Gro Networking 2022

TWO THOUSAND & TWENTY TWO

Twenty twenty two is quickly coming to a close. We began the year with great hopes. Covid restrictions were easing, and we were looking to maintain and build upon the couple of previous years of excellent sales growth. Unfortunately, the challenges of covid were replaced with the challenges of extremely wet weather and a straining economy with high inflation and rising interest rates. Well done – you have almost made it through 2022.

After the need for many changes to plans and schedules, Hilton & Tracy were able to navigate the maze of flight changes and delays to visit all our Australian Gro Networking Members.

Hilton, Tracy, Tim, and the team at Gro Australia.

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Barossa Nursery

Nuriootpa, South Australia

Following on from record sales and business growth during the covid years, Barossa Nursery has experienced the wettest and coldest year of weather on record. Utilising this break from the times of crazy trading, Daniel and the team have completed some major maintenance projects during this time. The painting of structures and benches has transformed the garden centre. The selected colours have reinforced the focus to the plants and products which are the highlight of the Barossa Nursery experience. This has been a huge project but a great investment into the future. Add to this the arrival of Reuben to the Bartsch family, there has been some wonderful steps forward at Barossa Nursery.

Bay Road Nursery

Victoria came out of some of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world only to experience relentless weeks, and more disappointingly weekends, of rain, wind and cold conditions. Despite these conditions, sales have continued to be well above pre covid trading. The digital catalogues worked very well for Bay Road Nursery and certainly had a positive effect on sales during the important spring season.

Sandringham, Victoria

Burbank House & Garden

Despite the horrid weather conditions experienced in NSW, Burbank House and Garden has retained a very good percentage of the excellent increases of the previous year. The garden centre has proudly worn the crown of being named the Best Retail Garden Centre for NSW in December 2021. They have completed major improvements to the premises with new paving, fresh paint, changes to the customer flow and the creation of a fabulous front garden to capture attention and attract new customers into the business. Well done to the Burbank House & Garden team for the wonderful achievements this year.

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Erina Heights, New South Wales

Cherry Road Nursery

Eleebana, New South Wales

Following on from the record sales of 2021-2022, Cherry Road Nursery also experienced a year of terrible weather. The regular communications with customers through database marketing and social media activities were a major key in achieving the results for the year. The focus on utilising their growing area has seen the business maintain a good Gross Profit despite the lower weather affected sales results.

Eden at Byron

Byron Bay, New South Wales

The iconic resort town of Byron Bay experienced more rain than any other member during 2022. There were several days that the business needed to close for the safety of staff and customers with widespread flooding and road closures. There have been some exciting changes to the ownership of the premises during this year, and we look forward to the adventures ahead for Maree and the Eden at Byron team.

House to Home

Inverell, New South Wales

After enduring years of very dry conditions followed by covid effected trading, it was great to see Inverell gardens lush, green and thriving. Despite the times of flooding rains, it was a good season for House to Home. This was capped off nicely with a successful Christmas Celebration event during December. It was great to hear that Ann, and the House to Home team, were worn out but very satisfied after their most successful event ever. Well done.

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Harmony Garden Centre

Lauderdale, Tasmania

It was fantastic to visit Harmony Garden Centre as a group during March and to experience the Harmony Market. Tasmania experienced one of the coldest and wettest years on record. The all-weather covered sales area was a huge advantage to allow those who ventured out to enjoy the delights of Harmony Garden Centre in comfort without having to endure the restrictions of bad weather. Andrew and Ange are always working towards building the Harmony Garden Centre experience and we look forward to seeing the business continue to develop.

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Leichhardt Garden & Landscape Supplies

Goondiwindi, Queensland

Greg & Helen and the Leichhardt Garden and Landscape Centre team have enjoyed a very good season. Good trading through covid has helped the business to recover from years of drought. The investments made during these times such as the establishing of the Leichhardt grown range of plants has seen the garden centre maintain good results through this year. Other than the devastation of having their vehicles stolen during December, this was a great year for Leichhardt Garden & Landscape Centre.

Limberlost Garden Centre Freshwater, Queensland

It has been brilliant to see the success of the unique seasonal branding that been used throughout their business to suit the seasons of their tropical climate. The continuing development of the Limberlost Grown plant range helped business continue to recover beautifully from the effect that covid had on tourism and the local economy. There are some exciting changes ahead for Ross Cherryl and for Limberlost Nursery and we look forward to the adventures ahead.

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Centre

has climate. the tourism and ahead.

Mittagong

Mittagong Garden Centre

Balaclava, New South Wales

It is great to welcome Sam and Aubrey as the new owners of Mittagong Garden Centre. After a busy couple of months of settling in and beginning the process of change, we look forward to introducing this enthusiastic couple to other members and seeing the benefits of networking together help to see Mittagong Garden Centre continue to thrive as a leading garden centre in NSW’s beautiful Southern Highlands.

Mt Evelyn Garden Centre

Despite the terrible weather experienced in Victoria, Mt Evelyn Garden Centre has continued to evolve and develop as a fabulous garden centre experience in the beautiful Yarra Valley region. The strong and consistent theme of the garden centre has been added to beautifully with the introduction of the Tram Xpresso café. A retired Melbourne tram was relocated, and the Tram Xpresso was set up as part of the garden centre and has helped to see the business continue to experience solid growth throughout this weather affected year. Steven has taken on the responsibilities of being the garden centre manager and along with a very good team, has continued to build the unique Mt Evelyn Garden Centre experience as a great destination for locals and for visitors to the region.

Mount Evelyn, Victoria

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Plant Zone Direct

New Zealand

NZ has not missed out on the terrible weather of 2022. Plant Zone Direct has not only dealt with the hardships of the 2022 year but has made major premises improvements and invested extremely well into the better times to come. It was great to have Yuong join us in Australia for the Key Training for Key Staff event. We know there are exciting plans ahead for Plant Zone Direct and we look forward to hosting a Gather and Gro event in NZ once the opportunity presents itself. We are all keen to visit and see the great work of Yuong, Tim and the Plant Zone Direct and Tui Downs teams.

Kerikeri,

Samford Valley Garden Centre

It is such a delight to see Samford Valley Garden Centre continue to evolve as a business. The introduction of a capable new key staff member has allowed some time to focus on some exciting new areas to continue to see the business move forward. The early results of the new growing area are beginning to shape the things to come, and we look forward to seeing the business reach the goals that have been set. Derek’s Christmas lights are quickly becoming the talk of the village. Well done to Della, Derek and the Samford Valley Garden Centre team for the great achievements of 2022.

Samford Village, Queensland

Stonemans

Glenorchy, Tasmania

Stonemans Garden Centre

to Stoneman’s Garden Centre during Gather and Gro was one of the great highlights of the event. Everyone loved the colour, fun and quirky displays of the garden centre and left feeling very inspired.

second year in a row, Tasmania has endured a spring season with very little spring Despite these unfavourable weather conditions, it has been an exciting year change for Stoneman’s Garden Centre. There have been positive changes to the ownership of the premises and some changes to the work team that has established a great foundation to build upon for the years ahead.

Consistent marketing through catalogues, newsletters and good social media has continued encourage customers to visit and to enjoy the adventure of Stoneman’s Garden Centre.

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The Earth Works

Berri, South Australia

During our recent visit to Berri and The Earth Works, we witnessed the Murray River lapping at the banks and overflowing into low laying areas around the region. The abundance of rain had gardens lush, green and thriving. The garden centre was looking fabulous with the new sealed carpark, the traffic stopping front display gardens, the freshness and impact of the seasonal fence banners and branding and the excellent changes to the layout and customer flow within the business. These excellent changes have resulted in continuing strong sales and very improved trading results. Well done to Di and her team at The Earth Works for implementing the resources of Gro Networking so well during this first year as a member.

One of the highlights meet together the delights Salamanca Market Garden Centre Graham, Jo, about the Harmony

Gather & Gro

Hobart, Tasmania

highlights for the year was our Gather and Gro event in March. It was so good to together again after being kept apart by covid travel restrictions. We enjoyed some of of Hobart including the Royal Botanical Garden, Willy’s Smiths Apple Farm, Market and the wonderful Tasmanian food and beverages. Our visits to Stoneman’s Centre and Harmony Garden Centre were brilliant and inspirational and we thank Susan, Andrew and Ange for their hospitality. We had all heard and seen lots Harmony Market and our trip finished with the grand finale of a Saturday morning enjoying the excitement of market day at Harmony.

Key Foundations For Key Staff

Capalaba, Queensland

After the frantic years of the challenges of covid trading, the importance of a strong and focused work team was highlighted as a key focus for business’s to move forward. During May we hosted the Key Training for Key Staff event at our new Gro Australia facility in Capalaba, Queensland. This was a couple of great days of seeing other retailers and reinforcing the solid principles of excellent garden retailing. There was great feedback from those who attended and from the business owners who chose to invest in inspiring and encouraging the key members of their teams. The benefits of these couple of days will continue to impact those involved through the times ahead.

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Here at Gro Networking we have also seen an incredible year of change. We have moved into new larger premises with more office space, a separate training room and separate photo/media studio. We have an expanded work team with Liam and Chalize joining Carol, Tim, Tracy and Hilton as we have evolved into Gro Australia. We have exciting plans ahead and have been working hard to be prepared and ready for the local, national and international opportunities that are part of our longer term business plan. We would like to congratulate everyone for the successes and achievements of what has been a tough year of trading. We look forward to what 2023 will bring, for the challenges that will be overcome, the positive changes that will happen and the successes that will be achieved.

We wish you all a Christmas filled with hope & joy and a Happy New year.

Hilton, Tracy, Tim, and the team at Gro Australia.

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