Our e-learning initiative to continue to GROW through 2015

We have recently (February, 2015) revealed that our e-learning initiative Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) is going from strength-to-strength.

After a positive 2014, two new modules have been launched for the initiative, which helps member garden centres keep their customer service at the highest standards, with plans for more in the future.

Mike Burks, who, alongside Tammy Woodhouse, is one of our executive committee members helping to deliver GROW, said: “2014 was an extremely successful year for GROW. Six new organisations signed up and we launched several new e-learning modules, including Basic Planting, Basic Houseplants, GYO Tomatoes, Christmas Houseplants and Think 21/Think 25, which is a module that deals with the legal aspects surrounding the sale of age restricted products.

Our conference is heralded as biggest and best yet

OUR ANNUAL conference at the end of last month (January, 2015) saw a 15% increase in attendees this year and among them a greater number of garden centres.

The event, which took place at the De Vere Carden Park in Chester, was heralded as one of the biggest and best conferences so far in our 49 year history.

Our Chief Executive, Iain Wylie said: “It was a thoroughly brilliant event on all levels with lots of excellent speakers giving salient business advice for the coming year, plenty to celebrate as an industry with the various awards given out and a wonderful opportunity to network with other garden centres and suppliers.

We’re offering ‘how to achieve inspection excellence’ tips

OUR MEMBER garden centres are this month (February, 2015) being offered expert advice on ‘how to achieve inspection excellence’ through a series of regional presentations we’re running.

The events will take place in six area groups, Wales & West, South Thames, North Thames, Midlands, North West/North East and Scotland/Northern Ireland, from now (February 9) until the end of the month (February 26).

This is the very first time we have done these presentations and our aim is to help improve standards in GCA member centres while assisting members to achieve the highest possible score in their annual inspections.

Nominate your Rising Stars for 2015

We’re encouraging members to nominate their employees for the Rising Stars 2015 programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture (February, 2015).

Nominations are now open for garden centres to put forward their staff before Wednesday, February 25.

Our Rising Stars programme, which is sponsored by Westland Horticulture, has been a huge success over the past six years and we’re hoping for even bigger and better things in 2015.

If garden centre managers or owners feel they have a member of staff who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and is a rising star within the business, then they should seriously consider putting them forwards for the programme.

Bird food flies off the shelves during January

Our members saw wild bird food sales soar during January (2015) according to our Barometer of Trade (BoT) results.

Sales of wild bird food and associated products increased 16% during the month compared with 2014 and we put it down, simply, to garden birds needing more food this January, which was colder than the same month last year.

Throughout the winter months it’s important for people to keep bird feeders topped up.

Birds require high energy, high fat foods during the cold winter weather to maintain their fat reserves so they can survive frosty nights and our BoT results show that kind-hearted people are certainly willing to help out their feathered friends by providing food for them. Healthy garden birds also help keep pest numbers down in the summer months, so it’s important to look after them.