Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

Garden Centre Retail Issue 31 • May/June 2017

PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

BEATING THE BURGLARS

TIPS TO PREVENT BREAK-INS

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

WHY YOU SHOULD BE STOCKING ‘GARDEN-READY’ PLANTS

THE INTERVIEW GCA CHAIRMAN-ELECT MIKE LIND

“ THERE ARE CHALLENGES ALL AROUND US ” SEASON’S EATINGS

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

TRADING WITH

p33

p39

p65

Building a summer menu

Cover_MayJun.indd 1

Increase your festive footfall

We catch up with Wildlife World

18/05/2017 08:49

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welcome

WELCOME TO...

Garden Centre Retail W

elcome to the May/June issue of Garden Centre Retail.

Spring is finally upon us, and both flowers and trade will soon be blooming – we hope you’re ready! This issue is packed with tips, information and inspiration to maximise sales and footfall in your garden centre this spring.

In this issue’s Plant Focus we hear from Notcutts’ Colin Dale, who discusses the demand for ‘garden-ready’ plants among time-poor customers on pages 30-31. With summer approaching, we speak to Abi Ashford from HR Solutions about best practice in managing temporary summer staff on pages 25-26, and take a look at the various training options available for garden centre staff on pages 22-23. Our big interview on pages 15-17 asks newly appointed GCA chairman-elect Mike Lind about his preparations and plans for the role, and how he’s seen the industry change.

Catering has become a huge part of the industry, with customer expectations for a garden centre’s café or restaurant continuing to rise. We talk to Carla McKenzie from MYA Consulting on pages 33-35 about the necessity of having an enticing summer menu to maximise profits over the busy trade period. Those already looking for Christmas inspiration should head to pages 39-41, where we break down three festive event ideas that have already proven to be successful in garden centres, from set-up to operational costs.

Security remains a significant issue for the industry, with breakins rife – especially over the summer season. On pages 28-29 we share top tips for keeping your centre safe and preventing burglary. We also sat down with Highfield Garden World for its 25th anniversary to chat about the company’s beginnings and growth – turn to pages 36-37 to read the interview.

As always, we’d love to hear your comments or suggestions for the magazine, so please contact a member of the GCR team with any and all feedback.

Have a great read, and see you in July.

Ash

Ash O’Mahony ash.omahony@eljays44.com Features editor Garden Centre Retail

Those already looking for Christmas inspiration should head to pages 3941, where we break down three successful festive events

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contents Garden Centre Retail Issue 31 • May/June 2017

PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

BEATING THE BURGLARS

TIPS TO PREVENT BREAK-INS

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

WHY YOU SHOULD BE STOCKING ‘GARDEN-READY’ PLANTS

THE INTERVIEW GCA CHAIRMAN-ELECT MIKE LIND

“ THERE ARE CHALLENGES ALL AROUND US ” SEASON’S EATINGS

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

TRADING WITH

p33

p39

p65

Building a summer menu

Increase your festive footfall

We catch up with Wildlife World

CONTENTS MAY/JUNE 2017

30 PLANT FOCUS

NEWS 06 AGENDA

To what extent should a garden centre remain primarily focused on plants?

08 NEWS

A roundup of the latest news from the sector

13 NEWS EXTRA

Blue Diamond overhauls its centres

FEATURES

GCR speaks to Colin Dale, head of plants and gardening at Nottcutts

33 SEASON’S EATINGS

Carla McKenzie tells us how to create a great seasonal menu

36 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Tim Greenway, co-owner of Highfield Garden World, tells us about the centre’s 25 years in business

39 FIRE UP YOUR FESTIVITIES

We talk to three centres about their Christmas events

33

25 SUMMER STAFF

Abi Ashford from HR Solutions offers tips on temporary summer workers

28 BEATING THE BURGLARS

Protect your property from thieves

www.gardencentreretail.com

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PROMOTIONS

The latest in product and marketing campaigns from around the sector

46 THE SEEDS OF SUCCESS

What to expect from this year’s event – and its exciting new addition

Gemma Murphy of View HR dispenses advice on sickness absence policy

Three training organisations on how and why you should train your staff

44 PACKS &

PREVIEW

19 SICKNESS ABSENCE

22 STAFF TRAINING

This month’s news from the suppliers

49 HTA PLANT SHOW

Mike Lind, GCA chairman-elect

EPoS technology is well worth the initial outlay, says Jo Bateman

43 PRODUCT NEWS

Paul Matson of SowHow seeds on his radical seed packet designs and the rising interest in homegrown veg

15 THE INTERVIEW

20 INVEST IN EPOS

PRODUCTS

52 SOLEX PREVIEW

46

A look at the upcoming trade fair

57 LATEST PRODUCTS Garden lighting, tools and watering products

57

63 ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT

Spear and Jackson grubbing mattock

64 TRADING WITH Wildlife World

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news Agenda

CONSIDERING THE SECTOR’S EXPANSION INTO VARIOUS SUCCESSFUL DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES SUCH AS CATERING AND HOMEWARE, TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD A GARDEN CENTRE REMAIN PRIMARILY

F CUSED ON Michael White Owner, Standard Quay Café and Garden Centre

Nick Burrows Chief executive, Notcutts

Julian Winfield Chief executive, Haskins

Louise Davies PR manager, Davies Brothers Nursery

With supermarkets now selling plants, fertiliser and equipment, the whole game has changed. The successful garden centres have at least a restaurant attached to them – without that I don’t think there’s much of a future for the industry. We are a small garden centre with a small restaurant, and we mainly deal with shrubs and plants – but for the big garden centres, it’s changed to a real supermarket-style approach.

Plants should be the key focus within a garden centre, but without lots of other attractions the winter is a very long time for a garden centre.

We won’t be diversifying away from plants ourselves, but then we might not be a true barometer for the industry – we’re in a nautical area that includes a number of shops, services and attractions such as boats, which all help to draw people in.

Notcutts was founded 120 years ago, and we remain true to our horticultural roots today. Plants and gardening are still very much at the heart of everything we do, and our vision is to deliver inspiration for our customers’ gardens. As part of our 120th anniversary celebrations, we unveiled the first Notcutts Garden in Norwich earlier this month, with more planned for each of our 18 centres.

However, while plants remain our priority, we recognise that our customers look for an overall experience when they visit a garden centre. It is a social occasion for many who love to catch up over a cup of coffee and slice of cake. We are therefore investing in our restaurants and offer mouth-watering, freshly prepared seasonal menus. Our cheese scones are legendary, and people travel to try them!

Can you imagine a successful garden centre that has plants as a secondary focus? Plants may now only be 25% of our total sales at Haskins, but they are still allocated over half the total retail space. Plant sales as a percentage of the total have decreased over the decades, but this does not mean we now sell less plants – just that we sell more from our other departments. Plants are fundamental if our customers are to enjoy their garden space. Customers expect more instant gardening, with simple and informative points of sale to make the purchase easier.

I was once told that if you want to sell more plants you need to sell better coffee, and our restaurants are full of customers who are in the expected demographic groups for buying plants. They love our mix of products and services, but it is plants that create the essential ambience of a successful garden centre.

The most important part of our reputation is plants, and our buyers work hard with our nursery partners to ensure high quality. Our staff would lose faith if we started turning our back on plants, and it is essential to maintain our focus on this area – plants are here to stay at Haskins.

At Davies Brothers Nursery, plants make up 95% of our sales, with the remaining 5% consisting of sundries, pots and garden ornaments. This allows us to concentrate on the quality and display of our plants, which in turn has given us an excellent reputation for offering outstanding plants.

We are a family-run business that has been established for 23 years, and our customers regularly comment on how refreshing it is to visit a garden centre that specialises in plants only.

They also like the fact we have an extensive knowledge of the products we offer, and genuinely care about the condition of the plants we sell.

In addition, one of our team members is an award-winning garden designer, which allows us provide customers with recommendations to suit aspect and garden type.

There are already a number of superstores you can visit to buy barbecues and Wellington boots, and enjoy a cup of tea. Your local garden centre should be a place you can trust when looking to create a beautiful garden. We believe this is a dying art.

I believe that our staff would lose faith in our business if we started to turn our back on plants. It is essential for us to maintain our focus on this product area Julian Winfield 6

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Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

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Agenda news

ON PLANTS? Matthew Bent Managing director, Bents Garden & Home

Alan Roper Managing director, Blue Diamond

Gary Fincham Garden centre manager Clare Short Plant manager, Haslemere Garden Centre

Plants are hugely important to our business. When my grandparents started the business 80 years ago, they began by growing and selling roses. We have continuously invested in our growing operations and plant area, and in more recent years have significantly expanded our onsite nurseries, which enables us to grow even more of our own plants. This helps us to ensure they are the very best quality, and the freshest they can be.

Plant sales are hugely weather-dependent and the British weather is something that can’t be relied on!

People are less likely to spend when the weather is poor, which means that we are always looking at ways we can encourage our customers to keep coming back. We have successfully diversified with new home and leisure departments, and we continually work to develop Bents as a destination.

However, plants continue to be one of the main reasons many of our customers visit us, and they remain a core areas of business. So, while it is important to diversify, it is also crucial that plants aren’t forgotten, and we continue to excel when it comes to plant quality, variety and expertise.

Diversification doesn’t mean giving up on plants – although there are examples in the industry of companies that have broadened their offer and neglected plants in the process. You’d have to be two loaves short of a picnic to think that a garden centre could ever not focus on plants – it’s about doing everything well.

Blue Diamond has always tried to be pioneers in diversification, particularly in fashion and home offers and restaurants. Remaining credible in gardening doesn’t stop you being a good restaurateur, fashion retailer or home retailer. It depends on your location and clientele.

Plenty of successful retail nurseries sell nothing but plants, and that’s important and to be respected. If you do everything well and don’t neglect any aspects of your business, this drives the success of a garden centre.

Concession-led diversification is an anathema, delivering a faceless high street offer. Garden centres should provide an escape from this type of retail, and those that do will be more successful in the long term. A balance must be struck – your personality as a garden centre must always shine through.

The plant area should be the main focus of the traditional garden centre, as it was back in the day. Garden centres originally sprung up selling homegrown plants and a small range of composts, seeds and tools. For most people, plants are the main purpose of their visit to the garden centre, but you should also have a good range of sundries and tools to ensure that you provide your customer with a great shopping experience.

By providing stunning displays and good ranges of seasonal plants, all garden centres should be able to capitalise on the abundance of wonderful plants. Providing you have a good head of staff with good knowledge, you should be able to sell plants all year round. Garden centres should always ensure that they are well stocked and have the right plants in at the right time. Plant sales are generally recession-proof; even if customers cannot afford to go on holiday, they will spend decent money on making their gardens bright and colourful for the summer months.

At Haslemere we think that plants should be the mainstay of any garden centre, as they bring a lot of smiles and relaxation into the world.

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If you do everything well and don’t neglect any aspects of your business, this drives the whole success of a garden centre

Alan Roper

Apology

In last month’s Agenda article, ‘Should we stop selling Glyphosate?’, we referred to Alan Mercer as a partner at Hillier Garden Centres, when in fact he works for Hillmount Nursery.

At no time was Alan speaking on behalf of Hillier Garden Centres.

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news

RHS report reveals threat to UK gardening from climate change

NEWS CENTRE

Stewarts Garden Centres note growth in olive tree popularity

D

orset and Hampshire-based chain Stewarts Garden Centres has said that olive trees (Olea europaea) are becoming a more popular feature in British gardens, with the company expanding its range to meet the demand. Customers are purchasing not only the smaller lollipop-shaped plants, but also the larger olive trees, which can cost over £1,000.

Jamie Rolling, outdoor plant buyer manager at Stewarts, said: “The olive plant requires very little attention, whether it is kept in a container inside a well ventilated room, or planted in the garden, or kept in a container on a patio area. In their natural habitats, often in quite barren locations, olive trees can live to be thousands of years old.” www.stewarts.co.uk

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new report from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and leading academics has revealed the impact climate change could have on the quintessential British garden. The study, which looks into the impact of rising global temperatures on plants and gardeners, is the first in-depth analysis of the effects of climate change on British gardening for more than a decade.

The RHS’s previous report in 2002 concluded that gardeners would be basking in Mediterranean temperatures, and so could grow more plants that thrive in bright, dry conditions.

The updated report, however, has found that gardeners can expect more extreme weather than previously predicted, characterised by more variable, intense rainfall and an increase in dry summers.

It is predicted that the south of the UK will be hit the hardest by the changing temperatures, with the lush, green lawns typically associated with British gardens becoming dry meadows as pressure on water supplies increases.

Gardeners in the north will experience longer growing seasons, with plant pests and diseases that have not yet established in some areas of the country becoming much more common.

The survey found that only 2% of gardeners feel they have the knowledge to adapt to climate change. As a result of perceived climate change, approximately half of gardeners have changed their practices, and 79% have started paying more attention to the climate.

Gardeners looking to cope with the challenge of increased rainfall may have to adopt new practices to ensure the survival of some of their favourite plants.

Traditional plants, such as Tulipa, Allium and Aster, may have to be planted in raised beds to survive – the extra height will lift their roots clear of the water table. Gardeners experiencing higher temperatures may have turn to heat loving plants, such as Aloe or lavender.

Despite heavy rainfall and the flooding experienced in recent years, water availability will become a serious concern, with rainfall becoming more sporadic.

There will be a need to capture rainfall for use during periods of drought.

The extension of the growing season north of Northampton could mean that northern gardeners will be able to grow a wider variety of plants that would have previously struggled to survive in the region, including Canna. www.rhs.org.uk

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news

Notcutts garden aims to inspire customers

Klondyke opens new restaurant at Brookside Garden Centre

T

he Klondyke Group has just opened its latest restaurant at Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, as part of the garden centre’s ongoing redevelopment project.

Group catering manager Keren Feeney commented: “I am delighted that our newest restaurant is now open, and that it is already receiving some brilliant feedback from our customers on the delicious food, service and atmosphere. We pride ourselves on serving the very best homemade meals using local produce, and once again this has proven to be what our customers, new and old, are looking for.”

Restaurants now account for 22% of the Klondyke Group’s sales, and this is likely to increase to 25%. It plans to continue with its investment into restaurants, with future developments at the Weaver Vale, Polmont and Edinburgh centres. www.klondyke.co.uk

A

special ribbon cutting event was held at Notcutts Garden Centre in Norwich on 11 May to mark the opening of the new Notcutts Garden. The aim of the garden is to inspire visitors with creative ideas for their own outdoor space, and it has over 700 plants from 60 different varieties that have been specially selected to suit each area of a garden.

The garden is made up of four separate areas: The Retreat, a spot to sit and enjoy

the view; Shady Corner, which is full of plants that thrive in the shade; Seasonal Colour, which has vibrant colours year round, and The Table, with kitchen plants and herbs.

The Notcutts Garden is open to visit for free all year round at Notcutts Garden Centre Norwich. Throughout 2017, which marks Notcutts’ 120th anniversary year, further gardens will be created at other centres. www.notcutts.co.uk

Dobbies to launch national online garden centre

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obbies Garden Centres has signed a five year agreement with Speciality Stores, the general merchandise subsidiary of Ocado Group plc, to launch their new online store early next year. The national garden centre will benefit from the technology, software, logistics and expertise of Speciality Store, and its online orders will be fulfilled using Speciality Stores’ general merchandise warehouse.

Nicholas Marshall, CEO of Dobbies, said: “Online sales, excluding food, are now approaching 40% of UK retail sales, and are rapidly growing – yet online garden retailing is just a few percent. The garden centre industry is at least ten years behind the rest of the retail world. The gardening market in the UK is worth £4bn, so the potential is therefore enormous. Partnering with Ocado, the best online retailer in the UK, is a brilliant opportunity for Dobbies and its customers.” www.dobbies.com 

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news

A new look for Glee

A

new look has been rolled out across Glee marketing collateral as they head towards their 2017 show. The branding has been updated to create a bolder, brighter and fresher look, which will also be reflected within their website.

The new look is designed to breathe new life into Glee, and to create a visual backdrop that

is modern, relevant, and unlike anything the show has seen before. Inspiration for the new design came from research by trend forecaster WGSN. Glee’s event director Matthew Mein said: “Glee is changing; it’s growing and maturing. The last few years have been a period of notable change for the exhibition,

and now felt like the right time to launch the show with a brand new look and feel, featuring a design that is both relevant and modern. Glee’s proposition regarding its added-value show features and new product innovation is very much focused on latest trends, and we wanted to carry this theme across all aspects of our planning. It’s a different look for Glee, but I believe it is reflective of the evolution that garden retailing is currently undertaking, and I hope that our exhibitors and visitors will like the changes as much as we do.”

Mein says that the Glee website “has been stripped back and updated to create a visual feast and a tool that is easy to navigate, providing a 365 day resource for the garden retail industry.” www.gleebirmingham.com

Major expansion plans for Planters at Bretby

A

popular garden centre in south Derbyshire is hoping to expand with a larger sales area, as the final plans to improve the firm are submitted.

Planters at Bretby has applied to South Derbyshire District Council for permission to provide an extension for a main entrance, additional sales area and store.

Should the plans be approved, the centre’s 1,965m² will be increased by an extra 1,533m². A report with the application submitted by Gerald Ingram from the centre said: “As with most garden centres now, outdoor plants,

shrubs and trees only account for a small percentage of overall sales.

“There is a greater need for internal sales areas with an emphasis on leisure, aquatics, clothing, food and gifts. The sales and store extension will mirror the existing framed building. The proposals form the final plans to improve and develop the garden centre for future growth.” www.plantersatbretby.com

Genetically modified petunias may have hit the UK

T

he HTA has alerted UK authorities to the existence of genetically modified petunias following reports into their sales in Finland. The orange petunias pose no threat to people, animals or the environment.

They are not frost-hardy, and neither plants nor seeds will survive a British winter.

DEFRA commented: “We understand that importers/ producers have already moved to withdraw suspect material from the market. We do not envisage that special measures are needed for the disposal of affected plants.”

It is currently unknown as to how GM material made its way into the supply chain, but there is no evidence to suggest that it was introduced deliberately. hta.org.uk

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

23 - 26 August 2017 Boskoop/Holland

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3-5-2017 13:32:37

www.gardencentreretail.com

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“Working with Fordingbridge has been an easy process from design to installation. As a direct result of the canopies recently installed by Fordingbridge, I have already seen an uplift in footfall and an increase in turnover in both plant sales and the restaurant. Due to the benefit of the canopies we are considering ordering another 2 bays. I would definitely recommend Fordingbridge as a company to work with to improve your business.�

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News extra

BLUE DIAMOND INVESTING IN

MASS REVAMP ACROSS CENTRES

GCR caught up with Blue Diamond managing director Alan Roper to discuss the group’s new look

B

lue Diamond is rolling out a new design and format across its centres. Alan Roper feels this is vital for a retail store to invest in periodically: “Just like any business, every ten years or so you go in and refresh the look and feel of the stores. Ten years has passed since our last round of centre redesigns, so we’re going around gradually updating the centres – not just in terms of putting on some fresh paint or putting in new units, but improving the execution of how we sell, too.”

The trigger for the redesign came from the work completed on Blue Diamond’s Trentham centre a couple of years ago, Alan explains: “We can see that what we did at Trentham worked well for us, so we’re taking that format and style and rolling it out across the group.”

Though the style of the newly updated Trentham centre will be replicated across Blue Diamond’s sites, it wasn’t the first centre to be refurbished, states Alan: “We started this new lot of revamps in the autumn of

Just like any business, every ten years or so you go in and refresh the look and feel of the stores

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News Extra .indd 13

2015 with our Springfield centre. Then, over the winter, we spent £1m on Trentham, which was completed in the spring of 2016, then on to Derby in the autumn. We’ve spent another £1m on St. Peters, then we’ll move on to our new store Coton in Cambridge around July or August. We’ll continue the journey until all of the stores have been updated.”

When investing in garden centre redevelopment, Alan believes it’s imperative to totally transform the environment: “I think generally it’s important to give the stores a totally new look. You have to be able to improve your merchandising, move your products forward and advance the execution of the merchandising through innovation with shop fit; all of our shop fit is bespoke and designed by us. We also look at evolving our offering as much as we can – you can’t change everything, as at the end of the day a hydrangea is a hydrangea and a spade is a spade, but we do try to move it forward.

In some categories, such as

homeware, you can bring in different styles of product to keep it looking fresh.”

Blue Diamond will continue to invest in and update its centres every decade, states Alan: “Generally, ten years is the amount of time it takes for your shop fit to become too tired and worn, or for the store to start looking dated.

Anything longer than ten years without a revamp makes the environment look weathered.”

Having recently acquired two new sites, Alan doesn’t rule out Blue Diamond buying more centres in the near

future: “You can’t put a limit on growth. We took over Cambridge in December, and we’re preparing for the refurb in the summer – until then it’s too early to judge how it’s going, as we haven’t made any changes yet other than moving some new stock in. Our new centre in the Midlands is being built currently and won’t open until 2018. We’ve got quite a few new developments in the pipeline, from new-build sites to acquiring more, but until we land them we won’t be disclosing the details.” ◗

Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

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The interview features

Customers’ expectations for retail standards get higher every year, and we have a responsibility at the GCA to help our members stay on top of those expectations

MIKE LIND

Garden Centre Retail caught up with newly appointed GCA chairman-elect Mike Lind to discuss the key challenges facing the industry and the role of social media in building relationships between garden centres and the younger generation How did you get into the industry?

I’m a lawyer by background.

I was involved in managing commercial and employment law, and I worked on resolving disputes outside of court as a professional mediator. Before I studied law I had completed a science and agricultural degree in South Africa, which had a focus on plant illness and pathology.

My wife’s father started up Monkton Elm 35 years ago – I had previously run my own legal business but I still had an interest in horticulture, so when the opportunity arose it felt like a great fit for me to join the company. I’ve worked at Monkton Elm for the past five years as managing director, working closely with my wife’s father Mr. Bellman who is in a chairman role, as well as my wife and her sister and brother, who are all directors.

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What was the process of being selected as chairman-elect for 2018/19?

If you’re involved in the GCA, you can be nominated for the position by other members of the executive – I was nominated by the current chairman Julian Winfield. The nomination then had to be approved at an AGM, which for me was at this year’s GCA conference in January.

For me it’s a challenge, and an opportunity to learn more about the industry. I’m newer to it than some GCA members as I didn’t grow up in the business, and I’m looking forward to becoming more involved in the association.

What will you be doing to prepare for your new role?

I’m shadowing the current chairman Julian Winfield, attending lots of meetings and going with him on trips to meet members. I’ve been è

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18/05/2017 11:10

features The interview

involved in the GCA executive for about five years now, so I already attend the quarterly meetings and know how that aspect of the role works, and Julian has been enormously supportive for the parts I’m not as well versed in. There are weekly conference calls between myself, Julian, Iain Wylie, the chief executive of the GCA, and the treasurer – effectively the four of us run the GCA membership, so it’s important to stay in contact and be aware of any issues that arise so they can be addressed and resolved quickly.

What will be your primary focus as chairman?

I’ll be focusing on the five core benefits of membership – that’s the main responsibility of a chairman. The first is the annual inspection process, ensuring it’s well managed, that our inspectors are doing a good job and that feedback is consistent; second is the annual conference, making sure it’s done to the best of

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our ability, finding speakers you and I wouldn’t see on a daily basis and seminars that are inspiring and informative.

We also hold regional activities and networking events for our members two or three times a year, which need to be managed and kept to a high standard. Our monthly barometer of trade is a key focus that requires a lot of work, but it’s really useful as a business tool and a reference point for our members. Finally there’s our GCA GROW learning programme, which has been very successful thus far. Mike Burks and his team who created it have been phenomenal. It’s a significant aspect of membership, as only GCA members can access it.

My focus will be to promote those five core membership benefits, and make sure they continue to run as well as they can, which includes looking at any changes and tweaks that can be made to improve and strengthen what is already a solid base.

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Are there any changes you plan to make as chairman?

The GCA has gone through a lot of change over the past few years, which I’ve seen and been a part of; we’ve moved offices, there has been staff restructuring and we’ve improved the way we communicate with our members. I think my role will be to see those changes through, and ensure they’re running smoothly – if there are things that crop up which require fixing or amending, I’ll be very happy to lead on them, but I don’t have plans to make any changes at the moment.

How have you seen the industry change in the last few years?

Clearly the challenges on the high street have been quite profound, and retail is a difficult environment at the best of times. I think a few big global companies are really dominating the retail environment, and that has led to the expectations

of customers being much higher – they don’t expect bad coffee from their retail outlets because they’ve been spoilt by the likes of Starbucks, which means garden centres have to up their game and offer quality coffee to that same standard.

Customers’ expectations for retail standards get higher every year, and we have a responsibility at the GCA to help our members stay on top of those expectations and keep their businesses relevant to their customer bases.

The change in the high street has actually helped a lot of garden centres, who more often than not offer free parking, are out-of-town destinations and offer an increasingly wide range of products. Garden centres have adapted to make their businesses more attractive to people who are used to going to the high street.

Retail has had to become a more sophisticated process in the past five years, which

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The interview features

Customers are increasingly going into garden centres, finding a product they like and grabbing their phone to see if they can find it cheaper online – how we can adapt to that as an industry is one of the biggest challenges we’re facing at the moment Diverse offerings at Monkton Elm – from plants, pets and garden furniture to homeware, gourmet foods and a café

has been affected by online sales – some garden centres have been keen to establish an online presence whereas others haven’t. Customers are increasingly going into retail outlets, including garden centres, finding a product they like and then grabbing their phone to see if they can find it cheaper online – how we can adapt to that as an industry is one of the biggest challenges we’re facing at the moment.

Are there any other challenges facing the industry?

I think the core challenge for the GCA is ensuring that our members remain focused on quality and providing value for money. There are lots of challenges all around us, from price points to competition to change of customer preference and priorities, and they’re all very difficult to anticipate.

The best way to address any challenge is to focus on what your business does well, and continue to do that to the best of your ability.

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With garden centres continuing to diversify and expand, what do you think is next for the industry?

There are so many great ideas that I’ve heard people talking about, from Bents creating a mini golf course to Barton Grange building a bowling alley – there are lots of exciting innovations going on in the industry. There’s a huge diversity of product and services in garden centres now, from clothes departments and outdoor pursuits to nail and hair salons and farm shops.

Will we one day see garden centres with movie theatres and spas? You never know – if there’s a market for it and people in the industry are brave enough to give it a go then I think it could happen. Our industry is so flexible and adaptable, and as horticulturists and retailers there are so many opportunities for associated departments. We’ve seen great success with introducing catering offerings and home

and kitchen departments, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue to expand.

Do you think there is an issue with the younger generation getting into gardening and garden centres?

It’s a collective challenge.

A lot of young people think that gardening is too hard, or that they don’t know enough about it to take it up, and there’s also an expense issue. Having a fully stocked, maintained garden can be quite expensive, but it doesn’t need to be. We have a lot of products that are low maintenance and inexpensive, and I think TV shows on gardening really help to spread the word that gardening is enjoyable and doesn’t have to be difficult.

It’s critical that staff aren’t threatening or imposing, and that they’re horticulturally trained so they can talk to your customers and offer advice.

That’s how you find out what your customers want, and it

differentiates your business from supermarkets that are selling seasonal plants – they can beat you on volume and price, but not on knowledge.

Social media is also a fantastic tool to promote your products and business, particularly to the younger generations; we get customers coming in saying they’re looking for the plant we posted online. Social media can break down barriers between a garden centre and its customers – if they have a lack of confidence, they can ask questions online and our social media team will reply quickly, which could then encourage them to come into the centre at a later date. ◗ CONTACT Monkton Elm, West Monkton, Taunton TA2 8QN 01823 412381 www.monktonelm gardencentre.co.uk

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18/05/2017 09:09

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16/05/2017 15:33

Human resources features

THE ANTIDOTE TO

SICKNESS ABSENCE

Having the right sickness policy in place can discourage staff from taking unnecessary days off, says View HR’s Gemma Murphy

A

t View HR, we regularly receive calls from our clients in relation to employee sickness absence.

Invariably the matters are short-lived, concern intermittent absences and require management of an individual’s sickness absence levels. However, at the other extreme, matters can

involve complex long-term absence and disability-related issues, requiring extensive management of that particular individual’s absence.

There are tools and practices at an employers’ disposal to effectively manage sickness absence. The key is to do it the right way and to have good practices in place.

So what do we recommend to our clients?

The first step is to have a sickness absence policy in place. This provides you and your line managers with a framework to work with in order to manage sickness absence. Though absence policies can be found online, caution should be taken, as several won’t comply with current standards.

Garden centre businesses wanting to put a sickness absence policy in place are advised to engage with an employment solicitor or HR consultancy.

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Ensure you are consistent in your management of each employees’ sickness absence – there should be no ‘targeting’ of one particular person.

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Manage sickness absence – this requires return-towork meetings for every day of absence, and completion of self-certification forms. Return-to-work meetings should cover the reason for absence, whether any medical assistance or medication was sought, and whether the staff member is ready to return. If there are intermittent periods of absence or ongoing issues, the return-to-work meeting will need to be more in depth.

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Monitor sickness absence – consider whether there is a pattern of sickness, or a common theme in the employee’s reasons for being absent. For instance, they could be suffering from depression, or undergoing investigations for an illness.

Train your managers to deal with sickness absence – managers should be confident to conduct return-towork meetings, deal with persistent illness and manage long-term absence of staff.

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Follow correct sickness absence processes and obtain all necessary documentation, which may include a doctor’s sick note, consultant’s letter, or Occupational Health Assessment.

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Recently, we undertook a challenge to reduce the absence levels in a client’s business. It became clear that the business was not conducting return-towork interviews, it was not compulsory for employees to complete self-certification forms, and they had never followed any formal sickness absence procedures. After taking a firm approach to managing sickness absence through return-to-work meetings and self-certification forms, then conducting a few sickness absence meetings, sickness absence dropped by 40% in the initial two months.

More often than not, businesses that struggle with high levels of sickness absence are ignoring the problem and shying away from awkward conversations. What is more, employees fail to understand the impact of their absences on their colleagues.

Long-term sickness absence

Long-term absence is a delicate matter and requires consideration on a case-bycase basis. It is important that it is dealt with professionally and considerations are given to the condition causing the absence, any treatment undertaken, medical reports and appropriate levels of contact with the employee.

You need to be mindful of the possible risks of a disability and how this affects your duties to the employee. A correct and fair capability/sickness absence management process must be followed from the beginning, just in case the employment relationship reaches a point of being untenable.

Unauthorised sickness absence Unauthorised absence is a different matter. If necessary,

it can be dealt with through your disciplinary procedure.

However, we would always recommend clients investigate matters before rushing into disciplinary procedures. Tread carefully; just because an absence was unauthorised, it doesn’t mean there wasn’t a genuine reason for it. It might be that they are genuinely unwell and trying to hide their illness from you. If you do invoke the disciplinary procedure, make sure you follow it fairly to avoid any discrimination allegations.

You will never weed out all sickness: the reality is, people will always get sick. What is certain is that inaction leads to difficulties. It is important to manage sickness absence and create a culture where genuine sickness absence is supported but unjustified ‘sickies’ are clearly unacceptable.

If you require external support with your sickness absence policy or sickness absence levels, or have particular concerns regarding an employee’s sickness absence, please get in touch. ◗ CONTACT

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

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

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18/05/2017 08:51

features EPoS

INVEST IN EPOS WHY YOU NEED TO...

At any given time, a retailer can look in the system and see in real time exactly how much stock it has for a product or range

GCR speaks to commercial manager of Davidson Richards, Jo Bateman, about what EPoS can bring to a garden centre Who uses EPoS?

“Approximately 50% of garden centres have taken up EPoS to date, but that number is increasing, as even smaller centres are seeing the benefit,” says Jo. “In previous years a lot of retailers felt the system was too complicated and expensive. As time has gone on they are seeing the benefits, in terms of the speed and ease of stock management and information gathering.”

The EPoS evolution

As technology has evolved, EPoS has advanced significantly. “In the early days, retailers had to have their own server for EPoS, they held their databases and software locally, and every update involved someone physically coming to the site,” Jo explains.

Since then, EPoS has become available in a cloud-type system.

“The issue with the system being on site is that there are costs and disruptions for the retailer when that system requires updating. This isn’t a problem with new cloud-type systems.”

Why use it?

“EPoS takes all the information from sales and organises it so owners can review and control their costs, sales and stock,” Jo says. “Most garden centres can tell you their top lines off the top of their heads, but they may not be able to tell you their slower lines or what they’re sitting on in terms of stock, and they won’t know if they’ve just sold the last unit of a certain product until they go and check. That’s where EPoS comes in.”

Getting started with EPoS is time consuming initially, but is a one-off process, Jo explains: “With an EPoS system, a retailer will upload its products and categories onto the system, along with its minimum stock levels, bar codes, product descriptions and prices.

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Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

That only needs to be done once. After that, whenever a bar code is scanned at the till, it is instantly recorded and marks down stock. At any given time, a retailer can look in the system and see in real time exactly how much stock it has for a product or range.

From that, it can tell what’s popular, what it needs to reorder, and what isn’t selling.”

This intelligence can be invaluable to a garden centre, as it gives the owner and their team the information they need to make decisions on, for example, what to buy, what to focus on selling, and what items may require a volume-based promotion to shift.

Another benefit of EPoS is its ability to build on customer loyalty, adds Jo: “EPoS can store information about your customers’ shopping habits, or issue points per sale with a loyalty scheme.

EPoS can also be tailored to incorporate promotions, bounce backs and web stores, to ensure everything is in one system for the retailer.”

How much does it cost?

Costs are variable, depending on factors such as garden centre size and knowledge, says Jo: “A garden centre that’s smaller and not very knowledgeable in IT is going to need a lot more handholding. A larger garden centre that has an IT department and an EPoS champion will need less training.”

Jo has found that cost is one of the main barriers for centres who are thinking of taking up EPoS. She advises that this shouldn’t be taken at face value, with benefits such as time saving, efficiency and extra sales needing to be factored in: “Within the first year of implementing EPoS, the cost of investment is often outweighed by savings, because it allows a garden centre to buy more accurately. EPoS can also help a garden centre correctly calculate its VAT, which can lead to huge savings year on year.” w CONTACT

Jo Bateman is commercial manager at Davidson Richards www.davrich.co.uk 01332 383231 retail@davrich.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

18/05/2017 08:50

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features Staff

THE INS AND OUTS OF

STAFF TRAINING

Garden Centre Retail spoke to Penny Evans, academy and careers manager at the HTA Academy, Jo Ripley, human resources manager at Squire’s Garden Centres, and GCA chief executive Iain Wylie about the benefits of their respective training programmes

It’s about the content of the learning and what you want to get out of it

Penny Evans We’re always looking to place our apprentices in permanent positions at Squire’s

Jo Ripley We’ve had nothing but positive feedback overall from the 90 or so garden centres that use the programme

Iain Wylie

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Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

Penny Evans – academy and careers manager: HTA Academy What does the HTA Academy training offer?

The HTA Academy is aimed at people working at all levels within a garden centre environment, from a sales assistant on a shop floor through to team leaders and supervisors, and also directors and owners. There’s a real range of learning opportunities that fit under the Academy banner; we’ve got seven subject areas covering everything from customer service and visual merchandising to health and safety and catering.

What are the benefits of HTA Academy that other training programmes don’t offer?

I think the biggest benefit of the Academy is the choice around the delivery of the training – the Academy gives you options on how you’d like your staff to be trained.

One garden centre may find it more beneficial to have their customer service course content delivered via e-learning, for example, while another might prefer a work book, or an hour-long workshop that the centre can deliver themselves with the materials we provide, or a twohour workshop where we send in a subject matter expert to lead the session. That choice allows us to be flexible and to provide the training that suits the garden centre and the individual learner, which is a huge advantage.

What are the costs involved?

It really depends on the course and delivery method chosen. A 20-30 minute piece of e-learning for HTA members is £20, whereas our Retail Business Improvement Schemes for directors and owners of a garden centre, which include four to six sessions a year, cost around £350-£400. We want to keep the Academy flexible, and we’ve found a lot of garden centres don’t want to be signed up to a big subscription process for their staff training, so we offer a ‘pick and mix’ approach to our courses.

What should garden centres take into consideration when selecting a training programme and provider for their staff?

Garden centres need to be really clear about what their objectives are for the training – it’s not just about the provider, it’s about the content of the learning and what you want to get out of it. Another factor to consider is the learning style of the particular staff member that is being trained.

Everybody learns in different ways, which isn’t a fact that is often considered when training providers are selected. Some staff members may not have great IT skills, and others could be more active and learn better with a workshop; there’s no point providing training that doesn’t suit the individual’s learning style.

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18/05/2017 09:46

Staff features Jo Ripley – human resource manager: Squire’s Grow Our Own Apprenticeship Scheme Why did Squire’s decide to set up its own Academy?

We were struggling to recruit horticulturally trained staff, which has always been an issue. We needed to do something about it, as horticulture is so fundamental to our business, so in 2014 we set up the Squire’s Grow Our Own Apprenticeship Scheme.

What did setting up the Academy entail?

We liased with nearby colleges to ensure they ran the RHS course levels 2 and 3 that we would be putting our apprentices on, and discussing everything that attending the course would entail. Next we created a training programme, which had them working and learning in all horticultural areas of the garden centre, alongside their college course.

It’s important to us that our apprentices, while being part of the Squire’s team, aren’t just an extra pair of hands – they are there to learn.

Another important aspect was making sure we had a sound, robust interview process for those that applied for the apprenticeship, to ensure we recruited people who really had the desire to learn about horticulture.

What does the Squire’s Academy offer?

It gets our apprentices into the horticulture world, they learn

Staff training at Squire’s

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while they’re earning money, and they get on-the-job training that is designed to be stimulating and useful. I think the apprenticeships enable people who love horticulture to form a really great career path out of their passion – our apprentices have the tools and training to become future garden centre managers and achieve a really good salary.

We are proud to be helping the industry in our own small way through creating horticulturally trained people.

As an industry, we can’t rest on our laurels and keep moaning that there are no horticulturalists to recruit, we’ve got to do something about it, and we’re proud to be helping with that at Squire’s.

What are the costs involved?

The costs for us consist of the course and the exam fees of our apprenticeships, which comes to about £3,500 annually for two years. If you add onto that the cost of paying those who are working for us full time alongside the course, that’s an additional £12,500, but in a lot of cases the apprentices are actually filling a role within the centre, so we don’t have to spend that money hiring someone else.

We’re always looking to place our apprentices in permanent positions at Squire’s while they’re with us, and so far we’ve been 100% successful.

Iain Wylie – chief executive: GCA GROW What does the GCA GROW training offer?

GCA GROW was launched in January 2013; it’s an online training system that offers garden centres the opportunity to provide their employees with low-cost, time-efficient training. As the training is all done online, garden centre staff don’t waste time leaving the site, they avoid off-site costs, and they can learn at a time that is convenient to them. The modules are approximately 20 minutes long, and can be picked up as and when, on any computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device.

What kind of garden centres are suited to the GROW? Any and every garden centre – the training modules are relevant to all sizes of garden centre business. Initially GROW consisted of ten modules, but we’re now closer to 100, covering everything from plant retailing and health and safety, to answering customer questions correctly and comprehensively – it really is a full training package for all garden centres.

There may be a few module topics that don’t apply to every garden centre: a garden centre without a restaurant or cafe won’t need the catering training module, for example, but they will find everything that they do need within the programme. We have

an extremely simple system whereby once a garden centre subscribes, they get full access to all GROW training modules and can select the ones are relevant for their team – there’s no additional cost on a per-use basis. As a trade association, we are continually adding more training modules to the system, which become available immediately for all users at no extra charge.

How has feedback been thus far for GROW? We’ve had nothing but positive feedback overall from the 90 or so garden centres that use the programme – to date, GROW has only been available to GCA members, but we’ve just widened the availability to all HTA members. So far, everyone who has used GROW has reported back positively. We’ve been told that GROW has enhanced the development of their teams and helps to fulfil compliance regulations in areas like hygiene, health and safety. ◗ CONTACT

HTA Academy academy@hta.org.uk hta.org.uk Squire’s Garden Centres www.squiresgarden centres.co.uk GCA GROW info@gca.org.uk www.gca.org.uk

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18/05/2017 09:46

Be sure to visit the LeisureGrow stand at SOLEX this July. LeisureGrow will be bringing along the latest collections from LG Outdoor, their well-established furniture range as well as exciting new concepts from Grillstream BBQs. Over the 3 day show Ben Bartlett, Winner of BBQ Chef of the year and president of the BBQ association, will be showcasing demonstrations on the Grillstream BBQs and offering out tasty samples to really get you hooked. Grillstreams unique patented u-shaped grills sit directly on top of each other. This innovative system results in less fat, no flare ups and more flavour. On a normal grill the fat drops down on to the burners causing flare ups and burnt food. But on the Grillstream any fat dripping down on to the grill drips in to the SECCOND grill and channels away to a separate fat cup. With Grillstream a higher percentage of juices are evaporated and infuse straight back in to your meat. Leaving you with juicer, tastier meals every time.

The LeisureGrow stand will also be host to an exciting new range of Weave, Wood, Aluminium and Rope furniture collections, Accessories and merchandising options. Making selecting your 2018 outdoor living range easier than ever.

For further information contact sales@leisuregrow.com Tel. 01462 744 500 www.leisuregrow.com

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

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18/05/2017 10:39

Managing staff features

SUMMER STAFF MANAGING YOUR

Garden Centre Retail spoke to Abi Ashford, senior HR advisor and client support manager at HR Solutions, to find out how to keep temporary staff motivated over summer, what employees should look for in their applicants, and some tips for summer staff management.

What should a garden centre look for when hiring temporary summer staff?

You’re looking for people who are willing to learn quickly.

Their period of employment is condensed, so it’s important to have somebody who can pick up the role fast, and is adaptable in terms of their learning process.

If you’re looking at young people such as college or university students, it should be taken into account that they may not have any retail experience. You have to strike a balance – if an applicant

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looks really keen and willing to learn but they haven’t got a huge amount of experience, you have to think: can I work with this person, and can they fit this role?

How does the way temporary summer staff are managed differ from permanent staff?

A key thing to consider is that that these people might come back and work for you in the future. If they are on a summer break in between university or college courses, they might want to return for their summer break next year, or once

they’ve got their qualifications.

You’ve also got to think about PR – word of mouth, especially for smaller businesses, is so important. If your summer staff have a really good experience working with you, they’re more likely to positively spread the word about you.

I would recommend that summer staff be put on a fixed term contract to cover their complete period of employment, and notice should be given upfront in that contract. That way, your staff know exactly how long they’ll be with you and when their

A key thing to consider with temporary summer staff is that that these people might come back and work for you in the future 

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18/05/2017 09:15

features Managing staff

A great idea for small employers looking to motivate their summer staff is to have a bonus at the end of their summer period employment will end, and you won’t need to give them notice a week or month before the end of summer.

I always recommend a probationary period for any new staff, but temporary summer workers can have their probation extended if they are not quite working to the standards you require – even if it means this period covers their whole term of employment. If at any point an employer wanted to end a summer staff members’ contract, this would allow them to do so based on a failed probationary period, rather than having to go through another form of dismissal – it’s a much easier option if things just aren’t working out.

How can a garden centre ensure their temporary summer staff are motivated?

You want to treat them well, and temporary summer staff aren’t employees, but at the same time you need to command their respect.

A small thing that can make a big difference is identifying the most appropriate person to induct a new summer worker into their role. Giving new staff a ‘buddy’ who perhaps isn’t their direct line manager can be a real help, as they can run them through their role, answer any questions they may have and discuss any concerns.

A great idea for small employers looking to motivate their summer staff is to have a bonus at the end of their summer period. The bonus doesn’t have to be a huge amount and doesn’t even have to be money: staff could receive goodies to take back to university, or a voucher.

Anything that staff members

26

know they will receive at the end of their summer contract – providing they work hard and attend well, and there are no disciplinary issues – is a great motivator to keep your staff focused and retain them to the end of the summer period, so that the initial training time isn’t wasted.

What tips can you give for reprimanding a temporary summer staff member – for example, for someone who is continually late?

There are a couple of points here: first, employers should ensure that when new summer staff start, they know what to do if they are running late or unwell. Cover this in an induction process so that there are no excuses for staff to say, for example, that they didn’t know they had to notify you, or that they needed a doctor’s note. All new staff should be clear on the lateness and sickness procedure.

Attendance problems should be addressed straight away, whether that’s lateness or sickness. If a summer employee is repeatedly late, identify whether they are genuinely struggling to get to work, and why. Perhaps they thought they would be able to get a bus but it isn’t coming as frequently as it should, they haven’t planned it well enough,

of the interview process could include a further assessment exercise where applicants try out the job they’re applying for. That will weed out those who do not want to remain in the recruitment process after they’ve been interviewed – some may realise that they don’t actually want to do the job, which is better to know upfront rather than spend time inducting them only for them to leave.

A common issue that we’ve found can demotivate summer staff is a lack of preparation by their employers for their first day. If they need an ID badge, uniform or password, make sure it’s ready. A lot of businesses simply hand their new staff an employee handbook to read on their first day and leave them to it for hours, and we’ve seen new employees in those circumstances just get up and walk out. w

Do you have any tips for how a garden centre can train up a temporary staff member?

First, I would decide exactly what training you want the summer workers to do; you might have previous summer workers coming back, who could train up new staff.

Decide how long the training needs to be – an afternoon or a whole day?

Commit to that time period, and consider including a taster of the work they will be doing in their role. Part

Abi Ashford is senior HR advisor and client support manager at HR Solutions 0844 324 5840 enquiries@hrsolutions.com www.hrsolutions-uk.com

CONTACT

If a summer employee is repeatedly late, identify whether they are genuinely struggling to get to work, and why

Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

ManagingStaff.indd 26

there’s an issue with somebody they’re working with, or they’re just not enjoying the work.

The best thing an employer can do in this situation is communicate, so don’t bury your head in the sand – talk it out with the person and find out what that underlying issue is. While it is the worker’s responsibility to find a solution, it might be that you can help, too.

Look out for any patterns in absence and lateness; it’s a bit of a stereotype, but with young people you can sometimes find that they have repeated sickness on a Monday from having too merry a weekend.

Look out for any patterns and address them with the staff member to try and resolve the issue. Ultimately, the disciplinary process can be used on a summer worker just as it can on any employee, and due to the short length of employment their contract can be ended swiftly if necessary.

www.gardencentreretail.com

18/05/2017 09:15

Supply Solutions From

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16/05/2017 15:40

features Security

BURGLARS BEATING THE

Light the exterior of your business enough that someone outside the building could see someone inside.

Due to their high value stock and often isolated locations, garden centres make prime targets for break-ins. Here’s how to reduce your chances of falling victim to thieves

Office

Outdoor equipment

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Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

Promo area

Checkout

EXIT MAIN ENTRANCE

Green area

Leave the till open – by leaving the till visible, open and clearly empty, any burglars seeking cash are likely to lose interest.

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Pots and accessories

Packaging area

Green area

Most burglars select stores in isolated areas or which are known to have low lighting, insufficient locks, no window bars or a lack of formal security systems

Green area

Green area

Illustration © Organizzazione Orlandelli

R

etail burglary is the breaking and entering of business premises with the intention of stealing items. It usually occurs at night, outside regular business hours, and often results in costly damage to the building and loss of valuable stock. In most cases, burglars enter through doors or windows, and leave before police or security are able to respond.

‘Ram raids’ and ‘smash and grabs’ involve burglars ramming a car or other object into a retail building, grabbing as many items as possible and then making a quick escape. In general, burglars are motivated by financial gain, regardless of whether they’re professionals or opportunists. Most retail burglars select stores in isolated areas or which are known to have poor security features, such as low lighting, insufficient locks, no window bars or a lack of formal security systems. Burglars also tend to choose targets based on convenience, or the attraction of high value goods located in the store.

Burglaries are not chance occurrences, with both the size of the business and the surrounding area playing some role in the likelihood of being burgled. Garden centres that have been burgled once are at increased risk for repeat victimisation. Your local crime prevention officer will be able to help you develop your awareness and knowledge about suitable crime prevention measures for your business.

Train your staff – teach them about the burglary prevention measures you have taken and the correct use of any equipment you have installed. Explain to staff the importance of keeping a watchful eye for suspicious people or vehicles, to prevent people ‘casing’ your premises.

Light all exterior points of entry with permanent fi xtures that are difficult to reach or tamper with.

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Security features

BUSINESS SECURITY TIPS

PHYSICAL PROTECTION

BURGLARY PREVENTION Install window locks that are designed and positioned so they cannot be reached and unlocked after the glass has been broken.

Reduce stock: the less you have, the less there is to be taken. Coordinate deliveries with your suppliers to introduce ‘just in time’ deliveries.

Strengthen potential entrances Use high quality doors and frames, steel reinforcement with antithrust bolts on vulnerable doors, and bars on vulnerable windows.

Glass panels should be avoided or boarded up. Ask for materials that comply to BS 8220 as a minimum.

Door locks should be at least the quality of a five-lever mortice lock conforming to BS 3621.

Storage of various material

Install entry protection alarms to detect the breaking of windows and opening of doors.

Grills and shutters They can be excellent deterrents but are resisted by some planning authorities, as they can create a hostile environment, which may increase crime levels.

Fit grills inside Secure high risk display cabinets with protective grills and shutters.

Pots and accessories

Install motion detectors to sense movement inside the building.

Warehouse/store

Pots and accessories Green area

Green area

Car parking

Install safety glass, or reinforce windows and doors with grills or bars.

Install a deadbolt lock in each exterior door.

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Relocate valuable stock away from doors or windows.

Install a fence or hedge – it’s your first line of defence.

You should be able to see through the fence, and hedges should be wide, rather than high, and of a prickly, thorny species.

Glass film Applying a plastic film to the rear of a window is a good deterrent.

Mirror-finished film on rear windows increases the strength of the glass and restricts the view into rear storage areas.

Laminated glass This will help hold the window together after the glass has broken.

For it to be effective, the frames and fixings must be equally strong.

Safes Bolt in place and secure discreetly.

Your insurers can help you choose a suitable safe and suggest minimum standards of specification.

Cages Secure cages kept in the stock room can provide additional security for high value stock.

Vehicle traps Bollards will protect against ram raiders, but you will need to consult your planning authority and landlord. Large concrete planters can be used as an alternative.

CONTACT

Information provided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland

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18/05/2017 09:59

features Plant focus

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW: MAKE ROOM FOR

GARDEN-READY

GCR spoke to Colin Dale, head of plants and gardening at Notcutts, to find out where the demand for ‘garden-ready plants’ in garden centres has come from, which customers buy them, and how garden centres can capitalise on the trend With 38 years of experience in the industry, Colin Dale has seen customer demand for plants change dramatically. “In the early years of my career, garden centres were very much focused on A-Z areas,” Colin recalls. “Customers would come into a centre with a list of the plants they wanted to buy and look for those

specific plants. Nowadays, plants are much more of an impulse purchase; customers come into garden centres to be inspired, and that’s the driving force behind most sales. Customers almost don’t care if the plant that they’re buying is a shrub, a perennial or a bedding plant: they just want a colourful, good quality

product that gives value for money and can be put straight into the garden.”

This change in gardening – and therefore shopping – habits has significantly influenced the way garden centres sell plants. “Instead of A-Z areas, garden centres are displaying plants in big, bold blocks of colour that look great and are easy to care for,” Colin continues.

“Most garden centres have reduced their A-Z areas, for example in shrubs and house plants, and some have removed them altogether.”

Recognising the needs of its customer base, Notcutts has adapted its plant offering accordingly, says Colin: “I think the physical size of our seasonal area is 10 times what it was 30 years ago – the market has grown tremendously. You used to find large A-Z areas with small amounts of seasonal products, and that has now completely reversed. I would say more than 80% of the plants we sell now are impulse sales that are

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bought for instant impact – we recently had a young couple in our centre who spent £500 on an olive tree because they wanted a quick, easy feature for their garden.”

Explaining the trend Colin believes that the demand for easy-care, garden-ready plants can be traced back several years: “I think the programme Ground Force was the start of the trend. People saw gardens transformed from unkempt and plain to beautiful and colourful in a matter of hours, and wanted to recreate that for themselves.”

These types of programmes have led to more people showing an interest in gardening, says Colin, expanding the customer base in garden centres to include novice gardeners who are looking for quick and easy ways to beautify their garden.

“I would compare it to food programmes like MasterChef,” Colin explains. “People watch the show and get excited about experiencing that top

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Plant focus features

People saw gardens transform from unkempt and plain to beautiful and colourful in a matter of hours, and wanted to recreate that for themselves standard of cooking, but instead of trying it themselves at home, a lot of people will go to restaurants. Restaurant sales have increased hugely in the past few years, as has the popularity of cooking shows, and there’s a comparison there with gardening. A lot of people see high quality, beautiful gardens on television and want to recreate it in their own home, but as novice gardeners they still want it to be made easy for them, which is where garden-ready plants come in.”

In addition to the influence of television shows, Colin thinks the rise in demand for garden-ready plants is closely linked with modern living standards: “Today’s customer doesn’t have much free time, and also doesn’t tend to have much specialist gardening knowledge. I think there’s a fear about the complexities of gardening, which drives customers to the easier options for their gardens – the average person doesn’t know about Latin names or gardening chemicals anymore.

“The growth in the rental market has also changed things dramatically, as have new-build properties, which tend to have tiny gardens.

Those things are going to have a huge effect on how people garden and what they can plant and grow.”

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How to capitalise Colin believes that customers today are more demanding than in the past, which is something garden centres should consider when buying and displaying their offerings: “Plants have to be better value for money to be attractive to our customers. They need to be long flowering, have interesting foliage, and be easy to care for.

“Customers come to garden centres looking for inspiration, and can happily buy an entire display of plants to recreate in their garden, rather than looking for specific varieties to put together themselves. Garden centres need to take advantage of this and focus on using displays to push colourful, inspirational plant ranges that are easy to care for and encourage link sales. Large, easy-care plants are great impulse purchases for customers who want to see an instant effect in their gardens, as are ready-planted patio containers.”

Though the customer demand for garden-ready plants continues to grow, Colin is keen to remind us that as an industry, garden centres have to cater for all gardening capabilities, from novice to expert: “We’ve got to be a bit careful as an industry because customers tend to divide into two camps, and both groups need to be provided for. There are those who like to grow from seed and really enjoy the process of gardening, and we mustn’t forget them – but there are also those that want easy-care, garden-ready plants, and I don’t think that customer base will be going away any time soon.” ◗

Heucheras give great value for money

Foliage is great for colour and for length of season

Lavender has always been a top seller in the shrub range

CONTACT

Colin Dale is head of plants and gardening at Notcutts.

03448 794166 customercare@ notcutts.co.uk www.notcutts.co.uk

Grasses are always a winner throughout the summer

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18/05/2017 09:26

Opening showroom 31 May 2017

Visit us at Glee 11 – 13 September Hall 19 | E20-F21 Birmingham | UK

Visit us at the Autumn Fair 3 – 6 September Hall 3-3A | 3E30 – F31 Birmingham | UK

Seasonal decorations | Outdoor living | Garden furniture | Fountains | Lighting | Pottery

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16/05/2017 15:46

Catering features

EATINGS SEASON’S

C

Garden Centre Retail talks to managing director of MYA Consulting, Carla McKenzie, about the importance of having a high quality summer menu in a garden centre, and the seasonal opportunities that can be seized upon to maximise a centre’s food offering.

ustomers visiting garden centres today expect high quality from the catering offer, explains Carla, a movement which has largely been led by competition from the high street: “The standard for high quality catering has evolved significantly in the past ten years and continues to do so, not just in garden centres, but across the market. Part of that has come about through the revolution of convenience products in outlets like Marks and Spencer and the smaller Waitrose stores, which have recognised that they have a time-poor audience and adapted to this.”

As consumer expectations continue to rise in catering, Carla advises, so does the necessity of having a food offering within a garden centre that offers quality and value for customers: “Garden centres are becoming much more of an ‘eating destination’ than they ever used to be. Over the years, the industry has really worked to build up their customers’ whole experience so that it is more than just shopping, raising their catering standards to compete with the high street.”

Seasonal foods

Summer brings with it a plethora of fresh food opportunities, which Carla urges garden centres to explore before constructing a summer menu: “The important thing is to showcase the natural colours and flavours of ingredients that are in

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season at this time. Summer berries, for example, are great additions to dishes that add a retail merchandising look and feel to them, as are some of the more unusual ingredients that come through over summer, such as samphire, which is a sea asparagus that adds a natural salt, flavour and context to a dish.”

Examples of seasonal products ideal for inclusion within a garden centre’s summer menu range from the bean crop that occurs in June, to blackberries, cherries, peaches, cucumbers, courgettes, beetroot, fennel and runner beans. Summer menus are traditionally much healthier in their orientation than other seasonal menus may be throughout the year, as summer produces great, fresh ingredients. “It’s a great time to develop on the summer salad scene – microwatercress, microleaves and rocket are all great finishing garnishes that give a dish a feeling of lightness and health,” says Carla: “Hedgerow drinks containing ingredients such as nettles, berries and elderflower also come to life in summer, which can really be taken advantage of in a summer drinks menu, and edible flowers are making a comeback, which ties in brilliantly with garden centres and adds a real sense of retail style to a food offer.”

As well as exploring new and different seasonal ingredients, Carla believes that there is a great opportunity

Super chilli con carne

Edible flowers are making a comeback, which ties in brilliantly with garden centres and adds a real sense of retail style to a food offer

within a summer menu for experimenting with existing, familiar foods: “Garden centres should look at how they can adapt their menu to use familiar ingredients in an innovative way, in order to present their customers with fresh ideas and new experiences. Summer fruits and vegetables are essential, but garden centres should also think about adding the odd morsel of uniqueness to their food offering – something that’s going to make them memorable and stand out to their customers. You can take conventional, all-yearround products and change 

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features Catering are typically a lot of marrow and courgette-style plants,” Carla explains: “Garden centres could use this as an opportunity to consider exciting new flavoursome ways of using those crops to minimise wastage, and communicate this message to their customers.”

Feta and watermelon salad

Summer savoury croissants

their context with a seasonal twist; for example, a Victoria sponge could be featured with the addition of summer berries. That approach can be much less commercially risky than brand new additions to a menu, since they have already proven to be popular.”

Food trends

“Food trends are really interesting at the moment,” says Carla. “There’s an increasing and continuous move towards vegan and vegetarian foods, which lend themselves naturally to garden centres, particularly considering their gardening and allotment products.

Garden centres can use that to their advantage in a summer menu by incorporating dishes with ingredients that are grown from the seeds and plants sold within the centre.

“For example, a tomato soup made from a variety of tomatoes that is grown at the centre could feature on a summer menu. Customers then have the inspiration and opportunity to purchase tomato plants or seeds, grow them from home and create that dish themselves.”

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Tuna waldorf salad

Tacos are another current food trend that garden centres can capitalise on in their summer menus. Carla continues: “Tacos are a great way of combining fresh salad products with a variety of cheeses, chillies and other ingredients, and they are low-risk in terms of food waste as they have a good shelf life.

Tacos are also really versatile – garden centres can easily offer vegetarian varieties as well as meat, and could allow customers the option to choose their own particular variety of ingredients.”

Fruit and vegetable blitz drinks are also ‘back in’, says Carla, as are superfoods – with newly trendy superfoods including watermelon seeds and avocado oils: “Using new superfood ingredients in food blitzes and natural yoghurts is a great way to add interest without frightening your customers away.”

In a wider context, Carla states there is an increasing trend among consumers for waste-conscious foods, which can be taken into consideration when selecting menu ingredients. “In the summer, for example, there

Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017

Changing a menu

Before putting together a summer menu, Carla advises that garden centres take a step back and think hard about what that menu is trying to achieve: “Garden centres need to determine the purpose of their menu – for example, is it to offer the current customer base something new and different, or to attract new customers into the centre?

Core favourites that keep customers returning should

A tomato soup, could feature on a garden centres’ summer menu that is made from a variety of tomatoes grown at the centre

Summer berry yoghurts

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Catering features still be featured – you wouldn’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Rather than changing the entire menu, a garden centre may want to continue running its core menu and introduce a seasonal menu alongside it with feature dishes, avoiding the commercial risk of changing an entire menu.”

Changing a menu is an expensive and labour-intensive task, warns Carla, requiring significant planning and careful management: “I would advise a garden centre not to change its menu more than three or four times a year.

That still enables a centre to take advantage of holidays like Christmas and seasonal changes like summer, with the diverse produce and selling opportunities it brings, while remaining manageable.”

Summer opportunities

Summer is an opportunity to extend the trading day within a garden centre by organising some one-off, summer-themed events, Carla suggests, many of which could revolve around food or drink.

“A pop-up barbecue, or a wine and cheese tasting event, can

Cod fish finger open sandwich

Foccacia pizza with local goats cheese

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provide great experiences for your customers and are perfect on a summer evening.

Alcohol is another great way of extending a summer menu, particularly when you consider the growth in craft beers. Garden centres could link in with their local brewery and incorporate this into their menu, widening their community context.”

Roasted tomato soup with fresh basil, Scottish oatcake and pesto

Tips for best practice

“Each item on a garden centre’s menu, seasonal or otherwise, needs to be practical,” says Carla: “Staff will have to be able to produce each dish in high numbers within a reasonable amount of time, and to a high standard.

Garden centre trade peaks in summer and also at Christmas, so seasonal workers need to be consistent in the delivery of that catering offer.”

All garden centre menus should be printed in clear and well-contrasted print so that mature customers don’t have to reach for their reading glasses, Carla instructs, and menu descriptions should add value to the customers’ experience as well as tempting them: “It’s really important for menus to comply with current legislative requirements, with allergens clearly noted and so on, but also from a commercial point of view there should be notable highlights on the featured dishes that are being promoted within the menu.

Food imagery is also very important; little touches like opening a sandwich up for a photo rather than keeping it closed can have such a significant impact.”

Other best practice tips include making sure that separate summer blitz ingredients are visible to customers from the food counter, Carla proposes: “This can really improve the customers’ relationship between the raw ingredients and the final experience. To save on time, garden centres could have pre-made blitzes available, but display the

Staff will have to be able to produce each dish in high numbers within a reasonable amount of time, and to a high standard various raw ingredients next to the finished product, in order to entice customers.”

The children’s menu within a garden centre should also be strengthened over summer, says Carla: “Summer is a period that coincides with school holidays, and visiting families will be looking for great food for both young and old. The children’s menu should contain ‘comfort food’ that will be familiar to its intended audience – as well as a few treats.”

Carla’s final tip for a garden centre summer menu is to explore and experiment with the foods grown and produced within your region.

The inclusion of locally sourced ingredients can take a garden centre’s summer menu to the next level, Carla advises, as the promotion of local producers

and foods is something consumers are increasingly in favour of: “Customers like to support their local area and know where their foods have come from, and local producers can offer a fantastic range of ingredients. Garden centres with great sea ports nearby, for example, have a great opportunity to include fresh crab and scallops within their menu. Local producers can offer a fantastic range of quality foods.” w

CONTACT

Carla McKenzie is managing director at MYA Consulting 01453 765643 info@myaconsulting.co.uk www.mya-consulting.co.uk

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features Highfield anniversary

ANNIVERSARY HIGHFIELD GARDEN WORLD 25TH

Garden Centre Retail met with managing director and co-owner of Highfields Garden World, Tim Greenway, to discuss the history of the company as it celebrates its 25th anniversary

How did Highfield start out?

Highfield started in 1920 in Wales, as a company called the Westland Forestry Willow Company. It moved to Gloucestershire in 1935, purely for the transport links, and by 1960 it was essentially a nursery and mail order business. The company was renamed Highfield nurseries because it moved to Highfield House, which remains next to the garden centre today.

What has been the key turning point for the company?

When Joan and I did a management buyout in 1987.

The owner at the time wanted to retire, and he had four children who all had good jobs and weren’t interested in taking on the business – so he sold it to us. The Highfield Garden World site used to be a field where we’d grow roses, soft fruit and blackcurrants, but Joan decided she wanted us to become a garden centre. We hired Malcolm Scott to do the original planning, and opened in March 1992.

This site used to be a field where we’d grow roses, soft fruit and blackcurrant 36

If you could go back and do it all again, is there anything you’d change?

Yes – the garden centre is actually facing the wrong way now. 25 years ago the entrance was facing north, because we had another entrance off the main lane, which we don’t have anymore. Now we would want the entrance to be facing east, towards the A38.

Going back, I also think Joan and I would agree that we never borrowed enough money. We borrowed an awful lot of money to build Highfield, but we didn’t borrow enough to fully stock it, which meant we ran into some problems.

What’s been your best moment at Highfield?

Seeing the latest £2.5m development come to fruition.

There have been other notable

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moments – 12 years ago we managed to buy 20 acres of land to the south, which was a great achievement and gave us room to expand in the future.

Has the new development been an immediate success?

Yes. With every development we’ve done since we opened we’ve increased our footfall,

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Highfield anniversary features adding 100-150 seats to the capacity of our restaurant .

What do you think has been key in Highfields’ success?

Great staff, hard work, and Joan and I’s commitment to making the business succeed.

How will you remain current and successful in the future?

Innovation – trying to push the restaurant and leisure side of the business. We have so far resisted online trading, and I’m not sure if we want to get into e-commerce; we would rather provide an experience for customers when they come here. We need to keep the centre looking fresh, and we have some excellent buyers who go to all the trade fairs looking for new products. The main aim is to always keep developing, and never to let the business become stale.

and we’ve pushed up our turnover every year.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your 25 years at Highfield?

Make sure you always ask the building contractor what is not included in the price. We’ve found hidden extras in every development we’ve done, which have ended up costing us more money.

How has the new restaurant changed the business?

Hugely. It’s now in its third year, and this year it will have a turnover of £1.6m by itself – it’s now 25% of the garden centre’s turnover, as we’ll do around £6.4m this year. It’s been a huge catalyst for growth, pushing the site turnover – including concessions – to almost £10m.

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How did you celebrate your 25th anniversary?

We had a fantastic cake made by our in-house bakery and invited staff and family members to a cake cutting ceremony to mark the day.

On the Saturday, our bakery team gave away cupcakes to customers, and there was orange juice and Buck’s Fizz.

Our loyalty card customers also received extra points on their purchases, and we gave away 25 prizes of £25, alongside a huge range of special offers across the garden centre.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry in the past 25 years?

It’s become more leisure oriented, and we’ve had to broaden our product range to compete. 25 years ago, most

of our sales were bare-rooted plants in autumn, which was a carryover from our nursery and mail order business. Autumn sales are good now, but the greater sales come in spring, when customers venture back out to repair the damage from autumn and winter.

Online trading has also had a significant impact, which is why we developed the restaurant – after all, you can’t get a coffee on the web.

What are your future plans for Highfield?

We’re currently working with Chris Primett at Malcolm Scott to come up with a five year development plan to push the business forward again. The first stage will be to create up to 150 extra car parking spaces. If that’s successful, we can go ahead and look at

Do you have any predictions for how garden centres will evolve in the next ten years?

I think garden centres are investing in the restaurant and catering side of the business, as well as opening cookery and farm shops. One of the things we would like to develop is our farm shop department, which is currently small. We’re also considering a dog grooming salon, a hairdressing salon and a nail bar. That could be the natural progression for us as a leisure destination.

What do you think will be the industry’s biggest challenge in future years?

The increased amount of people renting, gardens being much smaller than they used to be, and a change in gardening habits. 25 years ago, barerooted stock was popular and gardening in the autumn was the norm. Nowadays, if our customers want their garden to look good, an increasing amount want to buy something they can plant for instant effect, rather than grow something themselves. I think we need to embrace those changes as an industry. w

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Christmas preview features

FESTIVITIES FIRE UP YOUR

Christmas events have the potential to significantly drive up your footfall during the festive season – Garden Centre Retail speaks to three stores about how they plan and execute theirs

A

s the sector readies itself for the hectic summer months, Christmas may be the last thing on a garden centre’s mind. However, to ensure adequate preparation time and the careful consideration of all possible associated issues, from staffing and cost analysis to equipment hire and marketing, many garden centres already have their Christmas plans underway. With a seemingly endless list of possibilities for Christmas events, activities and attractions within a garden centre, all with a myriad of considerations involved, the task of deciding what to do this Christmas is one that can’t be started too early.

Garden Centre Retail magazine has gone out into the industry to discuss the practicalities of successful Christmas attractions, each designed to maximise footfall over the festive period.

What:

Pet grotto Where: Planters, Tamworth and

Garden King, Newhall Who: Ben Smith, design and

marketing manager

Planters Group has been running their wildly successful pet grottoes for three years.

“We decided to open a pet grotto to make more money from our grotto experience,” Ben explains: “The grotto tends to only be open for children at the weekends and during the week of Christmas, whereas we’re able to open it as a pet grotto on weekdays.”

Planters’ pet grotto has consistently received great feedback each year it’s been running, and, according to Ben, there simply aren’t any drawbacks to holding the event: “The overheads are much lower on pet days than on child grotto days because there are fewer staff members needed. As we’re a dogfriendly garden centre anyway we already have cleaning procedures in place, so the grotto doesn’t create much in the way of extra work for us.

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Meeting Santa at the pet grotto

Pet lovers flock to Planters every year on pet grotto days, says Ben, and Planters sees both footfall and link sales soar as a result: “At Planters we have a dog-friendly area in the restaurant, and a grooming parlour which has potential pet grotto visitors coming in every day. There’s definitely a spike in trade in the pet department on pet grotto days, as well as an increase in bookings in

A satisfied pet grotto customer

the grooming parlour, and the restaurant takings go up massively – people tend to come for the grotto and stay for something to eat or drink with their pets.”

The pet grotto has garnered a huge amount of local press and TV coverage, which has in turn led to more bookings and extra pet grotto days being introduced to accommodate the demand.

In addition to link sales, Ben says that the pet grotto itself is hugely profitable for Planters: “It’s a really good moneymaking venture for us – it helps us to recover some of the capital costs of building the children’s grotto, and it’s excellent for filling the weekday and early weekend slots that we can’t sell to children because they’ll be at school or nursery.

“We charge between £5 and £10 per pet, depending

Our overall turnover from a pet grotto day is significantly higher than it is on a children’s grotto day on whether they have a photo taken, and we find the amount that is spent on photos for pets is phenomenal. Our customers will spend significantly more on getting a photo of their pet with Santa than they’ll spend on getting a photo of their children with Santa, and our overall turnover from a pet grotto day is significantly higher than it is on a children’s grotto day!” 

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features Christmas preview

Santa and his elves

Christmas crafts

Fun and games

Mulled wine for sale

Prizes to be won

What: Late night Christmas shopping event Where: Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree Who: Hannah Powell, communications and business development manager Perrywood started doing their late night Christmas shopping event six years ago. “The night is all about raising money for charity and giving our customers entertainment while they’re here,” Hannah explains.

“It was part of our success in getting the Christmas shop at Perrywood underway, and it creates goodwill among our staff and customers.”

Having the time and resources to set the event up is by far the biggest consideration for a garden centre, says Hannah: “First of all, my team comes up with the event plan, which covers everything from the promotion right through to the signage and activities on the night.

There are lots of little bits to sort out – risk assessments have to be done, playlists have to be sorted, some suppliers will want to come in and do tastings or demonstrations, it’s a lot of work. We start planning it in September to make sure we have plenty of time to sort

40

everything out before the event in November.”

It’s also critical for garden centres to be realistic about their plans for the event, Hannah continues: “In the past, we used to hold demonstrations, such as how to arrange a Christmas village in a jar, but we found it was too much work and our shop floor team didn’t have time to set it up. Now our communications team will come up with a few fete-style games like a raffle and a prize draw for customers to play on the night for 50p or £1, little things we can set up in advance that just require a member of staff on the night to run it.”

Garden centres considering holding their own late night Christmas shopping events should have a clear idea about why they want to hold it, who they want to attend, and what the night is about, Hannah states: “Will it be for charity, is it for kids, or is it a more sophisticated evening?

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A centre with a low footfall will have a very different late night Christmas shopping event to an established centre with lots of loyal customers A centre with a low footfall will have a different event to an established centre with lots of loyal customers – it affects the amount of promotion that will be needed.”

Preparation time in the days and weeks before an event should also be carefully considered and planned for, says Hannah – bear in mind that your team is already busy stocking up and merchandising for Christmas. “We had to change the way we run the event to reduce the work for our shop floor team,” she explains: “Preparing for an event on top of everything else

at that time of year is a big ask, so it’s critical to be realistic about how many hours staff can put into organising it.”

Despite the months of hard work, Hannah believes Perrywood’s late night Christmas shopping event is well worth it: “It puts us in the centre of the community and raises money for charity, and our staff enjoy it – those that aren’t working will come in with their friends and families. It’s a feel-good event. However, do keep in mind that once you’ve held the event once, your customers will expect you to have it every year.”

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Christmas preview features Family fun on the ice

What:

Ice rink Where: Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold Who: Duncan Burns,

marketing manager

The skate exchange

Webbs Wychbold has become known for its real ice rink at Christmas, which continues to be a popular, footfall-driving event every year. “The rink helps us to deliver some festive fun for our customers at Christmas, allowing us to

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be fluid with the offering we have at the centre in a way that is relevant to our seasonal demand,” states Duncan. “It transforms the garden centre into full ‘Christmas mode’ and enhances our customers’ experience – it really drives

It’s known as an annual event and it helps us to forge a relationship with our customers that is beneficial throughout the year Christmas at Webbs forward.

To keep up with customer demand we decided last year to increase the ice rink surface area, which was very successful and lead to 45,000 visitors at the rink alone.”

The ice rink takes up a large area at the site, which is made way for by Webbs’ seasonal team reducing the product areas that aren’t in high demand over the Christmas period, such as larger landscaping products.

“We find using that space in a way that is more appropriate and profitable to the centre over Christmas works really well,” says Duncan. The rink takes a week to build after the space is cleared, he explains: “All services like catering facilities for the rink are built from the ground up. We work with a global events partner on the ice rink, they work with our seasonal team on the construction and the build and then hand the operation over to us fully, we deliver the food and beverage offering, ticketing, promotion and the customer service for what is essentially a giant, pop upevent, we find the quality is very high every year.”

The ice rink has proven to be a popular event, attracting a range of customers from adults to young children. To maximise the appropriate age range for the rink, the company has specific equipment that makes skating safe for young children. “The rink is a great way to encourage crossgenerational visits to a site” Duncan explains: “We see a lot of grandparents and parents bringing children into the centre for the full festive experience. We also get adultonly visits such as work outings

or friendship groups coming for a skate, and it’s popular with school trips.”

Garden centres considering having an ice rink at Christmas should first ensure they are entirely confident with their ability to deliver a stand-alone event, Duncan advises, as the attraction is a huge planning and delivery exercise for a dedicated team. “We’ve always had a great level of customer satisfaction from the ice rink at Webbs Wychbold, and we put that down to having a focused, sizeable team working on it,” says Duncan. “It requires serious preparation, with issues such as health and safety needing to be taken very, very seriously.

We manage this carefully at Wychbold and ensure we have very capable staff running the event, which coupled with our special equipment for younger or inexperienced skaters has meant our incident rates have always been very low. We put two teams on our rink - a hands-on team that manages it, maintaining the quality of the ice surface and focusing on its physical infrastructure, and a catering and hospitality team who deliver the eating and drinking experience side.”

If managed and planned for correctly, Duncan believes the benefits of an ice skating rink within a garden centre can be huge: “It drives a large volume of footfall within our Wychbold centre, and is a real anchor point for our Christmas retail experience. It’s firmly planted in the centre’s area as an annual Christmas event, and it helps us to forge an experiential relationship with our customers that continues to be beneficial throughout the rest of the year.” w

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18/05/2017 09:49

Bolder, brighter and brimming with freshness. Grow with Glee.

Get your free ticket at: gleebirmingham.com 11-13 September 2017 NEC Birmingham

Glee_Birmingham @Glee.Birmingham1

Glee_Birmingham GleeBirmingham1

BORD NA MÓNA UK CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF AWARD-WINNING FORMULAS The largest supplier of own brand compost and growing media in the UK, Bord na Móna UK is celebrating its tenth year of ‘Best Buy’ formulas, as certified by consumer ratings magazine Which?

Gardening.

the company include those supplied for own brand use to the likes of Wyevale and B&Q. This year alone, Which?

Gardening awarded ‘Best Buy’ status to three own brand formulations.

Since 2007, the company has manufactured a number of products under its popular Bord na Móna Growise brand which have gone on to receive ‘Best Buy’ status for quality and performance. Successful products include the peat-reduced multipurpose grow bag which was awarded ‘Best Buy’ status in 2016, when compared to similar products on the market.

June continued, “This is not only great news for us, but great news for our partners too. Bord na Móna UK is all about providing market leading products that ensure the consumer gets great results every time.”

June Dowling, Head of Marketing said, ‘Bord na Móna UK invests heavily in ongoing research into sustainable growing media and peat-reduced compost. Our product development team are second to none and we are continuously looking at ways to progress our product range using the latest in green technology, in order to stay ahead of the game. Unlike our competitors, Bord na Móna UK has not once received a negative review for any of our products over the past ten years. This is hugely encouraging and demonstrates our ability to produce consistently positive results, regardless of the product in question.”

Alongside products under the popular Bord na Móna Growise brand, other award-winning blends manufactured by

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Bord na Móna UK is the largest own brand supplier of compost and bark in the UK. It is part of the Bord na Móna plc, which specialises in eco-fuels, growing media, recycling, resource recovery and renewable energy.

Retailers interested in working with Bord na Móna UK should contact 0800 973 555, email info@thegreenergardener.com or visit the website www.thegreenergardener.com.

18/05/2017 11:51

News products

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

Husqvarna Group marks the production of its millionth robotic lawnmower

H

usqvarna Group celebrated a landmark occasion for British manufacturing on 21 April, marking the production of its millionth robotic lawnmower at its UK headquarters in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Kai Wärn, CEO and president of the Husqvarna Group, said: “Celebrating 1m environmentally friendly robotic mowers is a milestone for the Group.

More than twenty years ago, we created the robotic mower market, and we have developed the market ever since. We naturally have a strong market leadership within this category, as many of our competitors are still fairly new in the market. We see that in many countries the market for robotic mowers remains small, while others have grown substantially – meaning that there remain sizeable growth opportunities in this exciting sector. Our aim is to maintain our leadership position by providing the most reliable, safe and efficient products and solutions.” www.husqvarna.com/uk

Forest Garden’s new acoustic panels dramatically reduce noise levels

A

ccording to a government survey, loud music, barking dogs, noisy neighbours and road traffic are the most irritating unwanted sounds in a garden. Forest Garden’s new acoustic panels aim to reduce the problem of surrounding noise with costeffective fence panels.

This is the first DIY acoustic panel, and can be fitted as a replacement or as a new fence. Tests conducted in independent laboratory tests, carried out in 2017 by Exova BM Trada, show that the panels can achieve a reduction in the

noise level of as much as 30dB. Each successive reduction of 10dB is equal to halving the noise level.

“These panels bring peace and quiet, and privacy, back to gardens that are subjected to unwanted noise,” says Guy Grainger, CEO of Forest Garden. “According to the Department of Transport, with road traffic increasing the unwanted noise impact in gardens is a growing problem.

Our panels offer an attractive, practical, effective and affordable solution.” www.forestgarden.co.uk

ECHO releases new ASK-RW23D Scissor Head for ‘a safer cut’

M&M Timber crowned ‘Treated Wood Trader of the Year’ in the 2017 Wood Protection Association (WPA) Awards

O

n 5 April, M&M Timber were recognised as ‘Treated Wood Trader of the Year’ by the Wood Protection Association Awards, for their innovation in product development and forwardthinking investment.

WPA director Steve Young commented: “M&M Timber was an early adopter of the WPA Benchmark quality scheme for treated wood, as well as incising technology.

It is highly regarded for its treatment capabilities by the independent experts used by the WPA to carry out quality audits, but M&M’s novel

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approach to segmenting the market for treated wood also caught the judges’ eye.”

Based near Clows Top in Worcestershire, M&M Timber is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of machine rounded timber products, and is highly regarded by landscaping professionals. With its new management team, led by the CEO of owners Forest Garden, M&M Timber has reshaped its business strategy to diversify into new markets, while ensuring it doesn’t lose sight of its traditional agricultural fencing business. www.mmtimber.co.uk

R

ecognising the hazards presented by cutting close to bystanders, cars and buildings, ECHO have released the ASK-RW23D scissor head, to reduce the risk of debris thrown into the air.

The new rotary scissor attachment is suitable for most ECHO brushcutters and works on the principle of two contra-rotating blades that ‘snip’ the grass or brush like a pair of scissors. Grass, weeds

and brush drops where it is cut, making it a safer choice when working near people, windows and parked cars.

The rotary scissor head comes with an 18 over 15 tooth blade kit, with an optional 28 over 24 tooth fine cut blade kit available for a finer finish on grass and lawn edges. The cutting head is well-balanced for easy manoeuvrability, and is comfortable to use. www.echo-tools.co.uk

Garden Centre Retail May/June 2017 43

18/05/2017 09:27

products News

PACKS & PROMOTIONS The latest television and advertising campaigns from in and around the sector SafeLawn launches ‘Lawn Man’ TV adverts The new TV ad campaign by SafeLawn, which features a CGI ‘Lawn Man’, aired for the first time in April and runs alongside a large-scale digital and social campaign designed to generate maximum interest among parents and pet owners.

Westland has significantly upped its TV spend, following an unprecedented sell-in to retailers who have pledged support for child and pet-safe products. The campaign aimed to drive consumers in-store over April and May, including the key bank holiday weekends.

The ‘Lawn Man’ character depicts a lawn that has come to life, struggles through mistreatment and is brought back from the brink of death by SafeLawn lawn feed.

Keith Nicholson, marketing director for Westland said: “Early indications show Westland SafeLawn is already outselling existing lawn care products and the feedback we’re getting from garden retailers is that it’s worth committing to.

“It’s a product which has launched an entirely new category, however its conception is based on solid insight, proving that there’s an appetite for it within the marketplace. Therefore, we’ve decided to be bold with this product and up the TV spend considerably, to allow it to make a real impact as we come into peak season.” www.gardenhealth.com

Gardena’s new TV campaign to reach over 21 million people The first UK TV campaign from Gardena in 10 years, this new spring media campaign covers TV, print and digital. The campaign has a reach of more than 21m people, with the focal point of Gardena’s media plan based around key commercial and sale periods in the spring time.

Gardena have focused on being leak-free and frostproof, demonstrating the reliability of their own products when compared to old, leaking products.

The media campaign has nationwide reach across TV, including Sky, ITV, and Channel 4, consumer magazines and newspapers including Gardeners’ World, The Sunday Times and The Telegraph, and digital platforms such as Google, Facebook and YouTube.

For television, watering is the key topic, and for print and digital it is both watering and secateurs. The campaign will be running until the end of May. www.gardena.com/uk

Weber to relaunch website A revamp to Weber’s website follows their investment in digital advertising in the UK. The new website, which will launch in May 2017, will offer consumers a more immersive and educational experience, to help them make quicker and more informed purchases in-store.

2017 has seen the launch of their Genesis II gas barbecue, significant investments in in-store displays, and new Grill Academy courses to help consumers get the most out of their barbecue. Last year a dedicated Weber app was launched, and more recently the iGrill and accompanying app was introduced.

Chris Trewhitt, UK marketing director, said: “The new website will provide a more user friendly and immersive journey that we believe will better equip and guide our customers to the products which best fit their requirement, giving them then information they need to make the purchase decision before they go into store”. www.weber.com

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Products for the Garden Retailer. Croquet sets, Family Tug-O-War ropes, Skittles, real and faux leather footballs and rugby balls for the ideal gift.

Any product can be made to the client’s specifications.

Email: howard@vintageandsports.co.uk www.vintageandsports.co.uk Telephone: 02087780752

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18/05/2017 10:45

products Seeds

SUCCESS THE SEEDS OF

GCR speaks to Paul Matson about the increasing popularity of the ‘grow your own’ vegetable seed market, and how garden centres can create a fantastic seed display

P

aul was inspired to create an easy-to-understand range of seed packets by his own tough start in vegetable growing, when, a few years ago, he took on a local allotment plot: “I remember going into the local garden centre for the first time and seeing that typical wall-to-wall rack of packets, and I was overwhelmed by the choice and variety. For someone like me, who had no real experience in gardening or horticulture, it was quite a lot to take in and navigate.

“The seed packets that I remembered from my childhood hadn’t changed very much – they may have been the same for decades. There is a convention around what seed packets look like; they’re designed to fit on the rack so they can be easily restocked. A lot of people like that, but I felt there was an opportunity to do something different by playing with the design.”

46

Reconsidering seed design SowHow’s seed range started small, with just a few varieties available. Paul used his background in graphic design to create modern and vibrant packaging with simple graphic shapes, inspired more by vintage book covers and mid-century design than by conventional seed packets.

“Often you get quite a reasonable photograph on the front with brief instructions on the other side, but there isn’t the space to expand with the kind of information that you need to know, particularly if you’re just starting out.

“I came up with a design that was more like a leaflet, which could open up into different sections and have all the information on sowing and growing crops.”

The extra space available on the SowHow packets allowed Paul to provide information on what to do with the vegetables once they’ve grown, such as

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how to store them and what recipes they can be used in: what he calls “the sorts of things that do come up when you’re growing vegetables but that there isn’t space for on a traditional seed packet. I felt it should be a self-contained package where you would have everything you needed in one place, without needing to refer to a book or go online.”

Customer feedback and expansion While selling his seeds on a market stall in Bristol, Paul found that he would receive a lot of helpful customer feedback, with seasoned vegetable growers buying his seeds to give as gifts.

This was a surprising turn for Paul, which pushed him to look at markets outside of garden centres: “It’s interesting that some of the places that have been stocking SowHow haven’t been garden centres. I’ve been selling to delis, bookshops and

gift shops, not places that that you would traditionally buy seeds from.”

Targeting the new ‘growyour-own’ market Paul believes that younger allotment owners have been inspired by a rising interest in organic food, the appeal of fresh produce, and an increasing awareness of where that produce comes from.

Garden centres have the opportunity to reach this growing novice market by targeting it directly with their displays and seed racks.

“Garden centres often seem to reach out to people who are experts and know what they want,” says Paul. “A good example is a seed rack.

It will typically be ordered alphabetically; customers go there and navigate through and then find the thing that they want to grow – but they need to know what they’re looking for in the first place.

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Seeds products

“Garden centres could take a small selection out of the seed racks and order them slightly differently, or promote them in a different way. They could display a packet of courgette seeds with a cookery book next to it, or a spiralizer to make courgetti. These activities are all interconnected, and I think that garden centres often treat them as separate.”

“The packets that work at the moment are mostly for experienced gardeners, with some aimed at children.

There’s usually some children’s kits that people can start out with, but as an adult getting into gardening you feel a little embarrassed buying the kids’ packets, even though in many cases I think they can be more appropriate. If you’ve got no knowledge whatsoever then they’re much simpler to actually access.”

This is where SowHow comes in, between the two

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extremes of complex adult seeds and simple children’s seeds: “I guess there’s a big opportunity in terms of urban gardens and people who don’t have much space,” Paul says.

“I personally know a lot of people who would really love to grow stuff and just feel that they don’t have the space and don’t have the time. That’s another big factor – it’s quite a responsibility growing things.”

Capitalising on space Lack of space is often a deterrent when it comes to growing vegetables, with squash and potatoes requiring a lot of room to spread and grow, but Paul believes that this should not put potential customers off: “Garden centres could tailor sections towards different customers, such as urban gardeners, people with small spaces and people with very shady gardens. I think that a lot of the future interest is going to

come from people who are just starting out.

Paul believes that space issues can be solved by making the most of pots and windowsills indoors: “Customers should consider the things they could grow in order to fit their space.”

Diversifying your seed range Unusual varieties of seeds that most customers won’t have heard of tend to garner a lot of interest too, along with forgotten vegetable varieties, suggests Paul: “Cucamelons are wonderful vegetables to grow. They’re very decorative, growing up vines and being easily grown in pots. You can also find a lot of heirloom vegetable varieties online now.

“Local varieties are quite popular now when it comes to apple trees, but it doesn’t happen as much with seeds.

Customers tend to get a packet of seeds and not to think about where they’ve

come from. It would be interesting to have a ‘local’ section in a garden centre.”

Will the market sustain?

Interest in growing vegetables at home and on allotments tends to come in waves, and Paul feels that we are currently in a period of popularity.

Will it last? “I think that some of it will be sustained,” he said: “I guess it comes back to that idea of fresh food. I don’t think that’s going to go away in a hurry, as more and more people are becoming interested in what they’re eating. For a lot people right now, the garden is an extension of the kitchen.” w CONTACT

Paul Matson is the founder of SowHow seeds and coauthor of growing guide SowHow hello@sowhow.com www.sowhow.com

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18/05/2017 09:25

THE COMPLETE GARDEN WILDLIFE RANGE LIFE

WILD

ER WINN

PET &

WINNER

WINNER OF 10 PRODUCT DESIGN AWARDS NEW PRODUCT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT tel: +44 (0)1666 505333

BESPOKE PRODUCTION FROM OUR WORKSHOPS

fax: +44 (0)1666 505320 email: info@wildlifeworld.co.uk www.wildlifeworld.co.uk

GCR - half-page advert.indd 1

13/03/2017 14:14:16

Imaginative, whimsical products for creative gardeners of all ages! Finely detailed, weatherproof miniature garden houses, accessories and figurines, offering great value and a decent margin, with full retailer support and advice from the longest established brand in the UK. Our new 24 page A4 brochure is now availablecontact us for a copy!

- Free retail catalogues, information sheets & plant stakes - No minimum order or case size requirements - Fast delivery, low carriage paid level - Point of Purchase display available - Trade website and resource centre For further information, advice and prices, please contact: Fairyglass Ltd, Units 33-35, Leafield Indusrtrial Estate, Corsham SN13 9RS Tel. +44 (0) 1225 812101 e. fiddlehead@fiddlehead.eu www.fiddlehead.eu

HTA preview features

PREVIEW HTA PLANT SHOW

The HTA National Plant Show returns to Stoneleigh Park for 2017, this time accompanied by an exciting new event in the form of the HTA Nursery Supply Show

N

ow in its eighth year, the HTA National Plant Show continues to deliver for both growers and retailers – a great opportunity to view a huge range of UK plant suppliers in one place and at one time. This year, with the new HTA Nursery Supply Show running alongside, the event will give even more to our visitors by enabling them to buy plants as well as the critical support elements that help plant sales in retail nurseries and garden centres.

Commenting on the new show, HTA President Adam Wigglesworth of Aylett Nurseries said: “I am delighted that with the new event alongside the National Plant Show, there will be an opportunity for visitors to see suppliers with products that help us sell more plants. I hope that the efficiency of having this event next door will make our visitors’ time even more productive and worthwhile, and be an exciting addition to a landmark event.”

SHOWCASING THE BEST IN NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS FROM UK SUPPLIERS IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: • Annuals • Herbaceous perennials • Houseplants • Trees and conifers • Shrubs and climbers Visitor Vote, sponsored by Floramedia. Attendees are asked to select and vote for their favourite plant of the show, with over 100 plants to choose from.

Award for the Best Plant Concept for Retail, sponsored

by Elho. This new award showcases the brightest and best in creative packaging concepts.

Planting the Seed Award. Visitors vote for the best stand displays that stand out from the crowd and inform clearly about the product; great for retailers looking for inspiration for their store plant displays. 

www.gardencentreretail.com

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features HTA preview The Nursery Supply Show running alongside the National Plant Show offers a real opportunity to showcase UK horticulture through the supply chain of plants. We are looking forward to the opportunity to speak to both our existing customers and our potential customers about Melcourt products that serve both the retail and professional markets.

Neil Gray, Melcourt SEMINAR TIMETABLE

Tuesday 20 June 10am ‘Saving our trees’ – the Phytothreats project 11am New Plant Awards announcement 11.30am BPOA Home Grown Award Presentation 12:30pm Grand opening of the new event HTA Nursery

Supply Show 3.30pm Are we growing the right plants?

Wednesday 21 June ‘Saving our trees’ – the Phytothreats project 10am The Greatest Retail Awards 2pm

DIRECTIONS

Please note that many road signs still refer to Stoneleigh Park as The National Agricultural Centre.

BY ROAD

From the North West Leave the M6 at J2, following signs for Warwick (A46). After joining the A46 from the A45, take the exit signposted Stoneleigh NAC and follow the signs to Stoneleigh Park.

From the North Leave the M1 at J21, following signs for Coventry (M69). At the end of the M69, follow signs for Warwick. After joining the A46 from the A45, take the exit signposted Stoneleigh NAC and follow the signs to Stoneleigh Park.

From the South Leave the M40 at J15, following signs for Coventry (A46). After approximately eight miles on the A46, take the exit signposted Stoneleigh NAC and follow road signage to Stoneleigh Park.

BY RAIL SHOW FEATURES

Hortipak Hub – visit the team at the Hortipak Hub and find out how they are connecting people with plants and helping both growers and retailers to increase return business.

HTA Village – take a break, have a coffee, chat with your colleagues and plan your day, or talk with your local area HTA representatives about your needs.

The Retail Concept Experience – stimulating retail experience for visitors, filled with inspiring retail ideas for you to take away.

Reflect in The Glasshouse – new in the hall catering area Love the plot you’ve got – designed to help and inspire 30-45 year olds who have access to a garden or outdoor space, but don’t currently make great use of it.

Having exhibited at the National Plant Show since the very beginning, we believe this exciting new development will provide even more reasons for both growers and retailers to visit the show. The new Nursery Supply Show will provide numerous opportunities to support the production and sale of plants in the UK, and help build the strength of the British nursery and garden centre industry.

Geoff Caesar, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company

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Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick and Warwick Parkway rail stations are all situated on the main London MaryleboneBirmingham line, while Coventry is a regular stop on the Virgin West Coast Mainline.

From these mainline stations, you will need to take a short taxi or shuttle bus ride. Taxi ranks are based at both Warwick Parkway and Coventry stations, which are approximately five miles from Stoneleigh Park. Alternatively, you can use the complimentary shuttle bus (see below).

BY TAXI

Local taxi company AA Cars & Minibuses can be reached on 02476 696 666.

BY BUS/COACH

Coventry bus station is six miles (10km) away from Stoneleigh Park and Warwick bus station is nine miles (14km) away.

BY AIR

Stoneleigh Park is within 30 minutes of Birmingham International Airport.

FREE OF CHARGE SHUTTLE BUSES

There will be a complimentary shuttle bus service, provided

by Johnsons Coaches, from Birmingham Airport to Stoneleigh Park – you can pick this up in the coach and bus lane outside of Terminal 2 on Comet Road.

There will also be a complimentary shuttle bus service, provided by Johnsons Coaches, from Coventry train station and Warwick Parkway train station – you can pick this up outside of the station.

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18/05/2017 08:59

HTA promotional feature

PLANT SHOW HTA

The HTA Plant Show returns to Stoneleigh Park in Coventry on 20-21 June. Here, some of the exhibitors introduce themselves, and give us a sneak preview of what their stands will offer Stand 135

Timber Displays is an established company set up to provide treated timber display products to the garden centre and nursery industries. Our products are made to a high specification from pressure treated timber, and are designed to increase your turnover by showing your merchandise to its full potential and adding an attractive feature to your outlet. We can offer a vast range of standard items, plus a bespoke service to help you achieve a personal look. www.timberdisplays.co.uk

Stand 88/99

Frank P Matthews is the premier tree grower in the UK. A family business since 1901, our Trees for Life brand has become synonymous with superb quality trees grown to the highest horticultural standards. We will be exhibiting a select range of fruit and ornamental trees, including trained trees, patio trees and choice forms/varieties. We are also entering two new varieties into the New Plant Awards category Trees and Conifers: Malus Aros and Apple Surprize. www.frankpmatthews.com

Quality Ornamentals Ltd Stand 70

We offer an excellent quality range of bedding plants covering summer and autumn, patio plants, hanging baskets, and patio tubs and wicker baskets. We have experience supplying smaller independent garden centres right through to nationwide chains. Based in Cheshire, we can supply throughout the UK and offer barcoding and pre-pricing, tailored to suit each customer. www.qualityornamentals.com

Stand 147/160

Warwickshire-based Hawkesmill Nurseries grow over 3.5m plants throughout the year, and have a plant for every season and business alike. We pride ourselves on providing quality seasonal plants to garden centres, retail nurseries and, more recently, landscapers and garden designers.

Hawkesmill Nurseries are proud to be presenting our new and exclusive Salvia ‘Pink Lips’ and Victorian Viola range at the show this year, as well as a vast collection of summer flowering perennials www.hawkesmillnurseries.co.uk

Stand 1

We have been growing and supplying quality Christmas trees for over 25 years, while our sister company The Christmas Cabin provides an extensive range of Christmas stands and supports. We grow over a million cut and pot-grown trees, managed and harvested by our full-time plantation staff. We also offer a full range of tree contracting work from mistblowing to stump-grinding, using our specialised machinery. www.cadebytreetrust.co.uk and www.thechristmascabin.com

Cadeby Tree Trust Specialist Christmas Tree Growers & Contractors

Stand 48

ICL brands have been leading the way in horticulture for over 50 years, from our Levington Advance professional growing media to our controlled release fertilizer Osmocote. Use our products and you will be safe in the knowledge your plants are getting what they need for maximum quality and return on investment. Come and see us at stand 48 for all your growing needs – we have everything you need to grow, nurture and protect your plants. Test our technical team with your questions and see the launch of our new Landscaper Pro range. We’re excited, and we think you will be too! www.icl-group.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

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Show preview Solex

SOLEX SHOW PREVIEW

Birmingham is about to play host to the 2017 edition of the Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition – a great place to scout all the latest trends and products in the garden furniture and barbecue category

HOW TO GET THERE

T

he annual Solex three day event, attracting national and international retailers, is back for its fourth year at Birmingham’s NEC. The event will be taking place from 11-13 July, bringing together leading manufacturers of garden products and exciting new developments in the garden centre market.

Visitors can expect the latest in garden furniture, outdoor lighting, gazebos, barbecues, parasols and outdoor play equipment, along with the latest developments in design, sustainability, products and environmental manufacturing.

Usually attended by purchasing directors and managers, exhibitors often find attending the Solex event to be an effective way of testing the market, attracting customers, identifying agents and distributors, observing their competitors and, of course, making sales.

LOFA, which currently represents more than half of all the garden furniture and barbecues that are sold in the UK, organises the trade show. Starting in 2008 in Telford International Centre, Solex grew out of its former premises to where it currently resides in Hall 5 of the NEC.

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Road The NEC is clearly signposted from all motorways and major routes, including M42, M40 and M6. Upon arrival visitors should follow signs targeting them towards Hall 5 when they arrive, instead of following satnavs.

There are 16,500 parking spaces at the NEC, with shuttle buses available to ferry visitors to their correct halls, along with well-signposted footpaths.

Rail A short walk from Birmingham International Railway Station, with direct services running throughout the day. Visitors travelling outside of the local area can catch connecting trains from Birmingham New Street.

Air Located just outside of the NEC, Birmingham Airport provides a free air-rail link to Birmingham International Railway Station on the upper level of Terminal 1. The air-rail link runs every two minutes and takes 90 seconds, and visitors can head straight through to the NEC.

www.gardencentreretail.com

18/05/2017 09:44

Solex Show preview

GO AND SEE AT

SOLEX

As the garden furniture trade show returns to Birmingham’s NEC, a selection of the exhibitors give us a taste of what to expect

CAMPINGAZ STAND 335 Campingaz’s barbecue range covers everything from fully-featured models for big groups to compact models for small gardens.

Exhibiting: Campingaz will be unveiling its new Master Series Line Extensions for gas barbecues, showcasing its range of two-, three- and four-burner Classic Barbecues, and presenting a new range of barbecue and garden accessories. www.campingaz.com/uk

ZEST4LEISURE STAND 540

PACIFIC LIFESTYLE LIMITED STAND 25

Zest4Leisure is a leading timber garden product supplier selling direct to garden centres, major purchasing groups and online retailers. With a dedicated sales team covering the whole of the UK and a national distribution network, Zest has earned a reputation for quality, innovation and great customer service.

Pacific Lifestyle is a designer and importer of indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting and home accessories, with both traditional and contemporary ranges available. Endeavouring to deliver the best in quality and service, Pacific Lifestyle can offer a one stop shop for living accessories.

Exhibiting: Zest4Leisure will be exhibiting its extensive timber furniture range. It is launching new and exciting garden furniture for the 2017/18 season, as well as its existing range, which includes GIMA award winners. Products to be showcased include dining sets, benches, picnic tables and barbecue shelters.

Exhibiting: Pacific Lifestyle will be exhibiting its range of premium AeroCovers and natural-looking, comfortable and stylish outdoor furniture. Pacific Lifestyle provides a full point of sale display stand for AeroCover retailers, along with a demo video for shops, showrooms and websites, with point of sale display stands and demo videos also provided for parasols.

www.zest4leisure.co.uk

www.pacific-lifestyle.co.uk

HARTMAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS UK LTD STAND 505

GRILLSTREAM BBQS

BY LEISUREGROW STAND 515

Established in the Netherlands in 1971, Hartman designs and distributes an exclusive range of garden furniture throughout the UK and Europe.

The Grillstream brand is part of the British company LeuisureGrow, which licensed the Grillstream system in 2011 after the engineer’s pitch was unsuccessful on Dragon’s Den. Grillstream’s patented U-shaped grills sit directly on top of one another, resulting in a tastier, healthier and cleaner way of barbecuing, and is a brand that is recognised across the UK.

Exhibiting: Innovative and exciting garden furniture concepts in cast aluminium, rattan, aluminium, wood and resin.

Exhibiting: Grillstream will be bringing along its resident chef Ben Bartlett to show how its grills work, along with showcasing its range of Grillstreams and the LeisureGrow furniture range.

Visitors should expect a fun-filled stand with games, food and prizes, all under the ‘No More Burnt Bangers!’ campaign.

www.hartmanuk.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

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www.grillstreambbqs.com

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Show preview Solex

BONNINGTON PLASTICS LTD STAND 230

INNOVATORS INTERNATIONAL LTD STAND 415

Now in its 50th year of trading, Bonningtons is a leading UK importer and distributor of home, garden and leisure goods.

The family-run company prides itself on sourcing great-selling products at the most competitive prices, with no compromise on quality.

Innovators International was established in 1988 and has been a leading supplier to the garden and DIY trades for over 28 years.

It is the original mixed container specialist, aiming, as its name suggests, to ‘lead while others follow’.

Exhibiting: Bonningtons will be exhibiting new products from their outdoor living category, including new luxury teak furniture, colour block metal bistro sets, parasols, barbecues and chimeneas, and outdoor lighting.

Exhibiting: Innovators International Ltd will be exhibiting a range of modern and innovative garden furniture.

www.bonningtons.com

BRUNDLE GARDENER STAND 540

www.innovators-international.co.uk

4 SEASONS OUTDOOR UK LTD STAND 220

Brundle Gardener offers stylish outdoor living solutions for any outdoor space, from its illuminated bistro set to its children’s furniture sets and unique FireBall range. With a broad selection of products and warehouses located around the UK, its is well placed to supply both garden centres and high street retailers.

Its flexible, friendly approach enables it to tailor a delivery service to meet customers’ requirements.

Actively involved in Indonesia since the early 1990s, 4 Seasons Outdoor started out by importing teak garden furniture and cane furniture. 4 Seasons Outdoor introduced plastic seats at the turn of the century, and is now offering a standard guarantee of no fewer than three years. Its furniture is now available throughout most of Europe.

Exhibiting: FireBalls, tool sheds and garden furniture in rattan, aluminium, steel, wood and decorative steel.

Exhibiting: Garden furniture across 4 Seasons Outdoor’s range will appear at Solex, including outside dining sets, modular sets and new products across all of its popular ranges. Its ranges of Indonesian tables and chairs will also be available to see.

www.brundlegardener.co.uk

www.4seasonsoutdoor.co.uk

EXTREME LOUNGING STAND 310

KADAI FIREBOWLS

BY WILSTONE STAND 325

All of Extreme Lounging’s bean bags are made in its own family-run factory in Yorkshire. The company has deeply-rooted brand values that guide everything it does, from how it designs and makes its products to how it connects with customers.

Kadai Firebowls’ range of products is designed in England and handmade by skilled artisan family workshops in India. The range has now expanded into an extensive range of outdoor living furniture. Kadai uses recycled materials, only producing items that will stand the test of time.

Exhibiting: Exhibiting outdoor lifestyle products, including seating, bean bags stools, tables and cushions.

Exhibiting: Along with its Kadai Firebowls range and accessories, Kadai will be showcasing a selection of its handmade garden and outdoor living products. These include its solid, heavy duty Gazebo, the 19th century Rose Arch, and the handcrafted, decorative Obelisk Planters.

www.extremelounging.com

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www.kadai.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

18/05/2017 09:44

New Furniture Range On Display Come And Visit Us On Stand 540 www.zest4leisure.co.uk

Quality Timber Garden Products...

Search: Zest 4 Leisure

Follow Us:@Zest4Leisure

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28/04/2017 09:42

Visit Us At Solex 11th - 13th July 2017, Hall 5, Stand 540

Fertilise outdoor plant sales!

As people begin to picture garden parties and barbecues with friends, decorating their ‘outdoor rooms’ with beautiful containers packed with plants in bloom is becoming a priority.

Retailers can capitalise in store on consumers’ dreams of beautiful patios by highlighting the products and information shoppers need to nurture their plants, keeping them healthy and blooming all summer. This approach can grow the market, attracting the 30%1 of plant owners who don’t feed.

Rattan Furniture

Vetrical Planting System

Wooden Furniture

Steel Furniture

SBM Life Science Ltd is home to three of the strongest plant care brands in the sector – Baby Bio®, Phostrogen® and Toprose – known and trusted by consumers and garden retailers alike.

Greatness grows Feeding the The rose care from every drop garden since 1960 brand leader ® ® Baby Bio is the most Phostrogen is Toprose already recognised gardening trusted and recognised accounts for over 40%3 brand in the UK1. by gardeners everywhere. of the rose food market.

Baby Bio® is the most recognised gardening brand in the UK. New this season, Baby Bio® Pour & Feed is a ready to use formulation ideal for outdoor container plants. With added seaweed, it contains all the nutrients a plant needs, improving vigour and longevity. The result – vibrant blooms that last longer and a balanced growth of glossy green leaves.

Mosaic Bistro Sets

Gazebos

From Stock ▪ Next Day Delivery ▪ Full Range on our Website

Inspiration in the Garden

Call: 0131 335 5955

Email: sales@brundlegardener.co.uk

Fax: 0131 335 5960

Web: www.brundlegardener.co.uk

Also for outdoor plants, Baby Bio® Outdoor is a unique boosted plant food, which helps plants produce up to 70% more flowers compared to unfed and up to 35% heavier crops compared to a standard NPK fertiliser.

Phostrogen® has a well-balanced formulation for superior results and is ideal for baskets, tubs, seedlings and lawns and is incredibly easy to use. Trusted by gardeners everywhere, the brand, which includes 80-can packs of Phostrogen® All Purpose Plant Food and Phostrogen® Patio Plant Food, delivered year on year growth in 2016 compared to 2015 of 16%.

New this season is Phostrogen® Slow Release Plant Food & Moisture Control. Producing bigger, more vibrant blooms than those on unfed plants, it is a slow release plant food that lasts up to six months and has water storing crystals that control moisture.

Roses may be the most likely plant type to be fed but there is still a big gap between the number who grow roses and the number who feed them; 65%2 of gardeners grow roses, but only 47%2 feed them. Toprose is by far the dominant rose food brand3.

Toprose has the perfect balance of nutrients for bright and beautiful roses and Toprose Gold, a premium rose food boosted with seaweed extract, delivers top class, longer lasting, bigger blooms and rich, green leaves.

Baby Bio® and Phostrogen® are registered trademarks of SBM Développement.

3

1 IPSOS 2014, GfK MAT April 2016 – Houseplant Feed 2 Shopper Centric 2014 In 2016 Toprose accounted for 42% of the market, its nearest rival accounting for only 27%: Sales Value % share GfK July 2016 12 months.

www.sbm-lifescience.co.uk Use plant protection safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Pay attention to the risk indications and follow the safety precautions on the label.

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Global Stone is an industry leading, innovative supplier of premium porcelain and natural stone paving, setts, pavers and features FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SEE OUR FULL RANGE VISIT: WWW.GLOBALSTONEPAVING.CO.UK OR CALL: 0845 60 60 240 (LO-CALL RATE)

18/05/2017 10:43

Lighting products

LATEST PRODUCTS

LIGHTING

GCR selects some of the stylish garden lighting options that are currently on the market, to help you broaden your offering

NOMA GARDEN ART THE BULB 3 STRING • Solar 365 technology • Unique patented design • Large solar panel to ensure maximum exposure to sunlight • Available in three string and seven string options • Scandinavian design • Recyclable RRP: £12.99 www.noma.co.uk

SMART GARDEN PRODUCTS WHITEHALL LAMP POST

FITRITE GLOBE LIGHT

• 1.8m lamp post with teardrop glass lens • Super bright output • Creates ambient lighting • Dual brightness settings: switch between 50 and 100lm • Perfect for patios, driveways and entrances

• No electrician needed • Works in conjunction with the rest of the Fitrite Easy Connect range • Available in White or Almond • Optional wireless control and motion detection • Works with an unlimited number of devices

RRP: £39.99

RRP: TBA

www.sgpuk.com

www.fitrite.info

HOME 2 GARDENS MAGIC LED STRING LIGHTS

GARDMAN STAINLESS STEEL SOLAR ICE ORB

• Sold in pairs and available in two sizes • Solar powered LEDs with dusk sensor • Water and frost proof – can be left out over winter • Emits ambient glow • Works well hung on pergolas, summerhouses and trees

• Charges during the day, emits mood light by night • Intelligent auto switch on/off system at dusk and dawn • Ice white or colour changing LED • 360° LED technology • Fully charged AA rechargeable battery RRP: £9.99

RRP: From £29.99 www.home2gardens.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

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www.gardman.co.uk

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products Tools

LATEST PRODUCTS

TOOLS

A roundup of gardening tools to add to your establishment’s selection

PEDIGREE

BY BULLDOG TOOLS STAINLESS STEEL RABBITING SPADE • Lightweight • Easy-clean • Narrow blade ideal for transplanting • Lifetime guarantee • Treaded

RRP: £35.00 www.pedigreegarden.co.uk

WILKINSON SWORD GARDEN MULTI-TOOL

AGRI-FAB CARRY ALL PUSH CART

• Contains pruner, knife, wood saw, stem stripper and lanyard all in one • 250g • Pruner features 22mm cutting diameter • Stainless steel and black anodised aluminium fabrication

• Poly bed is rustproof and quiet • Single bed construction for increased rigidity • Pneumatic tyres provide smooth travel around the garden • Wide handle makes it easy to use and pivot the cart • Built to last

RRP: £19.99

RRP: £269.99

www.wilkinsonword-tools.co.uk

LAWNFLITE LOG SPLITTER • Powerful electric 2200W motor • Easy to manoeuvre with rear wheels • 7 tonne splitting force • Can split logs up to 52cm long • Optional stand available as an accessory

RRP: £399.99 www.lawnflite.co.uk

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www.agri-fab.com

FISKARS UK FISKARS POWERGEAR X PRUNER M PX92 • For cutting of fresh branches up to 20mm • Light-weight and durable FiberComp construction • Extra hard, corrosion resistant steel blades with PTFE coating • Conformed SoftGrip handles for comfort and balance RRP: £32.99 www.fiskars.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

18/05/2017 09:12

Light Up Your Summer Sales!

T

he Buzz ambient candlelight and outdoor insect control range has been specially developed to put the finishing touches to perfect summer evenings. Your customers will love the inspirational designs and novelty of our outdoor living collection – from decorative colour-changing candles, to easy-light tabletop pillar candle holders.

Including a highly effective and non-chemical range of insect repellents and traps, The Buzz aims to inspire us all to enjoy outdoor living, to Love Summer, and to Live Pest-Free.

STV delivers The Buzz: Love Summer in easy-to-shop merchandise displays, each with its own theme, and pop-up signage to sit alongside barbecues and outdoor furniture in-store.

01953 881580 info@stvpestcontrol.com www.stvpestcontrol.com

Scotts of Thrapston has an enviable reputation for manufacturing quality timber summerhouses and bespoke garden buildings to enhance any garden setting.

We are actively seeking new show centres to display and sell our range of summerhouses. We offer favourable commercial terms along with sales and marketing support.

For more details please email: gazebos@scottsofthrapston.co.uk or call 01832 732366.

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www.hartmanuk.com

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01/03/2017 13:21

17/05/2017 11:39

The Award Winning Barbecue & Firebowl In One

America’s #1 brand for gas barbecues combining robust, contemporary design with its unique, innovative TRU-Infrared technology.

See us at Solex Hall 5 - Stand 325

‘Designed in England Handmade in India’

www.kadai.com Tel: 01694 771800

At Solex 2017 Char-Broil will be showcasing its latest models and those for 2018 including its Dancook range.

For more information visit Char-Broil’s new UK HQ and showroom:

Unit 2, Oak Court Business Park, North Leigh, Nr Witney, OX29 6SW Office Tel: 01993 884818 / www.charbroil.eu uksales@charbroil.com

Showcase Products with Natural Timber Merchandising Display Units M&M Timber retail display stands are the ideal solution for fresh plants, trees, shrubs, gardening or building products and seasonal promotional displays. The range includes: • 3 and 4 Tiered displays

• Tables compact and tall

• Square and hexagonal displays

• Trellis

• Pot Holders • Box display units

Call 0333 003 5133 for brochure and prices E: sales@mmtimber.co.uk www.mmtimber.co.uk M&M Timber is a Division of Forest Garden Limited.

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Watering Products

LATEST PRODUCTS

WATERING GCR rounds up some innovative watering solutions to broaden your offer

OASE LIVING WATER PROMAX RAIN 4000 • Ergonomic handle • Pump design ensures water flows around motor, even at low water levels • Special channel type impeller enables high water pressure • Fine filter screen prevents intake of debris particles and clogging of lines RRP £99.99 www.oase-livingwater.com

AUTOPOT EASY2GO KIT

HOZELOCK SUPERHOZE (15M)

• Simple set up • Keeps plants watered automatically • Operates using gravity pressure • No need to set a timer – the plants control their own irritation • Point of sale packs and euro hooks enable easy positioning

• Expands up to three times its original length • Durable two-layer design • Does not kink or tangle • Patented leak-free connectors ensure watertightness • Small and light • UV resistant polyester outer

RRP £19.95

RRP £29.99

www.autopot.co.uk

www.hozelock.com

GARDMAN METAL WATERING CAN

CLABER SILVER GREEN PLUS HOSE 25M

• Strong metal watering can with folding handle and watering rose • Available in raspberry, mustard or moss green • Two litre capacity • Durable powder coated finish • Made from galvanised steel

• Made from environmentally friendly materials • Delivers clean water free of trace elements such as lead, cadmium and phthalates • Flexible and nonkinking • Eco-friendly when disposed of

RRP £7.99

RRP £39.99

www.gardman.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

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www.claber.com/uk

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SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Garden Centre Retail PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

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£95 per year

• 6 issues • Supported by a high traffic website, www.gardencentreretail.com – updated daily with the latest industry news and product information.

• PLUS the Wednesday Word, a weekly emailed newsletter sending a roundup of the week’s top stories straight to your inbox.

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MATT HARPER

• Farm & Deli Retail – For all the latest industry information within the farm and deli sector, subscribe to Farm and Deli Retail magazine. Packed full of business tips, latest news and product information.

Co-founder of

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SCANDINAV IAN STYLE Nordic inspirat houses – and

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12/05/2017 13:09

A N ATO M Y O F A P R O D U C T

Spear and Jackson Anatomy of a product All you need to know to sell...

SPEAR & JACKSON GRUBBING MATTOCK The Spear and Jackson grubbing mattock is a head that weighs 2.3kg, and is made of heat-treated carbon steel that is suited to breaking up heavy ground. The head of the mattock is sold separately from the handle with this particular product, with the Spear and Jackson handle being 36in long and made of hardwood.

A gardening and farming staple throughout most of the world, the mattock often gets sidelined in favour of the spade in Britain.

The versatility of the mattock, however, means that gardeners should start to take a harder look at this useful digging and chopping instrument.

Mattocks are generally available with a short or long handle, and generally come in one of two varieties: the cutter mattock, which combines an axe blade with an adze, and the pick mattock, which has a pick and an adze. Less common but also available is the claw mattock, which has an adze and a two- or three-pronged claw.

The large horizontal blade of the adze is great for digging trenches and moving earth and hard dirt. The vertical axe blade of the cutter mattock works well to chop through roots in the ground, the pick mattock’s pick is used to break up hard earth, stones and rocks, and the claw mattock is good for cultivating earth and digging out weeds.

The greatest difference between the spade and the mattock is the motion and energy that it takes to dig. Instead of the bending, pushing and pressing motion of the spade, the mattock requires the user to swing the tool from waist height, using the downward force to break up dirt and roots.

Much like a pickaxe, the mattock should be grasped with the dominant hand halfway up the handle, with the other hand being held at the base.

www.gardencentreretail.com

Anatomy.indd 63

A gardening and farming staple throughout most of the world, the mattock often gets sidelined in favour of the spade in Britain

To learn more, contact Spear & Jackson at: 01142 814242 www.spear-and-jackson.com

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products Business

NORMAN SELLERS

TRADING WITH

WILDLIFE WORLD

Garden Centre Retail speaks to Norman Sellers, Sellers managing director of Wildlife World, about the company’s history, the expanding customer base for wildlife products, and the opportunities this brings for garden centres

How did the company start?

We started in 1999 – I was making bird boxes and feeders out of old reclaimed oak barrels, working in a little stable. My wife and I went round the country in a caravan attending agricultural and gardening shows for a period of about five years, building up the business. We were able to move from the stable area into a farming estate in 2004, and we had a great landlord who have allowed us to expand over time from 1,000ft² to 20,000ft². We now operate over two farms – one

where our offices and design workshops are, and a second where our logistics, packing and stock is held.

How has the company expanded?

When I started it was just myself and a part time person; now we employ 20 people, including sales staff in northern and southern Europe.

We sell over 100 products in 21 countries worldwide, and turnover is around £2.5m. Our sales year on year are up 1520%, which is a lot of growth for us.

There’s a huge opportunity for link sales between wildlife products and other garden centre offerings 1

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What is the company’s ethos?

We’re heavily environmentallyoriented. All our timber comes from FSC certified sources; we use water-based finishes rather than spirit-based; we use recycled plastics; we use renewable electricity supplies – we’ve got a very strong environmental ethic.

What makes Wildlife World products different?

The unique selling point in our products is that almost all of them stand alone in the market – our design team will work on a product for up to two years, we’re not just reproducing generic products you can find elsewhere. We also test our products thoroughly – we have an area in Devon where we take the products to make sure they work and can withstand various conditions, which the majority of companies aren’t doing.

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18/05/2017 09:47

Business products 2

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What are your newest products?

We’ve got a new window feeder for birds, which allows you to get up close and personal with wild birds; it’s really sturdy and protects the food from the weather.

We’ve also got an illuminated hedgehog feeder that lights up at night so you can see the hedgehogs eating from it, and a new range linked to wildlife presenter Simon King which includes the Wildlife Hide, a robin box with a camera inside for bird and wildlife photographers. That’s a totally different area we’re going into.

What kind of customer buys Wildlife World products?

Traditionally our customers have been aged 45+, but we’re increasingly seeing a new, younger market that understands the benefits

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of wildlife and being environmentally friendly.

Product-wise, we’re keeping in mind the housing crisis and the reduction in the amount of customers who have a garden; for example, our window bird feeder doesn’t require a garden, and we have insect products that you can place on a wall.

Does Wildlife World offer any support for garden centres stocking their products?

We provide customers with videos of how our products work, and we do a lot of POS infographics as well. We also have a seasonal calendar guide to wildlife, which helps a garden centre organise their buying programme, and we’ve got the largest and most comprehensive range of wildlife products available on the market.

What are your best-selling products?

Our best sellers are our Bempton Bird Table, which has a cleaning system that is more hygienic for the birds and reduces the risk of them catching any diseases, and our solitary bee hive, which just needs a few plants around it to attract bees. Our hedgehog house is also very popular: hedgehogs are in decline, with numbers decreasing from 30m in the Fifties down to 1.5m today. Fortunately, the public seems to be aware of that problem, and wants to help.

Why should garden centres stock your products?

Public awareness of the need to protect wildlife is growing, and the market for wildlife products is growing with it.

Our products are becoming increasingly popular and relevant to garden centre customers, and there’s a huge opportunity for link sales between wildlife products and other garden centre offerings – for example, plants that attract bees can be sold alongside a solitary bee hive.

What’s the next step for Wildlife World?

We’ve got some exciting new products which will be introduced at Glee this year, and we’re working on developing some new products with Simon King, which are in a slightly different area from our existing products. We’ve also got a huge overseas demand, particularly in the USA and Europe, which we’re looking to develop. The market for solitary bees in America is a lot bigger than it is in the UK and is much more advanced, as is the market for wildlife products in general. Americans tend to spend more on wildlife products than customers in the UK do, and we’re doing a lot of work that looks at how we can develop some of our UK products to suit American wildlife species. ◗

6

Our design team will work on designing a product for up to two years, we’re not just reproducing generic products you can find elsewhere 1. Simon King Ultimate Wildlife Hide 2. Simon King Mammal Solar Night Feeder 3. Wildlife World early products 4. Wildlife World workshop 5. Bempton hanging bird table 6. Dew drop feeder

CONTACT

Wildlife World Manor Farm Barn Chavenage, Nr Tetbury Gloucestershire GL8 8XW www.wildlifeworld.co.uk

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jobs

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

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

PLANT CENTRE MANAGER HORTICRUITMENT Kent

Plant centre manager required to join an expanding independent business that prides itself on offering top quality products at a very competitive price. This is a specialist plant centre stocking a huge range of plants, from bedding to shrubs, topiary, trees, garden sundries, ornaments and aggregates. The appointed person will have excellent product knowledge, good plant purchasing skills and be capable of running the centre in the absence of the owner. This position requires a flexible approach with a positive can-do attitude and great customer service skills.

DEPUTY AND OUTDOOR PLANT AREA MANAGER ANDERSPLUS South West London

South London-based garden centre seeking a deputy garden centre and outdoor plant area manager to join their team. The successful candidate will be a talented horticulturalist, preferably with previous management experience. You must be fit to work outside all year round and have an excellent command of English. Duties include organizing the maintenance, purchasing, stocking and merchandising of the outdoor plant area, achieving sales targets, buying shrubs and overseeing bedding and outdoor pots, dealing with customer enquiries, driving performance, and ensuring the outdoor plant area complies with Health and Safety legislation and company procedures.

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

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

HORTICULTURAL MANAGERS

ASSISTANT MANAGER

Experienced horticultural managers required for large prestigious garden centres. You must be able to lead and motivate a team and successfully merchandise.

We’re an independent garden centre in Battersea, SW London, looking for a full time assistant manager. You’ll love plants, you’ll get retail, and you’ll want to delight every single customer that we meet. We’re looking for someone who will ensure that our garden centre looks beautiful, clean and tidy, that everything’s priced, watered and loved, that we don’t run out of stock, and that things don’t start to look tired. What’s most important to us is attitude, attention to detail, understanding of retail and the importance of everything looking great, and excellent customer service. Our team is knowledgeable, friendly and accessible, and that’s what our reputation is built on. You must be happy working weekends and being outside all year round.

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

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

TILL OPERATOR

GARDEN CENTRE MANAGER

A small family owned nursery based in Uxbridge is seeking a till operator to join them for three months between April and June. The ideal candidate will have some horticultural knowledge, hold a horticultural qualification and have previous retail experience. They should be confident dealing with customers and happy to work on their own. We are looking for someone who will be happy to work five days a week, with some Saturdays.

A unique opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading garden centre groups who hold a prominent position within the industry and take pride in their inspirational approach to retailing. You will be joining at an important time as they start ambitious plans to transform the site from its current format into a purpose-built garden and living destination centre. This is an exciting opportunity for a strong and inspirational retailer to drive sales and maximise profits, identifying trends in sales and profit opportunities, leading, developing and motivating the team with a clear focus on driving exceptional performance and unique customer service. The appointed person will have a proven track record in a similar retail environment.

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

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

TAYLOR2RECRUITMENT LTD Hampshire and Hertfordshire

ANDERSPLUS Uxbridge

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BATTERSEA FLOWER STATION South West London

HORTICRUITMENT Essex

www.gardencentreretail.com

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

E S D T A UN LE B TR C O A L IS I D VA A

Mole catching made easy

Endorsed by Master Mole Catchers in the UK

EasySet Mole Trap only £24.50 each RRP

www.beagleproducts.com or call us on 01223 927216 With over 45 years experience we pride ourselves on customer service.

From initial design concept through to full installation, Clovis Canopies can take care of your canopy and walkway needs.

01622 873 907

01724 734374

01482 648032

clovis-canopies.co.uk

GARDEN CENTRE TROLLIES

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

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

Antiqued ornamental stoneware from Hampshire Gardencraft

£59 EACH + VAT. FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE*

Handcrafted & beautifully finished Phone | 01730 895182 www.dragonstone.co.uk

sales@hampshire-gardencraft.com

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*For mainland England, Wales and Southern Scotland.

Heavy Duty Galvanised frame, solid wheels.

In stock for immediate delivery.

MAE Trading Ltd, The Stables, Cockshut Lane, Melbourne, Derbys, DE73 8DG. Tel: 01332 694569 email: mark@maetradingltd.co.uk

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• No minimum order • Over 30 ranges • Weekly deliveries • 150,000 pots held in stock • Merchandising service • Friendly and knowledgeable sales team

01892 890 353 sales@thepotco.com

www.thepotco.com

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