RETAIL INTERVIEW
South Downs Nurseries & Garden Cantre
‘Something
for everyone’
G
avin James Mumford, garden centre manager and buyer of South Downs Nurseries & Garden Centre, reveals why Glee is his go-to show:
What’s your background? I’ve worked in the garden centre industry for over 20 years, the majority of which was spent at Woodcote Green Nurseries. During that time, I worked in multiple sectors and was involved in all aspects of the business. I’ve been at Tates of Sussex Garden Centres for 18 months, and I manage a large team while also being involved with purchasing and buying decisions for the group. Tell us a bit about your garden centre. South Downs Nurseries & Garden Centre is our largest centre. It’s in Hassocks (near Brighton) and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. We have one of the largest undercover plant areas in Sussex as well as a stunning coffee shop and Heritage Centre. Horticulture is paramount and we are lucky enough to have our own nursery on site as well. We have created an ever-expanding home & gift section and have a strong reputation for interesting items and strong visual merchandising. Describe your gift range. It’s the perfect blend of everyday pick-ups, mixed in with more exclusive trend-driven lines.
We are constantly looking to keep our home & gift offer fresh and exciting, while retaining a strong core range. We pride ourselves on showing off the products to the fullest, and that often means our shop floor team using a mix of formal and informal merchandising to both inspire but also remain accessible for customers. We also have our own art gallery, where we keep items from local artists as well as unique one-off home furnishings. The ethos is very much something for everyone - be it a gift or to enhance your own home.
“Glee remains a must for all buyers within the industry” What are your key categories? Houseplant pots and vases, wall art, soaps and fragrance, and interior furniture. Who are your key suppliers? PTMD, Hill Interiors, St. Eval, and All Sorted. How do you find products? Through trade shows, trade press, and visiting other retailers (both small and large scale) - and by asking questions within the industry. Why is Glee important to you? Glee has changed dramatically over the years, but it still remains a must for all buyers within the industry. It’s my go-to show for many reasons, and the fact that most of the major players are consistently there is a testament to that. It’s all about putting a face to an email and discovering new suppliers and future trends. Seeing something in the flesh always gives a better perspective.
What’s proving popular? We’re seeing good success with our interior cushions and throws. And houseplant pots continue to grow, as do vases. There’s a definite increase in customers being happy to part with more money - as long as it’s value for money: statement pieces and functional products that also look good within the home such as high-end diffusers, for example. What lines have you started stocking recently? PTMD homewares and St. Eval candles. Are you looking at expanding into new product categories? We have big plans to expand and hopefully relocate our home & gift section into a purpose-built building to enable us to really showcase our ranges and to invest in room sets which should help and inspire our customers. What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job? Seeing new product groups that you’ve invested time and effort into sourcing, ranging and negotiating come to fruition – and seeing customers pick up and purchase items with confidence. It’s also particularly satisfying to see staff members flourish and exceed in their roles after training and guidance. Once they start trusting their instincts and have bought into our customer focus ethos, our team becomes stronger. And the most challenging? Letting go… I tend to want to try and put myself in the centre of everything when it’s often best to stand back and advise when needed. I’m an extremely committed individual and always strive for perfection, so I find it hard to not involve myself from the bottom to the top.
Gifts Today 21
