15-16 October 2024 | ExCeL London
Embark on a journey along our Sustainability Trail at Garden Centre Expo 2024, where you’ll find companies deeply committed to sustainable practices. Whether they specialise in supplying solar panels, EV chargers or environmentally friendly retail products, these businesses prioritise the wellbeing of the planet and the best practices of garden centre operators.
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Garden Centre Expo will take place on 15-16 October 2024 at the ExCeL London. Register for you free tickets here!
Welcome to the July/August issue of Garden Centre Retail magazine.
We’re quickly approaching the inaugural Garden Centre Expo, a brandnew show for the industry focusing on business growth through effective product selection, sustainability, technology and innovation within this massively growing sector.
I wanted to give you all an update on the progress of the event, as we’re now less than four months out. Our speaker list is growing daily, with the industry’s top professionals all taking time to share their expertise; our exhibitor list is now over 100 strong, with companies covering the catering, pet, EPoS, energy and horticulture sectors; and we’ve announced a number of partnerships
with leading associations across the board, such as the Garden Centre Association (GCA), Pet Industry Federation (PIF) and The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).
Our content programme is so close to being finalised and we hope to be able to share that with you over the next few weeks – keep your eyes on our socials and the Garden Centre Expo website, gardencentreexpo.co.uk.
The event is taking place across 15-16 October 2024 at ExCeL, London, and registration for your free ticket is now open. It would be great to see you there – I guarantee there is something in the content programme and on the exhibition floor for you.
For now, enjoy this issue, and we’ll see you again in September!
JoeWilkinson Joe Wilkinson Head of content
Eljays44 Ltd
BizSpace, Courtwick Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7TL
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Garden Centre Retail is published by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2024 subscription price is £125. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, BizSpace, Courtwick Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7TL. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, non-commissioned photographs or manuscripts.
OUR EXHIBITOR LIST IS NOW OVER 100 STRONG
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News A roundup of the latest industry news
News from Blue Diamond
The Channel Island-based business becomes the largest in the sector
Insights from Chelsea 2024
Peter Burks of the GCA shares the biggest trends he spotted this year
14
The Great Outdoors
GIMA members showcase trends and outside lifestyle products
16
Design Matters
Andrew Burton on how to create unique experiences
19
Influencer Marketing
Honest Communications’s Holly Daulby on influencers
20
Hollie Clarke
Discover her dynamic role at Webbs Garden Centres
24 29
Visual Merchandising
Harnessing the power of adding theatre to displays
Diversifying your Offering
Discover fresh avenues for expanding your product range
33
Table or Counter Service
When it comes to catering, what works better?
Winter Colour
Bransford Webbs explores the winter beauty that is Hellebores
Garden Furniture Products
Unveiling cutting-edge and luxurious furniture collections
Outdoor Living Products
Latest products to take outdoor dining and entertaining to the next level
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As the summer season ends, building work will begin on new storage infrastructure at Gloucestershire’s Highfield Garden World. The project promises to transform the way the family business can store and control stock. Once the £300k build is complete, the £9m turnover independent will have quadrupled the amount of covered storage space it has onsite to 740m 2 , with another 100m 2 of open-sided covered space adjacent.
Highfield director, Tim Armstrong, comments; “Since covid, we’ve found many of the companies supplying us work on different principles and availability of stock is simply less predictable. With the new warehouse up and running, we’ll be better able to ride out the peaks and troughs of stock availability, as well as take advantage of good Choice Marketing deals when they pop up – even for bulky items such as furniture. We’ll also be able to pass those savings on to our customers.”
Tim continues: “Overall, having a more efficient way of processing our stock will leave staff with more time to spend out and about talking to and helping customers. Having friendly, knowledgeable staff talking to customers is an important part of what makes Highfield so special.”
Planning permission for the new warehousing structure was granted this spring. Work is due to start in September and complete in early 2025. Highfield will project manage the new development themselves, using local companies that they have worked well with before.
highfieldgardenworld.co.uk
Otter Garden Centres has announced trials of a new style of plant pots that offer an eco-friendly alternative to plastic pots.
As the first garden centre in the country to introduce the eco-pots, this represents a major step in Otter’s ongoing commitment to reduce the use of plastic in its business.
The Bioplasmar eco-pots offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic pots. They are 100% plastic free, 100% biodegradable – and made entirely from composted waste wood fibre reclaimed from the construction industry.
The pots are designed to be placed directly into the ground with the plants they hold. Over time they will biodegrade and become part of the soil around them; this should take around six months, depending on conditions.
Otter Garden Centres nursery manager, Arron Taylor, says: “It’s been estimated that well over 500 million plastic plant pots are used in the UK each year, which is an astonishing figure.
“Although we and our customers have been recycling plastic pots for many years, ultimately an option like this is going to be so much better for the environment for the long term.”
ottergardencentres.com
Sixty community groups have been given plants and gardening supplies from Plymouth Garden Centre, which marked its 60th anniversary with a ‘big give back’.
The Crownhill-based garden centre was founded in 1964 by Tom Newton, and is now run by his granddaughter, Fiona Newton, and her family.
Repeating an initiative which it carried out for its 50th and 55th anniversaries, the garden centre has given away a batch of supplies to organisations and charities.
The third-generation owner, says: “It’s my family business, and this is our 60th year; it was started by my grandfather and some other people, and now it’s my family and I who run the garden centre.
“On our 50th anniversary we did it, we also did it for our 55th, and we are doing it again for our 60th. Essentially,” she added, “we are supported by our community and we would not have made 60 years without all our customers, so we always want to give something back and help projects, and also help some of the younger generations get into gardening and make it fun.
“The idea is that we made 60 donations to 60 organisations or charities of £60 worth of gardening, but we’ve actually done a few more. I’m donating to the garden up at the hospital, which is for the patients and the staff. They have a secret garden; they try and do that in their lunch hours.”
plymouthgardencentre.co.uk
The winner of the Green Retail Award for the Best Novelty is Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Pretty in Pink’, submitted by Compass Plants B.V. together with Hans van der Meer Potplanten, both from Nieuwe Wetering. The award was presented on the first day of GROEN-Direkt’s Summer Days.
The jury was very enthusiastic about Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Pretty in Pink’ – an attractively flowering plant with dark stems and two-toned – pale and dark pink – looser plumes. The nicely proportioned plant is a little larger in terms of foliage and inflorescence than, say, Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Sprite’ and ‘Hennie Graafland’. This enchanting look makes the novelty a welcome addition to the range, said the KVBC jury.
A total of 11 plants were submitted in the second summer edition of the inspection for the Best Novelty Green Retail Award of PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt. Out of these submissions, 10 of the plants underwent evaluation. plantariumgroendirekt.nl
Tong Garden Centre has been shortlisted in the Community category in the Bradford Means Business Awards.
Tong Garden Centre’s head of people, culture & sustainability, Neil Barwise-Carr, says: “Our local community is at the heart of everything we do, from our charity of the year to the Kindness Pot what has supported 95 local initiatives through donations, sponsorship and volunteering. We’re proud and delighted to be in the final of this prestigious award.”
Sponsored by brsk, the award recognises businesses that demonstrate their commitment to the community to deliver positive change.
The team faces competition from Yorkshire Building Society and Sovereign Healthcare, and will learn whether they have been successful at a black-tie dinner on 19 July at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford, organised in partnership with Bradford Council. tonggardencentre.co.uk
Feverfew Garden Company is celebrating its first birthday which has seen its humble growth, starting in Orkney in June last year to becoming a firm gardening favourite across the country and a must-have for female gardeners everywhere.
Launched just over a year ago by founder Rachel Eunson, Feverfew Garden Company was born from Rachel’s rediscovery of her love for gardening during the covid pandemic.
Feverfew’s hero product, the Original Ladies Gardening Gloves has received widespread acclaim, including the prestigious Best Buy Award for Lightweight Gloves. This recognition underscores the quality and innovation that Feverfew Garden Company brings to the gardening market and goes beyond Rachel’s wildest dreams in his first year in the market.
exclusively with Marshalls Garden at the Garden Press Event. This launch included the groundbreaking introduction of gardening gloves available in four sizes, exclusively sized for female hands – a first in the industry. The collection also expanded to include a new plum colour, offering more style options for discerning gardeners and was popular with social media influencers who continue to endorse the gloves.
In February 2024, Feverfew Garden Company proudly launched its products
Founder, Rachel Eunson of Feverfew Garden Company comments: “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in our first year. From winning awards to securing funding and launching new products, our journey has been both challenging and rewarding. We are grateful to our customers and partners who have supported us and are excited about the future as we continue to innovate and expand our offerings for the female gardener.” feverfewgarden.co.uk
DELVE INTO BLUE DIAMOND GROUP’S REMARKABLE SUCCESS STORY
The new largest garden centre group Blue Diamond has posted its 2023 accounts which shows a £24.2m profit – a 16% increase on 2022.
Sales for 2023 were £310.6m versus £259.3m last year, a 20% increase on 2022, and a 9% like for like uptake.
Simon Burke, chairman of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, says: “I am pleased to confirm
that for 2023, we achieved a profit before tax of £24.2m, an increase of 16% on 2022. Our sales were £310.6m versus £259.3m last year, a total increase of 20% and a like-for-like increase of 9%.
“This marks an important milestone for Blue Diamond, because we have now become the UK’s largest garden centre business by sales. Apart from the prestige associated with being the market leader, this brings benefits in terms of buying power and also the ability to form significant national partnerships such as that with the National Trust.
“I have referred previously to the work we have been doing to improve margins, and this is reflected in the increase in gross margin from 51.6% to 52.6%. Both garden centre and restaurant margins increased, and we were also helped by a higher proportion of restaurant sales in the overall mix.
“Operating profit ratios also showed improvement in the year, which is a good result considering the extent of inflation we saw in costs such as energy and labour. However, as you go further down the page, pre-tax profit and after-tax profit have grown
by much less, and in fact declined as a percentage of sales. This reflects the impact of the huge increase in interest rates over the past 18 months, and the increase in UK corporation tax to 25% in April 2023.”
Managing director, Alan Roper, says: “The figures are quite an endorsement of how strong Blue Diamond is in generating like-forlike sales growth. Our growth over the past four years is treble that of the GCA. The one department that is behind the industry is garden furniture, but we have worked on this and expect this year’s performance to be the beginning of clawing back lost ground.
“Core garden centre sales were up 3.7% against the prior year – which, although
modest in comparison with the industry that is still normalising after the post-pandemic sales boom – is nearly a 6% positive variance. Consumer demand for gardening and garden furniture products is yet to return to normal levels.
“Total group sales rose to £311m –a landmark performance that makes us the largest garden centre group in the UK.
“Inflation moderated significantly in 2023 (as predicted in last year’s report), meaning that volumes were only 1% lower than sales. Our average spend last year was £32.44, which is over £5 higher than the industry average (GCA) and is testament to our high standards of customer service and product choice.”
The annual review released by Blue Diamond goes into detail about the refurbishments, the environmental approach and a detailed look at the growth markets.
Seven of the Blue Diamond locations underwent renovations or refurbishments in 2023. Great Amwell saw a complete department refurb as well as the Cafe VH and Garden Cafe getting makeovers. Blackdown also improved their departments and the Greenhouse Restaurant on site.
The initiative extends to our seasonal nurseries, with a commitment to use peat-free compost for all vegetables, herbs, and certain pot beddings by 2024, setting a benchmark for the industry.”
Fosseway, which was acquired by the Guernsey-based business in 2023 had a complete department refurbishment. Beckworth was another new acquisition last year.
Blue Diamond’s 2023 accounts review the environmental approach of the company, which is engrained into every asset of the operation. The report states: “The transition to peat-free compost is a cornerstone of our sustainability strategy. Recognising the environmental detriment caused by peat harvesting, we have proactively offered peat-free alternatives for years and are on track to become entirely peatfree by the end of 2026.
“This ambition is already taking root in practices at Bridgemere and our recent acquisition, Worfield Nurseries, where hardy plants are grown in 100% peat-free compost.
Blue Diamond chair, Simon Burke, ends his statement in the report: “The new trading year has started well for us. There are certainly risks in the market, not least continuing labour inflation fuelled by the recent, very significant increase in the national living wage, supply chain disruption, and of course the uncertainty of an election year.
“We feel well prepared to deal with any developments in our markets, and are confident that we can grow sales and profits again this year. I never close my report without acknowledging the way our colleagues, working in every part of this business, contribute to its success and to the results you are seeing today. We are very lucky to be working with such a talented and enthusiastic team, and long may it continue.”
©Andrew Fletcher/Shutterstock.com
The Chelsea Flower Show is the premier gardening event in the world and fortunately just happens to arrive, every year, as our key gardening season reaches its peak.
We then get many hours of TV and radio exposure, mainly regarding the gardens and plants on display in London, but fortunately also on a number of related gardening topics.
The show certainly gets all the pundits trying to predict future trends in plants and gardening, which we in the industry then have to try to fulfil. I’m not sure any of these discussions are really relevant beyond the supply of the featured plants, as it’s always these new varieties that our customers want.
I’m sure some landscapers do very well with a few on-trend gardens, but the majority of gardeners are happy with their own themes. So, what were the main themes this year? The speeches at The Chelsea Flower
Show lunch were focused on getting children involved in gardening, which the RHS were strongly promoting with the ‘No Adults Allowed’ garden and also the Childrens’ Choice Award, which was voted on only by children. It was also good to hear King Charles’ comments to the children on the ‘No Adults Allowed’ garden when he asked them if they were growing vegetables. He followed this up by saying: “There’s nothing more fun than eating something you have grown; you should try it.”
What a great piece of encouragement to the nation’s children to get growing something they can eat. I know our Garden Centre Association (GCA) member garden centres are very good at holding in-store events to help get children hooked on growing and they support local schools and clubs as well. But maybe now is the time to start doing even more while we have some serious assistance in the media.
Another trend was water conservation –something else garden centres have been very good at promoting. Following the sixth wettest winter we have ever had, it’s no surprise that water was on the agenda.
The damp air throughout the winter has certainly caused issues for growers, requiring much more air movement to be installed in greenhouses, which has increased production costs. Water management was a key feature in Matthew Childs’ quarry-inspired garden and
Dr. Ed Barsley’s flood-resilient garden. There was a lot of talk about encouraging gardeners to trap water in gardens to slow down the flow of surface water to help reduce urban flooding.
It was also good to see a tree winning the RHS Plant of The Year – the Prunus ‘Starlight’ from Frank P Matthews. It’s described as graceful and compact, suitable for all gardens.
The nurseries in the marquee, displaying their amazing plants always impress me. It was great to see our Associate member Taylors Bulbs winning yet another Gold medal for its astonishing display of daffodils too, completely out of season!
As for my favourite garden? Well, it was a garden of water, Japanese acers, moss and iris, amongst other things, created by Kazuyuki Ishihara. Very relaxing!
Peter Burks, CEO of the GCA, is a fully trained horticulturalist and has worked in directorial and senior management roles for over 40 years. Peter helped set up/run the multi-awardwinning Sanders Garden World in Somerset. He also became regional manager of the South West for Wyevale Garden Centres, and general manager for Trelawney’s in Cornwall, as well as managing Fermoy’s Garden Centre in Devon. gca.org.uk
Cooking up a storm
Brits have always loved a barbecue, but the trend for a more comprehensive kitchen setup outdoors has continued to pick up pace in recent years. Timber outdoor leisure specialist, Zest has created a ‘cook, eat, relax’ collection, which provides a nature-inspired outdoor room. Products include the Terraza Outdoor Kitchen Range, for which units can be purchased individually or as a set that comprises two doubles with stainless steel counter tops, a corner unit and optional side table. Also available is a Garden Pizza Oven Table with central tabletop for the pizza oven, foldup sides for preparation or serving and shelves for drinks. Finally, a Garden Bar & Two Stool Set comes complete with shelving in the side panel, doors that support the counter and the option to store stools within. All products are made from sustainable slow-grown softwood from PEFC certified (PEFC/16-37-1490) forests. For those seeking a greener way to grill, they can count on Southern Trident’s Coco Burn.
WITH SUMMER FINALLY IN FULL SWING, GIMA MEMBERS PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON A FANTASTIC ARRAY OF OUTDOOR LIVING LINES THAT WILL HELP GENERATE REAL INTEREST AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETAILERS
Crafted from coconut shells, the high-quality charcoal ignites quickly, burns for longer, and delivers consistent heat for that ‘perfect sear’. Available in 3kg, 5kg and 10kg packs, it is the eco-conscious way to achieve grilling greatness, says the company. By choosing Coco Burn, you’re not just enhancing your BBQ experience; you’re also saving 1.2M trees annually from being felled for wood-based charcoal.
Ninja Woodfire’s range of Electric BBQ Grills and Outdoor Ovens help take the kitchen outdoors. Powered by electricity and flavoured by real wood pellets, Woodfire Technology lets users add authentic smoky flavours to anything they make. Perfect for gardens, patios, campsites, balconies and more.
Providing extra comfort for serious grillers, whilst helping to protect the flooring below heavy BBQs from getting scratched, scuffed or stained, Primeur’s Eco Trend BBQ Mat is the latest must-have. The mat’s 80x120cm footprint ensures it is large enough to accommodate most grills. Fat,
grease and sauces can be easily cleaned off, while the flexible nature of rubber reduces damage to any treasured BBQ tools that are accidentally dropped. Manufactured from recycled rubber tyres, the mat is tough enough to withstand extreme weather conditions, is resistant to stain, mould and mildew, and is non-toxic.
Entertaining al fresco is nothing without the ambience of good lighting and a nice heating solution. Transport your customers to those warm summer nights where time is spent in the garden curled up on outdoor sofas, fire pits roaring, with all-new retail theatre merchandising displays from La Hacienda, part of the AMES UK family. With two displays to choose from, these lifestyle-driven, ‘create the look’ inspired outdoor sets are designed to maximise sales per square metre. Not reliant on shelf or wall space, they can be located anywhere in the store, making them a flexible yet high-impact way to sell La Hacienda’s outdoor cooking and heating solutions. Retailers can choose from the quintessential patio/ decking area, where products can be dressed so that shoppers are able to immerse themselves in the complete look, including cross-category merchandising with garden furniture and décor accessories as well as Apta
pots; or a smaller garden scene, providing a perfect backdrop to merchandise fire pits, firebowls, and chimeneas.
Launching this summer, Solar Centre’s new product innovations are set to captivate customers. The Woodland Solar Mushroom Lights are a standout addition to any garden, featuring three bunches of five uniquely shaped, solarpowered mushroom lights that cast a magical glow on outdoor spaces. Eco-friendly and cablefree, these lights are perfect for those seeking sustainable garden illumination. Meanwhile, Solar Centre’s new Tyvek Solar Lanterns showcase stunning shades of terracotta, teal, and white. Crafted from durable Tyvek, they offer a chic, eco-conscious option for outdoor decor.
Making an impression
With customers investing in the latest furniture, grilling and lighting ranges, the last thing they want is for their garden to let the look down, which always creates opportunities with lines that help keep outdoor areas looking their best. The new GARDENA CleanSystem, with changeable cleaning heads is perfect for sprucing up an outdoor space. Whether cleaning glass, outdoor furniture, patios, decking or even the car, GARDENA’s CleanSystem will have it sparkling in no time. The CleanSystem is attached directly to the garden hose, for effortless cleaning results. The system comes with its own cleaning tabs and shampoos, and an adjustable water flow on the handle mean users can clean any outdoor surface exactly as needed, without wasting water. Meanwhile, the new Qwickhose Mini Spray Heads Set will assist in simplifying garden maintenance, ensuring plants, flowers and
pots are well-watered. The set includes four compact spray heads: Shower Spray - for watering plants, Jet- for blasting dirt, Mist- for delicate flowers, Open Flow- for filling watering cans, as well as a handy storage mount keeping everything in one place.
For many customers, great outdoor spaces often start with the lawn, and they can get great results from Doff Power Up All Weather Lawn Seed, thanks to its unique nitro-coat technology. The blend of nitrogen, seaweed and mycorrhiza allows for the seed to retain essential moisture, ultimately reducing water usage. Doff makes every seed count by coating every single one, helping to reduce loss during broadcasting and giving each seed a greater chance of germination. The specially curated variety of seed allows for growth, even in less-than-ideal weather conditions, delivering less wastage and more powerful performance.
Outdoor living isn’t all about entertaining, it’s about your customers being able to enjoy and put their own stamp on the space.
Forest Garden has tracked the rising popularity of structures for versatile outdoor living spaces and, in response, continued to expand its range. New for 2024, is a showstopping Premium Radial Pergola. With a modern design and strong lines, this impressive piece of garden architecture promises to be more than a
garden centrepiece. Perfect as a corner pergola or more open areas, it features horizontal rafters radiating outwards from one of the four sturdy uprights. Also new to the collection are two premium versions of the ever-popular Ultima Pergola. Now in robust heavier timber, these pergolas create a commanding garden statement. With the GYO trend showing no signs of abating, G Plants has launched its Autumn/Winter ‘Grow Your Own’ collection, which includes products such as the BEES™ Gifts Chilli Basalt Bowl, Fragrant Herbs Grow Set and French Bulldog and Pug Herb Planters, designed for novice and experienced gardeners. Additionally, the Bee Friends® with Nature range promotes rewilding to support pollinators, offering items like the Honeycomb Wildflower Bucket, Seed Shakers and Seed Bombs.
Helping to boost sales in aggregates, Meadow View Stones’ new Themed POS, which provides inspirational garden displays to a common theme, be it a design trend, colour palette or specific project, has been well received by customers and end-users. Initial uptake from customers has been very positive, reporting improvements to the visual appearance of the category, an uplift in basket-spend and overall increases in sales.
GIMA is a membership organisation of around 170 companies representing the majority share of suppliers and manufacturers in the UK gardening industry. Its goal is to promote the commercial, trading and industrial interests of its UK and EU-based members. Run by a team of professionals, and governed by a council of members, GIMA is funded by membership subscriptions and services. Its extensive range of services and support caters to all members. gima.org.uk
THIS MONTH, ANDREW BURTON EXPLORES THE VALUE IN UK GARDEN CENTRES OFFERING DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCES
Recently I was asked if there is a standard design to a garden centre, and I responded by saying that gone are the days of duplicating other garden centres; there is no generic style, because every centre has a point of difference and strength that needs considering. Yes, there are similarities with many, but each needs a personal focus.
For over 20 years now, we have seen some garden centres evolve from being plant and gardening based shops, into rural shopping villages, encompassing a range of products and experiences to give the customer more than they can get in any other shop on the high street or retail park. Others remain core to the original design and offer, but even these have adapted to improve in lots of ways, identifying data driven specific opportunities – whether this was by adding a café, improving the car parking or creating more under cover space,
we do see garden centres continue to move with the times.
Essentially, what we have observed, especially since the turn of the century, is the personalities of our garden centres changing, allowing different businesses to have different brands and propositions, with the aim to give their customers more choice and create a point of difference for themselves.
As the customer needs and the consumer landscape continues to change, we see garden centres continue to shape their design, layout and offer to maximise their potential. It is clear to me that these changes have the same principles as the original garden centres decades ago, which is to maintain the core objectives – these being to create unique customer experiences and give customers what they need to encourage them to visit you time and time again. The way businesses have done this is through infrastructure development and design.
WE SEE GARDEN CENTRES CONTINUE TO SHAPE THEIR DESIGN, LAYOUT AND OFFER, TO MAXIMISE THEIR POTENTIAL
I feel that there are some clear headlines and influencing factors when designing a garden centre. These include keeping any changes complementary to the existing offer, determining and influencing the consumer’s journey through layouts, and by creating a positive customer experience and ‘wow
factor’ that customers remember, which is unique to you!
The owners vision may be different in every garden centre, but the aims remain the same – get the customer to enjoy their experience and maximise average transaction spend. If it is that easy, why aren’t all garden centres the same? It’s clear that businesses
want and need to be individual, identifiable and relevant.
When I consider our industry, we have a mix of strengths in different departments. We have some that are strong on gardening and plants, others that focus on catering, and others in different areas such as giftware and seasonal goods – we also have many that encompass everything in this list.
Is there a template that fits all? My view is no. Every business has different potential and this is why design and individuality are so important, and in my opinion each garden
centre needs to make an individual statement so customers can relate and refer to it. In the past 25 years within the industry, I can truly say that (nearly) every independent garden centre I have visited has a different personality – whether that is in look, range or culture – and this is what makes the industry so exciting.
One way to achieve an individual statement is to design a retail environment that is unique and captures the attention of customers. It can be innovative, immersive and enjoyable. Another way is to use tried and tested layouts to create an easy shopping experience. Or you may want to add new departments to add value to the customer journey. Whatever route garden centres go down, the design of the garden centre, internally and externally, adjoined to the brand vision, is essential.
So how easy it is to design the correct layout and ambience for a garden centre? The simple truth is that it takes work, consideration and data. Often starting with a vision to define goals, the design can either be driven by creativity or commercialism, but often is a mix of both and this is essential.
The vision can help to drive the creativity when it comes to aspects such as colour schemes, atmosphere, furniture style and immersive displays. However, without data clarifying the commercial aspects and giving us clear financial information – essentially, understanding turnover potential and profit versus costs to develop a concept – a project would not have the reasoning to take the design steps.
It should not be under-estimated how much importance lies in the design and layout as part of the strategy for retail and catering success in a garden centre. It is important to influence the direction of the customer journey and manage their behaviour by considering the garden centre’s flow and merchandise placement to maximise adjacencies. This also includes identifying the correct shopping locations which is essential whatever the site.
I’m lucky in the job I do. I work with some fantastic garden centres throughout the UK and I’m also lucky that I work with a really experienced and professional team that focuses on the whole business strategy, including commerciality, design and town planning. Because of this, I understand that it is really important to consider all of these aspects when designing a garden centre, and for anyone on the journey of design, having a team around you that understands how to fuse all of these criteria together is essential.
So, when I think about ‘why does design matter to a garden centre’, I often smile, and this is because I reflect on all the different personalities we have across the industry, look at how many businesses do the same thing in different ways, and realise that because of design and everything this encompasses, it makes our industry unique, bespoke, relevant and commercially effective.
About Andrew Burton
Andrew works for Pleydell Smithyman as an associate director, focusing on garden centre and farm shop advice, with an overarching aim of business strategy and development. He provides site development, and commercial and operational support. He sits on the Farm Retail Association Council, and previously on the Garden Centre Association Board. andrewb@pleydellsmithyman.co.uk
Handy will be showcasing their extensive product ranges and highlighting its support for dealers in its biggest-ever garden machinery event, Handy LIVE 2024, which will be held at the prestigious Moulton Grange Country Estate in Northamptonshire on Thursday 5th September
The first event of its kind for Handy, it combines the latest expo on Handy’s garden machinery with a full days entertainment, whilst also providing guests with exclusive on-the-day offers and bespoke point-of-sale opportunities to help dealers/retailers maximise earning potential.
Handy’s brands - Webb, The Handy, Greenworks and AVA – will be on display and available for guests to get hands on with. This will include cordless, petrol, electric and hand powered lawnmowers, line trimmers, hedge trimmers, pole saws, chainsaws, blowers & vacuums, tillers, trolleys, spreaders, log splitters, pressure washers and more.
In an exclusive preview, the new Webb Eco 20V Cordless Battery range will also be launched on the day.
Live demonstrations from gardening expert Adam Woolcott (a Chelsea Garden Show multiple award winner) and TV Presenter Tommy Cross will run throughout the day. A visit to the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside
wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the great outdoors so guests will have the chance to become target experts and try their hand at a spot of air rifle shooting and axe throwing, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Moulton Grange Country Estate.
Handy’s 2025 pricing will be available on the day, enabling retailers/buyers to plan effectively for the upcoming year.
Tickets are limited so to secure a place at Handy LIVE 2024 please visit: www.handys.co.uk Telphone: 01793 333220 email: marketing@handys.co.uk
Before we begin, let’s clear something up. Influencers are not freeloaders out to get free product. They are in fact a valuable asset to brands and offer collaborative ways of working to reach engaged, loyal customers. They are trusted by followers, so their endorsement is powerful – a post or story can have a dramatic impact on brands’ social accounts and, crucially, sales.
With 84% of consumers saying they have made a purchase based on an influencer’s recommendation, influencer marketing should now be a key strand in any marketing strategy. For buyers, decision-makers, and marketing managers in garden retail, understanding and leveraging influencer marketing is no longer just optional – it’s imperative.
One of the many benefits of influencer marketing is that it can be trackable, delivering
tangible ROI while also amplifying brand visibility and enhancing credibility. Looking to grow your followers? You’ll see the spike pretty instantly when the influencer posts. Running a product campaign with direct links to a certain for the activity.
product page? You’ll see direct click-throughs and can monitor the conversion to sales.
With the right tracking tools and metrics in place, influencer marketing can offer precise, trackable data that can be directly matched against your business objectives. You can then measure the impact with precision, whether through increases in website traffic, social media engagement, or direct sales conversions. Then, you can monitor and analyse this over time, learn from the results, and adapt your strategy to ensure you are continuously getting maximum ROI.
Doing all you can to maximise the return Influencer marketing shouldn’t be considered a one-hit wonder for quick wins; it should be part of ongoing brand-building activity focused on building customer loyalty.
It can’t be overstated just how important it is to make sure that influencer marketing is carried out as part of an integrated strategy. This means that, for influencer collaborations to really have an effect, brands must play their part too. There is little point in paying an influencer to do anything if your own social
To support influencer marketing, brands must also invest time in making sure their own profiles are active and then continue to engage, conduct ongoing outreach and arrange wider collaborations. By laying the foundations at home first you can amplify the reach and impact of your influencer partnerships. Of course, doing so takes time and resource, both of which we know are often sparse, but it will ultimately pay off and lead to a much more successful campaign.
If it’s your first foray into the world of influencer marketing, start small to test the waters. You needn’t jump in headfirst with someone with hundreds of thousands of followers – micro influencers, who tend to have incredibly well-engaged audiences, can often be a good way to find your feet without breaking the bank.
When it comes to influencer marketing, the main thing to remember is that it shouldn’t be the only thing you do. If you jump straight in without doing the groundwork and simply pay an influencer for one post, you’ll end up disappointed. If you instead take the time to do the research, build your own profiles and approach things strategically, you’ll soon turn your social profiles becoming core sales channels delivering trackable sales.
About Holly Daulby
Holly Daulby, founder of Honest Communications, the chosen PR and social media agency of many leading garden brands including elho, Hillier, Town & Country, WOLF Garten, and Wilkinson Sword, discusses how influencer marketing can bring benefits to the garden centre retail market. honestcommunications.co.uk
GARDEN CENTRE RETAIL CATCHES UP WITH HOLLIE CLARKE TO HEAR ALL ABOUT HER DYNAMIC ROLE
Hollie Clarke is the clothing, pet and bird care buyer at Worcestershire-based Webbs Garden Centres. Here, Garden Centre Retail catches up with Clarke about the growing pet sector and what they are doing in this market.
What’s your history with Webbs Garden Centres and the sector in general?
I joined Webbs about six years ago, in 2018. I’d unfortunately been made redundant from
Countrywide Farmers and its agricultural retail chain, which went into administration. It had garden centres, but very small ones, and not in all its stores. I joined Countrywide in 2009 as a junior buyer on pet; but the buyer I was working with left shortly after I joined, so I had the sole responsibility for it.
In January 2014, I moved into range planning on pets and the seasonal categories. I was helping the buyers work through the range review process and working to the critical path, and then creating their plans for pets and
seasonal products. I hadn’t had any real garden centre experience until I moved to Webbs. I joined Webbs to do clothing and cookshop and then, when we came back from furlough in July 2020, there had been a shakeup of roles and responsibilities – as one member of staff took early retirement after furlough. I dropped cookshop and took on pet. So, I buy pet, clothing and bird care for the garden centre.
In terms of the pet department in the Webbs centres, was that something that was there
when you arrived at the business in 2018, or something that’s grown?
It was here when I arrived – it was 2006 that the pet department became the size it is today. In 2006, the garden centre had an extension and pet was part of the extension. There was aquatics and there was a bit of pets alongside aquatics, but I think the business soon realised the potential of pet, and it had a lot more space given to it.
We also have a vet on site; they joined in 2017. They’re totally separate, and rent the space from us. But they are situated at the back of the department, so anybody coming into the vet with their dogs or cats must walk through, which is amazing.
This time last year, we put in a pet department at our Millets Farm store, which we bought 12 months before from Frosts Garden Centres. So again, due to the success – and we knew how well pet can do – we put in sixty bays of pet down there. It’s a lovely department.
We’ve got 90 bays up here at Wychbold of just dog and cat. Our pet department is split into two levels. On the ground floor level, we’ve got all their cat and dog products –then just down the steps, we’ve got all the aquatics, reptiles and small animal. Just after
that, it’s the Lakeland concession. So, it gets quite a lot of footfall through there.
In terms of footfall, is the typical person going through the pet departments a genuine buyer, or are they there to look at the animals as an attraction?
I think the with the aquatics and the small animal, it is destination. We’ve got the aquatics sector, and customers know they can get help and advice from the staff down there. Obviously, you need it with fish and reptiles; the staff need the knowledge to help customers make the right decisions. But with cat and dog, I think a lot of it is impulse.
The majority of our sales are treats and toys, and food is number three. I have no way of proving it, but in my gut, customers come to us for food due to the convenience. They are in on a Sunday afternoon, and they pick up food because they remember they need it.
I would like to change it around a bit because, obviously, if you get the food sales and they’re coming in regularly every four to six weeks, then that is brilliant.
We’re not a destination for food; but we tend to sell the well-known brands. If we are trying something new food-wise, it can be trickier. But we do well with frozen.
Some garden centres avoid food, as customers often pick this up at supermarkets instead. With the frozen and raw food offers, for example, are you searching for a more loyal customer base?
Yes. We found that at Millets Farm, we’ve really struggled with food and the food side of things, and I’ve just done a review for them. We’ve been in there for 12 months, and we found that we needed somebody there, on the department full time to talk to people about nutrition and the food, and we haven’t had that until now. We need to get that relationship with pet owners, and pet people love to talk about their pets, and show photographs. If you haven’t got anybody in that department to build that relationship and that rapport with people, you’re really up against it with food and health products.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR SALES ARE TREATS AND TOYS, AND FOOD IS NUMBER THREE
It’s easy for customers pick up a bag of treats or a new toy without much hassle. But when you’re talking about food, especially because it’s expensive, especially these big bags of highmeat foods, you need someone there.
In terms of the revenue contribution, what does the pet department do for Webbs?
At Wychbold, it’s about 3.5% of turnover here. It’s a bit more difficult to put a number on it at Millets Farm because it’s such early days. But between July 2023 and the end of the year, they turned over £92k on pet. It’s going the right way – hopefully with our dedicated person, that’ll get even better.
Do you deal with wholesalers, distributors, or is there a market for you to go direct to manufacturers when buying your products for the pet department?
We only really use one main wholesaler, which is Pedigree, and that’s mainly because it’s easier than going direct. With brands like James Wellbelove, you need to buy a lorry load if you go direct, and there’s no way we’re going to do that. But most of our buying would be direct to the manufacturers and suppliers. Pedigree then helps us fill in the gaps with things that we can’t get direct from a margin point of view.
Is there a local element to it? Perhaps more boutique manufacturers who are offering something slightly different – is that what you go for?
With accessories, there’s potential to go into the boutique market. Everybody also seemed to create their own leads and harness brand in lockdown; but we do tend to go for the bigger brands.
We also do well with Christmas in the department – Christmas jumpers and Christmas bits and pieces.
We’ve got a cooling range in at the moment too, with garden sprinklers and things the dog puts their foot on and it squirts water. Our customers like that kind of fun element to their pets.
We did Halloween for the first time a couple of years ago, and that went down well.
What’s the typical customer to the pet department? In terms of demographic, does this department represent the wider garden centre customer?
We have a lot of savvy young families coming in. We also have younger people with dogs coming in, and our cat sales are doing well.
I read something recently that said, “cat ownership is really growing with Millennials. A dog is a bit too much; having to be there with it all the time, or walk it all the time. But a cat is a lot easier.” It seems to be the quirky toys and things that we seem to be doing well with.
You would traditionally say the garden centre customer is your older person, but we have got a good mix. The pet market has really changed in the past decade.
WE DID HALLOWEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND THAT WENT DOWN WELL
And it is all things now like licky mats, toys, brain training toys, and things that will keep them occupied.
We are not such a traditional pet department anymore – I think that we are more innovative.
What about educating your customers? Are you using the pet department to do that, and have you seen that influencing the creation of a loyal customer base?
In aquatics, and with small animals – we have got live animals – we talk to our customers. We have got a person in on ‘small animals’ every day; they will talk to customers and always vet them before they proceed with the sale. And if they don’t think that it is a good home, they will refuse the sale.
In aquatics, our customers know the staff and will come in for advice.
We will use that within ‘cat and dog’ to try and trade up to a better nutritional food – we have got a ‘good’, ‘better’ or ‘best’ offering. If customers didn’t know which one to go for, our team will talk to them. Suppliers will also come in and talk to the team and give them some training.
looking at doing more demo days. I have been talking to Royal Canin about coming in to do one, for example.
How has sustainability changed the way that you buy your products? Have you got a sustainable buying policy for pet?
It’s always at the front of our mind, and we want to buy as sustainably as possible. That would go across the whole business. We are committed to working towards a green future.
We have got a large number of solar panels here at Wychbold, and I’m not sure of the numbers, but it contributes to a huge amount of the electricity we use here.
Sustainability in pet is important for so many different reasons – health and wellbeing of pets especially, and I’ve discontinued all the rawhide treats that we had. We’ve got a range of bedding such as hay and straw which is all in biodegradable packaging; we don’t do the plastic ones anymore.
We’ve sold dog toys that are made from bottles, as well as the poo bags that you can compost; I don’t have any plastic ones in the department anymore. It’s still quite hard. There are still quite a lot of areas where there’s a lot of plastic involved. But we’re just trying to do what we can, where we can.
What’s the future of the pet department?
Are there growth plans?
That’s good for relationship-building for you as well, isn’t it?
Yes – it can be ad hoc, but it can also be more formalised training. Now that the effects of covid are fairly non-existent, more suppliers are
Our pet department is very much presented in gondolas, in very straight lines, and I would like to get stuff off of those and make it a bit more in keeping with the rest of the garden centre –not so ‘high street’.
I’d like a bit of theatre – and that is one of our wishes. But we need to do it in a way that we can still get the volumes through. Sometimes you need to create that theatre, but then you might have to sacrifice the volume.
I would also like to get pet into at least one other of our stores, and I would like to increase our interaction with customers so we can create pet open days or training in the stores too.
UK LEADING GARDEN CENTRES AND SUPPLIERS SHARE HOW THEY CREATE AN ENGAGING EXPERIENCE
Visual merchandising plays a crucial role in transforming garden centres into immersive and engaging shopping destinations. Effective techniques are essential for boosting sales and revenue and attracting repeat customers. Attractive displays and strategic product placement can influence buying decisions, sparking impulse purchases and ultimately driving sales and increasing turnover.
Visual merchandising can help garden retailers establish a distinctive brand identity. By creating cohesive, eye-catching, and enticing displays, garden centres can differentiate themselves from competitors.
Bents Garden Centre prides itself on its merchandising as Rachel Bent, head of creative and visual merchandising outlines: “We have three ‘Bents Ways’ – colleagues, customers and wow. Wow is all about creating the moments and experiences that customers will remember. Merchandising is central to this, helping to make our products look and feel more exclusive and special. Everyone can sell products but it’s the way they are put together that helps make the difference”
The team at Notcutts also wants customers to feel fully immersed in their displays. Packed with a variety of plants, seating, pots, and wildlife houses, these displays
show customers exactly how they can recreate a similar look in their gardens. As visual merchandising manager, Pam Garside, explains: “Visual displays don’t have to be enormous; they can be set up in a small space if you’ve got the right formula. Customers might not have realised they needed that stunning foliage plant until they saw the inspirational display created to catch their eye – a display filled with lush green leaves, a wonderful array of pots, and the plant food these beauties need.”
This is something that Alix Newbitt-Brown, merchandiser at British Garden Centres agrees with: “Everything across our stores is designed to provide the customer with a visually interesting journey through the centre and drive sales and repeat visits. Merchandising is key to influencing sales by bringing certain products to
the fore and highlighting ranges, either new or ones that have stagnated and need pushing.”
Customer data also provides a steer for displays as Rebecca Stanton, brand execution manager at Dobbies tells us: “Through customer data, we are allowed to understand all aspects of our customers’ pattern, be it how frequent they visit, which department is their favourite and other aspects to tailor our tools for visual merchandising. The best tool technique any visual merchandiser can use is to take what the customer wants on board.”
This is echoed at Bents with customer data, such as that which they can generate from the ‘be inspired’ privilege club, to tailor displays as well as different customer groups and how
they shop. Bent says: “We also think social media will become even more prominent with merchandising including more opportunities for selfies and photo opportunities.”
Planning, seasonal transitions, and highimpact displays
Planning is crucial for any range, whether it’s promotions, popular lines, or collections.
“It’s the visual merchandiser’s job to track sales on products and move them to a better location if needed,” says Garside.
“Displays of collections are always merchandised in secondary locations. This could be within a ‘Home’ room set or on a tabletop display using height, depth, and interesting
arrangements. This allows our customers to browse at their leisure, away from the main walkways, so they can make their selections without feeling rushed.”
Seasonal changes are made to the displays two or three times a year. Newbitt-Brown tells us: “Large set piece displays, like window or entrance displays, are changed to reflect the seasons. British Garden Centres typically start the year with a spring/summer display. This changes to an autumn display as summer ends, and then to a Christmas display from autumn onwards, coinciding with the opening of Christmas departments within the stores.”
The festive season is big for Bents too: “Christmas is when visual merchandising plays a massive role. Our displays are designed and built by our in-house VM and joinery teams. It helps create a destination that customers love spending time in combined with inspirational displays they want to buy from,” Bent adds.
However, as Garside explains, there are other micro-seasons to consider: “Always be
THIS ALLOWS OUR CUSTOMERS TO BROWSE AT THEIR LEISURE, AWAY FROM THE MAIN WALKWAYS
aware of the weather conditions and what’s happening around you throughout the season. Take Wimbledon as an opportunity to showcase teas, scones, jam, strawberries, meringues, juices, and bubbly as a focal display on a high footfall walkway during this short period.”
Stanton adopts a similar approach at Dobbies: “We recently worked with our social media team on coordinated activity to coincide with RHS Chelsea to ensure that what our customers saw online, was readily available to buy. We used point of sale next to inspiring displays of plants, and shot-related content for our social channels, providing a coherent, omnichannel experience for our customers.”
Nurturing emerging talent in merchandising is vital for the industry’s growth. One talent
is Jodie Allen at BGC’s Chipperfield Garden Centre. Allen has been a valued team member for 13 years. Her exceptional talent for creating innovative merchandising displays that catch customers’ eyes continues to shine. Her creativity is evident in her displays, which have become very popular via LinkedIn posts.
The Glee Talent Store, launched in 2023, provides a platform for aspiring garden centre professionals to learn from industry experts like Debbie Flowerday and Michael Perry. Participants gain skills in visual merchandising, product selection, and understanding customer behaviour. The programme culminates in an industry showcase where they design pop-up stores, featuring either houseplants or outdoor plants, displayed at the Glee show for visitors.
Peter Burks, chair of the GCA, which supports the initiative, says: “The GCA backs the Talent Store because it’s a yearly opportunity for a group of people from our industry to gain
expert help, advice, and a fresh perspective to add to their skill set. They then showcase this newfound knowledge in the merchandising displays they create for the whole industry to see at Glee. Last year’s displays were particularly impressive; they could have been replicated in any garden centre.
“Visual merchandising in garden centres has improved dramatically in recent years, with stores now arguably ahead of the high street. We’ve seen fantastic Christmas displays for years, and now that effort is extending throughout the year.
Suppliers’ view
“Strong merchandising is evident across all product groups, even garden sundries. Functional displays promoting water conservation, for example, are becoming more commonplace. The overall standard of visual merchandising just keeps getting better.”
Stanton at Dobbies agrees, saying: “Listen to customers and learn from them. They are the people we do it for. Understand what they want and observe how they move around the space.”
Suppliers are also playing their part in helping retailers create inspirational and informative displays. Taylors Bulbs has a long-standing history of collaborating with customers to develop visually striking and inspiring seasonal bulb displays, as marketing manager, Ian Clark explains: “Staff training on bulb visual merchandising is a major focus of Taylors’ bi-annual open day. This training covers a range of topics, including colour theory, creating layered displays, and crafting effective signage to inform customers.
“We encourage our customers to create inspiring and educational displays for their consumers. This includes highlighting bulbs for specific purposes, demonstrating the ease of planting, and guiding customers on what to plant, when, and where.
“Plant areas have become a feast for the eyes with hotspot displays, plants for purposes and bulk merchandising of impactful flowers and foliage. We’re encouraging stores to apply some of these same principles to their bulb displays.”
David Nicholson, UK & ROW sales manager at elho, echoes the importance of visual merchandising. “The impact of visual merchandising shouldn’t be underestimated. When the consumer is faced with rows products, it can be overwhelming. When we launched the ocean collection – a range of plant pots made from maritime waste – we created ocean-themed display units featuring eye-catching shades of blue to complement the pots, with accessories such as netting and rope to demonstrate the materials used to make the product. This also conveyed the sustainability messaging simply yet effectively.
“Suppliers are encouraging cross-selling, which is extremely beneficial for basket building. In the future, I think visual merchandising will incorporate more advanced technology. Digital displays and interactive apps could provide virtual garden design simulations, making the experience more immersive than ever before.”
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Garden centres have changed almost beyond recognition in the last decade. Although keeping horticulture at the heart of the business in this sector is essential, the locations are becoming leisure and retail destinations that the public use for entertainment.
As mentioned, horticulture must be the USP of garden centres – after all, it’s that area that differentiates them from high-street department stores, and it’s what the industry does best. But what other revenue streams have the UK’s garden centres explored and been successful with?
One area to diversify your offering is through concessions – shops within a shop. Traditionally, this was one of the main ways of bringing in new customers that align with a garden centre’s target demographic. In recent times, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Pavers and Maidenhead Aquatics are partnering with garden centres on a more regular basis.
There are a host of options though. Typically, concessions are brought in to provide specialist retail operations in areas or sectors where garden centres may lack experience. Fashion brands, specialist homewares and even food and beverage are all options to explore.
There are obviously positives and negatives with installing a concession in your garden centre. The positives, some of which are mentioned above, include less stress and a guaranteed monthly rental payment. The negatives include the amount of potential revenue a different business is taking out of your tills.
Another more regular area of diversification is soft play or children’s play areas. It’s long been noted that garden centres offer the ideal location for parents to socialise and use as a meeting place due to the vast parking facilities and the space afforded in garden centre cafes and restaurants. And with catering and foodservice
operations greatly improving, customers are getting a much better quality of food and coffee in garden centres than ever before.
This is where the option of a children’s play area could be considered. Last year, Tong Garden Centre joined forces with Yorkshire Muddings Forest School to offer children and their adults a brand new unique outdoor play session hidden in a secret woodland area on site.
The venture at Grass Hoppers hopes to welcome an additional 2,500 children through the woodland doors in its first year, and sessions cost £12 for the first child and £6 per child thereafter, non-walkers and adults go free.
Dobbies has 46 soft play areas across its 77 stores, with 70% of those being available to prebook online.
The chain also hosts birthday parties in their play areas and has a full safety measure policy. The age range for the Dobbies Little Seedlings
play areas is from 0-8 years old and cost £2 per child.
Food halls and farms shops is a category that the Garden Centre Association now includes in its monthly Barometer of Trade report, with regular revenue increases featured for GCA members.
Farm shops are quickly becoming a staple at garden centres, and customers
increasingly expect to be able to browse them during their visits.
The farm shop at Bellis Brothers in Wrexham is lauded as one of the best in the country and according to its website, it prides itself on ‘offering customers homegrown seasonal produce, while also stocking an array of everyday food and drink alongside those artisan items to tempt taste buds.’
Bellis Brothers works closely with many local producers to offer customers products from the
daily essentials such as bread, milk and eggs (all from within a 17-mile radius) through to luxury ice cream, preserves, chutneys, cakes and craft beers.
And at the heart of its offering is a butchers and deli counter with a range of quality meats, cheeses, pies, pastries and salads.
Another retail area that garden centres are starting to take advantage of is the pet sector. Combined, the garden centre and pet shop industry is worth £5.2bn to the UK economy, and there are certain synergies between the two.
Knights Garden Centres in Surrey is one of the many businesses that is offering its customers pet products in store. It has even created a petspecific blog on its website to offer advice to pet
£5.2BN TO THE
owners whilst positioning itself as an expert in this field. The business offers a range of pet products such as bedding, food and toys for dogs, cats, birds and rodents.
Hillier Garden Centre in Horsham has taken this one step further, partnering with Merryweathers Grooming and Boutique, which offers grooming services from professionally qualified groomers. Its services includes coat cuts, dental hygiene, nail filing and bath and blow dries!
There are many options available if you are considering diversifying your offering, and many excellent examples countrywide of how garden centres are working to give their customers the best experience when visiting stores.
Each potential area needs consideration –the ways that these services or products are merchandised should be thought about as well.
But as garden centres continue to be the shining lights of the retail sector, it’s clear to see that what garden centres are doing to improve customer experience is something that all retailers should be following.
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As restaurants continue to grow in importance in the garden centre sector, many businesses are professionalising their catering offering in a big way.
Traditionally, garden centre cafes were more likely to be a counter service operation, with customers ordering at the till and taking a seat, or even receiving their food whilst standing at the counter.
However, covid may have changed this – whether it’s a coincidence or something positive came from something negative, technology and table ordering opportunities arose, with many garden centres deciding to venture into new ways of servicing their customers.
But what is the standard now? Is there a better way of doing food service? Is there an argument to offer a hybrid service with counter and table working in tandem?
Thomas Moore, catering operations manager at Perrywood Garden Centres uses counter service operations at both sites in East Anglia, but there may be plans on the horizon to diversify and adapt the style in the future.
Moore says that counter service feeds into the garden centre’s USP, with beautiful homemade cakes to see and choose, and a faster speed of service. “Our growth, and appetite of our guests to dine with us, has meant that for us to control the pace of footfall both in and out of the dining areas, counter service is currently the best service model for our setup,” he explains.
Counter service allows the staff to dictate the speed that checks are sent to the kitchen. As the dining areas are busy during peak times, this approach helps the business to have a more controlled approach, rather than a ‘free for all’ or a booking system, which then seemingly leaves tables empty for periods of time.
Moore understands the concerns some customers may have with this approach. “Counter service in a busy, and often full environment can be difficult for customers, and I understand that,” he says. “Due to our own successes, any deviation away from counter service without complete renovation and layout change would result in revenue loss.”
However, guest feedback usually indicates that the catering team is quick and well organised in its service.
Moore and the team at Perrywood are, however, looking at options to adapt, with adoption of technology to allow for table service – something that could be in the offing.
Polhill Garden Centre’s Novell’s Restaurant offers a first-come, first-served table service to its customers, offering a little bit of luxury in the dining setting. The business is aware that this may mean that customers have a short wait for a table, but there are plenty of covers available.
To cater to the those that just want a coffee and a cake for example, there is also Novell’s Coffee Corner on site – offering takeaway hot drinks and sweet and savoury snacks.
In January this year, Hilltop Garden Centre decided to turn its Floral Days Restaurant
WE HAVE CHOSEN TO GO FOR COUNTER SERVICE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE QR CODES ON THE TABLES
into a table service offering. The Essex-based business has listed on its website three reasons why it feels this is the best option: less time queuing, improved comfort and uninterrupted enjoyment.
In a move described as a delightful upgrade to the dining experience, Hilltop informs customers that it is now bringing a more comfortable and efficient way to enjoy meals.
Nicky Manley, the restaurant manager at newly refurbished Brykley Park Garden Centre in Burton-on-Trent, tells us: “We have chosen to go for counter service, but we also have QR codes on the tables.
“We have found that it has reduced any queues, and the speed of the service is much improved.
“Customers like the choice of service and all the staff are enjoying it – our staffing levels
have increased, but this has made us have a massive increase in sales.”
Manley mentions that the refurbishment of the restaurant may have contributed to the increase in revenue, but the QR codes have led to reduced queueing and a higher average order, whilst also future proofing the offering, showing that the decision to offer a hybrid service is paying off.
Innovorder is a France-based tech business supporting the restaurant industry in its digital transformation by relying on two pillars: a state-of-the-art technological solution and strong human support.
Using tabletop tablets or via a QR code at the table has distinct advantages according to the business. Firstly, tabletop ordering allows the secure online processing of multiple payments. Payment data is encrypted and stored to
prevent any risk of fraud or piracy. As a result, customers can be assured that their banking information is secure.
Secondly, it saves time – not only for the customers at the table, but for the teams in the restaurant too. According to the Innovorder website, restaurateurs can save up to 12 minutes per table with digital ordering.
Other advantages include reduced errors, easier menu management, an easier method to split bills between customers and even increased sales.
Finally, ordering at the table can help build customer loyalty. People love convenience and will be more inclined to return to the establishment if table ordering is available. This technology can be used to collect data on ordering habits, which can help provide offers and further enhance the customer experience.
In terms of offering counter service, there are also distinct advantages. There tends to be
lower labour costs for this type of service, with less staff needed per shift. It also allows a faster service and offers better upselling opportunities, with staff on the till there to offer cakes that are visible to the customers.
As the catering operations in garden centres continue to grow, customer expectations are also growing. Gone are the days when instant coffee from a serving hatch is considered sufficient – a professional eating experience is what customers are expecting.
With freshly prepared meals on offer, the service should match the standards that garden centres are achieving, and there are many ways to achieve this. There is no right and wrong – a garden centre restaurant must do what is required, making sure the customers are satisfied, and the restaurant performs to the level that makes it worthwhile.
Retail finance, or buy now, pay later (BNPL), has grown substantially over the past 10 years, yet there are still sectors not using it.
Apex Insight reported in 2023 that the market was worth £12.5bn a year.
When walking around a local garden centre looking for inspiration, the Buyline team was presented with expert staff, a wide range of products, and displays that delivered the garden inspiration we were after. However, what we were not presented with were flexible payment methods.
The Buyline team also visited the largest DIY store in the UK. Within a few feet of the door, the team was presented with hot tubs on finance, and
sheds, paving slabs, and furniture, all available with flexible payment options.
So, why are they offering flexible payments?
In a cost-of-living crisis, where people are more careful with their money, allowing them to buy what they want and spread the cost is essential.
Over the past few years, the growth of BNPL has meant that finance is no longer just about high-value goods – it’s used for clothes, shoes, tech, and more.
• A ny company can now offer interest-free credit to their customers for up to 12 months without the need for FCA registration.
• Customer applications are now easier than ever; they can complete them on their own, removing any privacy or data concerns.
• Buyline has a 24/7 training platform.
• Subsidy costs are not as high as losing the sale to a competitor.
• You get paid within three days of the customer receiving their goods.
30% of our business partners tell us that when a customer uses flexible payments, they are more likely to spend more. 66% of indoor furniture customers use retail finance to make their purchases. For outdoor furniture, it’s estimated the number is less than 10%, mainly due to the availability of flexible payments and not the desire of the customer.
So why doesn’t everyone offer it?
Many small businesses have shied away from offering retail finance because of the complications, regulations, and costs. However, these reasons are legacy issues. Traditional retail finance companies have barriers to offering finance, such as minimum turnover and finance volumes.
Buyline is a small retail finance provider based in Gloucester, England. It understands small businesses and has tailored its proposition to support SMEs.
With its BuylineGo product, its team can get you trading within weeks. Whether you finance £10,000 or £1m of goods, Buyline can get you trading within weeks. Your customers will have better buying power, and your business will grow.
Want something more complex? Our BuylinePro product will fit your needs.
For more information on Buyline, contact newbusiness@buyline.co.uk or visit our website buyline.co.uk.
Established in 1961, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company is one of the leading growers of ornamental plants in the UK. This wholesale nursery is based in Worcestershire, on the banks of the River Teme, and supplies new and innovative plant promotions to garden centres from the top of Scotland down to the tip of Cornwall. Bransford Webbs has always been proud to be a local employer, with over 100 employees during the peak season and have held the British Standard for Environmental Management Systems for over 10 years. Sustainability is fundamental in its decision making, and it is proud of progress in all areas of energy usage, the peat free pathway and integrated crop management. Covering 15ha of predominantly protected growing space, the nursery produces over two million plants a year and grows a range of shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Over the last 10 years, it has cemented its place in the industry as a leading
grower of hellebores, and grows over 100,000 plants over 45 varieties.
Hellebores are available in garden centres from September through to the end of the winter, offering a fantastic opportunity to create a stunning and impulse display in your plantarea. The delightfully, delicate flowers will attract customers to your plantarea during the colder, darker months of the year. These traditional winter plants, which can also make ideal Christmas gifts, have been bred over the last few years to offer a magnificent range of colours, from greens through to pinks and purples, and much deeper shades nearing black, in both
single and double blooms above evergreen foliage. Some varieties offer attractive marbled foliage, further offsetting the beautiful blooms. With a long flowering period, often still offering colour to the garden well into March and April, hellebores thrive in shadier spots in both pots and borders, and prefer fertile, well-drained soil. It is advisable to cut off older, large leaves as hellebores begin to flower to ensure you see the flowers at their best, whilst a top dressing feed applied in autumn is also beneficial. A wide range of hellebores have been bred over the last 10 years, offering a range of colour and interest for the winter garden. Here, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company shares some of its favourites:
Frostkiss™ Hellebores
Rodney Davey and Lynda Windsor began breeding hellebores in the late 1980s, at their nursery in Tytherleigh, Devon. Years of trial and error followed, as Davey strived to breed the cultivar he desired. In the mid-1990s, a breakthrough occurred and further tests and breeding led to him achieving better plants. By 2003, the first variety of the current collection, Anna’s Red, was introduced. The Frostkiss® Hellebores collection was introduced into micropagation in 2006, which enabled the varieties to be established in larger, more viable numbers. Breeding was extended to create the
wonderful range now available to the UK garden centre market. Rodney Davey’s hellebores, known as the Frostkiss™ Collection, are characterised by a profusion of large, sterile forward-facing flowers with marbled evergreen foliage. Below, we have highlighted four of our favourites.
Bayli’s Blush: One of our much-loved varieties, Bayli’s Blush offers beautiful creamy pink flowers above gorgeous marbled foliage, offering a profusion of flowers it blooms throughout winter and early spring, shining a beacon of light on dark winter days.
Vibey Velvet: A more recent introduction to the Frostkiss™ range, Vibey Velvet is the extreme of Bayli’s Blush with stunning deep red-purple flowers from winter onwards, set off by the gorgeous backdrop of the marbled foliage. This variety looks stunning in a pot adorning the patio or front door step during the winter months.
Glenda’s Gloss™: The perfect addition to any garden, and a variety everyone should find a space for, Glenda’s Gloss™ has pure white flowers sporting a beautiful magenta edge, blooming for months throughout winter.
Illumi Lime:
A very different colour break to the other Frostkiss™ varieties, the unusual bright green flowers offer something different for the winter garden.
A real bright flash of colour in winter, this variety lights up the garden or patio and the gorgeous green flowers are truly enhanced by the marbled foliage.
Following intensive cross breeding, ViV® Hellebores were introduced to the garden centre market in recent years, and are renowned for their innovation and high quality. Each variety takes between eight and ten years to develop and market, and only the top varieties will be released following tough quality control measures. Unique for their cheerful colours, they flower for five months of the year and are hardy. Flower colour becomes more intense as the outside temperature drops in winter, and as the flower matures. The beautiful diverse blooms have been bred in an amazing range from singles to anemone centres, doubles with spots, patterns or bicolor – everything you
could imagine! The very strong flowers hold their heads up so you can see them clearly and older flowers turn a soft green, keeping their ornamental value. A truly stunning range across the whole of the winter period, we have selected three to highlight:
Viv® Victoria: A stunningly intense variety with dark purple flowers, blooming from September onwards. The mass of colour is a treat.
Viv® Elena: A completely different variety in the range, perfectly illustrating the mix of colours and shapes ViV® Collection Hellebores are offered in, Elena produces a stunning display of double red flowers. As the temperatures outside drop in winter, Viv® Elena’s colour intensifies, giving you a reason to smile on those cold winter days.
Viv® Albert: A bright light on a cold day, pure white flowers with a pink flush, and dark green leaves with red stems are a more simple offering in this delightful and diverse range of Hellebores.
These beautiful Snow Roses, Helleborus x glandorfensis – given its name due the breeder’s close ties with his home town of Glandorf in Lower Saxony – are a cross between Snow and Lenten Roses, causing them to be robust, longlasting and disease resistant. HGC® Ice Roses® Hellebores are exceptionally long flowering, with new blooms continually replacing older ones, and large flowers carried high above the foliage offering a beautiful display. These varieties are available in a range of colours, from deep red and white to gorgeous bicolors, and start flowering as early as November.
Rose: There are various varieties available, and Rose flowers from January, offering early colour in the form of pale to deep rose flowers. The developing new rose buds create a gorgeous contrast of colour with the older deep rose coloured flowers, creating a unique display.
As well as the amazing ranges of hellebores available, there are also stand-alone varieties that are unique in their own right.
Snowdrift: First introduced in 2020, this was bred with the aim of creating something unique for the market. A variation of the much-loved Christmas Rose, it has pure white, outward facing, flowers which transform to stunning doubles as they open throughout the winter.
HGC® Frosty®: A gorgeous, new variety for this winter – the pure white flowers have a slight pink tinge in the buds before opening. An ideally named variety, which conjures images of striking frosty mornings when the world looks still.
Through our top 10 hellebores, we aim to have offered you inspiration to create a stunning display in your plantarea through the winter months, helping to also encourage enthusiasm in gardeners and consumers alike to create their very own beautiful winter displays too.
DISCOVER THE EPITOME OF OUTDOOR COMFORT AND STYLE WITH THESE EXCLUSIVE RANGES
Palacio Natura Hammock
Amazonas
The Palacio Natura Hammock is a beautifully large, comfortable, and sturdy hammock. It is the perfect addition to any home. Its neutral tones make for a striking furniture piece that suits any style. It is featured on ITV’s Love Your Garden and even owned by Richard Branson. It’s spacious, comfy, and stylish, with hardwood bars for stability. Handmade in Brazil using traditional techniques, each hammock takes 40 hours to weave, supporting local artisans. Discover superior quality and eco-friendly production with Amazonas Seals of Quality.
RRP £349.99
amazonas-online.co.uk
Ambition Curve 3 Seater Sofa Daybed with Footstool
Maze Living
Crafted with precision and attention to detail, the Maze Daybed is designed to be the focal point of any garden. The luxurious oatmeal upholstery not only adds warmth and charm but also complements a variety of interior styles, making it a timeless addition to your outdoor space. Designed for relaxation, the spacious three-seater sofa provides ample seating for family and guests.
Scandi Natural Wicker Armchair
Sustainable Furniture (UK) Ltd
The Kubu Wicker Scandi Armchair is a very sustainable option – it has been manufactured with re-afforested mahogany framework and covered in an attractive natural Kubu grey wicker, making them extremely robust and stable. Although a very sturdy chair, this does not take away from the elegant appearance of the Scandi armchair with its curved back that hugs you around the waist and offers maximum support. It has also been paired with a comfortable feather-like cushion.
RRP £230 sustainable-furniture.co.uk
Lifestyle
Clean and restore discoloured hardwood furniture with the Hardwood Cleaner. This high concentration cleaner contains brightening ingredients to bring back the original colour of your furniture. The Colour Protector will maintain the original colour of the furniture up to four times longer than hardwood oil, and twice as long as sealants.
RRP £49.99
pacific-lifestyle.co.uk
LeisureBench
Made from 100% recycled plastic material, the Eco Harry A-Frame Picnic Bench is robust, weather and rot resistant and requires only minimal maintenance. Unlike traditional wooden garden furniture, there is no need to regularly stain, paint or treat this recycled plastic picnic table. It is very easy to clean with just hot, soapy water. It is a fantastic, eco-friendly outdoor furniture option.
RRP £358.80
leisurebench.co.uk
Ascalon Design
The Heritage 5 Piece Dining Set adds a touch of timeless elegance to your customer’s outdoor space. This beautiful wrought-iron set is characterised by its graceful scroll detailing, creating a classic French-inspired aesthetic, which is complemented by an attractive yet versatile lead-grey finish. It comes with a reinforced glass tabletop for easy al fresco dining, and matching cushions are available in a number of colourways.
RRP £750
ascalon.co.uk
Zest
The award-winning garden bar is quick and easy to set-up by simply opening the two main storage doors to make a sturdy base for the fold-down counter which acts as a bar. Opening the side panel hinged doors reveals fully fitted cabinet shelving to display drinks and glasses. Guests can sit comfortably at the bar by removing the two sturdy stools from the base section. It is made from sustainable slow-grown softwood sourced from PEFC certified (PEFC/16-37-1490) forests and comes with a 10-year guarantee against rot.
RRP £619.99
zestoutdoorliving.co.uk
Alexander Rose
The Lucy chair is the signature piece within the Cordial Luxe range. It comes with either a sturdy base or cantilever frame, and a unique and attractive chunky rope weave is handwoven onto the frame and makes up the chair surround.
RRP £2,449 (on a cantilever frame) alexander-rose.co.uk
Belveo revolutionises the garden retail sector by introducing its wind-resistant parasol. Its parasols, featuring a patented wind protection system, allow garden centres to tap into the premium market segment, promising functionality, elegance, and reliability.
Patented wind-resistant technology
Each Belveo parasol is fitted with our patented wind-resistant system. This distinctive technology means our parasols come with two sets of ribs: one which is rigid, plus a flexible rib incorporated into the canopy. This flexible rib allows the parasol
to adapt to wind forces by mechanically elevating during strong gusts and returning to its natural position as wind dies down.
Innovation and sustainability at our core
Wind, sun, sea, salty air... outdoor products endure the full force of nature. As a result, all too often and too soon parasol users are compelled to discard their garden furniture and purchase anew. Belveo prides itself on offering wind-resistant parasols with interchangeable canopies and a product that is 100% repairable in the event of any issues, significantly extending its lifespan.
Belveo takes an innovative stance with the retractable wheeled bases that facilitate the easy re-positioning of the parasol, while maintaining unbeatable stability with its weight exceeding 150kg when filled with water or sand. Belveo also strives to offer clutter-free anchoring systems. Its products, perfect for an individual’s garden, are equally suited to the professional settings of cafes, resorts, and corporate environments.
End-to-end service: A promise of continuity
Belveo’s commitment to excellence extends beyond its products to its bespoke customer service. Belveo offers a unique proposition to garden centres: its team provides direct after-sales service to your customers, offering them a seamless experience, as well as a comprehensive catalogue of spare parts.
With its warehouse located in the Midlands, Belveo offers exceptional flexibility to its partners. Contact them today for delivery within the week.
NOVA, formerly known as Nova Outdoor Living, has changed a lot more than just its name recently. The company embarked on an honest and insightful branding journey last year and one of the realisations from this was that its brand hadn’t been synonymous with quality for some time. Delving deeper into why that was and taking feedback from customers, NOVA vowed to change this perception of its brand.
So, in an effort to ensure the NOVA name is associated with quality and reliable products, NOVA brought Jennifer Chen on board as the quality controller on the ground in the Far East.
NOVA explains that having someone readily available to QC items at the start, during, and at the end of production, allows the company to ensure a product is being given the best care and attention to meet the quality design spec.
Chen has previous experience in a similar role for a European outdoor living brand and is now responsible for helping select quality partners and factories for NOVA to work with.
Chen has been a part of the NOVA team since February 2024, and
NOVA hasn’t eased her in gently. With the brand overhauling its entire product range in that time, she has been kept busy ensuring that each new product meets the high quality standards NOVA has set for itself across all areas of production, engineering and packaging.
Here, we find out more about the quality control role and its importance within NOVA:
How do you go about building strong relationships with NOVA suppliers?
THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSTANTLY LEARN AND GROW
Jennifer, what do you do for NOVA?
My role consists of communication between NOVA partners and suppliers, managing the suppliers, quality control for products and suppliers and assisting with purchasing.
What’s your favourite part about working for NOVA?
A win-win cooperation with suppliers requires joint efforts from both parties to establish and maintain a good cooperative relationship. Some of the things I do to ensure this is the case for NOVA, include: clarify common goals; clarify the goals and interests of both parties to better coordinate cooperation; establish effective communication channels; maintain close communication with suppliers; sharing information in a timely fashion; and communicate through regular meetings, phone calls, email, or instant messaging tools.
NOVA BROUGHT JENNIFER CHEN ON BOARD AS THE QUALITY CONTROLLER ON THE GROUND IN THE FAR EAST
The best part of my job is the opportunity to constantly learn and grow. I’m exposed to new challenges regularly, which helps me develop both professionally and personally. I enjoy working with talented and supportive colleagues as this not only boosts productivity but also makes each day enjoyable.
Maintaining mutual trust and transparency is also important, as well as being honest and transparent in the cooperation process, and sharing information about business plans, market forecasts, and production plans.
We work together to solve problems. When encountering problems, working together can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of problem-solving through cooperation.
Regularly evaluating the performance of suppliers and providing constructive feedback helps them understand their strengths and areas for improvement, thereby continuously improving their level of cooperation too. We also collaborate with suppliers to carry out new product development, process improvement
and other projects, jointly invest resources and knowledge, and achieve win-win results.
We encourage interaction among the senior management, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and provide support for the development of cooperative relationships.
Training and support is important too. Providing training and support to suppliers to help them to improve their abilities and performance
can help establish closer cooperative relationships.
By using the above methods, strong and close cooperation can be established with suppliers to achieve supply chain optimisation and collaborative development.
I ALWAYS PICK UP NEW KNOWLEDGE AND MORE EXPERIENCE ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF NOVA
Jennifer Chen – NOVA’s on-the-ground quality controller
What are you looking for when you QC a product?
The key points to consider are the colour, finish and materials, key dimensions, comfort and functions, as well as checking if packaging is sufficient. Plus, there are some basic tests for stability and checking for any damage. Different materials have different attention points to check, but it’s also important to consider if the product fits well into the whole collection.
ITS BEEN SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE JENNIFER ON BOARD
Very importantly, when problems do arise, we look at how we can avoid it in the future and how we can improve it.
A great example of NOVA’s thoroughness in its checks is how we test the overall comfort of a chair using individuals
with diverse body types to ensure it works for everyone.
During the QC process, I always pick up new knowledge and more experience on improving the quality of NOVA furniture.
In addition to Chen’s comments, the NOVA team notes how important Chen’s role has been to the business, especially with its entirely new product range being developed.
“Its been so important for us to have Jennifer on board. Her expertise has allowed the rest of the NOVA team to be in the UK focusing on opening the NOVA Experience Centre.”
If you would like to visit NOVA’s Experience Centre, you can book via novaoutdoorliving.co.uk or scan the QR code.
ENHANCE YOUR OUTDOOR CULINARY OFFERINGS WITH THIS PREMIUM SELECTION OF OUTDOOR COOKING GEAR
Alfresco Chef
Alfresco Chef’s Naples Oven offers the perfect introduction to authentic wood fired cooking for friends and family. It gives would-be chefs, party hosts and their guests the unique experience and flavours of wood fired food. The Naples Oven is fun, easy to use and highly-versatile: it’s great for the pizza enthusiast, but due to the high aperture, can be used to barbecue, bake or roast your specially prepared dishes.
RRP £595 alfrescochef.co.uk
Blackstone products
Blackstone Original 36in Griddle Cooking Station is the outdoor cooking station that you’ve been dreaming of, and the most requested. This beast of a griddle has four independent heat zones, allowing for maximum control when cooking your meals. This flat-top grill features dual folding side shelves that give you extra prep space while cooking and fold for easier storage. You’ll also love the magnetic tool strip and paper towel holder. With this griddle, you’ll have everything within reach to make your outdoor cooking experience a great one.
RRP £799.99 prosmokebbq.co.uk
Fairford Sink Whistler Grills
As part of The Fairford Kitchen Range, the luxurious 304 stainless steel sink comprises style and practicality. With a large basin and ample storage space beneath, this product transforms an outdoor kitchen into a functional masterpiece. Convenience is key when cooking outdoors, and having an outdoor sink eliminates the constant back and forth inside to wash hands, dishes, and prepping food. The Fairford modular range allows you to create the ultimate al fresco entertainment experience. Also available in black.
RRP £1,015 whistlergrills.com
With apartment living and home entertaining on the rise, the 47cm Cadac Citi Chef 50 is the perfect gas BBQ for your patio or terrace or where space is at a premium. The large, high performance burner offers adjustable temperature control with automatic piezo ignition. Stylish bamboo wooden side tables clip on and off and can be stored inside the cabinet when not in use, and the sleek elongated body discretely hides a gas cylinder inside with rear access.
RRP £385 cadacuk.com
The Kamado Bono Grill is a versatile, high-quality ceramic grill perfect for all your grilling needs. Its large cooking area and superior heat retention make it ideal for grilling, smoking, baking, and searing. The multi-level cooking system allows for efficient two-zone cooking. Durable construction and easy-to-use temperature control ensure consistent results. Enjoy delicious, restaurantquality meals with the Kamado Bono Grill. RRP From £199 kamadokings.co.uk
The new 7000 series premium trolley BBQ, that like all BeefEater products, are built to last. Both burner box and roasting hood are made from 304 grade stainless steel with large and durable cooktops that are manufactured from porcelain coated cast iron. The side burner trolley includes a concealed chopping board and ice box. There is LED lighting on all control dials and hood which also has a built-in back burner, perfect for using with a rotisserie.
RRP £4,995 beefeaterbbqeurope.co.uk
With an already extensive catalogue of high quality brands and being renowned for bringing innovative garden furniture to the UK market, Norfolk Leisure is celebrating its 25th year with the launch of its very own range of BBQs, Norfolk Grills. The Infinity Gas BBQ is available in four or five burner options; both models include ergonomic controls with added LED lighting. A lower cabinet gives customers added storage and the handy 3.3kw side burner, condiment storage and tool hooks make sure essential cooking tools are never far away.
RRP £1,199 norfolkleisurelifestyle.com
Traeger has perfected the outdoor cooking experience with the introduction of the all-new Timberline grill and the Timberline XL, with the ultimate combination of consistency, convenience, and versatility. The new Traeger Timberline redefines what a grill can do, pushing the limits of cooking outdoors, while bringing people together to create memorable meals.
RRP Timberline £3,699, Timberline XL £3,999.99 traeger.com
Poinsettias
Pots and planters
Toys and games
With you from 28 August 2024
partner@zest.uk.com
zest.uk.com
