22-23_PH Garsons.qxp_Grid 28/05/2021 15:47 Page 22
Retailer focus
Fruitful enterprise
Inset: The exterior of Garsons, Esher. Bottom right: The recently expanded Cookshop area, running up to the Farm Shop at Garsons in Esher. Bottom: For the great outdoors: one of the new fixtures at Garsons in Esher displays ‘on the go’ products and picnicware, including coolbags and picnic rugs.
Inset: Eco-friendly picnicware and outdoor dining accessories on display at Garsons in Titchfield.
Garsons, the winner of the first ever Best Garden Centre title in The Excellence in Housewares Awards 2020 is celebrating 150 years of business. The retailer’s success lies in its constant evolution, according to buyer Sarah Crees, who tells PH what makes Garsons in Esher and Titchfield so very special.
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arsons is “always evolving,” says Sarah Crees, who has spent almost two decades as a buyer for the family-run business, which has two garden centres located in the villages of Esher in Surrey and Titchfield in Hampshire. The latest developments include linking Esher’s Farm Shop to its garden centre building. Completed last October, this provided a newly expanded space for
Cookshop and Gift Food, positioned appropriately in the area before a wealth of ingredients. “The department was also treated to lovely new fixtures, which has helped with merchandising and customer flow,” Sarah explains. She adds: “Titchfield’s housewares department also sits next to its Farm Shop and the flow works perfectly.” Both sites have their housewares offering over the last couple of years “to satisfy demand for additional ranges and brands,” Sarah confirms. In her view, variety and newness is what makes Garsons stand out. “We have a great mix of big brands and smaller artisan suppliers that keeps our offerings interesting, as well as the displays created in-house by our amazing teams.” She cites one of her favourite local
PROGRESSIVE
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HOUSEWARES
Blooming marvellous Sarah Crees has spent 19 years at Garsons, having joined as an assistant buyer on the shop floor at Esher. In 2015, she became central buyer for both Garsons’ garden centres, taking her away from the retail frontline. Her wide remit covers cookshop and gifts, as well as home fragrance, books and toys. “Garsons is a lovely place to work,” she enthuses. “When you drive through the village of Esher, you may think you’ve taken a wrong turn as we are so rural. We are extremely lucky with our picturesque locations, with the bonus of having one of the UK’s largest Pick Your Own fruit, vegetable and flower farms at the Esher site.” The retailer has “very strong links” to the communities it serves, with lots of “positive feedback” from its local initiatives. Garsons’ charities of the year for 2021 are Princess Alice Hospice and the Portsmouth Hospitals Charity and Intensive Care Unit. It donated ‘thank you’ packages for staff dealing with Covid patients last year. Meanwhile, Garsons has supported the horticultural and environmental curriculum at a local primary school for over a decade. Sarah acknowledges: “For me, the people make Garsons special, dedicated to ensuring we inspire our customers and offer something to suit every taste.”
