SEPTEMBER 2016
All set for Glee The excitement is building as the garden industry gears up for one of its biggest events of the year...Glee at the NEC in Birmingham. It all kicks off on Monday, September 12. All the latest innovations, exciting new product launches, unrivalled networking opportunities and future trends all come together to create the industry’s most exciting and thriving exhibition. “This year we have focussed on making changes to Glee’s format, making it even more reflective of the modern garden retail environment,” said event director Matthew Mein. “This change is best showcased in the rebranding of three of our core show sectors. Whilst the show itself will look the same, the focus within these sectors will be much more targeted and key trends from each will take centre stage within the show’s wider content.” Glee is in its best shape for some years. The exhibition has reached maximum capacity, and is on track to deliver over 550
exciting brands, including 100 international suppliers, as well as 220 new and lapsed brands. Matthew added: “The success of Glee lies in its ability to provide a platform for future growth, and this includes diversifying through new product categories. In the case of both water gardening and home DIY, both are showing increased coverage within
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Big Show Preview
garden retailing and consumer demand is increasing also. “It’s fair to say that this year’s Glee exhibition is set to be one of the most exciting showcases of garden retail and outdoor living brands, products and added value content anywhere in the UK.” The show opens at 9am on Monday, September 12. For more details visit gleebirmingham.com
All the latest news as exhibitors get ready for a fantastic Glee p6-34
Perfect for pets
Dobbies appoints Andrew Bracey as Chairman Andrew Bracey has been appointed Chairman of Dobbies, the UK’s second largest garden centre retailer, headquartered in Scotland. Andrew is a founding partner of Midlothian Capital Partners which together with Hattington Capital recently acquired Dobbies from Tesco for £218m on a cash and debtfree basis. John Cleland, CEO of Dobbies, said: “Andrew has many years of experience in retail and has a genuine passion for Dobbies, both of which will be of huge benefit to the business as we create a stronger, market leading company. I look forward to working with him again, to grow the business and deliver a success story.” Andrew Bracey, Chairman of Dobbies, said: “I have long admired Dobbies. It’s one of the great retail brands in Britain editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
PATS Telford is the place to find all the latest new pet products p40
with a strong heritage and really bright prospects. I’m very enthusiastic about the business as well as its potential and therefore I’m delighted to be joining as Chairman, to support John and the team, and to help steer Dobbies to future growth.” Barney Burgess of Hattington Capital, said: “Andrew has an infectious enthusiasm for Dobbies which combined with his extensive experience of the retail industry makes him the ideal Chairman for the business. I’m very pleased that he’s agreed to take on the role.” Andrew has spent much of his career working in the retail industry, most recently as CFO at Ocado Group plc where he helped the take the company from its early development through to its IPO. As a senior financier he led a number of landmark transactions in the retail sector. garden trade news
GCA Regional Awards
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in touch
Garden industry news, views and people
gtn news digest Your catch-up guide to the past month Son of Gates Nurseries founder dies aged 80
The death was announced of Brian Gates, 80, son of the founder of Gates Garden Centre at Cold Overton, Leicestershire, and father of the current MD Nigel Gates. A funeral service was held at Cold Overton Parish Church on 4 August, when the garden centre closed for the day as a mark of respect..
July sales volumes 26% better than 2012
Better weather at the end of July provided a happy boost to footfall and volume sales in garden centres according to EPoS data supplied for the GTN Bestsellers charts. But that couldn’t save the month in terms of year-on-year performance. The GTN All Products Index showed July sales were down 3% on last year. That shouldn’t be considered a wash out though, as the total volume reported was still better than all of the previous four years and 26% higher than July 2012.
Notcutts re-investment paying off - but profits fall
Family-owned Notcutts said re-investment in its garden centres was paying. Chairman Nicky Dulieu (below), announcing a 6.3% increase in sales and 20% rise in operating profits for the year to February 2016, expressed satisfaction with the group’s refurbishment strategy. Capital expenditure of £10m in the past two years includes the recent refurbishment of Woodford Park in Cheshire and Wheatcroft garden centre in Nottingham – part of the five-year plan to invest £45m into its 18 garden centres and drive sales to £100m-plus. Sales reached £67.8m last year and operating profit increased from £1.08m £1.29m, but pre-tax profits halved to £3.1m from £6.8m, due to the sale of a subsidiary the previous year.
Ten Rising Stars go through to third masterclass
The ten candidates who have made it through to the final masterclass of the 2016 Rising Stars training programme organised by Westland Horticulture and the Garden Centre Association were announced. The aim is to develop the best new garden centre industry talent. The final 10 (out of 33 hopefuls who started the programme in February) who will attend the third and final masterclass with consultant Ian Boardman in October are: Daniel Holden (Barton Grange), Bethan Wylie (Bents), Kathryn Crouch (Haskins West End), James Ruston (Klondyke Daleside), Rob Frith (Klondyke Holland Arms), Hana Parker (Monkton Elm), Rupert Sleight (Squires Cobham), Sam Jones (Squires West Horsley), John Bradley (Stewarts), Saskia Logan (Sunshine). Five finalists will be chosen to present on stage at the annual GCA Conference at St Andrews in Scotland next January.
completely immerse myself in the sounds of the garden. Sound can have such a huge effect on people’s emotions. In the same way that someone may blast out a feel good tune to lift their mood, the tranquil sounds of a garden can make you completely relaxed. Sound plays a big part of my life and my garden can provide a completely different musical backdrop compared to the studio.”
Carol Klein opens Geoff Hamilton memorial border
A 'winter border' planted in memory of the late Geoff Hamilton was opened by celebrity gardener Carol Klein at the Rutland gardens he created for BBC2's 'Gardener's World' programme over 14 years. The border, planted up to mark the 20th anniversary of his untimely death, was populated with plants donated by many of Geoff's friends and colleagues on the re-worked site of his original winter garden. Geoff always felt that a garden should be enjoyed all year round, so the winter garden set out to show off plants that could provide interest through the darker months.Barnsdale Gardens and its adjoining nursery is run by Geoff's son Nick and is a significant tourist attraction in the region. The winter border opening attracted a huge crowd.”
New sweet pea to raise funds for Greenfingers
Mr Fothergill's Seeds has pledged its support for Greenfingers by naming a new sweet after the charity for the 2017 season. Sweet Pea 'Greenfingers' is a traditional grandiflora type with strongly-scented blooms of rich cream with a pale violet picotee. Mr Fothergill's joint MD David Carey said 25p from the sale of each £2.45p packet would be donated to Greenfingers. “We hope we can raise the charity's profile with our customers, Britain's gardeners and the garden trade,” he said.
Britain’s best plant retailers announced
The Garden Centre Association announced the finalists in its annual Ruxley Rose planteria competition, based on the top scores for spring bedding and hardy nursery stock in this year’s standards inspections. The finalists, who will be inspected again during the autumn sales period, with the winners announced at the GCA conference in January, are: Garden Centre category – Cowell’s, Creative Gardens Donaghadee, Fairways Garden Centre, Garden Wise Dumfries, Planters Bretby, Squire’s Cobham, Squire’s Milford, Sunshine Garden Centre, Thompson’s Plant & Garden Centre Newchurch, Thompson’s Plant & Garden Centre Wellings. Destination Garden Centre category – Barton Grange, Bents Garden & Home, Burston Rose and Garden Centre, Coolings Nurseries, Haskins Southampton, Newbridge Nurseries, Simpsons Garden Centre, Squire’s Twickenham, Stewarts Christchurch.
Jo Whiley tie-up sounds like a good idea...
Wyevale Garden Centres teamed up with and radio and TV presenter Jo Whiley, to put out quick tips for turning an ordinary garden into a welcoming habitat for wildlife and the sounds they bring with them. “Music and gardening are my two big passions, “ said Jo. “In the evenings I'm on air between 8 and 10 playing music to the nation as it winds down at the end of the day but during the afternoons, at home, I'm straight out into my garden to enjoy it's many delights and get on with the various jobs there are always to do. When I’m gardening, I consciously switch off the radio and
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Full versions of these reports first appeared in GTN Xtra, our weekly e-newsletter mailed direct to registered email addresses to keep readers in touch with industry news as it happens. To register, send your email address to: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk and put ‘GTN Xtra’ in the subject line.
editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
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Kelkay
Major investment in a brand and product development programme has elevated Kelkay’s market-leading products to a new level, and visitors to Glee will be able to see the changes for themselves. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s in store. Kelkay is a very successful and leading supplier of decorative aggregates, paving and water features. Through their packaging and point of sale design and their commercial approach to the garden centre market, they have set the standards for suppliers in the categories in which they trade. Modern retail is developing fast and consumers are becoming more demanding but less engaged in the hobby of gardening. So suppliers and retailers need to keep developing to drive business forward. Kelkay is very proud of what they’ve achieved, but they also know that they need to keep developing to retain their market leading position. So in 2015 they took the strategic decision to invest significantly (estimated £1.5m over 2 years) in a brand and product development programme. This involved commercial review of the range, critical assessment of the brand and point of sale material, catalogues and website. A research phase was then undertaken that sought to confirm the reactions of retailers and consumers to the aggregate, paving and water feature sectors, as well as the developments proposed through Kelkay’s strategic review. 4
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Kelkay then appointed a strategic branding agency to help them develop the graphic collateral that could really drive consumer engagement and secure their position as the market leading supplier in the category. The changes made are striking and set the bar several notches up leaving the following pack of competitors several years behind – putting Kelkay even more convincingly in a category leading position. “I’m so proud of the team at Kelkay and what we’ve achieved in the past 14 years,” says Managing Director Antony Harker. “But we can’t afford to stand still and although we are the leading supplier, I want to ensure that’s exactly where we remain. So I think we need to continue to develop and evolve, pushing the boundaries and creating innovation. “That’s what drives our growth and most importantly it also drives our customers’ growth and profitability. It’s been a challenging process, not least in terms of the money invested, but I’m delighted with the end results which I’m sure will take Kelkay to the next level. “I’m so looking forward to showing all our customers all the exciting new developments! We are really going to be changing the landscape in 2017.” editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
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Kelkay has many exciting new developments Kelkay has many exciting new developments to share with visitors to Glee. Here are some of the highlights: 4A new and exciting range of artificial grass to effectively exploit this new and growing category, available in high impact and easy to shop display boxes. 4Improvement in key selling feature messaging on aggregate packs to make the most important information instantly obvious. 4Creation of inspirational ‘collections’ to help consumers design their own landscaping solutions and trade up and cross sell additional products. 4Development of new aggregate merchandising to help consumers touch and feel the product before they buy. 4More than 60 new products and line developments designed to respond to emerging trends in outdoor landscaping.
To see the exciting developments for 2017 visit Kelkay at GLEE, NEC Birmingham (Hall 19 B10 – C21) 12 – 14 September 2016
editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
To find out more about Kelkay’s range of decorative aggregates and their other successful garden landscaping brands, go to www.kelkay.com or e-mail the general enquiries office on salesenquiries@kelkay.co.uk or call to speak to us on 01405 869333.
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glee 2016 preview
Your introduction to the big show
Glee 2016 Where the garden retail industry comes together
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arden retailers, garden designers, landscapers and builders’ merchants looking to build their business will not want to miss Glee 2016 (September 12-14, NEC Birmingham), where the latest innovations, exciting new product launches, unrivalled networking opportunities and future trends all come together to create the industry’s most exciting and thriving exhibition. With just a few days to go until the doors open on the 2016 show Matthew Mein, event director at Glee (pictured below), shares further details on what can be expected at this year’s show and beyond. “In the last few years Glee benefited from a number of changes which helped to create a refreshed and revitalised show for both exhibitors and retailers,” said Matthew. “This year we have focussed on making changes to Glee’s format, making it even more reflective of the modern garden retail environment. This change is best showcased in the rebranding of three of our core show sectors. Whilst the show itself will look the same, the focus within these sectors will be much more targeted and key trends from each will take centre stage within the show’s wider content.”
New sectors at Glee 2016 Outdoor Entertaining is the new home of garden leisure products. A new approach to this sector will focus largely on the move from ‘outdoor living’ to our garden spaces being an extension of our homes, with gardens taking centre stage when it comes to entertaining space. The revised sector will focus largely on how retailers can reinvigorate their offering to attract younger consumers into store to purchase core products such as outdoor furniture, barbecues, firepits, pizza ovens and exterior audio visual equipment. Glee Garden Design & Landscaping has entered a new chapter in 2016 under the banner of Landscaping and Garden Decoration. This revitalised area will look at how retailers can better profit from a mixture of hard landscaping, and those decorative elements that help to complete 6
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most garden design projects. Finally, Retail Experiences and Services will replace the area previously known as Retail Services. Offering the best in shop-fittings, POS, EPoS and retail design, this area will be expanded in 2016 to better incorporate the wider aspects related to inspirational and functional retailing concepts. Glee’s established catering section will also find a new home within the Retail Experiences section and Services this year. Visitors to Glee 2016 will also notice that Home DIY and Water Gardening will also be better represented at the show. Matthew Mein added: “The success of Glee lies in its ability to provide a platform for future growth, and this includes diversifying through new product categories. In the case of both water gardening and home DIY, both are showing increased coverage within garden retailing and consumer demand is increasing also. “Glee is in its best shape for some years. We have reached maximum capacity, and are on track to deliver over 550 exciting brands, including 100 international suppliers, as well as 220 new and lapsed brands. “Look out for thousands of new product launches, including exciting new innovations that will take the garden retail industry by storm in 2017. “It’s fair to say that this year’s Glee exhibition is set to be one of the most exciting showcases of garden retail and outdoor living brands, products and added value content anywhere in the UK.”
garden trade news
editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
glee 2016 preview
10 reasons why garden centres should send their gift buyers to Glee 2016 1
Ninety-plus home, gift & clothing suppliers all ready and willing to do business. Glee’s dedicated Home, Gift & Clothing section has witnessed significant growth in 2016, and now offers the strongest gift offering seen at Glee for many years. Garden centre focused. The strength of Glee lies in the fact that its exhibitors are primed to do business with garden retailers, and this year’s exhibitors within Home, Gift & Clothing are no exception. These suppliers are armed with products and services designed to drive sales instore at garden centres, so make sure you don’t miss out on this captive audience. Year-round sales opportunity. Gifts, homeware and outdoor clothing are increasingly becoming big business within garden retail. Offering an unrivalled opportunity to maximise year round sales, from Mothers’ Day to Christmas, these product categories are also ideal for driving impulse sales as consumers look to add value to their homes and gardens with stylish accessories, as well as wanting to look good in the garden. More time to compare & contrast. Glee may not have as many exhibitors as some of its home and gift exhibitor cousins, but this simply means that retailers and suppliers have more time at their disposal to network, chat and
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learn more about the products. Better relationships are forged this way. New brands never before seen at Glee. This year Glee’s Home, Gift & Clothing section will be home to several brands never before seen at Glee, including Wild & Wolf, Aigle, Addis, Hallmark Cards and Blade & Rose. A number of indoor furniture suppliers are also making their debut at Glee in 2016. Look out for Kettle Interiors, Makasi Imports, Global Furniture Alliance and Smart EU. Selected, focused offering. Gift exhibitors at Glee know what garden centre gift buyers want to see, which is why they will be bringing with them a targeted and audited product range, featuring the hardest working and most profitable products in their arsenal. Better use of your time. All available under one roof for three dedicated days, Glee is the perfect way to streamline your purchasing process. Placing orders at Glee means your 2017 product selections are sorted well in advance, freeing up more time for category managers to develop inspirational in-store displays. Be inspired by new merchandising ideas & linked sales opportunities. Look out for inspirational content from Glee’s 550+ exhibitors, as well as those within the dedicated Home, Gift & Clothing section of the show. Best practice merchandising, the latest trends in POS
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and exciting linked sales opportunities from across Glee’s eight core product sectors will arm any garden centre manager or gift buyer with a wealth of knowledge, design ideas and concepts that can be put into practice immediately upon returning back to the store. Access to other exciting products you might not have considered before. Glee is the place to explore additional profit-making opportunities. As the garden retail gift market continues to grow, Glee is the place to source those products that will make your gift offering stand out from the rest, including everything from homeware and seasonal decorations to stationery and greeting cards, music and audio, artificial flowers and curiosities. Glee’s wider categories will also offer exposure to product sectors you may not have previously considered, helping to create a vibrant and unique in-store offering. And the best bit – it’s all free to see! Entry to Glee is free for all preregistered trade visitors. To pre-register, visit www.gleebirmingham.com
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Apta
Leading by design 8
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Apta have over 35 years’ experience as a leading supplier of innovative garden pottery to independent garden centres. And the company continue to set the standards, as visitors to Glee will find out.
editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
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hen Apta designed and introduced the Royal Horticultural Society range of planters in 2012, it gave the whole sector a tremendous boost and helped to raise average prices after years of ‘budget’ pots dominating the market. It also marked the first of a constant stream of design innovations which have kept Apta at the forefront of the industry. “The RHS planter is the biggest sales driver in the whole of the planter market,” says Commercial Director James Hoad. “As the most respected horticultural brand in the world, it encourages customers to trade up and generates more margin per pot sold. “Others have followed suit by launching various pots in very similar colours and styles, but there is only one Royal Horticultural Society.” There are some great new products in the RHS range for 2017 including a new glazed colour and more choice in the fast-growing Lead Lite range. And visitors to the Apta stand (19C20-E21) at Glee will be able to view the company’s other impressive launches for 2017. The company is extremely excited to announce a partnership with one of the world’s best loved fashion and home editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
furnishing brands: Laura Ashley. This will see the launch of a brand new selection of top quality planters, all bearing design elements inspired by Laura Ashley’s rich heritage. “We’ve used colours and patterns from Laura Ashley’s substantial design library to create a superb, elegant selection of pottery that will appeal to gardeners of all tastes,” says James. Other innovative Apta ranges to watch out for include extensions to the Vintage range, also pioneered by Apta when it launched its Dairy planters in 2012. “Feature planters such as Dairy, Cider Jars and our many other Vintage items create interest and excitement,” adds James. “They are essential to impulse purchases and they generate incremental sales and therefore grow the market.” This emphasis on design innovation, together with the very best quality associated with the RHS and Laura Ashley brands, looks set to grow the company’s market share still further. There is no doubting Apta’s credentials to stay ahead of the game in a competitive marketplace, and there is tremendous excitement growing around the company’s showcase of products at Glee.
Make sure you pay a visit to stand
19C20-E21
For more information about Apta’s products visit www.apta.co.uk
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Crest Garden
Winning ways! GIMA Awards judges go with the Flo ...and dig Kent & Stowe
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he Flopro and Kent & Stowe brands by Crest Garden received huge industry acclaim in this year’s GIMA Awards with success in four major categories demonstrating their specialist garden market know-how. The Flopro gun display (right) was outright winner in the Best Point of Sale category. The judges commented: “There is currently no other watering brand displaying their products in this way, bringing product off
the back wall and adding drama to the watering category.” The Kent & Stowe Lawn Edge trimmer took top prize in the Garden Tools category, while Flopro was a finalist in the Best Consumer Packaging section and in the Best Marketing Communication category for its ‘No Leaks’ campaign. Crest Garden put its success down to creating a point of difference in its marketing activity and says innovation is continuing in its 2017 line-up.
The right tool for the right job Kent & Stowe will be showcasing four brand new product categories at Glee this month (19G21), focusing on everyday gardening problems to get the whole family gardening. Look out too for a completely new approach for hard soil areas. Kent & Stowe Garden Life tools, all designed for maximum comfort and enjoyment, are up to 40% lighter than many equivalents, so have particular appeal to female users, younger gardeners, people with restricted movement or mobility issues and those who simply prefer lighter gardening equipment. Additions for 2017 include an extended cutting range.
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info@gardentradenews.uk.com
gtn promotion Style and practicality Flopro is unique in the watering category and the message to consumers is clear. With Flopro you get No leaks, No kinks, No twists and its easy snap-fit connectors are 100% compatible with all brands. National advertising and advertorials in the leading gardening magazines together with social media campaigns is bringing awareness and recognition of Flopro to a wide audience. The Flopro watering range will be extended for 2017 with the introduction of technically advanced watering products which are both practical and stylish. These will include a new family of hose reels and carts, as well as an innovative range of sprinklers bringing fun and style into the garden.
Watering made simple with Plug & Go Flopro will unveil its Plug and Go irrigation system at Glee. A new range of three watering kits covering Pots and Containers, Raised Beds & Borders and Greenhouse is being introduced. The system is quick and easy to set up (requiring no tools), is easy to use and eliminates the worry of over- or under-watering. All kits are supplied with userfriendly instructions. Steady and consistent water distribution saves up to 70% of water compared to hand watering. The Greenhouse Kit incorporates misters for humidifying and germination and spiked drippers for precise watering. Each kit only takes a few minutes to install and includes all components required. A Flopro Digital Timer can be purchased separately for gardeners who prefer to water automatically.
See it all at Glee 2016 The Crest Garden exhibit at Glee will engage buyers on a journey to show how these ‘Retail Ready’ brands will look and feel in store. The new products and display concepts are designed to generate increased turnover and profit through a creative approach to consumer communication.
Hall 19 stand G21 www.crest-garden.com 028 877 21009
info@gardentradenews.uk.com
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Exhibitor news roundup
‘Our biggest Glee experience yet’ Brundle Gardener (18K56) An award-winning fireball depicting London landmarks and an innovative space-saving solution for growing plants will head Brundle Gardener’s product range. Brundle, making a fourth Glee appearance with its biggest ever stand, won the Best New Product award at this summer’s SOLEX for its London fireballs. The GreenWall Vertical Planting System offers an ideal way of growing plants, herbs and fruits in a range of outdoor spaces. Business manager Paul Smith says this year’s bigger stand will mean an even better showcase for its distinctive product range, including illuminated tables, raised planters, tool sheds, mosaic bistro set and extended range of children’s furniture. Information: www.brundlegardener.co.uk or 0131 335 5955
New gravel, birdhouses and fire pit on the way Deco-Pak (20K30) Deco-Pak’s double stand will showcase new products that will take the company further into the outdoor living and gift market, as well as cement its place as a leading landscaping supplier. The Heritage Stone Co. range, successful in retailer trials this year, will be the centrepiece on the paving and aggregates stand, and will be available to all customers in new packaging for the first time. DecoPak’s fun-loving team are also preparing a special kiss-me-quick seaside scene for a unique photo opportunity…
Although new products are under wraps, the company is hinting at some fun additions to brighten up the garden and get the family involved. A major new Greenfingers tie-in that revolves around children’s playtime will launch, together with creative learning guides, a dedicated website and even a fun educational smartphone app in the future. Marketing manager Craig Hall says DecoPak aimed not only to promote its bestsellers but also to demonstrate its desire to improve product value perceptions. Information: www.deco-pak.co.uk or 01422 204394
Bayer Garden (18N08-P09) Making a return to Glee this year, Bayer Garden will showcase its leading brands – Baby Bio, Phostrogen, Toprose and Provado –launch new ranges for 2017 and present its roadmap for the future. “We are changing, introducing great new opportunities for garden care retailers,” said head of Bayer Garden, Darren Brown, “and we’re really looking forward to telling everyone about them at Glee.” The company will focus on four priority product areas – Baby Bio®; outdoor fertilisers; pests and weeds; and ‘naturals’. At the show, brand extensions, new products and initiatives will be introduced in each area. Info: www.bayergarden.co.uk or 01223 226521
Ultimate range to expand as demand grows Grange Fencing (20G02J01) Following growing demand for the Ultimate lap fence panel, launched earlier this year and popular with more than 800 stockists, Grange is to expand the Ultimate range. Boasting cutting edge fencing technology and a host of innovative design features, the re-engineered Ultimate Panel benefits from an improved quality appearance and a strength and durability not usually associated with a traditional panel design. The Ultimate panel is currently available in two sizes and two pressure treatment colours, with an extended range available for 2017, offering customers a wider choice to suit any outdoor project. Information 01952 588 088 or email: sales@grangeen.co.uk
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info@gardentradenews.uk.com
company insight
Smart Garden Products
Smart
thinking!
The Eureka! Solar Light Bulb
Smart Garden Products have been transformed into an award-winning and successful company within a short space time. GTN paid them a visit to find out their secrets.
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t has been a busy and successful two years for Smart Garden Products. After moving to new offices in Abingdon, the company were crowned GIMA Supplier of the Year in 2015 and then claimed the GIMA Sword of Excellence in July this year. So what next for the company that has grown from a specialist solar lighting company to one that regularly provides garden products that feature at the top of the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Chart? GTN met up with Chairman Paris Natar and Managing Director Jonathan Stobart to discover what they will be bringing to the market at Glee this month. “We are now established in the market as one of the more senior vendors, a quickly growing and very dynamic business,” said Paris. “Everything on our stand is not just something we’ve borrowed from other people. What people see will be new, it will have been thought through properly and it will create a new opportunity for them. Whilst we’ve achieved our five-year plan in three years this is just the beginning of the story. We are the place to come if you want to see the future of the market.” Jonathan added: “Our company sales have tripled in three years and our garden centre sales within that have gone up eightfold. The top line success has been good and we had planned not to make a profit in the first couple of years as we built a platform for our future business and I’m pleased to say we’ve turned that corner as well. We’ve built a very solid foundation and we continue to win good business. The prime focus is still garden centres, which was the main thrust of Paris coming into Smart.” Having set up their office operations in Abingdon, where a new showroom is currently under construction, Smart Garden Products are now halfway through the progression from third party logistics two years ago towards having their own staff, their own warehouse systems and are now aiming to be in their own warehousing soon. “We want to have enough warehousing that’s big enough to meet our growth for the next five years,” explained Jonathan. Paris added: “Longer term this is a more secure solution. For something as important as logistics I don’t like the concept of not 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
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supply chain, and the sales team has been refreshed. We’ve also spotted and exploited weaknesses in our competitors. We could have done more but we now have some momentum and we can build on that.” Jonathan: “We’ve also had a pretty focussed category management approach to our products. Rather than just selling products we are trying to have a comprehensive offering in new areas so we can have a robust complete category solution for our customers.”
Jonathan Stobart (above left) with Paris Natar. having complete control. There’s enough choice out there in terms of good transport companies to deliver our products, so we just want to have complete control over our property, our staff and our systems.” GTN: How have you achieved so much success so quickly? Paris: “We’ve innovated better than anyone else. We’ve hit the right price points, we’ve got the right quality of product with the right
garden trade news
GTN: The Eureka! Light bulb was a huge success, how did you cope with that? Paris: “We sold our initial order of 150,000 in January at a time when our suppliers were breaking off for a month to celebrate the Chinese New Year. We realised we had a problem but we managed to respond. We’ve now sold 1,500,000. We reckon we’ve got two to three years of growing sales for Eureka! with a levelling off after that before gradual decline. So the issue is how do you add value to that growth curve? Anyone can remove value by dropping the price but what we are interested in is how to turn that £2.99 price point and £5 million retail opportunity into a £10 or £15 million opportunity. At Glee we will have several variants on Eureka! on show – different colours, sizes, finishes and price points!”
Martello Nickel Stake Light
editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
company insight The Smart Garden Products team with the GIMA Sword of Excellence outside their Abingdon base.
GTN: What have you got lined up for Glee? Paris: “There are about 250 new products. Lighting is a big part of that and we will really be going to town with the Eureka! Super Bright has been another area of great success, and we are going to expand that range, doubling it to 30 lines. Two years ago you were struggling to find a solar light being bought in volume with more than 1 lumen. This year within the Super Bright range we have introduced products from 3 to 50 lumen, next year there will be lights up to 500 lumen available! This is where solar lighting is going. If you’ve got the right technology, the correct ability to manufacture and get the right LEDs and the
right solar panels, which we have, you can perform magic with solar lighting. So we think Solar Super Bright is an area where we have the widest and most authoritative range of affordable extra bright solar lights.” GTN: Are you expanding into other areas? Paris: “We are launching a range of doormats added into the Outside In designs brand to sit alongside our clocks and lanterns.” Jonathan: “Outside In was very well received last year at Glee. The retail value of this range is now almost £6 million.” Paris: “We have also designed a new patio grow house with the user in mind. We’ve added value, upped the specification, created a new
design that works better for the consumer and the plants. We’ve called it the GrowZone and it will retail between £40 and £50.” Jonathan: “We’ve got some extensions in our décor category and new designs of the solar light flowers that maximise on the fusion of solar lighting and garden decoration.” Paris: “There does seem to be a market trend away from core gardening to instant and decorative gardening. People are happy to add artificial décor to their borders and whilst this trend continues we will keep offering suitable options!” You can see all the new products on the Smart Garden Products stand at Glee (18K30-K31).
Foxglove Stake Light
Poppy Table editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
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Exhibitor news roundup
Investment helps growth surge Stewart Garden (18K14-L15) Stewart Garden, now more than 70 years old, will be showcasing new initiatives and a number of new products at Glee. Among the company’s successful 2015 launches is the Varese planters collection (pictured), which has gone from strength to strength and exceeding its targeted growth. Stewart invested £400,000 in a new rotational moulding machine at its Banbury factory earlier this year for use in the decorative planter category. The new machine will enable a 27% increase in production. Launched in April after extensive consumer testing, the brand’s new website
makes it easier and more enjoyable to browse products and select stockists. The Stewart Garden Schools Campaign, launched in 2012, has engaged with more than 100 schools nationwide, challenging pupils aged 6-11 years to get creative with Stewart Garden products. Schools taking part receive a kit worth more than £400 to get their projects up and running, while the winning school receives £1,000 to spend at its local garden centre. This year’s winner will be announced at Glee, where the 2017 campaign will be launched Information: stewart-garden.co.uk or 0203 657 5230
New sizes and striking packaging – because that’s what buyers asked for... Vitax (19E10-G11) In response to feedback from garden centres and retailers, Vitax has added new sizes and striking new packaging to its existing ranges for the new season. You can see them at Glee alongside the company’s new products. One of the most sought-after super-sized products for 2017 is Q4 Multi-Purpose Compost with John Innes. Previously available in a 20-litre pack, the popular compost will be available as a 56-litre in time for the new growing season. The peat-
Learn about good bugs that help keep the lawn moss-free DJ Turfcare (19A03) DJ Turfcare, sole UK importer of Viano organic lawn and turfcare products, says Glee offers the ideal opportunity to learn about the effectiveness and value of its products to gardeners, landscapers and groundsmen. Viano’s MO Bacter is an award-winning fertiliser with an exceptional action for lawns with moss infestation. Releasing its nutrients over a 12-week period, the effective ingredients are nitrogen, phosphate and potash plus magnesium, together with natural bacteria that consume dead material like moss and thatch. There’s no black mess and no raking out is necessary. Viano Bio-Lime is an all-year-round soil conditioner for combating low Ph, while the moss- and thatch-eating bacteria and magnesium help to create a green, healthy sward. It’s supplied in a granular formulation. Information www.djturfcare.co.uk Or 01483 200976
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based compost has a neutral pH, making it a popular choice amongst experienced gardeners. Other products will be offered in bigger sizes for next year to meet gardeners’ requests. Several new specialist products will be unveiled at Glee, where you can also have an exclusive preview of Vitax’s new consumer website. Information: www.vitax.co.uk
Bathgate Horticulture (20G30-H31) Cheshire-based Landscaping and garden decoration supplier Bathgate Horticulture, a firsttime exhibitor at Glee, will showcase new premium growing media products including Multipurpose Compost, a John Innes range, Growbags, Play Sand, Paving Sand, Horticultural Sand and Grit, Manure, Top Soil and associated products – all available for national distribution. Its Multi Purpose Compost enriched with John Innes is a unique formula that improves compost structure and prolongs nutrient retention. Ideal for seed sowing, cuttings, bedding, plug and pot plants, shrubs and perennials, it is available in 30-litre and 50-litre packs Dedicated to quality and customer service, Bathgate has formulated its range to satisfy the demands of the discerning gardener. Professional growing media can also be formulated to individual customer requirements. Information: www.bathgatesilica.co.uk or 0127 076 2828
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Exhibitor news roundup
Dropship service creates online options Charles Bentley & Son (17Q41) East Midlands manufacturer and importer, Charles Bentley & Son is to launch a dropship service at Glee, enabling retailers to easily expand their online home, garden and leisure product ranges without major upfront investment. The new service will be based at its 202,000 sq ft warehouse in Loughborough, allowing retailers to use the company as a fulfilment centre. Charles Bentley & Son will effectively stock, pack and dispatch products directly to customers on behalf of retailers who are looking to explore new product lines. The company’s own e-commerce operation, BuyDirect4U, has reached a £10 million annual turnover since launch in 2005, using dropship to develop its catalogue, which now includes 1,500 products and has increased the average number of visitors to its website to 100,000 per month. MD Charles Bentley says the new dropship operation has been successfully trialled with two major British omni-channel retailers and would now be rolled out nationally by offering independent retailers and garden centres access to the expanding portfolio of Charles Bentley-branded
The Charles Bentley & Son senior management team in their 202,000 sq.ft warehouse. products. “The major benefit to retailers is that it minimises risk and cost; they do not have to invest in stock or the warehouse space to store it, which offers an avenue of expansion that does not require major investment. The new service will be available across a wide range of products, so retailers can use this to trial new product lines and as we pack, pick and ship on the retailer’s behalf, they can also save time. Bentley expects it to become popular across a range of retailers, particularly
Six new generation secateurs in ‘try-me’ packaging Gardena (19A03) Gardena will launch a new generation of secateurs at Glee. All six models have been completely redesigned with ergonomically shaped handles featuring integrated soft components for maximum comfort. Some feature a practical handle width adjustment. Quadruple precision-ground blades guarantee excellent cutting results. Optimised new packaging featuring clear
images and pictograms will make it easier in store to choose the right model for the job, with prominence given to a “Made in Germany” label and the 25-year warranty. The packaging also allows consumers to test them for grip and safely operate the blades themselves before they buy. All models will be available from September Information www.mowerland.co.uk or 01793 333220
those looking for an easy way to sell online for the first time. The service will cover garden and outdoor, home living, sport and leisure, DIY tools and hardware, toys and games and pets. The new dropship service coincides with the launch of a rebranding, which has given the 156-year-old company a fresh look. The company started out providing brushes for Victorian chimney sweepers. Information: www.charlesbentley.com or 01509 232757.
Gardeco (19D56) Rostaing Pro-range Gloves has appointed Gardeco as its UK distributor. Established in 1789, Rostaing of France is a well-established specialist in gloves of all types, with a large market share in France and other countries. Its gloves are designed in France and made in Rostaing-owned factories under stringent quality control. Gloves are laboratory tested and endorsed for maximum comfort and protection and carry mechanical hazardous kite marks for consumer confidence and peace of mind. The Rostaing Pro-range is a unique collection of quality gloves, each with a specific user profile. Developed in partnership with professional users such as tree surgeons, wine growers, farmers and gardening professionals, they offer maximum comfort and protection. Made of top quality materials and carrying testing kite marks covering mechanical hazards, cut resistance and thermal hazards, they are available in a range of sizes. Retail display deals are available. www.gardeco.co.uk or 0870 234 0003
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info@gardentradenews.uk.com
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Range diversifies to meet changing market interests Woodlodge (20N01 & 19A30-C31) Woodlodge will have new pots and planters at Glee, in addition to its recently-launched outdoor living collection. New collections of garden pots will join the existing Fibreclay, Feather and Heritage Garden designs. A new zinc pail has also been added to the National Trust range, inspired by the historic farms protected by the organisation. The outdoor living collection, designed as part of Woodlodge’s Heritage Garden range, includes Country Terrace white wash furniture and antique Bistro sets, as well as fire pits and chimeneas. The distinctive designs and materials are crafted to suit diverse garden styles and bring a touch of originality to any outdoor space. The new collections reflect Woodlodge’s dedication to innovative design and development, with products that meet the changing needs and interests of customers. Information www.woodlodge.co.uk or 01666 501000
Right: the Arden Firepit and Wooden Rocking Chair from Woodlodge’s new outdoor living collection.
New saws, re-design of iconic telescopic handle and battery mowers Wolf Garten (19C50) WOLF-Garten will have a new range of saws, as well as an updated handle for the brand’s popular multi-change® range and the successful range of 72V battery mowers. Most of the new pruning saws can be used with the multi-change telescopic
Wilkinson Sword (19C50) handles for useful extra reach. The new telescopic handle offers more flexibility and practicality and is ideal for allotment gardeners. Because it takes up less space than a standard handle, it means an entire tool kit can be carried in a car boot. The handle fits more than 60 of Wolf Garten tool heads, which look after everything from cultivating to cutting and anything inbetween. The 72V battery mowers, available in 34cm, 37cm and 40cm cutting widths, have enjoyed excellent sales since their debut earlier this year. Information www.wolfgartentools.co.uk Wolf Garten’s UK distributor is E. P. Barrus Ltd (www.barrus.co.uk
info@gardentradenews.uk.com
Highlights on the Wilkinson Sword stand will include two new ranges – the Carbon Steel Collection and a new range of axes – as well as the Ultralight collection, which has been a runaway success since its launch. The new carbon steel tools have strong, carbon steel heads and wooden ‘Y’ handles, with strong, smooth ash shafts on the digging spade and fork and border spade and fork. The durable epoxy green coating, together with the wooden handle, provides an attractive, traditional look. All heads have been riveted with long sockets. The new range of lightweight axes features three versions - a hatchet, felling and splitting axe, each designed to make light work of chopping tasks. They are ideal tools for domestic users, particularly those with wood-burners. Ultralight, a finalist in the recent GIMA awards, delivers strong, stylish garden tools in a comfortable, ultra-lightweight package. The hedge shears and bypass loppers have proved to be an enormous hit. Information: www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk.
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gtn promotion
Bonningtons
Bonningtons build the
WOW! T
Ian Fisher, managing director and joint owner of Bonningtons
Three core values that will drive the new Bonningtons
he Bonnington stands at Glee – there are three of them – will comprise what is almost certain to be the show’s most spectacular launch this year as the company heads into a dynamic new phase. It will be an eye-opener for buyers who know Bonningtons chiefly through its value Kingfisher brand of home and garden lines. The new move into more premium brands across a carefully selected spread of categories is a game-changer for the company – and is likely to win it many new clients. While MD Ian Fisher has built a great business based on great products and a strong customner base, he says it’s time to take the enterprise to the next level. “Bonningtons has come of age,” he says. “There’s a misconception that we are a small business just selling value products to
‘
QUALITY – we will have quality at the centre of our business. Quality in products, service levels, sales and marketing and in the business relationships we have with our customers
INTEGRITY – we’ll do the right thing – for our employees and for our customers. We’ll all adopt a similar professional approach to all our business activity TRUST – we’ll deliver on our promises and put the resources needed in place to make sure our customers can rely on us These core values, together with the existing huge business strengths, and Ian Fisher’s unique personality, inspired the redesign of the business, brand identity and effectively launch the new Bonningtons to the market.
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discount retail, and nothing else - which is not true.” Fisher recognised the company would have to work hard to explain to the market how Bonningtons has changed. “We started with customer insight interviews, which helped us to understand the key challenges we faced,” he said. The process helped Bonningtons to develop all aspects of the business and the product offer. “This,” Fisher asserts, “is the start of the new Bonningtons.” The insight work exposed three ultrastrong themes that were, significantly, very important to present and future customers. “We’ve changed lots of aspects of the business to make sure these three core values are the themes on which we stake our whole business reputation,” Fisher says.
Bonningtons new strategy retains the highly successful Kingfisher value brand in core gardening. But the Bonningtons family now also includes a range of brands deisgned to provide customers with a strong good-better-best hierarchy and ensure a quality price positioning for any consumer need, from discount value through to affordable quality. The range of brands includes
4Dusk till Dawn – beautiful indoor and outdoor decorative lighting, solar, mains and battery
4Vintage 4 Seasons – ‘shabby chic’ garden furniture, clocks and decor
4Craftsman – hand crafted metal work for the garden
4Limitless – electrical heating and cooling 4Pacific – drinks on the go 4Paw Prints – family pet care 4Kingfisher – the value brand for a wide range of garden and home lines
info@gardentradenews.uk.com
gtn promotion Light up your Glee...
factor
...visit Bonningtons Central
Nearly 300 new lines will be launched at Glee and a further 200 before the end of the year. Many of the new products and new brands will be exhibited on three separate stands in Hall 20 and Hall 17. Visitors to Glee will be invited to visit ”Bonningtons Central” (20N23) to claim a prize by selecting a Bonningtons mini cube from the brand wall. Prizes could be anything from additional discount off a minimum £500 order to a VIP trip to New York, but customers have to visit the stand and choose their cube to find out. There, customers can learn more about the fantastic new offer from Bonningtons 4Great price brands and products at good – better – best position across a range of categories with a strong focus on the Independent retailer 4Established and complete range in the core gardening category 4New category opportunities like electric heating and cooling from Limitless and drinks on the go from Pacific 4Strong stock holding and a wide range of 3000 lines that make it easy to achieve the minimum order value £500 424 hour instant stock visibility online at a new website 4Online ordering 4Next day delivery 4Single point of contact customer helpline to respond to any query 4Dedicated showrooms 4Expanding sales team with administrative support to cater for new and valued customers
www.bonningtonplastics.com
0115 985 4119 info@gardentradenews.uk.com
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gtn promotion
Burgon & Ball
Next best-sellers ready for launch New product round-up from leading premium garden tools and gifts supplier Burgon & Ball - and you can see them all at Glee
6 Flora & Fauna – Gorgeous gifts Building on the success of the award-winning RHS Gifts for Gardeners range, this autumn sees the launch of an elegant new design which once again takes inspiration from the wonderful historic archive of botanic art that is the RHS Lindley Library. Entitled ‘Flora and Fauna’, the new collection features delicate foliage and beautiful birds, and includes twine in a tin, wooden plant labels, hand tools, Kneelo… all the favourites from the beautiful RHS gift collections will be available in the stylish new design plus many brand new products.
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4 Hooray for the Hip Trug A new gardening accessory that frees both hands for gardening jobs. It’s like having an extra pair of gardening hands! Available in three colours and two sizes, Hip-Trug clips easily to pocket, belt or waistband. Perfect for deadheading or harvesting, the container slips easily out of the holster for quick emptying. The Hip-Trug display stand is compact, portable and features a video to clearly communicate the product’s use and benefits. Sitting alongside the Kneelo and Poc-kit family of garden best-sellers, the UK-designed Hip-Trug is certain to be a hit.
info@gardentradenews.uk.com
gtn promotion 64 Award-winning Creaturewares Introduced just a year ago, these cheerful animal storage tins proved hugely popular in the run-up to Christmas 2015, and sales have grown strongly ever since. Recognised with top honours in the GIMA Awards 2016’s Pet Care category, the range is expanding in autumn 2016, with cheeky new Creatures and gorgeous new gift ideas.
NEW ‘Gregory & the Pecks’ tin
6 FloraBrite – a real eye opener TM
Lost garden tools are a thing of the past with this brilliant new range of RHS-endorsed tools. Available in fluorescent yellow or pink, with reflective highlights that glow under torchlight, the range includes trowels, forks and a selection of secateurs. Specially developed in response to customer demand, FloraBriteTM is sure to brighten your day.
And there’s more... Burgon & Ball is launching lots more new products in autumn 2016, both tools and giftware. Full information is available from its friendly sales team.
Hall 19 Stand C27-E26 www.burgonandball.com sales@burgonandball.com 01202 684141
info@gardentradenews.uk.com
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Simon King range set for show launch Wildlife World (18M50) Wildlife World. Is to launch a range of products designed and created in partnership with wildlife cameraman and television presenter Simon King OBE. They will carry Wildlife World’s new ‘Simon King’ branding. The company will be launching as many as 20 new products at Glee, which will include bird houses, feeders and an all-new highspec portable Wildlife Hide. MD Norman Sellars said Simon King’s
Weber barbecues (17W46-X47 & 17X50-Y51) Weber barbecues have flagged up a “thrilling new launch” on their return to Glee in the show’s Outdoor Entertaining sector. The current season has seen Weber continue to innovate with a number of new products including a ground-breaking briquette, several new barbecue models, new accessories and Weber World stores. Visitors to the Weber stand are promised the biggest, best and most revolutionary barbecue experience to date and a pioneering collection of new barbecue accessories. Marketing manager Chris Trewhitt said: “We are very excited about the prospect of using Glee to excite the industry with some very big new product news for 2017.” Weber appointed François Lepeltier as its new country manager in June. He has been tasked with driving the brand’s investment in the UK market. www.weber.com OR 0203 630 6028
extensive knowledge of wildlife had helped to create some great new products. “His skills and fieldcraft has allowed us to create products that are different to our usual collection and that are probably the best in the market.” The Wildlife Hide in particular is a brand new concept for Wildlife World and uses King’s expertise to create a high quality hide for keen bird and wildlife photographers. The portable, camouflaged hide features
high and low photography points for a variety of photographic opportunities and is weighted down in the corners for protection from gusts of wind. The zips are hidden by a lip cover that blends in with the camouflage pattern for a completely seamless effect. The hide will be on display at the show, where all orders placed will qualify for a signed copy of King’s new definitive fieldcraft book, “Nature Watch”. Wildlife World ‘Simon King’ products will be available to buy from both the Wildlife World and King’s online shops and proceeds will support the Simon King Wildlife Project charity. King has also helped Wildlife World to create a new collection of educational videos, which can also be viewed on the stand. Information www.wildlifeworld.co.uk OR 01666 505333
Light ‘n’ Go is a convenient source of fire Highgrove (17V01) Responsibly-sourced Ecoforest Firewood, on the Highgrove stand, includes Light ’n’ Go birch bonfire logs, traditional-style ‘Yule logs’ for the Christmas season and Hallowe’en Witches’ Broomsticks. These seasonal lines are backed up by a selection of consumerfriendly winter and summer, easy-to-use fuels. The Light ‘n’ Go bonfire log targets the leisure market with an
easy to light social occasion outdoor fire. A specially prepared kiln-dried birch log with its own rope carry handle, it offers the consumer a clean odour-free and smoke-free heat and cooking source. It will light with one match and equally suits wood burners and open fireplaces, garden firepits and chimeneas, BBQs, festivals, camping and events like Bonfire Night. Light ‘n’ Go easy to light kindling, new to the UK, is a kiln dried premium mixed hardwood and white birch, while Light ‘n’ Go Firestarters are a handy combination of match and firelight in one. Information 01793 852277
Pots of personality... Hum Partnership (20F36) Tailor-made patterned pots from the Hum Partnership were behind the runaway success of Hawkesmill Nursery’s ‘Herbs for Summer’ collection this year. Cool, vintage-inspired patterns earned the winning vote for ‘best retail inspiration’ by visitors to the National Plant Show and a GIMA award. The company is now working on a collaboration to create an exclusive collection for the American and Canadian markets. Here in the UK, garden centres and gift shops can offer Hum Flowerpots on a retail-friendly display stand which creates an eyecatching attraction for consumers. Information 07720 294698 or email: lara@hum-partnership.com
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info@gardentradenews.uk.com
SEE US AT GLEE ON STAND 17X25-Y26
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Brand extensions from Bord na Móna Bord na Móna (stand 18L10-M11) Following on from the continuing success of Bord na Móna Growise, the peat and peat-free growing media and soil improvers brand and its significant presence at GLEE 2015, this year’s show will see a considerable expansion of the growing media range as well as the launch of the Bord na Móna Growise brand in the fertilisers category. Fifteen new growing media and soil improver SKUS will be on the BNM UK stand (18L10-M11) including specialist blends such
as Cactus and Bonsai, Orchid and Citrus, never previously available from the company. There are also a number of new pack sizes and consumer friendly packaging initiatives. In the fertilisers category, Bord na Móna Growise will debut with an initial 29 SKUS including Growmore and a Premium multipurpose slow release fertiliser. Retailers interested in working with the Bord na Móna Growise brand should contact 0800 973 555, email info@ thegreenergardener.com or visit the website www.thegreenergardener.com.
Spin the wheel at Garden Connect to win a £1,500 online campaign Spin the wheel at stand 17R58 to win great prizes including an online marketing campaign worth £1,500. Garden Connect is taking its wheel of fortune to Glee and everyone who spins will win a prize...and that’s a promise. “We know online marketing can be a bit boring but we’re having fun while improving your website and are happy to show you it can be fun for you as well,” say Garden Connect. “With over 250 independent garden centres across four countries using our services we’ve seen and learned a lot – and you can enjoy the benefits of this.”
Health and safety sorted by Southalls
Meadow View Stone (stand 20H20-J21)
If you are interested in taking a more proactive approach to your health and safety, then head over to Southalls on Stand 17W51. You’ll meet Southall’s team of ex-enforcement consultants and see how its cloud based health and safety management system, Safety Cloud, can make due diligence easy. 34 SEPTEMBER 2016
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Meadow View Stone offer an unrivalled selection of Decorative Aggregates, Garden Paving, Horticultural and Stoneware products exclusively to Garden Centres, with a guiding principal of supplying high quality products in superior packaging, supported by market leading POS. Their innovative “Growth through ideas and inspiration” is a new concept which enables Garden Centres to increase sales and consumer spend via cutting-edge Point of Sale Merchandising. This new POS has been
garden trade news
designed to inspire and educate consumers by displaying complementing products and plants to give the consumer a greater understanding of how the products will look in-situ whilst encouraging the consumer to purchase not only gravel but, pebbles, cobbles rockery stone and even plants. A selection of this new POS will be displayed on their Stand No: 20H20-J21 along with a collection of new paving, decorative aggregates and stoneware to assist Garden Centres in visualising how the Meadow View brand can increase sales in their store. editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
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pet exhibition
PATS Telford
Why PATS Telford is a ‘must-visit’ event The biggest-ever PATS show being held at Telford International Centre on September 25-26 will be the only place this Autumn to see all the new pet products to be launched in the UK. PATS Telford, Britain’s No.1 pet trade exhibition, is THE show where the whole of the industry gather under one roof with over 180 companies showcasing their products in one massive hall. It’s the ideal event for pet retailers, vets, groomers, farm shops, and garden centres to decide what products to stock over the next year with hundreds of items being exhibited, many of which are new launches. “There will be so much to see and do over the two days of the show,” said organiser Annie Foord. “It’s great to see the pet industry come together for this major event, and visitors can be sure of meeting representatives from all the leading names as well as many new ones. “And there will be an international flavour to the show with companies from across mainland Europe choosing to book a stand and unveil their latest creations.” Exhibitors from Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Norway and Denmark, will be joining their counterparts from the UK to make PATS Telford a truly international show. Pets Corner have nearly 120 retail stores throughout the UK and co-owner Steve Charman revealed why PATS is a ‘must-visit’ event. “Last year I flew straight in from China to make sure I got to see the Telford show. I always find a visit to PATS uplifting and the layout at Telford is fantastic, making it easy for visitors to get around. It makes me feel happy to be a part of an industry that produces so many good and innovative products.”
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And Adam Green, of the Destination Pet in Higham Ferrers, Northants, said: “Without doubt PATS is the best trade event. You can really feel the buzz as you walk in the exhibition hall. It’s a brilliant place for meeting and networking with manufacturers and area managers, seeing new lines and getting great deals. Bring on Telford!” A growing number of garden centres are also finding PATS to be the best place to buy products for their pet departments. Jason Osborne, of Webbs Garden Centre in Worcestershire, said: “Last year’s PATS Telford was a fabulous show, and I loved the layout and all the new products.” The New Product Showcase is one the event’s most popular features and entries for PATS Telford are currently pouring in to the organisers’ office. Products entered into the Showcase will be judged by a panel of independent pet retailers on the first day of the show (Sunday, September 25) to decide the winners of the New Products Awards. “Speaking to visitors, we know that a lot of them head to the New Product Showcase first,” said Annie Foord. “They can view all the latest items in one place, and once they’ve seen what they like, they then head off to the
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stand of the manufacturer or supplier of that product to discuss it in more detail.” As well as seeing an unrivalled array of new pet products and speaking to top suppliers and manufacturers, visitors will also be able to witness demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers and listen to talks from prominent figures. There will be Buyers’ Centre at Telford, run in association with PetQuip, where international visitors will be able to have meetings with clients. PetQuip will also be staging their prestigious Awards Party in the Ludlow Suite, part of the Telford International Centre, at 7.30pm on September 25. Parking is free at the exhibition centre, and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a free show catalogue. Those arriving before 10am will also receive a refreshment voucher, redeemable throughout the day (subject to availability). With good catering facilities and plenty of seating areas taken care of, visitors can concentrate fully on the main business of the day – seeing top-class products from the biggest range of suppliers and manufacturers…all under one roof. Visit ww.patshow.co.uk for more details. editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
pet exhibition
PATS Telford
Discover ahead-of-the game ideas PATS Telford has secured a strong line-up of speakers for two days of seminars designed to give pet retailers ahead-of-the-game ideas on new lines, new approaches and new profit potential. The talks, produced in association with Pedigree Wholesale, will take place in the Seminar Theatre at Telford International Centre on both days of the show – Monday and Sunday, September 25-26, 2016. The free-to-attend series of seminars will cover a wide range of topics including: let’s talk retail; oral care for cats and dogs; driving growth in the small animal category; psychological basis of the human-animal bond – the driver to our pet industry; how to get more visitors to your website; and guiding the pet owner through an increasing complex multi-channel path to purchase. There will also be a chance to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for those people attending a special seminar by animal healthcare specialists Merial. The CPD points will go towards the ongoing development of Suitably Qualified People (SQP) working in the pet industry. Dog marketing expert J Nichole Smith will also be giving talks on both days of the show. On day one, her talk is entitled: ‘Popularity, Profitability and Power for Petpreneurs – the secret formula to having it all’, while on day two she’ll reveal the ‘Two Routes to Revenue’.
New Product Showcase gets bigger every year Winning an award in the PATS New Products Showcase can be the launchpad to huge sales. Manufacturers can be confident that successful products have a great chance of becoming bestsellers because a panel of independent pet retailers decides the awards. And past winners admit that winning an award can certainly increase the profile of the items to the trade. The New Products Showcase is a great opportunity for visiting retailers to see the new products they will be stocking for the coming season. The Showcase is designed to help them find the latest and most exciting products to hit the pet trade, as they are gathered together in one, extensive display. Once visitors have seen what they like, they then have the opportunity of visiting the stand of the manufacturer or supplier
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of that product to discuss it in more detail. There is an information card beside each product, giving details such as suggested retail price and where to find the supplier. All entries in the Showcase will judged by the panel of retailer judges for the New Products Awards on the first morning of the show, so the results will be known and highlighted throughout the exhibition hall for the rest of the exhibition. The Awards will be presented at the New Products Showcase display at lunchtime on Sunday, September 25. Entries will be displayed under the following award categories 4Cat Product 4Dog Accessory Product 4Dog Food or Treat Product 4Bird Product 4Small Animal Product 4Pet Care Product 4Grooming Product
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back office
Legal Matters & Planning
legal advice by lidia Poczok of london-based firm bristows
Working time and holiday pay What is the minimum period of paid holiday? Four weeks paid is provided under the Working Time Directive (WTD leave) and an additional 1.6 weeks is provided under the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR leave), totalling 5.6 weeks’ leave each holiday year (including public holidays). A week is the worker’s usual working week. For workers working 5 days per week, this equates to 28 days’ holiday. Those working part-time are entitled to a pro-rated reduction in holiday entitlement. For those who work irregular hours or on zero-hour contracts, holiday should be calculated on the basis of the average hours and pay of the preceding 12 weeks (but holiday is capped at an annual 28 day statutory maximum for casual worker). Which staff are entitled to holiday? Workers. A worker is anyone who is personally obliged to work
for an employer: employees and temporary staff; but excludes genuinely self-employed contractors. How is holiday pay calculated? Workers are entitled to ‘normal remuneration’ for WTD leave and a ‘week’s pay’ (pro-rated) for WTR leave. ‘Normal remuneration’ includes any payment the workers would receive if they were normally at work – so they are not worse off financially by taking time off work. The calculation for normal remuneration should include sales based commission, regular overtime or guaranteed overtime payments, regular payments for team performance/targets and payments for ‘acting up’. It also includes any allowances which are paid regardless of whether the sum is used to meet the specific cost it was designed for, for example, the value of lunch in the garden centre when working is not included, whereas a daily
£5 ‘lunch allowance’ which is added to pay (and can be used therefore to buy anything) is included. A ‘week’s pay” is basic pay as provided under the contract. How is normal remuneration calculated in practice? There is no definitive answer. A sensible approach would be to look back over the 12-week period before the holiday was taken and calculate the average amounts paid which are all normal remuneration. If there are considerable peaks and troughs in these variables throughout the year, it may be better for the contract to provide calculation of an average based on a 12-month period. Which holiday periods attract the higher and lower rate? An employer can stipulate when a worker takes WTD leave providing it gives the worker notice of at least double the period or leave requested before the start of the holiday.
Once WTD is exhausted, WTR holiday can then be paid. Paying the entire entitlement at the remuneration rate will lessen the administrative time and cost of distinguishing between holiday periods and will of course be more popular with workers. Payment in lieu? Payment in lieu of outstanding holiday is only acceptable on termination of employment and cannot be used as a solution to avoid tricky and regular holiday pay calculations. Lidia Poczok is a lawyer at London-based firm Bristows.
Planning notes by tracy hubbard of malcolm scott consultants
The impact of Brexit on planning issues Clearly it will take some time for the dust to settle following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. Whether you voted IN or OUT, the fall out, both political and economic, has surely excelled even the most pessimistic of predictions. So what could the implication of the ‘Brexit’ decision mean for the planning system? Prior to the vote many professional bodies refrained from expressing an opinion on the effects of the vote to leave; these included the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Horticultural Trades Association, largely due to the fact that their members would have differing views. It is possible that a drop in EU immigration could result in a reduced need for housing and make housing-need predictions more reliable than previously. The flip side to this could be a reduction in the labour market to build the necessary 44 SEPTEMBER 2016
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housing, therefore increasing costs, slowing delivery and potentially exacerbating the problem. This loss in the labour market could also have an impact on the horticultural industry, with many large producers relying upon overseas workers to fill the gaps left by a reluctant British labour supply. If as is currently being aired this move results in a recession deeper than that as a result of the 2008 financial crisis, it is expected that house building will fall, investment in general may falter, deepening the housing shortage and economic activity in general. The NPPF, which broadly loosened the planning system to encourage sustainable economic development, came about as a reaction to the
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last recession. Perhaps we may see a further move towards a positive stance to development if we do head into recession? From the time the Article 50 ‘button is pushed’ there will be a two year wnegotiation stage, so don’t expect too much change to legislation that quickly. Supply correct information Local Planning Authorities often find that planning applications are invalid when they consider the application is missing information, inappropriate plans have been submitted or an incorrect fee has been paid. They will normally give you a limited time period to rectify the situation through submission of further documents, amended
plans or additional fees. After the period given by the Local Planning Authority has passed, if the requirements are not fulfilled, they will either return the application or dispose of it and refund or return the fee. Howeve,r some Local Planning authorities have started charging for registration of applications even if the application then turns out to be invalid. The charge is to cover the administration costs of registering an application that is left invalid and has to be disposed of. An example of this is Sheffield City Council who charge between £30 for householder applications and £150 for major and more complex applications. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to supply the correct information at submission stage so that an application is validated as soon as possible. editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk
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in touch
Garden industry news, views and people
Top-scoring GCA regional centres The Garden Centre Association has recently revealed its area award winners during presentations held at member garden centres. Awards were presented to garden centres in the North Thames, North West, South Thames, Wales & West, Midlands and North East regions with the winners in Scotland and Northern Ireland due to be announced on August 31. Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “During each presentation evening inspectors for each area announced their findings after carrying out their inspections earlier in the year, highlighting best practice and new ideas as well as revealing the area winners in the two categories: Destination Garden Centre (DGC) and Garden Centre (GC). “We would like to say congratulations to all of the winners and a big ‘thank you’ to The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, Tong Garden Centre, RHS Wisley, Thurrock Garden Centre and Pennells Garden Centre for playing hosts for the various events. “The results from the inspections form the basis for many of the national GCA awards, which will be presented at next year’s conference, which is in St. Andrews from January 22 until 25.” NORTH THAMES Garden Centre of the Year - Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) Best Creativity and Innovation - Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Twickenham (GC) Most Improved Centre - Frosts at Millets Farm Best Customer Service - Aylett Nurseries Best Garden Products Retailer - Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Shepperton (GC) Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Poplars Garden Centre (DGC), Frosts at Woburn Sands (DGC), Frosts at Willington (DGC), Thurrock Garden Centre (GC), Squires Garden Centre - Shepperton (GC) Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Van Hage - Great Amwell (DGC) and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Burford Garden Company (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Shepperton (GC) Best Environmental Practice - Burston Garden Centre
Team members from Fairways Ashbourne are all smiles after success in the Midlands region. 46 SEPTEMBER 2016
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The team from the successful Pennells Garden Centre. NORTH WEST Garden Centre of the Year - Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) Best Creativity and Innovation - Bents Garden and Home Most Improved Centre - Gordale Garden Centre Best Customer Service - Barton Grange Garden Centre Best Garden Products Retailer - Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and Klondyke Daleside Garden Centre (GC) Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre Macclesfield (GC) and Burleydam Garden Centre (GC) Best Environmental Practice - Gordale Garden Centre SOuTH THAMES Garden Centre of the Year - Stewarts Christchurch (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC) Best Creativity and Innovation - Haskins Southampton Most Improved Centre - The Wisley Plant Centre Best Customer Service - Stewarts Christchurch Best Garden Products Retailer - Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC) Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Haskins Garden Centre Ferndown (DGC) and Knights Plant and Life - Godstone (GC) Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Stewarts Christchurch (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC) Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC), Squires Garden Centre - Badshot Lea (DGC), Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC) and Blackbrooks Garden Centre (GC) Best Environmental Practice - The Wisley Plant Centre WALES & WEST Garden Centre of the Year - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and The Old Railway Line (GC) Best Creativity and Innovation - Whitehall GC Lacock Most Improved Centre - Hillier Garden Centre - Bath Best Customer Service - The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre Best Garden Products Retailer - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre (GC)
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Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and RHS Rosemoor Plant Centre and Shop (GC) Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Bernaville Nurseries (DGC) and Hillier Garden Centre - Bath (GC) Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and Hillier Garden Centre - Bath Best Environmental Practice - Whitehall GC Lacock MIdLANdS Garden Centre of the Year - Pennells Garden Centre Lincoln (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne (GC) Best Creativity and Innovation - Planters Tamworth Most Improved Centre - Langlands Garden Centre - Loxley Best Customer Service - Fairways GC Ashbourne Best Garden Products Retailer - Van Hage - Peterborough (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne (GC) Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Planters Garden Centre - Tamworth (DGC) and Blue Diamond Chatsworth Garden Centre (GC) Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Brigg Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne (GC) Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Blue Diamond Evesham Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways GC Ashbourne (GC) Best Environmental Practice - Planters at Bretby. NORTH EAST Garden Centre of the Year - Langlands Garden Centre Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Cowell’s Garden Centre (GC) Best Creativity and Innovation - Cowell’s Garden Centre Most Improved Centre - Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre Best Customer Service - Cowell’s Garden Centre Best Garden Products Retailer - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Cowell’s Garden Centre Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre (GC) Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Langlands Garden Centre Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Beverley (GC) Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Northallerton Garden Centre (GC) Best Environmental Practice - Cowell’s Garden Centre and Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe. editorial@gardentradenews.co.uk