it accounts for about 4% of our profits.

We wouldn’t allocate a large amount of space and cash to paving on the off chance of moving our profits 1-1.5% –

Paving for us isn’t our main priority, it accounts for about 4% of our profits Andy Schofield we’d rather keep that space and money for plants, pots and compost. We could probably increase sales by increasing the range but it might not actually work out as financially worth it.”

Garden centres should also consider their locality when selecting paving stock. Andy advises: “Colours seem to be dictated a lot by area – our centres are spread quite widely across the country, so we’ve got a really eclectic customer base. Starting in Nottingham and working our way down the south coast, we can see how trends change according to locality. We keep our paving offering the same in all of our centres, but each centre’s paving displays reflect their customer base and are tailored to what is popular in that area.”

With paving ranges increasing dramatically in recent years, what do Chris and Andy think the future holds for stock options? Andy predicts: “Imitation of wood will I think be on the increase, as a lot of people are moving away from decking because they don’t want the maintenance issues that come with it. I don’t think we’ll see any kind of paving revolution in the next 12 months, as recently the main

focus has been colours, and manufacturers have started to exhaust the different variations that can be done.”

Chris agrees that innovation in paving options may currently be drained: “I don’t think there’s much more they can invent for the moment. I find the biggest trend is reflected in lifestyle nowadays - most people now have lots more time constraints on them, so can’t give over time to the garden like they used to. Also, a lot more people rent nowadays, so they’re not prepared to put an awful lot into their gardens. So gardening trends – including paving – are about being quick and easy, as well as being maintenance free.” ◗ CONTACT

Andy Schofield is commercial trading manager of Home and Garden Group. www.hgextra.co.uk Chris Stevenson is owner of Trevenson Moor Garden Centre. www.tmgc.co.uk

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16/01/2017 15:38

features Plant focus

CLIMATE CHANGE GCR talks to Dr Ross Cameron of Sheffield University about his research into plant resilience, climate change, and the implications they have for the industry

There are plants that we know are pretty resilient and good at tolerating difficult weather, and there will be more precious plants that we all love and risk losing as our weather changes

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Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017

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eading research funded by the RHS has been carried out by Dr Ross Cameron and his colleagues examining the likely effect climate change will have on our plant life, with weather changes and hotter summers resulting in challenging conditions for certain species. These projects have included testing the resilience of plant species to changes in climate, as well as possible future functions for plants in building protection, intercepting rainfall, and cutting heating costs in the home.

“We’ve been determining how plants cope with the more extreme weather events that are likely to come with climate change,“ explains Dr Ross. “We have a number of PHDs on broadly related climate change issues; for instance, we have a project running looking at street trees and their possible uses in cooling cities.”

Dr Ross and his associates have found climate change will have an array of implications for UK plant life: “It depends on the plant, but the reality is that changing weather events will challenge them. Having said that, if we get to a situation where we have a completely frost-free environment, that might be a positive for some plants.”

Tolerating changes The ability to withstand changing climates and weather has been found to differ vastly across plant species. Dr Ross confirms: “Some plants have a natural ability to tolerate the stress factors associated with extreme weather. There are plants that we know are pretty resilient and good at tolerating difficult weather, and there will be more precious plants that we all love and risk losing as our weather changes. The very early suggestions from our research are that native species may be slightly better than cultivated forms at tolerating climate stress factors.”

Research to date has looked at a relatively small range of plants – Primulas and Petunias –

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Plant focus features and Dr Ross states there is still a lot to cover. Even without this expansion, Dr Ross assures that the team already has a good idea about which plants will struggle as our climate changes, and which should thrive.

“Alpine plants are going to struggle, especially in the south east where we’ll be getting hotter, drier summers,” warns Dr Ross. “Some of our roses, particularly our less vigorous bush roses, may also get pushed over the edge by climate change. The counteraction to that, of course, is that as it gets warmer you might see other plants, such as the Judas tree, become more common and cope quite happily, whereas before they would have really struggled with frosty weather or even a wet summer. North American trees often like a continental hot summer climate, so they could cope in southern counties.”

A secondary string of Dr Ross’ studies has looked into how plants could actually combat some of the negative effects of climate change, a function which Dr Ross believes will significantly affect how plants are seen in society. “I think that’s the really exciting bit for the sector, because I think we’ll find much more value being put on garden plants in general,” says Dr Ross. “I think as we see climate change kick in, the emphasis will be less on plants being decoration and more on their ability to protect buildings, provide cooling and intercept rainfall – all these environmental benefits plants can provide.

“We’ve conducted research that has found some plants can stop the wind-chill effect on a building and bring down heating bills in winter – when covering walls they essentially create an insulation air gap.

As well as this, in summer the same plant-covered walls will reduce the need for air conditioning as they protect rooms from the sun. All of our research into what our lives will look like in the future is

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The garden centre industry needs to be dynamic and forward thinking when dealing with the challenge of climate change indicating that plants will have a much more functional use.”

Though the industry will have its challenges to overcome, Dr Ross remains optimistic that garden centres will survive climate change, and take advantage of the opportunities it brings: “With climate change will come issues like hosepipe bans, but I think the sector is resilient, and I think you will find adaptation and modification in garden centres to weather these changes.”

Think forward One positive factor that Dr Ross feels climate change will bring is a change in approach to plants by the UK government: “We’re likely to see legislation changing to encourage more plants to be kept around buildings, trying to rally back against paving over front gardens. The government might say we aren’t allowed wall-towall concrete, and will instead call for more garden space to be put into our communities. I think the garden sector can use that, and align itself with the environmental message that plants are increasingly vital as climate change occurs around us. There should be more of a focus on the environmental benefits of plants, and that plants are valued more highly as the benefits become apparent.”

The garden centre industry needs to be dynamic and forward thinking, advises Dr Ross, and needs to consider how its produce can positively affect society. “The promotion of functional uses for plants and weather-tolerant ranges will be key to the success of garden centres in the future, as will the likely shift in public attitude towards plants,” states Dr Ross. “Once people realise

the positive effects plants can have rather than just being something to look at, a range of new opportunities will open that the garden centre industry needs to tap into.”

Embrace the future On practical changes garden centres are likely to undergo as climate change occurs, Dr Ross predicts: “There will be some species that will struggle and may drop off the list of provided plants, but others will come in – either because of their functional use or just because the climate has changed. The messages and product ranges are likely to change; for example, we might see peat knocked off the compost list and replaced with more sustainable materials.

We might also see a change in attitude. At the moment, most garden centres want their plants to be free of pests and diseases, which actually conflicts slightly with some of the current policies in government. Landscapers, for example, are encouraged to use plants that support insects because it’s good for birds and other wildlife. So we might see a more relaxed approach in garden centres about the occasional aphid or bug on their products. Currently, the philosophy is for the plants to be squeaky clean, but the reality is that if we want to promote biodiversity, and want our plants to be more resilient, we should be tolerant of the occasional aphid.” ◗ CONTACT

Dr Ross Cameron is an author and senior lecturer at Sheffield University. www.sheffield.ac.uk

5

FUNCTIONAL SUPER PLANTS

Stachys byzantina Aerial and surface cooling abilities due to its reflective albedo and relatively high evapotranspiration rates.

This taxon is effective at catching and holding rainwater as well as trapping some aerial pollutants.

Lonicera periclymenum and cultivars Ability to provide wall cooling in summer and thermal insulation in winter. Flowers are a source of nectar for insects, especially night-flying species such as moths.

Quercus rubra Although a non-native oak species, considered to benefit a large range of native wildlife, as well as an ability to capture and hold rainwater.

Pinus strobus, other longneedled pines Good at holding rainwater and aerial pollutants. High aesthetic value and provides light shade to gardens and other landscapes.

Acer palmatum This and other ‘flattopped trees’ are thought to be particularly restful to the eye, helping to promote an impression of calmness and thereby reducing our stress levels.

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features Visual merchandising

IMPULSE SALES

HOW TO MAXIMISE

Garden Centre Retail asks The Display Centre’s Ali Newton about the importance of visual merchandising, and why garden centres should be on the lookout for impulse barriers on their shop floor What is an impulse buy?

“When a customer buys something that isn’t on their shopping list, something they didn’t plan to get but saw and decided to buy on the spot, that’s an impulse purchase,” Ali clarifies.

Impulse buys can account for a significant amount of turnover within any retail outlet, Ali continues, and should be maximised wherever possible: “There are three really key tactics for making an impulse sale – not all three have to be met, but retailers should aim to have at least two of them. First, the product needs to be something that is interesting, can be understood immediately and clearly, and it has to be something that customers can convince themselves will be a positive purchase. Secondly, retailers need to create a sense of urgency around the sale of the product – things like ‘sale ends this Friday!’ or ‘Offer on today only’ which make your customers believe if they don’t buy the product now, they’ll lose out. The final tactic is running a promotion of some sort on a product – buy one get one free for instance, something that will make customers think they’re getting really good value out of the purchase. If a retailer

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can’t or doesn’t want to run a promotion, they could get round this with approaches like a dump-bin, which are usually used for promotions, so customers tend to think whatever is in a dump bin is good value.”

What are impulse barriers?

“An impulse barrier is anything that puts a customer off making an impulse purchase,” Ali explains. “Customers may not even be conscious of some impulse barriers they are experiencing in a retail environment. The priority for garden centres should be for their products to look as attractive as possible, and positioned well within the centre. If a product is hidden away on the bottom shelf it’s much less likely that customers will see it and pick it up, which then naturally reduces the chances of the product being an impulse purchase.

A good impulse product should be easy to see and customers should be able to understand what the product is immediately; the product also needs to be exciting in some way to a customer.”

How can they be recognised and avoided?

Ali advises for garden centres to try and put themselves in their customers’ shoes when trying to identify impulse barriers, and to keep in mind the vastly wide range of forms they can take. “One example of an impulse barrier for a garden centre would be inaccessible parking, which puts potential customers off visiting the centre in the first place.” Ali continues: “Recently a supermarket realised that sales of a particular product had significantly dropped and couldn’t work out why – they checked their stats and couldn’t identify the problem.

They eventually went to take a look at the product display, and found it was covered by a spider web which was putting off customers picking the product up. Sometimes a

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Visual merchandising features small thing can hugely affect whether a product is bought impulsively or not.”

Regular checks on all products out on the shop floor is essential to ensure that obvious impulse barriers like this aren’t occurring, states Ali, and to check that everything is positioned well and looking it’s best to maximise impulse buy potential. “Garden centres should ask themselves for each product and display stand: why have I placed this here? Is this the best place this product can be to encourage sales?”

Another simple tactic to minimise impulse barriers is to ask customers for their opinion on anything they may have noticed that put them off buying a product, or from visiting the centre previously.

“It’s a really simple, basic tool, but it can be invaluable.”

How important is visual merchandising for garden centres?

“Visual merchandising has a big effect on any retail business,” says Ali. “But separate sectors have different approaches and levels of concentration on it.

Supermarkets, for example, spend a great deal of time and money ensuring their stores and products are as visually pleasing and enticing for impulse buys as possible.

A common trick within supermarkets is to make the floor tiles narrower in their luxury aisles, which makes customers subconsciously believe they’re walking faster than usual in that aisle, causing

them to slow down and thus increasing the opportunity for products to be seen, picked up and purchased.”

Though some sectors spend huge amounts on their visual merchandising, Ali advises that small, significant changes can be made that are inexpensive.

“Garden centres have to find what they’re able to afford within their budget for visual merchandising, but making sure that the centre is a pleasant environment and that displays and products look neat is a cheap but vital way of improving impulse sales.”

Garden centres in particular are retail environments that are largely enjoyable and relaxed for their customers, Ali states, so it’s extremely important that their products and displays reflect this, looking great and inviting impulse purchases. “Garden centres now more than ever are destinations for their customers. Some may only intend to visit to meet a friend in a cafe, or take their children to the play area. As a destination, the majority of garden centres have already convinced their customers that they should be relaxed and should slow down. It’s not the same environment as a supermarket, where customers will rush around getting what they need and leave as soon as they’ve finished shopping.

Customers in garden centres will be much more likely to take their time and wander round, and more likely to stop and look at products or displays they find interesting.” ◗

The path between the front door and the café is a critical opportunity to slow down customers and catch their eye with impulse purchases www.gardencentreretail.com

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Garden centres are retail environments that are enjoyable and relaxed, so it’s important that products and displays reflect this Top tips for great visual merchandising On best practice for visual merchandising, Ali recommends that garden centres focus on which products their customers are exposed to between destination points, and ensuring they always look their best. “The path between the front door and the café, for example, is a critical opportunity to slow down customers and catch their eye with impulse purchases.”

“Another hugely advantageous method to lead customers round a garden centre is to use the most interesting, popular products as anchors,” Ali continues. “Garden centres should spread these products throughout the shop floor as destination points. This will draw customers into different retail sections, meaning that they will see more of your product range and that will help to increase your impulse sales.”

Ali also advises there are some simple merchandising rules for putting together a display that can improve impulse sales: “Making displays multi level will attract more interest from customers, as it’s more visually stimulating – to really capitalise on that retailers could go one step further and add movement to the display, for example by using a rotating turntable, which can increase customer attention by 30%.

Those few extra seconds of attention can make the difference in an impulse purchase.”

“There’s also the three-layer rule, which largely applies to window displays,” says Ali. “Garden centres with window displays should have three layers of depth to that display – the first needs to be something similar to a window vinyl, followed by the second ‘main event’ layer, the products displayed, and the third is the backdrop, which for a lot of retailers is the direct view into the outlet. In those instances it’s exceptionally important to keep the shop area visible to the passing public well presented. If it looks messy or disorganised this will discourage potential customers from coming in.”

CONTACT

The Display Centre Unit 5 The IO Centre, Stephenson Road, Fareham Hampshire, PO15 5RU

01329 842 000 info@displaycentre.co.uk displaycentre.co.uk

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features Livestock

LIVESTOCK? SHOULD A GARDEN CENTRE OFFER

To weigh up the pros and cons of selling livestock, GCR speaks to Ruxley Manor’s pet and aquatics team leader Dave Webb and Radway Green owner Alison Embley, about the factors that affect their decision to stock or avoid selling animals in their pet departments

YES

NO

Dave Webb, Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

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he seasonality of garden centres creates a necessity to branch out of gardening products and plants, into departments that can offer reliable yearround profit. Of the various departments now incorporated into the modern garden centre, pet sections have become a popular choice, largely due to their ability to boost both profits and footfall. The industry, however, experiences a divide in opinion on whether to stock animals. The decision on whether to sell livestock for a garden centre is one that comes with a multitude of considerations, with ethics and practicality contending with the ability to turn the centre into more of an attraction, particularly for younger children that may otherwise not visit.

Firm beliefs For both Ruxley Manor and Radway Green, the pet section’s stance on livestock has always held fast. “The pet section of Ruxley Manor has

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Alison Embley, Radway Green Garden Centre

been running for twenty years,” says Dave: “And we’ve always had livestock in it – recently we’ve even expanded the department to include more reptiles. It’s a big attraction in our garden centre, we get a lot of young children and families coming in who want to stop and have a look at our pets.”

Conversely, Alison states: “Our garden centre will have been running for five years in February 2017, and we’ve never had livestock. It’s just not something we would ever want to do – some centres may be tempted to stock pets because they know it will make them money, but I think unless you have the right staff and the right facilities it’s just not fair on the animals, so we’ve chosen not to stock them.”

Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017

Create a destination On the benefits of selling pets within a garden centre, Dave explains: “It increases footfall in our centre, and can serve as a bit of an attraction to draw people in – children in particular. We turnover approximately £500k a year, and people wanting to visit the pet section have to walk through sections of the garden centre to get there, so there’s an increased likelihood of customers finding things they want to purchase on the way, or wanting a coffee or something to eat. We find a lot of our customers in the pet section will go to the restaurant after seeing the animals, so it can affect sales in other departments too.”

Though pets may increase footfall and serve as a

motivator for young children and families to visit the centre, Alison maintains that animal welfare must come first, with pet departments needing to be certain they’re sufficiently equipped before deciding to sell livestock. “You’ve got to have the right environment for each animal, including quarantine areas for poorly pets,” Alison advises. “Your staff need to be knowledgeable and you should have enough staff to be able to dedicate one or several of them to look after the animals properly. When it comes to children coming in, I do think they’re often disappointed when they come to our pet section and see we don’t have animals, but when we talk to our customers about why we don’t have pets at Radway Green, they always

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Livestock features

The welfare of the animals should always be the main concern, as well as having staff who have the knowledge to care for and sell them appropriately Dave Webb agree with us and understand our reasons.”

Dave agrees with Alison that the wellbeing of the animals come first and that the right conditions and staffing is essential to the maintenance of livestock in a pet department: “The welfare of the animals should always be the main concern, as well as having staff that have the knowledge to care for and sell them appropriately. All our staff in the pet section of Ruxley Manor are trained to work with animals, are confident to answer customer questions and give advice about the pets we have on sale. Space, cleanliness and the right equipment are also vital for running a pet section with livestock.”

A key factor in the decision for Radway Green to not stock pets was the area’s local animal rescue service, explains Alison: “When people ask us about pets we always advise them to try the local rehoming centres, of which we have a few in the area. We like to send people in their direction if they’re looking for pets, which a lot of our customers don’t think about until we suggest it.”

Educating customers about their options and how to best care for potential pets

is an important responsibility for garden centres that sell animals, says Dave: “We get a lot of people coming in and asking about the pets they’re considering buying.

The children will have questions or the adults will want to know about how to keep the animals before making the decision to take one home, so having knowledgeable staff is really important.”

What to consider When making the decision to stock pets, both Dave and Alison warn there’s a lot to consider. “I don’t think it’s a decision you can take lightly,” Alison advises.

“You’ve got to have a licence and dedicated areas with the right temperatures and environments for each animal.

You also need to be prepared for outbreaks of disease, as that could affect your whole animal stock.”

Dave agrees: “There’s a lot to think about – there are the health and safety considerations, such as the hygiene of the animals.

You have to ensure they’re kept clean and there are areas that can’t be crosscontaminated, especially in terms of reptiles. There are

also legal requirements – for example, you have to make sure you aren’t selling pets to unaccompanied children under the age of 16. Staff need to be correctly trained and you have to make sure they’re able to dedicate the sufficient time it takes to keep the pet enclosures clean.”

When asked if pets are a universally bad idea in garden centres, Alison comments: “Not if a garden centre has all its preparatory work and the right staff, and educates the public looking to purchase animals. It shouldn’t be just a case of stocking animals to make money regardless of that animal’s welfare, it needs to be ethical as well as profitable

for your garden centre.” Dave concurs: “I think livestock within a pet section can benefit all garden centres that have adequate space, and staff with the right knowledge. It’s a great attraction for adults and children, can improve sales and footfall within a garden centre and makes it more of a destination.” ◗ CONTACT Dave Webb is pet and aquatics team leader at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre. www.ruxley-manor.co.uk Alison Embley is owner of Radway Green Garden Centre. www.radwaygardencentre.com

You need to be prepared for outbreaks of disease, as they could affect your whole animal stock Alison Embley www.gardencentreretail.com

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During the school holidays, parents look for different ways to entertain their children. You know that Garden Centres can fulfil this need in a variety of ways. The problem to solve is how you stop new customers from driving by and entice them inside.

Circus could be the answer.

Established in 1992, Happy’s Circus is dedicated to bringing the enchanting world of circus to communities across the UK. We are a professional all human (no animals) circus, providing traditional family entertainment, presented in a contemporary style. Each garden centre will have individual requirements. We work with you and can offer 3 shows a day to suit your day, regardless of the weather. This encourages increased footfall throughout the day to visit your restaurant, buy your products and gifts, whilst placing you as a focal point for the local community.

We take care of the Big Top including providing the generators which power the show and all the entertainment. We ask you to promote the show in-house & online and with advertising as you see appropriate. You sell the tickets, provide parking and toilets.

Attracting occasional and new customers, together with more frequent visits from your existing clientele will result in more money in the tills.

However even without the extra projected income, our visit can be self-financing. Parents will pay to see us and the ticket sales at modest prices of between £7 - £10 per head, can cover our fixed fee. You can also make a profit from ticket sales.

• Self Funding + Profits • Available 7 days a Week During School Holidays • Three x 1hr Shows Per Day • Up to 600 Seat Capacity in Colourful All Weather Big Top • Fully Self Contained with State of the Art Sound & Lighting Technology • Only 50 sq metres required • No Articulated Lorries • £10m Public Liability Insurance • Health & Safety and Risk Assessments • Christmas Shows Available Reliable * Compliant * Tried * Tested * Professional

www.happyscircus.co.uk To discuss your individual requirements contact Pat Holmes: 07885 513803 or email pat.happyscircus@gmail.com Advert template.indd 31

16/01/2017 11:39

News products

PRODUCT NEWS

Success for Neudorff’s new Seaweed Extract

All the latest news from leading product providers in the horticultural and garden retail sector

Stewart Garden to present new launches at The Garden Press Event 2017

S

tewart Garden is returning to The Garden Press Event in 2017 in London in February.

The company is bringing a wide range of products to showcase, including many new launches first seen at Glee 2016.

Looking forward to the event, director of the company Juan Pillay said: “The Garden Press Event gives us the ideal platform to meet our industry’s leading media figures and present to them in detail many of the new products we put before trade buyers at Glee last September. We also welcome the opportunity to renew contact with journalists who came to our press day at our Banbury factory last March, where we celebrated 70 years of manufacturing in Britain.” stewart-garden.co.uk

New wild garden bird food from The Provenance Trading Company

T

he Provenance Trading Company has launched its all-new wild garden bird food brand, Chirpy. Ingredients are carefully sourced – peanuts are premium quality large varieties and sunflower hearts the finest bakery grade. All are packed at source for freshness and to reduce Chirpy’s carbon footprint.

The launch range comprises four 1kg packs plus a unique eight ball variety pack of fat balls with competitive RSPs ranging from £1.99 to £4.99. provenancetrading.com

GROEN-Direkt kicks off 2017 with the introduction of houseplants

G

ROEN-Direkt is celebrating its 20th anniversary and its international reputation as a supplier of a continuous, complete range of

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garden plants and Christmas trees. In 2017 the trading company, based in the Dutch town of Boskoop, is expanding that range with a full selection of houseplants.

The houseplants are supplied by a broad selection of specialist growers offering fresh articles of high quality.

From now all customers can order from the range, which comprises more than 1,500 articles. The expansion of the range with houseplants means that customers can benefit from more efficient transport flows, with houseplants and garden plants delivered together as a single order, and as with the garden plants, the customers themselves choose the plants that will best suit the character of their retail strategy. www.groen-direkt.nl

F

ollowing a successful launch at GLEE 2016, Neudorff’s Super Strength Seaweed Extract has been a popular choice with buyers, significantly exceeding forecasted sales.

The product, which was one of a number of new editions to Neudorff’s weed, feed and control range, features a 100% natural formula, which stimulates sprouting and root growth, helping to produce higher yields of edibles.

Neudorff sales director Jude Beharall said: “Super Strength Seaweed Extract is a fantastic addition to the range and has gone down very well with buyers, so well in fact that we have doubled production to satisfy demand.”

Available in 1L concentrate bottles, which can be diluted to make up 100L of fertiliser. www.neudorff.co.uk

New Year, new formulations for Animology

A

nimology has taken advantage of the latest developments in formulation chemistry to improve every shampoo and spray product within its dog range. The improvements mark the conclusion of a 12-month development process to ensure the Animology brand maintains its market-leading position and continues to be at the forefront of ‘pet care excellence.’

In addition to the advancements in its formulations Group55, the company behind Animology, has set a new standard by ensuring all its grooming products meet EU human cosmetic regulations; which are the most stringent quality standards by which such products can be measured. www.animology.co.uk

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Garden Centre Retail Systems Multi-channel Retail Management Solution In-Store Mobile Web T 02393 873 170 E sales@swanretail.co.uk W swanretail.co.uk

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16/01/2017 12:13

GIMA packaging

LABELLING

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

As garden retailers place their orders for trees, wreaths and other seasonal decorations, GIMA looks at the issues surrounding labelling – particularly on Christmas tree lights

F

or Premier Decorations’ managing director John Athwal, a ‘lightbulb moment’ occurred when the company was preparing for the 2015 season, and has since led to a major overhaul of the brand’s Christmas light packaging. ”Having talked to customer focus groups, we discovered that consumers are no longer looking for a particular bulb count – they’re more concerned about what area a particular light set will cover, or what length they require to cover a tree. With this in mind, we introduced TreeBrights, which indicate on the packaging which size

tree each set covers. It was such a revelation for us when it was first launched that it is now a permanent feature on all our light sets as a headlining statement.”

Kingfisher Festive

The ongoing brand changes at Bonningtons continue to ripple through the business, the latest of which are in its Kingfisher Festive range. New colour coded packaging has been introduced, facilitating an improved category selection for retail buyers and consumers alike. A spokesperson for Bonningtons said: “In building the new

Our Kingfisher Festive range has set out to demystify the massively complex string light sector, and build a clear product segmentation and hierarchy

range for 2017, our Kingfisher Festive range has set out to demystify the massively complex string light sector, and build a clear product segmentation and hierarchy.

“All indoor string lights are now presented in ‘hot’ colours – purple for battery powered and red for mains powered – whilst outdoor LED strong lights are in cool blue for static and green for multifunction.”

Interestingly, both GIMA members are united in their commitment to avoid selling multitudes of lengths for the same bulb count. Shortening or lengthening the space

between bulbs (perhaps also known as the ‘Toblerone effect’) may lead to reduced costs, but they render the light set not fit for purpose and could damage the market as a whole.

Supplier focus

Many retailers and growers will already be aware of West Sussex-based Fargro, but might not know how much its Christmas offering has grown recently. Firstly, a wide range of containers include painted metal bowls and pails emblazoned with traditional, contemporary and fun Christmas scenes.

These are joined with 30cm novelty planters in the form of a snowman and robin, along with extensive additions to the wreath and garland ranges, including the unique snowy Buxus and berry designs.

Over 20 new picks have been added, as well as clip-on glitter birds, new dried fruit products and 25 yard metallic ribbons, all to help bolster retailer’s Christmas home decoration offerings.

For more information, call sales office supervisor Sonja on 01903 726 100 or email orders@fargro.co.uk CONTACT To keep up to date with GIMA news, visit the GIMA website, get in touch with the GIMA office on 01959 564 947 or email info@gima.org.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

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Cat Deterrents

A great sales opportunity Complement this winter’s bird feed sales with our range of welfare-friendly animal repellents Contact your sales representative today or call 01953 881580 for more details

info@stvpestcontrol.com | www.stvpestcontrol.com

T BI HE ON VIS RM S ST IT A U H IN PR ND S - 9 G IN 6 TH H G J06 FE AM FA BR N IR UA E R C

5T

Y

Digging

Cultivation

PEDIGREE GARDEN Tel: 01279 401570 info@pedigreegarden.co.uk www.pedigreegarden.co.uk Transformation

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16/01/2017 12:19

Lighting products

LATEST PRODUCTS

LIGHTING GCR rounds up a selection of lighting products to illuminate your customers’ interiors and exteriors

Smart Garden Products SUPER BRIGHT SOLAR MAGNUM LIGHT • Attractive glass and brushed stainless steel finish • Ideal for illuminating beds, borders and pathways • Automatically illuminates at dusk • Six hours run time • 100 lumens RRP £39.99 www.sgpuk.com

The Solar Centre TRURO SOLAR MOTION LIGHT

Bonningtons BLOSSOM BULB STRING LIGHT

• PIR motion activated light • Lithium-ion battery for greater power and duration of light • Designed to work in winter in the UK • SMD light source for reliability and efficiency • Easy to install

• Warm white LED bulbs • Battery operated, with a timer to help preserve battery life • Waterproof, suitable for indoor or outdoor use • String length: 450cm • Fully branded PoS display stand

RRP from £19.99

RRP £45

www.solarcentre.co.uk

Home2Garden POLYRESIN DECORATION LUMINAIRES

www.bonningtons.com

COLE & BRIGHT SOLAR ICE ORB STRING LIGHTS

• Indoor and outdoor • 10m cable • Soft glow and attractive when turned off • Various shapes and sizes • Hand crafted polyresin and stone powder mix

• Dual power technology for year round solar lighting • Automatically switches on at dusk • White or colour changing LEDs • Solar and battery power • Coordinating products available

RRP £99 - £129

RRP from £19.99

www.home2gardens.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

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www.gardman.co.uk

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products Paving KELKAY GRANITE STAR

LATEST PRODUCTS

PAVING

Transform your paving offer with our selection of products to help your customers visualise a new garden space

• Contemporary design patio kit • Supplied in four sections • Stylish two tone colour scheme • Granite Star kit creates a 1.8m diameter circular patio feature

RRP £399.99 www.kelkay.com

DECO-PAK LTD MILANO PORCELAIN PAVING

BOWLAND STONE DECKPAVE PAVING

• Three styles of wood effect finish • Resistant to mould, moss and algae • Can survive harsh weather • Each slab can withstand up to 1,000kg of weight • PoS uses a compact area to demonstrate the product in situ

• Captures the warm textures of real timber decking • Beautiful and durable • Rustic feel • Available as tiles or as a paving kit • Create stunning design possibilities

RRP £17 - £29 per tile www.deco-pak.co.uk

GLOBAL STONE PETROUS PORCELAIN ANTHRACITE • Italian hard wearing product, scratch and abrasion resistant • Slip resistant • Weather resistant • Not affected by sunlight, will retains its colour • Low maintenance

RRP £54.99 per m2 www.globalstonepaving.co.uk

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Garden Centre Retail January/February 2017

RRP £7.99 (500x500mm tiles) www.bowlandstone.com

WESTMINSTER STONE LANCASHIRE MILL FLAGSTONES • Authentic reproductions • Family business • Less than a third of the price of reclaimed flagstones • Endorsed by the National Trust • British made

RRP £35 per m2 www.westminsterstone.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

17/01/2017 09:47

Do you want more visitors to your garden centre?

Call us on 0203 475 5541 for a free online marketing consultation

www.gardenconnect.com

THE ULTIMATE OFFERING FROM GRANGE FENCING Last year saw Grange, the UK’s leading fencing company, unveil its revolutionary Ultimate Panel. Following the launch of this hugely successful alternative to the traditional lap panel, the company has now expanded the range to include a comprehensive selection of panel sizes, as well as a matching Gate, for a complete fencing collection.

The Ultimate range has been manufactured using a number of first to the market design led features including fine sawn slats and rebated frame, resulting in the highest levels of both functionality and aesthetics.

Complete with merchandising materials including an Ultimate Panel product brochure and mini counter top display panel, the collection is well supported on the shop floor, enabling retailers to maximise sales opportunities.

The full range now includes a choice of four panel sizes in pressure treated green and two in golden brown as well as a matching Gate. Together, the new additions to the range provide the Ultimate fencing solution.

To find out more, visit www.grangefen.co.uk Retailers interested in working with Grange should call the company on 01952588088 or email sales@grangefen.co.uk

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Show preview Spring Fair

GO AND SEE AT

SPRING FAIR

From 5 to 9 February, Spring Fair will attract visitors from all over the country. Here are five exhibitors you should check out during your visit to the event

CLASSIC CANES LTD Hall 19-20, Stand 20K10-L11 Walking stick specialist Classic Canes stocks a range of over 700 traditional and contemporary walking sticks, seat sticks and umbrellas. The family company is known for its well-designed, high quality products.

Exhibiting: Walking sticks, folding canes, seat sticks and umbrellas, including a new collection in association with the National Gallery www.classiccanes.co.uk

NEAT IDEAS LTD Hall 9-10, Stand 9J08

CHARLES BENTLEY & SON LTD Hall 10-12, Stand 10B08

Providing an exceptional low-risk profit opportunity for retailers and with over 30 years’ experience, Neat Ideas consistently delivers exceptional sales through a combination of innovative products and in-store media promotions.

Charles Bentley and Son is a global supplier of household, garden and leisure products with an extensive portfolio from premium designer ranges to everyday value products.

Exhibiting: Housewares products

Exhibiting: Gardening tools, a collection of English cleaning classics and its Dropship Service

www.neatideasdirect.co.uk

www.charlesbentley.com

FLORALSILK LTD Hall 2, Stand 2F04

MEZU SILK FLOWERS Hall 2, Stand 2C23

Floralsilk is a UK-based family business with its customers and employees at the heart of its operation. It is a supplier of the finest replica flowers, plants and seasonal decorations.

Mezu is passionate about providing customers with the most realistic silk flowers that can be found in the marketplace. All Mezu flowers are hand painted and crafted.

Exhibiting: Spring and Christmas collections, replica flowers, plants, trees and Aquafleur arrangements

Exhibiting: Extensive selection of roses and collection comprising peonies, hydrangeas, stocks, and more

www.floralsilk.co.uk

www.mezusilkflowers.com

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THE LITTLE

BIG DUSTER S!

Visit us at Spring Fair in Hall 9-10 Stand 9J08

IDEAL FOR THOSE HARD TO REACH AREA

In just under a minute you can make perfect poached or scrambled eggs.

Visit us at Spring Fair Hall 9-10 Stand 9J08

Fast & fluffy eggs in your microwave every time

Mezu

Exceptional Silk Flowers The Walking Stick Specialists

Introducing our new range of 12 walking sticks and folding canes based on paintings

by Bosschaert, Van Gogh and Stubbs.

Our stunning silk flowers are perfect for all your floral requirements. Mezu have some of the most beautiful and realistic silk flowers that can be found in the market place today.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

For our full range of gorgeous stems please visit our web site: www.mezusilkflowers.com Or contact Donna on: 01248 422279 Email: info@mezusilkflowers.com

Spring Fair: Hall 20, Stand K10-L11

www.classiccanes.co.uk

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products Pet food

LATEST PRODUCTS

PET FOOD

Lift your pet department with a range of pet food options

WEBBOX NATURAL COMPLETE WET POUCHES • Made with 100% natural ingredients • Added vitamins and minerals • No artificial colours or preservatives • Four varieties per box

RRP £3.99 www.deco-pak.co.uk

NORTHERN PET TRADE BIRDIE MUNCHIES

NUTRIMENT LTD LAVERSTOKE PARK FARM ORGANIC RANGE

• Available in three flavours • Baked to retain nutritional values • Rich in vitamins and minerals • Eye-catching packaging • Generous mark-ups

• Made using 100% certified organic, British meat, bone and offal • Biologically appropriate raw food • Organic farming • Reduces exposure to pesticides • Ideal for pets with allergies

RRP £3.99

RRP £4.95 for 500g

www.northernpettrade.com

BECO PETS FOOD FOR DOGS RANGE • Eco-conscious food for dogs • Meat meal and grain free, contains only ethically and locally sourced ingredients • First British brand to use sustainably caught fish • Three recipes • Uses only humangrade ingredients RRP from £14.99 www.becopet.com

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www.nutriment.co

ROSEWOOD PET PRODUCTS LEAPS & BOUNDS DOG AND CAT • Ideal for rewards • Products include Hot Dog Sausages made with over 91% meat • Crunchy Cushions cat treats available in three flavours • Vitamin A and D3 to boost immune systems RRP £0.99 - £2.49 www.rosewoodpet.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

16/01/2017 15:26

The specialist agents and valuers for your garden centre or nursery.

With over 25 years industry leading experience helping hundreds of companies and individuals to buy and sell retail and wholesale plant nurseries and garden centres, we are perfectly placed to do the same for you.

With specialist knowledge and expertise, we should be your first port of call.

Valuations - Sales - Leases - Acquisitions - Nationwide Coverage.

01732 522222

info@alexandermackie.co.uk

alexandermackie.co.uk

BORD NA Mร NA GROWISE PRO 5: THE FIRST PREMIUM RANGE TO COMBINE BOTH COMPOST AND FERTILISER Bord na Mรณna UK has launched an all-purpose premium range called Pro 5 which includes both high quality fertiliser and specialist growing media.

Pro 5 is a professional quality range consisting of a 50 litre bag of all-purpose compost, a 7kg tub of all-purpose fertiliser together with two smaller boxes of all-purpose fertiliser sized at 2.5kg and 900g.

Pro 5 All-purpose Fertiliser is premium grade slow release and works for up to 20 weeks. It contains a unique set of ten essential nutrients plus humic acid and seaweed to improve plant growth. It is perfect for all round garden use.

performance for up to seven weeks. It also contains vermiculite to improve air / water balance and ensure strong roots. Perfect for seeds and cuttings it is also ideal for tubs and baskets, but can be used with great results all around the garden.

Retailers interested in working with the Bord na Mรณna Growise brand should contact 0800 973 555, email info@thegreenergardener.com or visit thewebsite www.thegreenergardener.com.

Pro 5 All-purpose Compost has a high quality peat content blended with sustainable alternative ingredients and fertilisers to give superior BordNaMona_Dec.indd 1

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products Pet products

LATEST PRODUCTS

PET PRODUCTS GCR rounds up a collection of general pet products to stock your shelves

TETRA MYFEEDER • Food compartment and window • Programme feeding for up to three times a day • Can be easily fitted onto any aquarium • Helps food retain its nutrients and consistency • TetraMin flakes, crisps and granules can be added RRP £39.99 www.tetra.net

PETLONDON MOUNTAINEER HARNESS DOG COAT

PETLIFE INTERNATIONAL LTD HOTTIES

• Waterproof • Lined with soft, warm fleece • All in one harness and coat • Easy to fit, step-in style • Available in range of sizes to suit all breeds

• Safe microwavable heat pad for dogs, cats and small animals • Provides a constant gentle warmth • Heats in minutes, stays warm for hours • Available in red polka dot fleece or PU wipe clean cover

RRP 69.99

RRP £19.99

www.petlondon.net

FURMINATOR DESHEDDING TOOL • Designed by groomers, vet recommended • Reduces shedding in dogs by up to 90% • Remove undercoat without damaging skin or top coat • Loose hair can be removed with ease • Available for a range of breeds and sizes RRP from £25 www.furminator.net

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www.petlifeonline.co.uk

SHARPLES N’ GRANT STRONG STUFF ‘SHOTS’ BALL • Designed for strong chewers • Five year guarantee • Floats in water • Good for dental hygiene • Available in a range of shapes and sizes

RRP: £8.99 www.sharplesgrant.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

16/01/2017 15:29

PATS Show preview

GO AND SEE AT

PATS

PATS Sandown 2017 takes place on 21 to 22 March, and we’ve selected our top exhibitors you should visit during the show

ARMITAGE PET CARE Stand L5 Armitage Pet Care is the largest independent manufacturer and distributor of pet products and accessories in the UK, with over 200 years of expertise and many leading brands in our portfolio.

At its very heart is its British manufacturing base, with Good Boy Choc, Rotastak homes, Kagesan sandsheets, plastic bowls and litter trays, aquatic ranges and much more produced at its Nottingham site. Key products due for exhibit at PATS Sandown are high meat treats, new dog toys and Christmas 2017. www.armitages.co.uk

COLLARWAYS Stand T17

DANISH DESIGN PET PRODUCTS LTD Stand L1

Collarways specialises in distributing quality accessories for dogs. Our products stand out from the crowd in design and innovation. We only stock brands that produce quality products that are functional and stylish. PATS Sandown will be an excellent opportunity to see the brands Collarways represents including Lupine collars and leads, Zogoflex, PAWZ and Fluff & Tuff.

Come and visit Danish Design Pet Products to see its full range of bedding for dogs and cats, dog coats, pet toys and accessories. Danish Design’s pet bedding features a variety of designs from practical fabrics to on-trend textured checks and tweeds to chic, modern animal prints, and its dog coat range includes the award-winning two in one Performance Dog Coat.

www.collarways.com

www.danishdesign.co.uk

POOCH & MUTT Stand F15

BEAPHAR Stand F13

Pooch & Mutt is well known in the dog world as a leading ethical health dog food brand. It makes an award-winning range of products that use natural ingredients to help with a variety of problems common to dogs. At PATS 2017 Pooch & Mutt will be exhibiting its grain-free treats, complete food and supplements.

Beaphar is a development, production and marketing organisation that is passionate about pets. Beaphar’s core business is its range of pharmaceuticals, flea control and antiworming products, premium foods and vitamin preparations. At PATS it will be showcasing FIPROtec and WORMclear.

www.poochandmutt.store

www.beaphar.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

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Show preview PATS

MR JOHNSON’S Stand F1

NATURAL INSTINCT LTD Stand A9

Mr Johnson’s is part of a family-owned business that has been producing animal feeds in the UK for over 100 years.

Mr Johnson’s manufactures food and treats for small animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and more, as well as foods for poultry and wildlife. At PATS the company will be exhibiting its small animal food and treat range along with the newly launched wildlife range.

Award-winning pet food manufacturer Natural Instinct is passionate about pets. Its raw food diet for dogs and cats follows the motto ‘you are what you eat’ and its meals aim to be a convenient, no-mess way to feed raw. Natural Instinct will be promoting its ranges including the Country Banquet ‘superfood’ range. In 2016 the wholesale team introduced stylish new upright freezers, an example of which will be at PATS.

www.mrjohnsons.co.uk

www.naturalinstinct.com

PETLIFE INTERNATIONAL LTD Stand E8

JOHNSON’S VETERINARY PRODUCTS LTD Stand D7

Petlife has been at the forefront of providing pet bedding, healthcare and hygiene products for more than 20 years.

Petlife will have its full range of products for dogs, cats, small animals and pigeons at PATS, including the original Vetbed, Flectabed Thermal Bedding, health and hygiene products and environmentally friendly flea treatment, as well as the full range of small animal bedding, food and treats from Oxbow.

Johnson’s delivers modern, innovative pet healthcare products to the over the counter market and makes them available exclusively to pet shops, from medicines, healthcare, flea and worm controls to disinfectants, shampoos and treats. Among other products at PATS Sandown, Johnson’s will be exhibiting its veterinary strength one dose wormer for cats and kittens, which like all Johnson’s products is available over the counter.

www.petlifeonline.co.uk

www.johnsons-vet.com

NUTRIMENT LTD Stand T5

UNIPET INTERNATIONAL LTD Stand J1

Nutriment is a manufacturer of the highest quality raw pet food, using human grade quality meat, bone and offal, restaurant quality vegetables and a generous variety of superfoods. With five ranges to cater for the mass market and a commitment to increasing footfall for trade customers, Nutriment was the first raw food to receive five out of five stars from www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk.

Unipet is a leading wild bird food manufacturer specialising in suet-based products and poultry treats. Working with international partners in Europe, the USA and Asia, Unipet International is able to service companies worldwide. The company is well known for its highly respected Suet To Go and Hentastic brands, and also provides bespoke products to many leading retail brands.

www.nutriment.co

www.unipet.co.uk

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Campingaz products

ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT

CAMPINGAZ MASTER 4 SERIES CLASSIC SBS

Everything you need to know to sell the Campingaz Master 4 Series SBS, a powerful, feature-packed gas barbecue with sleek construction, the latest burner technology and Searing Boost Station

Features ‘Even Temp’ technology; four high-powered stainless steel burners (16.7kW) offer reliable and consistent heat while the enamelled cast iron cooking surface effectively conducts heat for even cooking across the entire surface.

The advanced Searing Boost Station (SBS) give an extra hit of intense heat, creating those authentic steakhouse stripes and flavour without overcooking the meat.

Reliable ‘InstaStart’ electronic ignition, for dependable lighting every time and illuminated control knobs for accuracy on dark evenings.

Compatible with the Campingaz Culinary Modular Accessory system, allowing you to swap the central grid for a range of cooking accessories from a pizza stone to a wok.

The improved InstaClean system with its new treatment protects the removable barbecue surfaces for effortless, dishwasher-safe cleaning after use.

To learn more, contact Campingaz (Coleman UK Ltd) 01275 845024 customerservices@colemanuk.co.uk www.campingaz.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

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jobs

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

Call 01903 777 574 or email liam.colclough@eljays44.com with your vacancy

PLANT AREA MANAGER

EPOS MANAGER

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Squire’s Garden Centre at Stanmore. You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department which has an extensive and well stocked plant area. You must have experience and/or horticultural qualifications and garden centre retail experience. You will be able to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets whilst motivating your team to maximise all sales opportunities and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of customer service. You must have the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, have a passion for plants, be highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays.

An expanding group of destination garden centres are currently seeking EPOS Managers for 3 of their sites (Essex/Staffordshire/Cambridge).

Responsibilities will include overseeing the smooth intake of goods, entering on to the system with accuracy and speed with up to date information being passed through all departments. The appointed person will possess good computer and excel skills, with a head for numbers and be confident to manage an administration team whilst supporting the garden centre manager in line with the business needs.

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

GARDEN CENTRE & NURSERY ASSISTANT

HORTICULTURE MANAGER

This opportunity requires the successful candidate to work with and run a small team, reporting to your line manager. The position would require the candidate to have excellent people & organisational skills. The tasks involve potting, weeding, watering, feeding, stock replenishing and spraying, a spray certificate is an advantage. This is an excellent career opportunity for the right applicant.

The client has a chain that comprises of over 150 centres throughout the country and they are the largest garden centre group in the UK. They now have 14 positions around the UK for a Horticulture Manager. Your responsibilities will include ensuring that the garden centre delivers the best customer service possible, proactively offering advice to Customers, promoting a good working environment to include training rotas and staff inductions, ensuring stock levels are up to date and wastage is kept at a minimum and ensuring all signage and promotional material is arranged and promoted correctly. The correct applicant would be hort qualified, have excellent people and customer service skills, have a full UK driving licence and retail experience.

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

DEPUTY RETAIL MANAGER

GARDEN CENTRE MANAGER

As Deputy Retail Manager you will be critical in continuing to implement our retail sales development programme and build on our ongoing success across the centre with specific responsibilities for dry goods, stock control and merchandising. You will be focused on maximising the whole customer shopping experience, making sure that every customer centre feels welcomed by colleagues and supporting the Retail Manager with the day to day running of the centre.

Working for a well-known garden centre group, this role would suit a Deputy Manager from a large garden centre looking to move up the career ladder! Or indeed an experienced Manager of similar size small/ medium site! The client would also consider individuals from more of a “shed” background.

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

For more details, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

SQUIRE’S GARDEN CENTRE Farnham, Hampshire

BHN GARDEN CENTRE Essex

OTTER NURSERIES Devon

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HORTICRUITMENT Essex/Staffordshire/Cambridge

ANDERSPLUS London

TAYLOR2RECRUITMENT Kent

www.gardencentreretail.com

17/01/2017 09:18

l One-click arming l Highly efficient l Fully reuseable l Made in Britain

E S D T A N LE U B TR CO A L IS I D VA A

Mole catching made easy

The Glasshouse Specialists.

Endorsed by Master Mole Catchers in the UK

MT Windchimes EasySet Mole Trap

We Make the Wind Sing

Glasshouses ® bought and sold.

Venlo specialists. Structures for Garden Centres.

All aspects of glasshouse work including poly roofs snow damage and Composite panels.

01262 608831 Fax: 01262 409004 ™Tel: Email: info@newcenturyglass.co.uk

only £24.50 each RRP

www.beagleproducts.com or call us on 01223 927216

Website: www.newcenturyglasshouses.co.uk & d d he fte is ra fin d c ly an ul H utif a be

Antiqued ornamental stoneware from Hampshire Gardencraft

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

Phone | 01730 895182 www.dragonstone.co.uk

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

®

07851 075944 nmorris@qmtwindchimes.com www.qmtwindchimes.co.uk

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QMT has been crafting hand tuned wind chimes for over 30 years, and we are proud to offer our original Arias® chimes to the UK market. Our classic chimes in silver, bronze, or forest green are great gift items and a customer favorite. Visit our website or contact us today for more details!

sales@hampshire-gardencraft.com

Download the FREE Garden Centre Retail app today 1

Go to the App Store

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Search ‘Garden Centre Retail’

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Download the free app

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Choose and download your issue

16/01/2017 14:39

All our artificial Christmas trees are sourced from one single factory, allowing you to create a mixed container from our range of 40 trees‌

A A comprehensive choice of 40 artificial trees Ten stunning styles in five finishes; standard, frosted, berry, pine cone or pre-lit with twinkling white lights High High quality construction and finish Retail ready display packaging complete with carry handles Hinged Hinged branches and robust metal base Market leading RRPs Clear range hierarchy that meets all core consumer needs; Standard, Premium and Luxury

Packaged in an eye-catching full colour box Come to our showroom and see our Christmas Emporium from 3rd January 2017 onwards!

Contact your Gardman agent or call sales on 01406 372237

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